Lena stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror, her fingers nervously adjusting the elegant black dress that hugged her figure. It was perfect for tonight. Sleek, simple, and stylish—but it didn't feel like her. She was supposed to be Ethan Rivers' wife, but it felt like she was playing a part. A role she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to be in.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. This wasn't a fairy tale. There would be no grand romance, no passionate love between her and Ethan. They had both agreed to this marriage for very different reasons, and she had to remind herself of that. The reality was much colder than she'd imagined, and the fact that she had signed a contract to be bound to a man who barely spoke to her—let alone trusted her—made her skin crawl.
She looked at the clock. It was almost time. She wasn't ready for the evening ahead, but there was no turning back. This was part of the agreement. This was the "role" she had to play if she wanted to keep her stability and move forward.
The doorbell rang, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was 7 PM sharp. She had known he would be on time. Ethan Rivers was never late.
Lena walked over to the door, trying to steady her breathing, and opened it to find Ethan standing on the other side. His tall, imposing figure filled the doorway. His dark suit was sharp and crisp, and the cold, unreadable expression on his face made it clear that he was all business.
"Ready?" he asked in a tone that gave nothing away.
Lena nodded, forcing a smile. "Ready."
Ethan didn't return the smile. Instead, he stepped aside, motioning for her to follow him. As she stepped out into the hallway, she couldn't shake the feeling that tonight would be different. She had no idea why, but something in the air felt charged. There was an unease in her chest, like the calm before a storm.
They made their way to the waiting car, and the short drive to the gala venue was quiet. Ethan didn't speak a word, and Lena wasn't sure if he expected her to say something or if he was simply lost in his own thoughts. Either way, she didn't feel like making small talk. Her mind was racing, trying to prepare herself for what lay ahead.
When they arrived, the venue was buzzing with energy. Flashing lights, laughter, and the murmur of voices filled the air. Lena could feel the weight of the eyes on her as they entered. People turned their heads to look, some in admiration, others with curiosity. This was the world Ethan inhabited—a world of wealth, power, and expectations.
Ethan moved through the crowd with ease, never once glancing in Lena's direction. She had been warned that this marriage wasn't about affection or connection. It was about appearances. She was there to be seen, to look the part of the elegant, well-put-together wife of the cold CEO.
Lena kept her head high, following him like a shadow. She could feel the whispers as they passed, the questions in the air. Who was this woman? Where had she come from? Ethan Rivers was a mystery, and by extension, so was his wife.
She couldn't help but notice how comfortable Ethan seemed in this world. He moved with such confidence, his demeanor cold but commanding. People greeted him with respect, even reverence. But Lena knew better than to be fooled by the smooth surface. She had signed a contract, but she hadn't signed away her instincts. And her instincts told her that there was more to Ethan than the untouchable figure he presented.
As the evening wore on, Lena found herself surrounded by strangers, all of them polite but distant. She tried to make conversation, but most people seemed to look through her, as if she were just a piece of the scenery. She felt more like a decorative accessory than a real person.
Ethan, on the other hand, seemed in his element. He spoke with powerful figures, shaking hands with business partners, exchanging pleasantries with investors. And then there was his cousin, Andrew Rivers, who had introduced them to this world in the first place. Andrew was an older man, frail but sharp-eyed. Lena hadn't spoken to him much, but she had caught him watching her more than once throughout the night. His gaze was intense, probing. It was as if he were trying to see through her, to peel back the polished exterior and understand who she really was.
Finally, as Ethan drifted off to speak with a small group of board members, Andrew seized the moment and stepped closer to Lena. His posture was calm, but his sharp eyes made her nerves jolt.
"So, Lena," he said, his voice soft yet piercing. "How do you like this world? Has it been everything you expected?"
Lena forced a polite smile. "It's definitely...different from what I'm used to."
Andrew chuckled. "Oh, I can imagine. Ethan's world is not for the faint-hearted. It's a life that demands more than most people are willing to give."
Lena swallowed, unsure how to respond. There was something unsettling about Andrew's tone, as if he already knew the answer to the questions he hadn't yet asked. His eyes flickered, a glint of something Lena couldn't read—curiosity? Distrust?
"What would you say," he continued, his voice a bit lower, "is your favorite thing about my cousin?"
The question caught her off guard. Her mind went blank, her heart hammering as she scrambled to think of an answer. She barely knew Ethan—let alone anything she could describe as a "favorite thing" about him.
"Oh, well…" She forced herself to smile, but it felt stiff. "He's… he's very dedicated to his work."
Andrew's lips twitched in a way that suggested he wasn't quite satisfied with her response. "Is that so?" he asked, his tone gentle but somehow unnerving. "And what about outside of work? Surely you know what he likes to do when he's not running his company."
