No Rules Only You

First Rule Broken

Sophia barely slept that night. The contract still haunted her—every clause written with the coldness of a man who trusted nothing and no one. She had skimmed past financial clauses, lifestyle restrictions, even the ones dictating how she should act in public. But there was one sentence that wouldn’t leave her mind:

Clause 7: No Emotional Attachment.

She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. How could something so human be turned into a rule? Was Ethan trying to protect her from disappointment… or protect himself from something far deeper?

At 2 a.m., she had given up on sleep. She sat by her tiny apartment window, watching the city lights flicker against the night sky. The thought of tomorrow both terrified and excited her. She knew once she stepped into his world, there would be no turning back.

---

By the time dawn arrived, Sophia had chosen her outfit three times before settling on a simple white blouse and navy skirt. Her fingers trembled as she brushed her hair, tying it back neatly. She didn’t own anything designer, but she told herself confidence could outshine any label.

At exactly 9 a.m., the rumble of an expensive engine outside made her heart lurch. She peeked through the curtain to see a sleek, black sedan parked in front of her building. Neighbors lingered outside, whispering and pointing. She swallowed hard and grabbed her bag, stepping out as though walking into another life.

The car door opened automatically, and there he was. Liam.

Immaculate in a charcoal suit, sharp jawline, eyes lowered at his phone as though the world outside was a nuisance. He didn’t glance up until she slid into the seat beside him.

“You’re on time,” he said without looking up.

“And you’re early,” she replied softly.

That earned her something unexpected—a brief flicker of surprise in his eyes before his lips almost curved. Almost.

---

The ride was silent, filled with the low hum of the engine and the faint scent of leather mixed with his cologne. Sophia tried to steady her breathing, but every time her gaze drifted to him, she felt smaller, like he carried a weight she couldn’t yet understand.

“Where are we going?” she finally asked.

“Hotel Meridian,” he replied smoothly. “There’s a press conference. It’s time the world knows you exist.”

Her stomach dropped. “Press… conference?”

He turned to her then, his eyes sharp and unyielding. “You’re my fiancée now. Publicly. That means questions. Cameras. People digging into your life. If you want to survive in my world, you’ll smile when necessary, answer only when I give you permission, and never—ever—show them fear. Understood?”

She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “Understood.”

---

The hotel entrance was chaos. Reporters swarmed like bees, cameras flashing, microphones shoved forward.

“Mr. Gray! Who is she?”

“Is the engagement real?”

“When’s the wedding?”

“Is this a merger deal disguised as love?”

Before Sophia could panic, Ethan's arm slipped firmly around her waist. The sudden heat of his touch nearly stole her breath. His grip was possessive, grounding, almost protective. For a man who claimed he felt nothing, his touch told another story.

“This is my fiancée,” Ethan declared, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. “We’re very happy together.”

It was rehearsed. Calculated. But Sophia’s heart betrayed her, hammering against her chest. His hand lingered on her waist longer than necessary, his body leaning just enough to shield her from the most aggressive flashes.

She knew it was an act. And yet—her skin tingled where his hand pressed. Her heart whispered something dangerous: This doesn’t feel fake.

---

Hours later, when the conference ended, Sophia felt like she had run a marathon. Her cheeks ached from smiling, her throat was dry from brief polite responses. Liam hadn’t once let go of her hand, as though reminding the room she belonged to him.

Back in the car, silence stretched thick between them. The city lights flickered outside as Liam finally spoke.

“You did well,” he said, his tone softer than before. “Better than I expected.”

“Thanks,” she murmured, staring at her clasped hands.

He studied her for a long moment, then added, “But remember—today was performance. Nothing more. The rules are there for a reason.”

Sophia forced a nod, though her throat tightened. “I know.”

But she didn’t know why her chest hurt hearing him say it. She didn’t know why her lips tingled from the memory of being so close to his.

And she didn’t know why, deep in her heart, she felt it—one rule had already been broken.

---

That night, as she lay in bed, her phone buzzed with a new message. From Ethan.

“You’ll need a new wardrobe. My assistant will arrange it tomorrow.”

S

ophia stared at the screen, biting her lip. Cold, direct, businesslike. And yet… he had thought of her.

Her heart betrayed her again, whispering what her mind screamed to deny.

She was already falling.