Chapter 4: Bound By Vows
1305 Words
As I stood in front of the mirror, I barely recognised the woman gazing back at me.
She wore a soft white dress which fitted her gently to her body. There was nothing dramatic or grand about it; it was simply elegant and expensive.
Everything about this moment felt surreal.
A stylist moved around me, adjusting a few details on the dress. Another woman finished off my makeup. She treated me with care and respect, as if I were a delicate piece of glass.
Like I fit in here.
But inside... I still felt like that poor girl who had walked into that rooftop lounge with a broken heart and an empty wallet.
"You look beautiful, Mrs Knight," the woman said softly.
Mrs. Knight.
Those two words weighed heavily on me.
"Thank you," I replied quietly.
When they left the room, I was finally by myself. I put my hand across my chest and tried to steady my breathing.
This was actually happening.
Less than an hour later... I would marry Adrian Knight.
A man I hardly knew.
A man who had already transformed my life.
A man whose presence made my heart feel oddly safe... and frighteningly unstable all at the same time.
There was a soft tap on the door.
My heart leapt.
"Come in," I said.
The door creaked open.
Adrian stepped inside.
My breath caught.
He was dressed in a perfectly fitting black tuxedo. The colour of the suit made his eyes appear even darker, even more intense. His hair was stylishly cut, and he looked at me with his usual calm demeanour.
But when he saw me...
He stopped moving.
For the first time since I'd known him, Adrian Knight appeared... affected.
His eyes scanned me slowly, taking in the dress, my face, my hair. Something unreadable flickered in his eyes. Something warm. Almost possessive.
"You look..." He hesitated slightly.
I waited.
Then he finished quietly, "Beautiful."
My cheeks blushed unexpectedly.
"Thank you," I said softly.
Heavy silence fell between us. Not unpleasant … just filled with awareness.
He took another step closer.
With each step, my heart beat faster.
By the time he stopped in front of me, we were only inches apart. I could feel the heat from his body, smell the fresh, masculine scent of his cologne.
His eyes scanned my face carefully. "Are you sure about this?"
The question was unexpected.
"Yes," I replied honestly. "My mom is safe due to you. I won't forget that."
His jaw clenched slightly. "That's not why I'm asking."
I took a breath.
"Then why?"
His voice dropped. "Because once we do this... There is no going back. Regardless of whether it is a contract, you will legally be my wife. To the world, you will be mine."
Mine.
The single word caused a tiny shiver down my spine.
"I understand," I whispered.
He studied my face for a moment longer, like he was searching for uncertainty. When he found none, he nodded once.
"Okay."
Then he extended his arm.
"Let's go."
---
The ceremony itself was intimate and private.
No family. No friends. Only the officiant, two members of Adrian's staff who served as witnesses, and we.
It felt unusual to walk into the elegant hall next to him. The gentle click of my heels echoed softly. My heart pounded so loud I was sure everyone could hear it.
We stopped before the officiant.
Adrian stood by my side, strong and steady. His presence made me feel grounded, even as everything about this experience was overwhelming.
The officiant began talking. He was formal and calm. He spoke of marriage. About commitment. About partnership.
I barely listened.
I was too aware of Adrian's presence next to me.
Strong.
Grounding.
Safe.
Dangerously Unstable.
When it came to exchanging vows, everything suddenly became incredibly realistic.
"Do you, Adrian Knight, take Nora Blake as your lawful wife?"
His response was steady. "I do."
My heart skipped.
"Do you, Nora Blake, take Adrian Knight as your lawful husband?"
For a split second, I had a glimmer of fear.
Then I thought of my mother lying peacefully in a hospital bed. Safe. Treated. Alive.
"I do," I whispered.
The officiant gave me a slight smile. "You may exchange rings."
Adrian took my hand firmly but gently. The ring he slid onto my finger was simple yet beautiful, a diamond that sparkled in the light.
My breath quivered as I slid his ring onto his finger.
Then the officiant spoke the final words.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife."
My heart pounded.
Adrian turned to face me completely.
For a fleeting instant, we merely stared at each other.
Then, softly, he said, "We should try to make this look like a real marriage."
Before I could ask him what he meant, he took my waist with his hand.
He drew me in closer.
And then he kissed me.
My breath froze.
The kiss wasn't aggressive. It wasn't forceful.
It was soft. Slow. Warm.
But it sent a jolt of electricity throughout my entire body.
His lips were firm but gentle, as if he were feeling out and testing something. The world around us vanished immediately. All I could feel was the warmth of his mouth, the solid strength of his arm around my waist.
My hands reflexively curled around the front of his suit.
For a single, perilous moment...
I forgot this was a contract.
The kiss deepened slightly, but only just enough to cause my heart to beat faster. My body responded to him long before my brain could tell me to stop. A soft heat radiated from my chest down to my stomach.
Then he withdrew slowly.
His forehead rested against mine. His breathing was calm, but his eyes were darker now.
"Be careful," he murmured. "You'll make me forget this is supposed to be pretend."
My cheeks blushed.
He let me go and stepped back, his expression returning to its usual calm and controlled state.
However, the air between us had shifted.
Drastically.
---
The ride back to the estate was silent.
I kept staring at the ring on my finger. It sparkled whenever it caught the light—a symbol of something that felt both entirely unrealistic and frighteningly real.
Adrian rode next to me, his presence steady. He got a call a few minutes later. He answered calmly.
"Yes."
Silence.
Then his expression stiffened.
"No. That can't be possible," he said icily.
Pause.
"Find out who leaked it," he continued. "Now."
He ended the call and looked out the window, jaw locked.
"What happened?" I asked quietly.
He didn't respond for a moment.
Then he turned to me.
"Our marriage has been announced on social media," he stated.
My eyes went wide. "What?"
"It wasn't intended to leak that quickly," he said. "Somebody wanted the world to know."
A weird unease settled in my chest. "Is that bad?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Yes."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Why?" I asked softly.
He looked at me.
"Because being married to me will make you a target."
My heart started pounding again. "Target… for who?"
He did not hesitate.
"My enemies."
The words hung in the air.
Fear began to seep into my chest.
I had entered this marriage to save my mom.
But now… it seemed like I had walked into a world I didn't comprehend.
Adrian wrapped his fingers around mine, his grip warm and firm.
"Stick to me," he said quietly.
There was something in his voice that sounded almost protective. Possessive.
"Nothing will happen to you," he added.
I wanted to believe him.
I really did.
But as we drove up to the large entrance of his estate, a single thought reverberated within my mind:
Will loving Adrian Knight... become the most dangerous thing I've ever done?
- Writer
