His Forever Bride: Bound by Contract, Kept by Love

Friday Evening

Friday arrived much sooner than Evelyn expected.

She had spent the past three days convincing herself that the second dinner meant nothing more than two people getting to know each other. Yet the closer seven o'clock came, the more she found herself checking the time. It annoyed her slightly. She wasn't someone who usually became nervous before meeting people, but Adrian had somehow managed to occupy a corner of her thoughts without making any effort to do so.

After work, she drove straight home instead of staying late at the office. Catherine noticed the unusual change immediately.

"You're home before sunset?" she teased as Evelyn walked into the living room.

"I'm always home before sunset."

"Not recently."

Evelyn laughed, setting her handbag on the sofa. "I have dinner plans."

"I know."

"You do?"

"Your father mentioned Adrian called yesterday."

Evelyn shook her head with a smile. "Nothing stays secret in this family."

"Not when your father is involved."

Before they could continue, Daniel wandered into the room with a bowl of popcorn in his hands. He looked from his mother to his sister before grinning mischievously.

"So..." he began, drawing out the word, "what are you wearing?"

Evelyn frowned.

"What kind of question is that?"

"A very important one."

"It's dinner, Daniel."

"Exactly."

"It's not a date."

He exchanged an exaggerated look with Catherine.

"Did you hear that, Mum?"

"I did."

"And do you believe her?"

"Not for a second."

Evelyn rolled her eyes dramatically.

"You two are impossible."

She escaped upstairs before either of them could continue their teasing. Opening her wardrobe, she stared at the rows of dresses hanging neatly inside. For the next ten minutes, she rejected almost everything she picked up. One looked too formal. Another seemed too casual. A third suddenly felt like she was trying too hard.

Finally, she settled on a simple emerald-green midi dress with long sleeves. It was elegant without being overly glamorous, paired with nude heels and a delicate pearl bracelet her grandfather had given her on her twenty-first birthday.

She studied herself in the mirror.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered. "Why am I putting so much thought into this?"

A knock sounded on her bedroom door.

"Come in."

Catherine stepped inside and smiled the moment she saw her daughter.

"You look beautiful."

"I've changed outfits four times."

"I know."

Evelyn blinked.

"You knew?"

"I heard the wardrobe opening and closing."

They both laughed.

Catherine walked over and gently adjusted a loose strand of hair behind Evelyn's ear.

"You don't have to impress anyone tonight."

"I'm not trying to."

"I know." She smiled warmly. "That's why you'll do just fine."

At exactly seven o'clock, the doorbell rang.

Daniel reached the front door before anyone else.

"I'll get it!"

When he opened the door, Adrian stood outside dressed in dark trousers and a charcoal blazer over a crisp white shirt. In one hand was a small gift bag, while the other held a single white rose.

"A single flower?" Daniel asked before Adrian could even greet him.

Adrian smiled.

"I thought one would mean more than a hundred."

Daniel stared at him for a moment.

"That's... actually a pretty good answer."

Richard appeared behind his son, shaking Adrian's hand before inviting him inside.

"You didn't have to bring anything."

"I wanted to."

Adrian handed the gift bag to Catherine.

"It's a small selection of handmade teas. The owner of the shop told me they're among the best she carries."

Catherine looked genuinely delighted.

"That's thoughtful of you. Thank you."

Only then did Adrian notice Evelyn descending the staircase.

For a brief moment, he simply watched her.

The emerald-green dress suited her perfectly, and the soft evening light filtering through the windows made her seem almost radiant.

"You look beautiful," he said quietly.

There wasn't the slightest exaggeration in his voice.

It sounded less like a compliment...

And more like an observation.

A faint blush colored Evelyn's cheeks.

"Thank you."

She noticed the white rose in his hand.

"Is that...?"

"For you."

He offered it to her.

"I wasn't sure what your favorite flower was, and after the bouquet the other day, I thought perhaps something simpler would be nicer."

Evelyn accepted the rose carefully.

"I love it."

"I'm glad."

Daniel cleared his throat dramatically.

"If you two keep looking at each other like that, Mum's going to start planning a wedding."

The room erupted into laughter.

Even Adrian chuckled.

"I think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves," he said.

Richard smiled.

"I agree."

After saying goodbye to the family, Adrian opened the passenger door of his car for Evelyn before walking around to the driver's side.

As they pulled away from the house, neither of them spoke immediately.

Finally, Adrian glanced at the white rose resting gently in her lap.

"I was worried you might think one flower was too little."

Evelyn looked down at it before smiling.

"No."

She turned to him.

"I think it's just enough."

For reasons neither of them could explain...

The evening already felt different from the first.

This time, they weren't meeting because of a contract.

They were meeting because they wanted to.