Amelia Carter woke up to a grey sky and a feeling of dread gnawing at her insides. Today was the day. The day she would marry Lucas Blackwood, the man she barely knew, for a year-long agreement that would save her family and her father's art gallery. The idea of marrying him, a man who was cold, businesslike, and distant, seemed more and more surreal as the hours ticked by. But the reality was undeniable: she had to do this.
She looked at herself in the mirror, adjusting the simple yet elegant wedding dress she had picked out. It wasn't anything fancy—nothing like the extravagant gowns she had once imagined herself wearing on her wedding day. This dress was white, with a delicate lace overlay, and it fit her perfectly, but it felt wrong. It was too formal, too cold, just like the entire situation. This wasn't a day of celebration for her. It was a business transaction, one that would mark the beginning of a year-long commitment that she wasn't sure she could endure.
She let out a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves. She could hear the faint sounds of activity from downstairs her father's nurse and the rest of the household staff moving about. Her father was resting, still unaware of the wedding that was happening today. Amelia had decided not to tell him the full details of the arrangement. She knew he wouldn't understand, and she didn't want to add to his stress. It was already hard enough to watch him deteriorate every day.
When Amelia arrived at the venue, the atmosphere was nothing like what she had imagined for her wedding day. There were no family or friends gathered to celebrate. Instead, it was a cold, sterile affair. The grand hall where the ceremony would take place was lit with harsh overhead lights that made everything look more like a corporate meeting than a wedding. The flowers, arranged in neat, orderly lines, looked artificial, almost as though they had been placed there for the sole purpose of creating an image, not for beauty or joy.
Lucas was already there, standing at the altar, his posture perfect, his expression as impassive as ever. He was dressed in a dark suit, his black tie carefully knotted, his dark eyes scanning the room with cool detachment. He looked every bit the part of the man she had come to know in the past few days business-minded, calculated, and above all, distant. There was no warmth in his presence. There was no hint of love, no spark of connection. Just an efficient businessman going through the motions.
Amelia's heart sank as she approached the altar. The thought that she was about to marry this man, to live with him for a year, felt like a weight on her chest. She had no idea what the future would hold, but she knew it wouldn't be easy. She had never imagined herself in a situation like this standing in front of a man she didn't know, exchanging vows that held no meaning beyond the financial security they promised.
As she walked down the aisle, she kept her eyes straight ahead, trying not to focus on the emptiness of the room or the coldness in Lucas's gaze. The only people in attendance were a few of Lucas's business associates and lawyers, people who had no personal connection to her or her family. They were all here because of the contract, because of the deal Lucas had made. They weren't there to celebrate love, but to witness the completion of a business transaction.
When she reached the altar, Lucas extended his hand, his fingers cold and stiff. She placed her hand in his, feeling the chill of his touch, and tried to steady her breathing. She could hear the officiant speaking, but the words didn't seem to register. It felt like she was in a dream, a dream where nothing was real. She was just going through the motions, following the script, playing the part.
"Do you, Amelia Carter, take Lucas Blackwood to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the officiant asked, his voice echoing through the large hall.
Amelia's mind raced. This was the moment when everything would change. This was the moment she would officially become Lucas's wife, bound to him by a contract that would last for one year. She had to say yes, even though her heart felt heavy. There was no other choice.
"I do," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but firm enough to be heard.
The words were final. There was no turning back now.
The officiant nodded and turned to Lucas. "And do you, Lucas Blackwood, take Amelia Carter to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Lucas's eyes flickered for just a moment, but he, too, didn't hesitate. "I do," he replied, his voice as calm and controlled as ever.
The exchange was brief, cold, and emotionless. No words of love, no promises of a future together, just the formality of the contract being fulfilled. There was no spark, no excitement. Only the exchange of vows that held little personal meaning.
After the ceremony, the "reception" was equally as cold. There was no music, no laughter, no celebration. Just a gathering of people standing around, sipping expensive wine and discussing business, as if this were just another corporate event. Amelia stood to the side, her mind reeling from the quick succession of events. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was a pawn in a game she didn't fully understand.
Lucas was surrounded by his colleagues, speaking in low, hushed tones. He seemed perfectly at ease in this cold, detached environment, like he was exactly where he needed to be. Amelia, on the other hand, felt out of place. She wasn't just a stranger in this world; she was a stranger in her own life. She had always imagined something different for herself, but now it felt like her dreams had been replaced by something far more practical, far more calculated.
She excused herself from the crowd and stepped outside for a moment of air. The cool evening breeze brushed against her skin, but it didn't offer any comfort. She was trapped in a situation she hadn't chosen, forced into a life that didn't feel like her own. Her thoughts turned back to her father. She had promised him that she would do everything she could to secure his future, but now she couldn't help but wonder if she had made a mistake.
She was about to marry a man who wasn't her partner, wasn't her lover he was her business partner, nothing more. But she had no choice. The gallery, her father, everything depended on her going through with this.
As the evening wore on, Amelia found herself standing in the shadows, watching the coldness of the room unfold before her. The smiles were fake, the handshakes were perfunctory, and the laughter was hollow. The wedding, the vows, everything about it was cold, like an empty promise.
And yet, this was her life now. She had signed the papers, she had said the words. She was married to Lucas Blackwood, and there was no going back.