CHAPTER FOUR
1100 Words
The dinner ended quietly.
No small talk.
No unnecessary politeness.
Just two strangers bound by a future neither fully understood.
Olivia placed her fork down gently. “Thank you for the meal.”
Theodore nodded once. “You’ll need to prepare.”
“For the wedding?”
“Yes. And the aftermath.”
She understood immediately.
The moment the marriage was announced, rumors would explode. Questions would come. Attention would follow.
She had lived quietly for years.
That would end.
“I’m fine,” she said.
He studied her expression.
Calm.
Too calm.
“You don’t fear public opinion?” he asked.
“No.”
“They’ll call you opportunistic.”
“I am.”
“They’ll call you heartless.”
“I am.”
“They’ll say you trapped me.”
She met his eyes.
“I did.”
For the first time, Theodore almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
But because she was brutally honest.
“You’re dangerous,” he said.
Olivia shook her head.
“No. I’m just tired of losing.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
He didn’t respond.
When Olivia returned home, the lights were still on.
She stepped inside quietly.
Clara looked up immediately.
“Olivia, where did you go?”
Olivia removed her shoes calmly.
“Out.”
“With who?”
Olivia paused slightly.
“Someone.”
Clara’s smile stiffened.
Lena leaned forward.
“A friend?”
Olivia nodded.
“Yes.”
Lena studied her.
Something had changed.
Olivia looked… different.
Still calm.
Still quiet.
But there was something else.
Confidence.
And Lena hated it.
Her father spoke without looking up from his newspaper.
“You should focus on school, Olivia.”
“I am.”
“Don’t get distracted.”
“I won’t.”
The conversation ended there.
Like always.
No one asked further.
No one cared enough.
Olivia walked upstairs.
Behind her, Lena’s gaze followed slowly.
Something was definitely wrong.
Three days later.
The news broke.
Sinclair Group official announcement:
"Mr. Theodore Sinclair will be getting married next week."
The internet exploded.
Who?
When?
Why?
No one knew the bride.
Rumors spread wildly.
Socialites panicked.
Business circles whispered.
University campus buzzed with excitement.
Olivia walked into class as usual.
Students whispered loudly.
“Did you see? Theodore Sinclair is getting married!”
“I wonder who she is.”
“She must be some powerful heiress.”
“Of course. He wouldn’t choose randomly.”
Olivia sat quietly.
Daniel slid into the seat beside her.
“Did you hear?”
“Yes.”
He sighed.
“Lucky woman.”
Olivia looked at him.
“You think so?”
“Of course. He’s rich, powerful… every woman dreams of that.”
Olivia didn’t respond.
Lena walked in a few minutes later.
Her face was pale.
She sat slowly.
Daniel turned to her.
“Lena, are you okay?”
She forced a smile.
“Yes… I just didn’t sleep well.”
Her fingers tightened under the desk.
Theodore Sinclair…
Getting married?
So suddenly?
Without warning?
She had planned to meet him at the charity gala.
She had prepared everything.
Her gentle persona.
Her elegant dress.
Her soft smile.
Now—
It was useless.
She glanced at Olivia.
Olivia was writing quietly.
Unaffected.
Unbothered.
And Lena suddenly felt irritated.
Why did she look so calm?
That afternoon, Olivia received another message.
"Pick you up at 5 PM. Family meeting."
She replied:
"Okay."
At exactly 5 PM, the car arrived again.
This time, Lena saw it clearly.
She walked to the window slowly.
Her heart beat faster.
“Olivia, someone is here for you again,” she called sweetly.
Olivia came downstairs.
“Yes.”
Clara frowned.
“Who keeps sending cars for you?”
Olivia picked up her bag.
“You’ll know soon.”
And she walked out.
Lena’s heart dropped.
Something was very wrong.
Sinclair Mansion.
Massive.
Silent.
Intimidating.
Olivia stepped inside.
Theodore stood in the living room.
But he wasn’t alone.
An older man sat on the sofa.
Sharp eyes.
Cold aura.
Theodore’s father.
“Father,” Theodore said calmly, “This is Olivia.”
The man looked at her.
Long.
Assessing.
Judging.
“You’re the one?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Background?”
“University student.”
“Family?”
“Ordinary.”
He frowned.
“You think you’re suitable?”
Olivia answered calmly.
“No.”
Silence filled the room.
Theodore’s father narrowed his eyes.
“Then why agree?”
Olivia met his gaze.
“Because your son chose me.”
Theodore watched her quietly.
She didn’t tremble.
Didn’t try to impress.
Just stood calmly.
His father leaned back.
“She’s honest.”
Theodore replied,
“That’s why.”
The older man studied Olivia again.
“You understand this marriage is not love.”
“Yes.”
“You understand the pressure.”
“Yes.”
“You understand you can’t embarrass the Sinclair family.”
“Yes.”
Finally, he nodded.
“Fine.”
That was all.
Approval.
Simple.
Cold.
Just like them.
Theodore spoke,
“The wedding is in three days.”
Olivia nodded.
“Understood.”
His father stood.
“Don’t disappoint me.”
She replied calmly.
“I won’t.”
He left.
The room became quiet again.
Theodore looked at her.
“You handled that well.”
“I just told the truth.”
“You’re not afraid of him?”
“No.”
“Why?”
She answered softly.
“I’ve seen worse.”
He didn’t ask further.
But he wanted to.
Very much.
Meanwhile, at home.
Lena paced her room.
Her mind raced.
The cars.
Olivia’s calmness.
The secrecy.
Something was happening behind her back.
She grabbed her phone.
Called a friend.
“Can you check something for me?”
“Sure.”
“Find out who Olivia has been meeting recently.”
“Okay.”
Lena ended the call.
Her expression darkened.
If Olivia dared…
She wouldn’t let her succeed.
Never.
That night, Olivia lay in bed.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from Theodore.
"Wedding rehearsal tomorrow."
She replied.
"Okay."
Then another message.
"Are you nervous?"
She stared at the screen.
After a moment, she typed:
"No."
Three dots appeared.
Then:
"You should be."
She replied:
"Why?"
His answer came.
"Because once you become Mrs. Sinclair, your life changes."
She looked at the words quietly.
Then typed:
"That’s the point."
He didn’t reply.
But somewhere, in another part of the city—
Theodore stared at the screen.
And for the first time…
He wondered if marrying her…
Was a mistake.
Or the most dangerous decision he had ever made.
- Writer
