Sabrina pushed open the door to her apartment, expecting to hear Emma humming in the kitchen or sitting on the couch, her eyes glued to the TV for some old drama rerun. But tonight, she wasn't there. The apartment was eerily silent, and she can feel the familiar uneasiness. Too quiet.
She was exhausted from the long morning at City Hall and all the walking around at the mall. Then, as if the day hadn't drained her enough, she still had to drag herself to her not-so-crowded restaurant. Because, of course, life didn't care that she had just gotten married to a man who barely looked at her. Bills still had to be paid, and customers—no matter how few—still needed to be fed.
Now, all she wanted was to kick off her shoes, collapse on the couch, and maybe complain to Emma about how ridiculous the day had been. Afteral, she hadn't told her sister about the marriage. Or the deal. Or anything.
A lump formed in her throat, but she quickly shoved the thought away. She had bigger problems right now.
But as she stepped inside, something felt off. The small living room was just as she had left it—except for one glaring difference. Emma was nowhere to be found.
"Emma?" Sabrina called out with her hoarse voice, checking the kitchen. Empty. She peeked into the bedroom. The bed was made, untouched.
Her chest tightened. She checked her phone. No missed calls. No messages.
"Where the hell did you go?" she muttered, her stomach twisting with unease. Emma wasn't the type to just disappear without saying anything.
"Emma?" Sabrina called out again, kicking her shoes off and padding down the hall. She could feel her chest tightening, her stomach twisting into knots. Her eyes darted around the small, cramped space, searching for any sign of her.
But there was no answer.
Sabrina felt the panic start to rise, her chest tightening. She felt her pulse quicken as she frantically looked around the empty living room, panic starting to rise. Where is Emma?
Her heart pounded furiously against her chest. She knew that Emma had probably just stepped out to hang out with some friends, but the uneasy feeling was still there, striking at the back of her mind. She grabbed her phone and dialed her sister's number, hoping she would pick up.
After three rings, Emma answered, and Sabrina let out a sigh of relief.
"Hello?" Emma's voice sounded from the other line.
"Hey," Sabrina greeted with concern. "Are you okay? Where are you?"
"I'm fine, sis. Just hanging out with friends."
"You know you can't go out at this time," Sabrina said sternly. "It's getting late. Come home."
Emma sighed, "I'll be home soon, okay? Stop worrying."
Sabrina gritted her teeth, the familiar anger flaring up in her chest. But she didn't push it.
Sabrina frowned. "You know the rules, Emma. It's not safe. You should've waited until I return—"
"I'm fifteen now, Sabrina. You can't control my every move. I'm not a kid anymore."
Sabrina exhaled sharply. Emma was right. She wasn't a kid anymore. Still, it didn't change the fact that Sabrina had sworn to protect her.
"I just... I know you're a big girl now, but I just want you to be careful."
Sabrina sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She knew Emma was right. Still, it didn't change the fact that she was worried about her sister.
"Please stop mommying me, I can handle it," Emma assured. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
Sabrina let out a sigh. "Okay, but please call me when you're on your way back. And don't go anywhere else. Straight home, alright?"
Emma chuckled, "I will. Don't worry."
Sabrina bit her lip, her grip tightening on the phone. "And make sure you're back by midnight. You have school tomorrow."
"Yes, ma'am," Emma teased, the hint of a smile in her voice.
"I mean it, Emma. Midnight, okay?"
Emma's tone softened. "Yeah, yeah. I got it. Don't worry so much."
And with that, the line disconnected.
Sabrina let out a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She placed her phone back in her pocket and walked back into her bedroom. Her sister was growing up, and as much as it terrified her, she was proud. She knew Emma was a capable young woman now, but she couldn't help worrying about her. Emma was all she had left, and she couldn't lose her. Not now, not ever.
It was already ten when she was about to head to the bathroom, ready to wash off the exhaustion of the day. But just as she reached for the faucet, her phone buzzed on the counter, the screen lighting up with an unexpected name.
Mr. D'Angelo.
