Talia barely slept that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the contract.

Her signature.

Her future.

By morning, her phone rang.

"Miss Morgan," a polite female voice said. "This is Eliza, Mr. Blackwood's personal assistant. A car will arrive in thirty minutes to take you to your new residence."

New residence.

The words felt unreal.

"O-Okay," Talia replied quietly.

"Please pack only essentials. Everything else will be handled."

The call ended before she could protest.

She stared around her tiny apartment-the peeling paint, the secondhand couch, the textbooks stacked on the floor. This place had been her struggle, her survival.

And now... she was leaving it all behind.

The car that arrived wasn't just a car.

It was a sleek black luxury vehicle with tinted windows and a driver in a suit.

Talia stepped inside nervously.

As they pulled away, she watched her neighborhood disappear through the window. The noisy streets. The food vendors. The familiar chaos.

Her world.

An hour later, the gates opened.

And she froze.

The mansion before her looked like something out of a movie.

Tall white pillars. A long driveway. Perfect gardens. A massive fountain in the center.

She stepped out slowly.

This wasn't just rich.

This was untouchable wealth.

A tall woman in a neat uniform approached her immediately.

"Welcome, Mrs. Blackwood."

The words hit like thunder.

Mrs. Blackwood.

"I'm Grace," the woman continued warmly. "Head of household staff. We've been instructed to attend to all your needs."

All your needs.

Talia forced a small smile. "Thank you."

Grace led her inside.

The interior was even more breathtaking. Marble floors. High ceilings. Chandeliers. Artworks that probably cost more than her entire life savings.

"This will be your room," Grace said, opening a large door.

Room?

It was bigger than Talia's entire apartment.

King-sized bed. Walk-in closet. Private balcony. A bathroom that looked like a spa.

"This... this is too much," Talia whispered.

"It's yours," Grace said gently. "Anything you need, you only have to ask."

Talia nodded slowly, still overwhelmed.

"Mr. Blackwood asked that you join him for dinner tonight," Grace added.

Her heart skipped.

Dinner with him.

Alone.

That evening, she stood in front of the mirror, staring at herself.

Grace had provided dresses. Expensive ones.

Talia chose a simple soft-blue dress that made her look more confident than she felt.

When she entered the dining room, Adrian was already there.

Seated. Calm. Perfectly dressed.

His gaze lifted when she walked in.

And for a brief second...

He stared.

Not cold.

Not distant.

Just silent.

Then his expression returned to neutral.

"You're on time," he said.

"Your staff is very efficient."

"Yes."

She took the seat across from him.

Dinner was quiet. Too quiet.

Talia pushed food around her plate nervously.

"So..." she finally said. "How does this work in public?"

He looked at her calmly. "What do you mean?"

"The marriage. The pretending."

"You'll be introduced as my wife at an event this weekend."

Her fork paused.

"Event?"

"A family dinner."

Family.

Her stomach tightened.

"They're expecting me to be... perfect, aren't they?"

"They're expecting you to be my wife."

That wasn't reassuring.

She hesitated. "And if they don't like me?"

Adrian's voice was firm. "That won't matter."

But something in his eyes suggested it did.

Later that night, Talia stood on the balcony of her room, staring out at the city lights.

This life didn't feel real.

She hugged her arms around herself.

What if she messed this up?

What if she embarrassed him?

What if she started feeling things she wasn't supposed to feel?

Her phone buzzed.

A message from an unknown number.

Stay away from Adrian Blackwood.

You don't belong in his world.

Her breath caught.

Another message followed immediately.

You're just temporary. Don't forget that.

Talia's hands trembled.

Who was sending these?

She stared at the screen, heart pounding.

Inside the house, somewhere down the hall, Adrian Blackwood stood quietly in his office, unaware that his past had already found its way to her.

And the contract marriage had only just begun.

The dining hall looked like something out of royalty.

A long polished table. Crystal glasses. Golden chandeliers. Perfectly arranged plates.

And too many eyes.

Talia sat beside Adrian, her hands folded tightly on her lap. Around them sat people who clearly belonged to his world - elegant men, glamorous women, sharp smiles hiding sharper judgments.

She could feel it.

They were assessing her.

"Adrian, darling!" a woman with perfectly styled blonde hair said brightly. "You never told us your wife was so... young."

Wife.

The word still felt heavy.

"This is my aunt, Victoria," Adrian said calmly.

Victoria's smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Victoria Blackwood."

