THE INHERITANCE CONTRACT

Who Is Kade? 🤭

Blaze froze for a moment in the grand hotel lobby. The sounds around him blurred. The movements blurred. Lena and Ivy's curious gazes seemed to reach his mind only after a delay. That familiar weight spreading through his chest, familiar but unnameable, made him feel trapped somewhere between the past and the present.

Hakan impatiently grabbed Blaze's biceps and shook him. "Bro, you completely spaced out. You okay? We called you, but you didn't hear us," he said, frowning.

Blaze flinched like someone waking from a dream. "I'm fine," he mumbled, pulling himself together with a deep breath.

Lena fixed him with a suspicious look. Then, without warning, she reached out, grabbed his wrist, and pressed her fingers to his pulse.

Blaze shuddered inwardly at her sudden touch. Her palms were warm, but her touch was cautious. "What are you doing, goat?" he asked, voice low.

Without taking her eyes off his wrist, Lena said coolly, "Your blood pressure might have dropped." She listened carefully for a few seconds, then tilted her head. "Seems normal."

Blaze cleared his throat and pulled his wrist back. "I'm fine," he cut off.

Hakan glanced at his watch impatiently. "Bro, we're late. Let's get to the car."

Blaze nodded, and the group left the hotel.

When they reached the consulate, Lena smiled as she watched Ivy take a deep breath, trembling with excitement. Unlike her, Blaze was completely calm, but there was a sharp seriousness in his eyes.

Blaze turned to Lena and lowered his voice. "You know a marriage of convenience is a crime, especially when millions in inheritance are at stake. Inside, we have to act like a real couple."

Lena raised her eyebrows slightly. Blaze extended his arm to her, signaling her to take it as they walked in.

Lena narrowed her eyes with a mocking expression. "Hmm. Do lovers in your part of the world walk arm in arm?" she asked. But instead of taking his arm, she took his hand. She threaded her fingers through his and squeezed tight.

Blaze looked down at her small fingers trapped in his palm. Her touch reminded him of that night. The moment he had laced his fingers with hers just like this. The warmth of Lena's skin spread through his body like an unfamiliar shiver.

Their eyes met. Silence stopped the flow of time for a few seconds.

Then Blaze bowed his head slightly and gestured toward the door with his eyes. "Let's go in," he said.

Minutes later, they were at the wedding registry. Lena heard the officer's words from a corner of her mind, but she couldn't focus on any of them.

Blaze's voice filled the void in her mind. When he spoke his mother's and father's names, Lena found herself repeating them automatically. Then only one sentence echoed in the room.

"Do you accept each other as husband and wife?"

Blaze's voice was deep and clear. "Yes," he said, looking into Lena's eyes with an emotion he couldn't name.

Lena swallowed, holding her breath as she felt the intensity in Blaze's gaze. Then her trembling lips answered in a whisper.

"Yes."

In that moment, they both felt that everything was just beginning.

At the consulate exit, a photographer had aimed his camera at Blaze and Lena.

"Sir, may I take your photo? Wishing you both happiness," he said, quickly stepping forward.

Blaze pulled about twenty dollars from his pocket and held it out. "Thank you, but there's no need. Please, take this."

The photographer, with a cheerful demeanor, replied, "Your wife is very beautiful. I just want you to have a lovely memory. I promise, there's no charge."

Blaze's gaze found Lena. "Yes. Very beautiful," he said, with an admiring look.

Lena's expression became meaningful, and she laughed, raising one eyebrow.

Blaze immediately turned his face away. "s**t. Assuming she didn't know English was my own stupidity," he said, shaking his head in embarrassment.

Ivy quickly jumped in. "Hello. Please take our photo."

The photographer began taking pictures with great delight.

Ivy immediately called out, "Blaze, you should at least have one wedding photo. Come on."

Lena nervously poked his arm.

Blaze took his hands out of his pockets and walked over to them. He stood rigidly next to Lena, who had even turned her gaze away.

The photographer called out, "Sir, please get closer."

Lena and Blaze's eyes met, and they reluctantly moved closer. Lena, playing her role, leaned against Blaze's chest.

Blaze, savoring her scent that reached his nose, wrapped his arm around her waist. And in that moment, these two strangers were immortalized.

Ivy stepped behind the photographer, quickly raised her phone, and captured a shot of her own. After the photographer finished shooting the couple, he printed two copies and handed them over. Amid the wedding hustle, Ivy excitedly made sure not to forget to get the digital version.

Ivy, glancing at the photo, excitedly slid next to Lena, raising her eyebrows slightly and smiling. "Look, your energy is so beautiful. You really look like a couple in love," she said, her eyes shining with admiration.

Lena carefully looked at the photo in her hand. Her attention was immediately drawn to the deep look in Blaze's eyes. His lips were slightly curled, and with his arm wrapped around her waist, he looked utterly possessive. A warmth first filled her chest, but then she quickly pulled herself together. Frowning, she grumbled, "What an annoying guy. He takes so much pleasure in messing with me."

Ivy giggled and quickly took out her phone, logging into her social media. Her fingers moved swiftly across the screen, and within seconds, she had made a post.

"My baby's happiest day. Anyone who wants to write a name under the shoe, drop a comment, girls. You won't find another couple getting married at warp speed. 😉"

She didn't forget to add a string of hashtags: #Georgia #Batumi #LenaKade #LenaandBlaze #LoveForALifetime

By the time Lena realized what Ivy had done, it was too late. Within minutes, the comments started pouring in. Congratulations, heart emojis, and lists of names appeared one after another. Because Ivy worked as a wellness coach, she had a considerable following, and the post quickly gained massive engagement.

About an hour later, Lena's phone began vibrating wildly. Her heart raced as she saw the incoming messages. Aside from the congratulations and well wishes, what really caught her attention were the news notifications.

SHOCK SHOCK SHOCK. Famous copywriter Lena Dean ties the knot.

BREAKING NEWS. Dumped her lawyer fiancé, married a businessman from Mardin.

WHO IS KADE?

Lena becomes the pioneer of an east west synthesis. Becoming a bride to the East.

BLAZE KADE, BUSINESSMAN FROM MARDIN.

Lena stared at the screen in astonishment, her eyes wide. Just then, she noticed that the same notifications had also popped up on Blaze's phone. The man's eyebrows were furrowed, and he shot her a harsh glare.

Lena took a deep breath and slowly turned her head toward Ivy. Her gaze was like a piercing arrow, fixed on her friend.

With a guilty smile, Ivy raised her hands and whispered apologetically, "I didn't predict this, honey. I mean, I just wanted that i***t Erkan and Bella to lose their minds."

Lena clenched her teeth and whispered, "Don't ask. Now, thanks to you, the whole country has lost its mind."

Amidst this chaos, one thought occupied Lena's mind. Her family. What would her mother and father do if they saw this? How would she explain it? She didn't want to disappoint them.

She murmured as if praying, "I hope my mom and dad don't see it."

Ivy immediately placed a reassuring hand on Lena's shoulder. "No way, they're in Bali, aren't they? They don't even get internet on their phones. They won't even hear the news," she said with certainty.

Lena sighed, but this was only buying time. When her parents returned to the country, it was certain that this news would reach them. Her only hope was that, like last time, they wouldn't return for at least another year and a half.

Her phone began to vibrate once more. This notification wasn't a series of short alerts, but a long ringtone. Her heartbeat quickened.

When she looked at the screen, she let out a deep sigh from within. She felt as if the world had collapsed on her.

"We're finished," she said, completely frozen.

Ivy quickly turned her head toward the phone.

Only one name appeared on the screen. Aunt Banu...