Sabrina's brows pulled together. The solicitor wasn't the type to call without a reason—especially not this late. Heart kicking up a notch, she grabbed the phone and answered. "Mr. D'Angelo?"
There was a brief pause on the other end before Mr. D'Angelo's steady, no-nonsense voice came through.
"Miss Baelleigh, I trust I'm not disturbing you."
Among the few people who truly knew her, Mr. D'Angelo was the only one who still acknowledged her real identity. While the rest of the world saw her as Sabrina Dinsmore, he never forgot who she really was. And hearing him call her by that name now sent a chill down her spine.
Sabrina glanced at the clock. It was well past ten, and she was exhausted, but something in his tone made her straighten up. "It's a little late for a casual chat, don't you think?"
"I wouldn't call for something trivial," he replied. "I need to speak with you regarding an important matter. Something concerning you."
Her grip on the phone tightened. "Me? What about me?"
Mr. D'Angelo hesitated for a second before responding, "It would be better if we discussed this in person. Can you meet me tomorrow morning?"
Sabrina's pulse pounded in her ears. "No. You tell me now. You know that I have a lot of works to do in the restaurant every morning."
"Alright then," Mr. D'Angelo said, his voice as calm as ever. "I have found a suitable candidate for you."
Sabrina's brows pulled together. "What candidate?" she asked suspiciously.
"For your marriage," he replied smoothly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Her breath hitched. "Wait! What?" she blurted, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. There was a beat of silence before she added, "Didn't you already send the man yesterday?"
"What? No!" Mr. D'Angelo's usually calm voice sharpened with surprise. "I haven't sent anyone because I just finalized the deal today."
Sabrina's stomach dropped. "You mean… the man I met yesterday—"
"What do you mean?" Mr. D'Angelo asked, sounding confused.
Her jaw dropped. She was speechless, her thoughts racing. How the hell could this happen?
"Well, a man came to my restaurant yesterday," she began, trying to piece together the events. "He didn't just show up—he practically threw down a challenge. He made it clear that if I wanted to keep my restaurant from being taken over, I had to prove myself. And somehow, that whole mess led to this marriage contract."
"He what?!" Mr. D'Angelo exclaimed, shock and indignation ringing in his tone.
"He gave me a copy of the contract," she continued, ignoring his outrage. "I read through it, and everything seems legit, but... I don't understand. If you didn't send him, who the hell has sent that man?"
"Oh dear." Mr. D'Angelo's voice was tight with frustration. "This is worse than I thought. It wasn't arranged by me. Who exactly did you meet?"
Her mind raced. If Mr. D'Angelo hadn't sent Thaddeus, then who had? And why had Thaddeus gone along with it so easily?
Sabrina took a deep breath, gripping the phone tighter. "His name is Thaddeus Gillcrest. He's—" She hesitated, still wrapping her head around the absurdity of it all. "He's my husband now."
There was a sharp inhale. "Husband? Wait. I'm not following. Did you get married?"
"Well, we signed the contract. We exchanged vows."
"You had a ceremony?"
"Sort of," Sabrina admitted sheepishly. "It was just the two of us in front of an official at City Hall. No guests, no celebration. Just paperwork and a few words."
Silence stretched on the other end before Mr. D'Angelo finally spoke, his tone unreadable. "You agreed to marry a man you barely know?"
Sabrina sighed, rubbing her temple. "I didn't have much of a choice, did I? He showed up at my restaurant, practically dangling it over my head like a prize. Either I played along, or I lost everything." She let out a humorless chuckle. "And to be honest, I thought he was the suitor you sent for my candidate husband. How was I supposed to know he had nothing to do with you?"
Mr. D'Angelo exhaled sharply, clearly displeased. "Miss Baelleigh, if I had sent a candidate, you would have been the first to know. I don't operate in shadows. This—" He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. "This is reckless. Do you even know what kind of man you just tied yourself to?"
Sabrina let out a dry laugh, rubbing her temple. "Oh, believe me, I know. Arrogant, insufferable, and impossible to read. But also wealthy, powerful, and, most importantly, someone who can keep me off my enemies' radar for a while."