"Talia," she replied politely. "Nice to meet you."

Victoria's gaze swept over her dress, her posture, her face - as though searching for flaws.

"And what exactly do you do, dear?" Victoria asked.

Talia opened her mouth to answer, but another woman cut in.

"She's probably just enjoying Adrian's money," a voice said lightly.

Soft laughter spread around the table.

Talia's chest tightened.

Adrian's expression didn't change - but his jaw did.

The woman who had spoken leaned back confidently. She was stunning. Too stunning. Dark hair. Sharp eyes. Dangerous smile.

"And you are?" Talia asked calmly.

The woman tilted her head slightly. "Serena Vale."

The name landed like thunder.

The jealous ex.

Serena's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Adrian and I were together for three years," she added sweetly. "Practically inseparable."

Silence followed.

Everyone watched Talia now.

Waiting to see her reaction.

Her heart pounded, but she kept her face calm.

"That must have been a long time ago," Talia said evenly.

Serena's smile faltered for a split second.

"Not really," she replied smoothly. "Some things are hard to let go of."

The tension in the room was suffocating.

Victoria cleared her throat. "Well, we're just happy Adrian finally settled down."

Settled down.

Talia forced a small smile.

Dinner continued, but every question felt like a test.

Where did you grow up?

What does your family do?

Do you even understand Blackwood traditions?

It felt less like dinner and more like interrogation.

Then Serena leaned closer.

"So tell me," she said softly. "Do you love him?"

The table went still.

Every eye turned to Talia.

Love.

That word.

Her pulse thundered.

She glanced at Adrian briefly. His face was calm, unreadable. But his eyes were fixed on her.

Waiting.

Talia inhaled slowly.

Then she smiled.

"I respect him," she said calmly. "And I'm grateful to be his wife."

A safe answer.

Neutral.

The room relaxed slightly.

But Serena didn't look satisfied.

She leaned back, studying Talia like prey.

"This marriage won't last," she said quietly, just loud enough. "Adrian doesn't stay with anyone forever."

Something inside Talia twisted.

Before she could respond, Adrian finally spoke.

"That's enough, Serena."

His voice was calm, but cold enough to freeze the room.

Serena blinked, surprised.

"I don't recall inviting you to comment on my marriage."

Silence.

Everyone froze.

Serena's confident smile slowly faded.

"I was only being honest," she said.

"I don't need your honesty," Adrian replied flatly. "I need your respect."

Talia's heart skipped.

He was defending her.

The rest of the table sat stunned.

Victoria quickly changed the subject, but the atmosphere had shifted.

When dinner finally ended, Talia excused herself and stepped into the hallway, her heart still racing.

She let out a shaky breath.

She had survived.

Or so she thought.

"Not bad," a voice said behind her.

She turned.

Serena stood there, arms crossed, eyes sharp.

"You held your own," Serena admitted. "Most girls would have broken."

"I'm not most girls," Talia replied calmly.

Serena studied her for a long moment.

Then she smiled again - slow, dangerous.

"You think this is a real marriage?" she asked quietly.

Talia didn't answer.

"You're a contract," Serena continued softly. "A temporary solution to his problems. When he's done using you, he'll throw you away."

The words struck deeper than Talia wanted to admit.

Serena stepped closer.

"And when that happens," she whispered, "I'll still be here."

Talia's chest tightened.

Before she could respond, footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Adrian appeared.

Serena instantly stepped back, her expression innocent.

"We were just talking," she said sweetly.

Adrian's eyes flicked between them.

His gaze lingered briefly on Talia.

"Leave," he said to Serena.

The single word held absolute authority.

Serena hesitated, then smiled tightly and walked away.

Silence filled the hallway.

Talia looked at Adrian.

"You didn't have to defend me," she said quietly.

"Yes, I did."

"Why?"

He studied her for a moment, then answered simply.

"Because you're my wife."

The words sent an unexpected shiver through her.

Not the contract.

Not the agreement.

Not the arrangement.

My wife.

And for the first time since signing the contract, Talia felt something dangerously unfamiliar in her chest.

Something that felt a lot like the beginning of trouble.

The dining hall looked like something out of royalty.

A long polished table. Crystal glasses. Golden chandeliers. Perfectly arranged plates.

And too many eyes.

Talia sat beside Adrian, her hands folded tightly on her lap. Around them sat people who clearly belonged to his world - elegant men, glamorous women, sharp smiles hiding sharper judgments.

