His Bride On Paper

CHAPTER FOUR

Chapter Four:The First Public Appearance

“I need you ready by 6:00 p.m. sharp. Formal wear. Keep it simple.”

That was the entire text from Adrian.

No greeting. No explanation. Just... directives.

Like usual.

I stared at my phone for a full ten seconds before replying. Honestly, I was tempted to reply weirdly, but I didn't understand.

I didn’t ask where we were going or why.

By now, I understood the rules of his world:

Don’t ask. It just appears perfect.

Esther arrived at five, breezing in like a stylist and therapist rolled into one.

We ended up choosing a black satin dress with, a slim fit, delicate straps, and a slit that danced at my thigh. When I first saw it, I hesitated.

“Too much?” I asked, holding it against my body in the mirror.

Esther gave me a soft look. “Or exactly right.”

Her hands moved with graceful certainty as she clipped my hair into soft waves, touched up my lip gloss, and handed me a tiny black clutch.

“You look beautiful,” she said, stepping back. “It’ll go well with him.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You mean the marble statue I married?”

She laughed, warm and unbothered. “Even statues can melt, darling. You’d be surprised.”

I wasn’t.

At 6:02, the doorbell chimed.

Of course, he was on time, and I was two minutes late.

My pulse kicked up as I opened the door, and there he was.

Adrian Stone.

Sharp tuxedos. Crisp lines. That same unreadable expression was carved onto his face.

But when his eyes landed on me, something shifted.

Just slightly. Like someone turned the volume down on his logic and let instinct speak.

Not a smile. Not a compliment.

Just a long, slow glance.

Then….

“You’ll do.”

And somehow, that single line set my skin on fire.

The gala was a blur of chandeliers, violin quartets, and cameras that clicked when we entered.

It was luxury dialed up to eleven.

Glittering dresses. Diamond cufflinks. The laughter echoed like scripted lines on a soundstage.

Adrian was the star.

People didn’t just greet him, they approached him like he was a holy site. Quiet reverence. He

nodded. Shook hands. Gave just enough smile to appear human.

And me?

I was the new addition. Like a statue, I just stood there.

“Have you seen her? That must be the wife.”

“She’s... different.”

“She doesn’t look like the others.”

I didn’t know who the others were, but their shadows were everywhere.

Adrian kept his hand lightly on my back, guiding me like a chess piece. Always composed.

Always a step ahead.

We were a perfectly crafted illusion.

Until she appeared.

Tall. Elegant. Wearing a wine-red gown that clung like a second skin. Her confidence filled the space before her words did.

“Adrian,” she said, fingers brushing his sleeve as though it belonged to her. “You didn’t tell me you got married.”

He stiffened only slightly, but I felt it.

“It was... a private decision,” he replied.

Her gaze shifted to me. She smiled, but it was all teeth.

“And you are?”

I held her eyes. “Ava,” I said evenly. “His wife.”

A pause.

Then the tiniest twitch in her lip.

“Lovely,” she purred. “Well, enjoy the circus.”

She walked away, the scent of expensive perfume trailing behind her like smoke.

I turned to Adrian, trying to keep my tone casual. “Friend of yours?”

He didn’t flinch. “No. A test.”

I tilted my head. “And did I pass?”

He looked at me then, really looked.

For a second, I saw something unravel behind his eyes. Something that made my breath hitch.

“I’m starting to think you might.”

……

We left before midnight.

The city glittered through the tinted car windows as we pulled away from the marble entrance. I leaned back, finally exhaling the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“That was... exhausting.”

Silence.

I turned to him. “You know, for someone who doesn’t care about appearances, you sure put on a good show.”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he looked out the window, jaw tight.

“This life isn’t about caring,” he said at last. “It’s about control.”

And just like that, the wall slammed shut again.

Conversation over.

But as the city lights flickered across his face, I saw it…

A c***k.

Not wide enough to step through.

But just enough to glimpse what was hidden underneath.

I wasn’t sure what scared me more:

That I might actually start liking him…

Or that he might never let me close enough to try.