Mr. D'Angelo exhaled sharply. "Miss, I have heard about him, and it's not so good to hear. Thaddeus Gillcrest isn't the kind of man you want to be entangled with. Are you absolutely sure about this?"
Sabrina pressed her lips together, her grip tightening on the phone. "I know what I'm doing, Mr. D'Angelo. Don't worry, we have our terms. I agreed to a contract marriage—just to play the role of his wife for a year. That's all there is to it." She paused before adding, "Besides, it's already done."
Another long pause. Then, Mr. D'Angelo's voice dropped, almost wary. "And you trust him?"
Sabrina scoffed. "Of course not."
"Then you've just walked into a very dangerous game, Miss Baelleigh," he said gravely. "And I hope you're prepared for the consequences."
Sabrina exhaled sharply, her jaw tightening. "I've been playing this game my whole life, Mr. D'Angelo. I know the risks." She glanced at the marriage papers on the table, her fingers drumming against the edge. "But this time, I'm the one making the moves."
She took a deep breath as she added, "You're the only one I trust now. I must reclaim what's lost and belongs to me—the Baelleighs. And I won't let anyone stand in my way."
Mr. D'Angelo sighed, the weight of his concern evident in his voice. "Miss Baelleigh, reclaiming what's yours is one thing, but aligning yourself with a man like Thaddeus Gillcrest… that's playing with fire." He paused for a moment before continuing with a low voice. "If you're set on this path, then I won't stop you. But be careful. Power like his doesn't come without a price."
"I know that, Mr. D'Angelo. But I've already signed the contract. There's no turning back now." She exhaled sharply, determination hardening her voice. "I've spent too long watching my enemies walk all over me. If playing this role for a year gets me closer to reclaiming the Baelleigh name, then so be it." Her voice softened slightly. "You're the only one I trust now. Just… be there when I need you."
"Miss Baelleigh, I've always been here when you needed me. That won't change." There was a brief pause before he added, "But be careful. Thaddeus Gillcrest is not a man to be taken lightly. If he has his own agenda—and he most certainly does—you need to be ready for whatever comes next."
Sabrina exhaled slowly, pressing her fingers against her temple. "I know what I'm doing," she said, though the slight waver in her voice betrayed her uncertainty.
Did she, though?
Mr. D'Angelo's words weighed heavily on her, but backing out wasn't an option. The contract was signed, the vows exchanged. She was officially Sabrina Gillcrest—at least on paper.
She rose from the edge of the bed, pacing across the room. "I'll be careful," she assured him. "I've come too far to back down now."
A sigh crackled through the phone. "I truly hope you understand what you're up against."
Sabrina swallowed. "Thank you. But I have to. I don't have another choice."
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before ending the call. When the line disconnected, Sabrina collapsed on the edge of her bed, her mind racing.
So Thaddeus Gillcrest wasn't the candidate.
She shook her head, a dry chuckle escaping her lips. It had all happened so fast.
One moment, she was standing in the middle of the restaurant, trying to keep her anger from boiling over. And the next, he was proposing marriage.
"How the hell did this happen?" she muttered, burying her face in her hands.
Everything had gone from bad to worse in a matter of hours.
She exhaled sharply, pushing the hair back from her forehead. Her gaze fell on the contract lying innocently on the nightstand, the bold, black ink still taunting her.
"Damn it!" she hissed under her breath. "This is a disaster!"
She stopped in front of the window, staring out at the city lights that blinked in the distance. The weight of everything came crashing down on her—her rushed decision, the contract, the unreadable man she had just tied herself to.
"What am I getting myself into?" she muttered, pressing her palms against her face.
This wasn't just about her anymore. It wasn't just about reclaiming her place in the Baelleigh family. She had legally bound herself to Thaddeus Gillcrest, a man with his own hidden motives, and she had no idea what that would mean for her future.
Her stomach twisted. She had thought she was making a calculated move, but now... now it felt like she had stepped into a dangerous game where she didn't even know the rules.
And yet, there was no turning back.
Not now.
If Thaddeus had his own agenda, then so did she. She wasn't going to just roll over and let him control her.