She could feel it.

They were assessing her.

"Adrian, darling!" a woman with perfectly styled blonde hair said brightly. "You never told us your wife was so... young."

Wife.

The word still felt heavy.

"This is my aunt, Victoria," Adrian said calmly.

Victoria's smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Victoria Blackwood."

"Talia," she replied politely. "Nice to meet you."

Victoria's gaze swept over her dress, her posture, her face - as though searching for flaws.

"And what exactly do you do, dear?" Victoria asked.

Talia opened her mouth to answer, but another woman cut in.

"She's probably just enjoying Adrian's money," a voice said lightly.

Soft laughter spread around the table.

Talia's chest tightened.

Adrian's expression didn't change - but his jaw did.

The woman who had spoken leaned back confidently. She was stunning. Too stunning. Dark hair. Sharp eyes. Dangerous smile.

"And you are?" Talia asked calmly.

The woman tilted her head slightly. "Serena Vale."

The name landed like thunder.

The jealous ex.

Serena's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Adrian and I were together for three years," she added sweetly. "Practically inseparable."

Silence followed.

Everyone watched Talia now.

Waiting to see her reaction.

Her heart pounded, but she kept her face calm.

"That must have been a long time ago," Talia said evenly.

Serena's smile faltered for a split second.

"Not really," she replied smoothly. "Some things are hard to let go of."

The tension in the room was suffocating.

Victoria cleared her throat. "Well, we're just happy Adrian finally settled down."

Settled down.

Talia forced a small smile.

Dinner continued, but every question felt like a test.

Where did you grow up?

What does your family do?

Do you even understand Blackwood traditions?

It felt less like dinner and more like interrogation.

Then Serena leaned closer.

"So tell me," she said softly. "Do you love him?"

The table went still.

Every eye turned to Talia.

Love.

That word.

Her pulse thundered.

She glanced at Adrian briefly. His face was calm, unreadable. But his eyes were fixed on her.

Waiting.

Talia inhaled slowly.

Then she smiled.

"I respect him," she said calmly. "And I'm grateful to be his wife."

A safe answer.

Neutral.

The room relaxed slightly.

But Serena didn't look satisfied.

She leaned back, studying Talia like prey.

"This marriage won't last," she said quietly, just loud enough. "Adrian doesn't stay with anyone forever."

Something inside Talia twisted.

Before she could respond, Adrian finally spoke.

"That's enough, Serena."

His voice was calm, but cold enough to freeze the room.

Serena blinked, surprised.

"I don't recall inviting you to comment on my marriage."

Silence.

Everyone froze.

Serena's confident smile slowly faded.

"I was only being honest," she said.

"I don't need your honesty," Adrian replied flatly. "I need your respect."

Talia's heart skipped.

He was defending her.

The rest of the table sat stunned.

Victoria quickly changed the subject, but the atmosphere had shifted.

When dinner finally ended, Talia excused herself and stepped into the hallway, her heart still racing.

She let out a shaky breath.

She had survived.

Or so she thought.

"Not bad," a voice said behind her.

She turned.

Serena stood there, arms crossed, eyes sharp.

"You held your own," Serena admitted. "Most girls would have broken."

"I'm not most girls," Talia replied calmly.

Serena studied her for a long moment.

Then she smiled again - slow, dangerous.

"You think this is a real marriage?" she asked quietly.

Talia didn't answer.

"You're a contract," Serena continued softly. "A temporary solution to his problems. When he's done using you, he'll throw you away."

The words struck deeper than Talia wanted to admit.

Serena stepped closer.

"And when that happens," she whispered, "I'll still be here."

Talia's chest tightened.

Before she could respond, footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Adrian appeared.

Serena instantly stepped back, her expression innocent.

"We were just talking," she said sweetly.

Adrian's eyes flicked between them.

His gaze lingered briefly on Talia.

"Leave," he said to Serena.

The single word held absolute authority.

Serena hesitated, then smiled tightly and walked away.

Silence filled the hallway.

Talia looked at Adrian.

"You didn't have to defend me," she said quietly.

"Yes, I did."

"Why?"

He studied her for a moment, then answered simply.

"Because you're my wife."

The words sent an unexpected shiver through her.

Not the contract.

Not the agreement.

Not the arrangement.

My wife.

And for the first time since signing the contract, Talia felt something dangerously unfamiliar in her chest.

Something that felt a lot like the beginning of trouble.