"Congratulations on your marriage."

Elena stepped out of the civil affairs bureau, clutching a freshly printed marriage certificate, her heart pounding with exhilaration. She had done it.

"Thank you for your service,"

She said, handing a wad of cash to the man beside her who had played her husband.

Without another word, she hopped on her scooter and zipped off, a smile stretching wide across her face.

She was now, without question, the happiest woman alive. This certificate would finally put an end to her parents' relentless matchmaking attempts.

She could already imagine their faces when she pulled out that precious piece of paper and waved it in front of them.

At home, she bounded into the living room, where her parents sat sipping tea, blissfully unaware of the shock she was about to unleash.

"Hello, Mommy, Daddy," she said, plopping down across from them, legs sprawled carelessly—a posture her mother had long disapproved of.

"Elena! Can't you sit like a proper young lady?" her mother scolded.

Elena grinned mischievously. "Mom, I have some great news!"

Her parents sighed heavily. By now, they were used to their daughter's antics, and nothing seemed to surprise them anymore.

"And what news would that be?" her father asked warily.

With a dramatic flourish, Elena reached into her purse and pulled out the marriage certificate.

"Elena!" her father, James, exclaimed, shooting up from his seat, his eyes bulging with shock. "I hope that isn't what I think it is!"

"It's exactly what you think, Daddy," she said, waving the certificate triumphantly.

James clutched the back of his neck, groaning. "This girl is going to be the death of me."

"Elena, are you telling us you're… married?" Her mother, Mary, gasped, struggling to process what she was seeing.

"Yes, Mommy! I finally found the love of my life," Elena lied smoothly, flashing a brilliant smile. "I hope you two will bless our marriage."

"Bless my foot!" James growled, yanking off his slipper and lunging after her, while Mary encouraged him.

"Get her good, James!"

Elena laughed, easily evading her father as he chased her around the spacious living room.

After a few futile attempts, James stopped, panting and out of breath.

"E-Elena, I… better not catch you!"

"Daddy, can't you be happy for me?" she asked, feigning innocence.

"Happy?" He scoffed, narrowing his eyes. "I know you, young lady. Now, who did you hire this time?"

Elena couldn't help but grin, impressed that her parents knew her so well. But she wasn't about to let them win. Not yet.

"How could you say that, Daddy? I can't believe you'd think so little of me!"

"You little—" he began, but Mary placed a calming hand on his arm, silencing him.

"Fine, Elena," her father said, regaining his composure. "Can we meet this… husband of yours?"

Elena blinked, caught off guard. She hadn't expected them to actually ask to meet him.

"Shit," she muttered under her breath, realizing she hadn't even gotten the man's phone number in her haste to rub her "marriage" in her parents' faces.

"So, when are we meeting him?" Mary asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Tomorrow!" Elena blurted out, scrambling for an answer.

"Tomorrow?" James echoed suspiciously.

"Yes, tomorrow!" she said, hoping she sounded confident.

"Fine. Bring your husband over for dinner tomorrow. We'll be waiting."

"Absolutely!" she replied hastily, then hurried up to her room, where she collapsed onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. What had she gotten herself into?

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts.

"How did it go?" her friend Charlotte had texted.

Elena grinned as she typed a reply. "Got married."

"What?! Video call NOW!"

Almost instantly, Charlotte's face popped up on her screen. "What did you just say?"

"I got married."

"Married? When? How? To whom?"

Elena sighed, recounting the entire mess to her friend.

"So, what are you going to do?" Charlotte asked, concerned. "How will you find this guy?"

"I have no idea…"

Just as she said that, a message notification popped up on her screen.

"Hi, it's the man from the civil affairs bureau. I was wondering if we could meet. There's something I'd like to discuss."

Elena shot up from her bed, squealing in excitement.

"What? What is it?" Charlotte demanded.

"He just texted me!"

"No way!"

"Yes, he wants to meet! Should I go?"

"Elena, is that even a question? If you don't meet up, how will you introduce him to your parents?"

Nodding, Elena quickly replied to the message. "Sure."

He responded almost immediately, as if he had been waiting for her answer. "Sweet Cake Café. I'll see you there in an hour if that's okay with you."

"Okay," she replied, her heart racing.

Ending the video call with Charlotte, she hurried into the bathroom to get ready.

She chose a pair of fitted blue jeans, a cropped leather jacket over a sports bra, and a pair of red-bottom heels.

She pulled her hair back into a messy bun, leaving a few strands to frame her face. With minimal makeup, her natural beauty shone through.

As she walked out of her room, her mother's voice stopped her. "Where are you going?"

"To meet my husband," she replied nonchalantly, skipping out of the living room while her parents stared in shock.

"This girl," James muttered, shaking his head in defeat.

Elena's sleek red convertible rolled up outside the café where they had arranged to meet.

But as she stepped out, something felt… off. Despite it being midday, the usually bustling street was eerily quiet. And in front of the café stood a group of men in black, their faces partially obscured by dark glasses and masks.

A chill ran down her spine, and she instinctively turned back toward her car. Just as she was about to slip inside, a firm voice called out her name.

"Miss Elena Reed."

She froze, then slowly turned to face a tall, imposing man striding toward her.

"Miss Reed, the boss is waiting for you."