The Tycoon’s Surprise Bride

Chapter 7

~Aria's POV~

I took the pen, my hand trembling slightly, and began to sign. The contract felt like a shroud, trapping me. I initialed each page, and signed my name at the bottom with a sense of surrendering myself.

Miles took the document back, checked the signatures, and nodded with professional approval.

"Very good, Miss Aria. Mr. Sterling will be informed. The marriage will take place in three days. You will receive further instructions regarding the ceremony and moving to Mr. Sterling's estate. Do you have any questions?" I shook my head mutely, feeling numb. Miles stood up.

"Then this concludes our meeting. I trust you understand your obligations, Miss Aria. Do not fail Mr. Sterling or yourself in this arrangement." His tone was a clear warning. I rose, the contract a heavy reality in my mind, and nodded.

"I understand." With that, I turned and left the office, the humiliating contract a binding promise I had made to a man I didn't know, for the sake of my family.

As I walked out of the law office, my phone buzzed in my bag. I fished it out, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the message was from Ethan. I opened it with a mix of apprehension and reluctance.

"Hey Aria, need to meet you ASAP at my suite. We need to talk." I stared at the message, feeling a surge of anger and disgust.

I typed out a response with a hint of dismissal "I'm not coming. Whatever it is, say it here or not at all."

I sent the message and waited, my thoughts still reeling from the contract I had just signed. A few seconds later, my phone buzzed again. Ethan's response was simple and unexpected

"Oh, don't fell so special. It's about the divorce papers. I need you to sign them, ASAP! Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

I felt a jolt of panic as I read the message. I had completely forgotten about the divorce — I was still married to Ethan, and I had just agreed to marry Kaden Sterling.

The implications hit me like a ton of bricks: if I didn't get divorced from Ethan, the contract with Mr. Sterling could be invalid or, worse, I'd be committing bigamy.

I needed to sort this out, and fast. I remembered the clause in the contract — I had to comply with all of Mr. Sterling's requests and act as his wife, but I was still legally tied to Ethan. This could ruin everything.

I quickly typed out a new message to Ethan, my fingers hurried and anxious, "Alright. I'll come. When and where is your suite?" Ethan replied almost immediately, "Come now. 3205, The Regent Hotel. I'll have the papers ready."

I took a deep breath, calculating the risk and necessity. I had to get this sorted before proceeding with the arrangement with Mr. Sterling. I texted back, "I'm on my way."

I hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address of The Regent Hotel, urging him to hurry. As the taxi sped through the traffic, my mind was a whirl of anxiety. I hoped Ethan didn't know of my agreement with Me. Sterling. What more would Ethan want, if he knew? And how would this affect my deal with Kaden Sterling? I needed to get the divorce papers signed, and I needed to inform Mr. Sterling's solicitor — but I didn't have time for that now.

The taxi pulled up at The Regent Hotel, and I tossed some cash at the driver before rushing into the lobby. I took the elevator to the 32nd floor, found suite 3205, and knocked on the door with a sense of foreboding.

Ethan opened the door, his expression complicated — a mix of guilt and calculation, as he stepped aside to let me in, gesturing into the suite, and offered with a casual smile, "Want a cup of coffee first?"

I shook my head, my focus sharp and impatient. "No. Where are the papers? I want to sign them." Ethan's expression turned curious, his eyebrows lifting slightly.

"What's with the change of mind? You weren't exactly eager to let go before. Now…you want it like this?"

He emphasized the words with a hint of knowingness, as if expecting me to reveal some hidden motive. I met his gaze coolly, my emotions in check.

"I don't care anymore, Ethan. You don't love me, and you've moved on with your secretary. Why should I fight for a marriage that's already gone?" I said it matter-of-factly, my voice firm and detached. Ethan's smile faltered for a moment; he looked taken aback by my indifference. He hadn't expected that.

"Something's changed about you," he said slowly, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. I didn't give him the reaction he was looking for. Instead, I replied with urgency, my hands slightly outstretched. "The papers! Just give them to me." My tone was brusque, conveying I wasn't there for a conversation.

Ethan's expression turned puzzled, but he nodded slowly and said, "Okay." He walked to a chair where a leather bag was seated, opened it, and pulled out a set of documents. He held them in his hand, then stretched his arm forward, offering the papers to me.

"Here." I stepped forward, reaching out to take the divorce papers, my fingers almost touching them. But as I did, Ethan suddenly raised his hand, not to give me the papers, but to grab my wrist.

He pulled me closer to him, closing the distance between us abruptly. I stumbled forward, my chest colliding with his, and he held me there, his grip firm around my waist.