Lena's palms grew sweaty. She hadn't prepared for this, hadn't expected anyone to press her for details about her supposed husband. Her mind raced, but she had no answers. The silence stretched between them, each second making her pulse quicken.
"Well…" she stammered, "he's… very private. I think he likes reading and… maybe running?" She didn't even know if Ethan exercised, let alone enjoyed sports.
Andrew's expression remained neutral, but his gaze sharpened. "Ah, I see. And what about his favorite sport? Do you know if he's a football fan? Or maybe golf?"
Lena felt the heat rising in her cheeks. She could feel a few people glancing over, their curious expressions making her stomach twist. The pressure was mounting, and she had nothing to offer. She had never thought about what Ethan's favorite sport might be. To her, he was all business, all work. She didn't know him beyond his cold exterior.
"I… I'm not sure," she managed, her voice barely steady.
Andrew raised a brow, his gaze lingering on her a moment longer than necessary. "Not sure, huh?" He gave a small smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Interesting."
The word hung in the air, and Lena could feel the tension crackling between them. He was watching her carefully, analyzing her every reaction. And she had just failed to answer even the simplest question about her "husband."
Just then, Ethan returned, his eyes flicking between Lena and Andrew with a hint of suspicion. "Is everything all right?" he asked, his tone low, almost protective.
Andrew stepped back, his expression smoothing. "Oh, absolutely," he replied with a slight chuckle. "I was just getting to know your lovely wife a bit better."
Ethan's eyes narrowed as he glanced at Lena, sensing something off. She forced a smile, but her pulse was racing. Andrew had put her on the spot, and she hadn't handled it well. She knew she had looked unconvincing, and she could feel the weight of his doubt hanging in the air.
"Well, enjoy the evening," Andrew said, giving them both a polite nod before stepping away. But as he walked off, Lena couldn't shake the feeling that he was still watching them, that he was still suspicious.
Ethan turned to her, his gaze unreadable but intense. "What did he ask you?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lena swallowed hard. "Just… questions about you. Things I didn't know the answers to."
Ethan's jaw clenched, his gaze drifting toward Andrew's figure across the room. "We'll talk later," he said, his voice tense. "But for now, we need to be convincing."
He extended his hand, his eyes daring her to refuse. Lena hesitated for a second before placing her hand in his. Ethan led her back into the crowd, his grip firm and almost possessive. She tried to keep her expression calm, but her mind was racing. Andrew's questions had rattled her, and now she had to keep up appearances while knowing that she'd left a trail of doubt behind.
For the rest of the evening, Ethan didn't leave her side. His presence was steady, his hand on her back when they spoke to others, his gaze occasionally shifting toward her to ensure she wasn't faltering. They moved as a unit, as if they were two parts of a well-practiced performance. But Lena could feel the tension between them, like an invisible barrier that neither dared cross.
As the night came to an end and the crowd began to thin out, Ethan guided her toward the exit, his hand still on her back. They stepped out into the cool night air, and for the first time, Lena felt like she could breathe.
The car pulled up, and they climbed in, the silence between them heavy. As soon as the door closed, Ethan turned to her, his expression sharp.
"What did you tell him?" His tone was firm, demanding.
Lena looked down, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I… I tried to answer, but I didn't know what to say. I didn't know your favorite sport, or what you do outside of work. I felt like… I was failing some kind of test."
Ethan's eyes darkened. "He's testing both of us. Andrew has always been the skeptical type. But you need to be prepared, Lena. If you're going to play this role, you need to know these details."
She nodded, feeling a mix of frustration and shame. She hadn't signed up to be quizzed about Ethan's personal life. And yet, here she was, expected to know everything about him without having any real connection to him.
Ethan sighed, his gaze softening slightly. "We'll fix this," he said, almost to himself. "But you need to trust me. We're in this together, and if we're not careful, it'll all fall apart."
Lena's heart pounded as she met his gaze, realizing for the first time just how serious he was. There was something in his eyes—a flicker of vulnerability, of worry. He was as invested in this as she was, if not more. And that meant that her mistakes were his mistakes. Her failure could be his downfall.
As the car pulled up to her building, Ethan's hand lingered on hers for a second longer than necessary. The touch was brief, but it sent a shiver through her. She didn't know what to make of it—was it reassurance? Control? Something else entirely?
Before she could even process it, Ethan released her hand and opened the door. "Get some rest," he said, his voice back to its usual calm. "Tomorrow, we'll start going over every detail."
Lena nodded, stepping out of the car, her mind swirling with questions and doubts. As she closed the door, she glanced back, catching one last glimpse of Ethan's expression before the car drove off into the night. He looked calm, but there was something in his eyes that told her this was far from over.
Standing alone in the dim light of the street, Lena felt a chill run through her. She was deeper than she'd realized, and she had no idea how she was going to keep up with the lies, the expectations, and the man who held her future in his hands.