FROZEN HEART, CONTRACTED LOVE

CLARA'S POV The limousine rolled to a stop at the mansion gates. White flowers lined the driveway. The sun reflected off the marble, making everything gleam. My hands trembled as I held my bouquet. My heart felt like it would jump out of my chest. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I got here. My parents had insisted this marriage was for the family’s stability. Alexander’s parents had agreed because it would secure the company’s future. Neither of us had a choice. A contract marriage. That was the word everyone used. Business first. Love… maybe later, if it came at all. I tried to calm myself. I told myself this was just temporary. But my heart… my heart had already betrayed me. I had fallen for him the moment I first saw him. The doors to the hall opened. Guests were already seated. Their eyes followed me. Some whispered. Some smiled politely. I could feel their judgment, their curiosity. A young, innocent girl marrying a man like Alexander Kane. Everyone thought this was a match made of convenience. Everyone but me. I hoped—no, I wanted—this to be more. I stepped onto the aisle. Every step felt like a lifetime. My gaze was fixed ahead, and then I saw him. Alexander Kane. Standing tall. Perfect. Dark suit, cold eyes. His expression was unreadable. Nothing. I remembered the stories about him. Cold. Calculating. Broken from a love that had left him years ago. No woman had ever gotten close since. And yet… I wanted to be the one. His eyes met mine for a brief second. Sharp. Ice-cold. Judging. The moment stretched, and my heart leapt. I tried to smile. He didn’t. Not even a twitch. He simply looked. Then turned slightly, as if to say, This is just business. I could almost hear his thoughts. Focus on the contract. No feelings. Keep your wall up. Don’t let anyone in. I swallowed and kept walking. Guests murmured behind me. Some glanced at Alexander, whispering about how intimidating he looked. Some looked at me, pitying or admiring. I didn’t care. I only cared about him. I thought about my parents. They had said this was for my future. About Alexander’s parents. About securing the company. Business before love. Everyone had their reasons. But my reason was simple: I wanted him. I had wanted him from the start. Alexander’s reaction was cold, professional, perfectly controlled. No smile. No warmth. Nothing that would betray what he felt, if he felt anything at all. Yet… there was a flicker. Something tiny. Something almost invisible. I walked closer. Closer to the man who had built walls around his heart. Closer to the man I already loved. My steps were steady, but my heart was racing. I didn’t know what would happen next. All I knew was this: no matter how cold he seemed, I wanted him. Alexander Kane stood at the altar, tall, handsome, and his expression was calm, almost unreadable. His eyes were fixed ahead, not even glancing at me as I approached. My stomach twisted. Was that indifference… or was he just controlling himself? I swallowed hard and forced my shoulders back. I had to look confident, even if inside I was trembling. Every step toward him felt heavy. Every step felt like walking into a storm. I could hear my parents whispering behind me, reminding me to stay composed. Alexander’s parents were silent, their eyes cold and sharp. They didn’t smile. They didn’t speak. Their approval wasn’t needed—they only cared about the contract, the company, the arrangement. When I finally reached the altar, I could feel his gaze. Not soft, not warm, just… assessing. Like he was calculating how much of me was real and how much was naive hope. He finally spoke, his voice low and controlled. “Are you ready for this?” I blinked, surprised. Not with a question of love… just a question of readiness. I nodded. “Yes,” I whispered, though my voice shook. The officiant began speaking, reciting words I barely heard. All I could do was watch him. His jaw was tense. Hands clenched lightly at his sides. He was calm, perfectly composed… yet there was something behind those dark eyes. A shadow. A wall he had built, thick and tall, around his heart. I wondered… was he thinking about the woman who left him? Was he reminding himself that no one could hurt him again? Or was he noticing me? Could he feel the way my heart had already surrendered to him? When it came time to exchange rings, I felt his hand brush mine. Just a touch. Just for a second. But it made my pulse race. He didn’t flinch, didn’t soften, didn’t smile. But that tiny touch… it was enough. A crack in the ice, maybe. Or maybe just my imagination. I held my breath. The words were spoken. The vows. Cold, formal, like promises signed on paper. But inside me, my heart was alive. I had already given him everything. My love. My hope. My trust. And I knew… I would have to be patient. I would have to be strong. Because Alexander Kane didn’t give his heart freely. He built walls, high walls, and I was standing at the gate. I just hoped… one day… he would let me in.