His Contract Wife, His Unexpected Love

CHAPTER 8

After breakfast, Ethan stood and picked up his phone, already shifting into another part of his life. “You’ll be working with someone today,” he said, adjusting his cufflinks. “To understand how things operate here.” Lily frowned slightly. “Working with who?” she asked. Ethan paused briefly before answering. “My assistant. She’ll guide you.”

Within an hour, Lily found herself in another part of the house, sitting across from a woman named Claire. She was sharp, organized, and spoke with the kind of confidence that came from knowing exactly where she belonged. “We’ll start with basics,” Claire said, placing a folder in front of Lily. “Events, schedules, expectations. You don’t need to understand everything at once. Just don’t get lost in it.”

Lily listened carefully as pages were turned, each one filled with details she had never dealt with before. Names of companies, seating arrangements, appearances, instructions on behavior. It wasn’t just a marriage, it was a performance. Claire watched her quietly, noticing her reactions without saying much. “You’ll adjust,” she added after a moment. “Most people do.”

But Lily wasn’t most people. She left the room later with her mind heavier than before, trying to remember even half of what she had been told. The hallways felt longer now, like they stretched further every time she walked through them. She stopped near a window, watching the garden outside, where everything looked peaceful and untouched. It made her feel even more out of place.

Ethan was in his office when she was brought in later that afternoon. He didn’t look up immediately, as if her presence was already expected and unimportant. “Sit,” he said without changing his tone. Lily obeyed, sitting across from him again, her hands resting neatly on her lap. She noticed how quickly she was learning to follow instructions without question.

“You met Claire?” he asked, still looking at the documents in front of him. “Yes,” Lily replied. Ethan nodded slightly. “Good. She’ll handle your preparation.” Lily hesitated before speaking again. “Preparation for what exactly?” she asked. This time, he looked up at her fully.

“For being seen as my wife,” he said simply. The words landed heavily, even though his tone stayed controlled. Lily felt her chest tighten slightly, but she kept her expression steady. “I am your wife,” she said, almost to herself. Ethan paused for a second before replying. “On paper,” he said. “In public, you represent that role.”

There it was again, the reminder that this was not real in the way she had once understood marriage to be. Lily nodded slowly, looking down for a moment. “And when we’re alone?” she asked quietly. Ethan’s gaze didn’t soften. “We keep things simple,” he said. “No expectations. No confusion.”

Something about that answer stayed with her longer than she expected. Simple sounded safe, but it also sounded empty. She looked back up at him, trying to understand the man sitting across from her. He wasn’t cruel, but he wasn’t open either. It was like he had built walls so high even he couldn’t see over them anymore.

“Do you ever get tired of it?” she asked suddenly, surprising even herself. Ethan’s expression shifted slightly, the smallest pause breaking his usual control. “Of what?” he asked. Lily hesitated. “Of everything being so… controlled.” The room went quiet for a moment.