TITLE:RUNAWAY BRIDE

Chapter 5: SEALED

8am.

No church. No guests. No white dress.

Just me, Alex Smith, and two lawyers in his office.

I was wearing a simple black dress the assistant brought. My hair was still damp. I looked nothing like a bride.

Alex was in a black suit. Perfect. Cold. He didn’t look at me once.

"Sit," one of the lawyers said.

We both signed. Three copies.

Marriage Certificate.

Prenup.

6-month contract.

With every signature, I felt the walls closing in.

"Congratulations," the lawyer said. "You’re legally husband and wife."

Alex stood up. "Done."

That was it. No kiss. No ring. No "I do."

He walked to the window and poured himself whiskey. 8 in the morning.

"What now?" I asked. My voice was small.

"Now we go public," Alex said. He turned to me. "Press conference in 2 hours. We announce our engagement... that we’ve been dating in secret."

"Engagement? But we just signed—"

"We need it to look real, Lily," he cut me off. "If people think this is rushed, they’ll dig. And if they dig, they’ll find out why you ran."

He said my name like it was nothing.

"Stylist is waiting," Alex continued. "Don’t embarrass me."

He left the office.

I was left standing there, holding a marriage certificate that felt like handcuffs.

I’m Mrs. Smith now.

And I don’t even know the man I married.