The CEO's Betrayed Bride

CHAPTER THREE: THE FIRST CRACKS

CHAPTER THREE: THE FIRST CRACKS

Judith's POV

Two weeks into my contract marriage, I attended my first high society gala as Mrs. Benjamin Sinclair. The event was held at one of the fanciest hotels in the city, with crystal chandeliers and servers carrying trays of champagne everywhere.

Benjamin's assistant, a woman named Joy, had helped me get ready. She picked out a beautiful navy blue dress that hugged my body and made me feel elegant. Joy was kind and didn't ask too many questions about our quick marriage, which I appreciated.

When Benjamin saw me, something changed in his expression for just a moment before his face went blank again. He offered me his arm and told me I looked nice, but his voice was formal and distant like always.

At the gala, everyone wanted to meet me and ask questions about how we met. Benjamin had prepared a story about us knowing each other for months and falling in love quickly. I smiled and nodded and tried to remember all the details we had practiced.

The hardest part was pretending to be in love with Benjamin while he stood next to me with his hand on my lower back. His touch felt warm through the thin fabric of my dress, and I had to remind myself this was all fake.

Then I saw them across the room. Matthew and Mirabel, dressed up and smiling like they hadn't destroyed my life two weeks ago. My breath caught in my throat, and I felt Benjamin's hand tighten on my waist.

He leaned down close to my ear and asked if I was okay. I wanted to lie and say yes, but instead I told him the truth. I pointed out Matthew and Mirabel, and Benjamin's jaw clenched tight.

Before I could stop him, Benjamin guided me straight toward them. My heart pounded as we got closer, but I forced myself to keep my head high. I wouldn't let them see me fall apart again.

Matthew's eyes went wide when he saw me on Benjamin's arm. Mirabel looked like someone had slapped her, which made me feel a tiny bit better. Beatrice stood next to them, and her face turned red with anger.

Benjamin introduced himself and me as his wife, emphasizing the word in a way that made it sound like a challenge. Matthew tried to stammer out congratulations, but Benjamin cut him off.

Matthew pulled me aside when Benjamin stepped away to get drinks, and he had the nerve to say he made a mistake. He said he missed me and wished he could take everything back. He even reached for my hand like he thought I would just forgive him.

I pulled my hand away and told him very clearly that I didn't miss him at all. I told him he did me a favor by showing me who he really was before I wasted any more time on him.

His face turned ugly then, and he said some mean things about how I only married Benjamin for his money. He said everyone knew it was fake and I was just a gold digger now.

Before I could respond, Benjamin appeared beside me again. He handed me a glass of champagne and asked Matthew if there was a problem. His voice was cold and dangerous in a way I had never heard before.

Matthew backed off quickly, mumbling an apology and walking away. Mirabel followed him, shooting me nasty looks over her shoulder. Beatrice stayed a moment longer, studying me with calculating eyes before she left too.

Benjamin asked me again if I was okay, and this time his voice was softer. I realized he was actually worried about me, not just protecting his image. Something warm bloomed in my chest at that thought.

Then Benjamin did something that shocked me. He leaned down and kissed me right there in the middle of the gala, in front of everyone. It wasn't a gentle peck like at our city hall wedding. This kiss was deeper, more real, and it made my knees weak.

When he pulled back, I saw something burning in his gray eyes that hadn't been there before. He told me very quietly that no one would ever hurt me again while I was his wife, contract or not.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. People congratulated us and asked questions, but I barely heard them. I kept thinking about that kiss and the way Benjamin had defended me without hesitation.

On the drive home, Benjamin was quiet and stared out the window. I wanted to ask him about the kiss, about why he seemed so angry at Matthew, about what any of it meant. But I was too scared of the answer.

Back at the penthouse, I went straight to my room and changed into pajamas. I couldn't stop thinking about everything that happened. Seeing Matthew again hadn't hurt as much as I expected. Maybe I was already moving on, or maybe Benjamin's presence had made me feel safe enough to face my past.

I was brushing my teeth when I heard a knock on my door. Benjamin stood in the hallway, still wearing his tux but looking tired. He asked if we could talk, and I nodded, letting him into my room.

He apologized for kissing me without permission. He said he got carried away when he saw Matthew bothering me, and it wouldn't happen again. The contract said no emotional involvement, and he promised to respect that.

But I didn't want him to apologize. The kiss had felt good, had felt right in a way that scared me. I told him it was okay, that I understood he was just playing his part.

Benjamin looked at me for a long moment, and I saw something conflicted in his expression. He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something else, but then he just nodded and said goodnight.

After he left, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. This was supposed to be simple, one year of pretending, then we would go our separate ways. But nothing felt simple anymore.

I was starting to have feelings for my fake husband, and that was definitely not part of our contract.