The cold wind lashed at Elena's face as Liam's grip tightened on her wrist. His emerald eyes bore into hers, demanding an explanation she didn't owe him. She tried to yank her hand free, but his strength was unyielding.
"You can't just walk away," he said, his voice calm yet commanding.
Elena's breath hitched. "I never should've been there in the first place."
Liam's lips pressed into a thin line. He stepped closer, his towering figure casting a shadow over her trembling form. "You signed the contract, Elena. You don't get to leave until this is finished."
Her pulse quickened. The weight of the contract—signed in desperation to save her family from financial ruin—felt heavier now than it had the day she agreed to it. She had thought she could stomach the humiliation for the sake of a paycheck, but tonight had shattered that illusion.
"I did what your father asked," she shot back, her voice trembling with defiance. "I stood there, I smiled, I played your bride. That's all the contract required."
Liam's jaw tightened, the faintest flicker of emotion crossing his face. "You think it's over because you ran out of the ceremony? You've only made things worse."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "Worse? For who? Your precious reputation? Your business deal?"
"For both of us," he snapped, his tone sharp.
Elena blinked, her resolve faltering for a moment. "What do you mean?"
"The media's already circling," Liam said, releasing her wrist. She stumbled back, clutching her arm as if it burned. "You running out like that turned a private arrangement into public humiliation. Do you think my family—or yours—will survive this unscathed?"
Elena froze, the weight of his words sinking in. Her family. She had taken this job for them—to save her mother's failing shop and keep her younger brother in school. But now, the very people she wanted to protect were at risk.
"What do you want from me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Liam's expression softened for a brief moment before hardening again. "Stay. Play your part until this storm blows over. Prove to everyone that the wedding was real."
She stared at him, stunned. "And Cecilia?"
"That's my problem," he said curtly. "Your job is to stick to the plan. Smile for the cameras. Be the perfect Mrs. Astor, even if it's a lie."
Elena felt the tears prick at her eyes but blinked them away. "And if I refuse?"
Liam leaned in, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "If you walk away now, everything you've done tonight will be for nothing. The contract protects my family, not yours. Think carefully, Elena. Do you want to risk losing everything?"
Her heart sank. She had no choice.
"Fine," she said through gritted teeth, hating the way her voice wavered. "I'll stay. But don't expect me to smile for you."
Liam's lips curled into the faintest smirk. "Good. Because this is only the beginning."
As he walked away, Elena stood alone under the city lights, her mind racing. She had thought she could escape, but now she was trapped in a game far bigger than she could have imagined.
And the worst part? She wasn't sure she would survive it.
Cliffhanger
As Elena turned to leave, convinced she had no choice but to play along, Liam's voice stopped her cold.
"If you think this ends with a contract, you're wrong," he said, his tone sharper than the winter air. "There's something you need to know—something that will change everything."
She froze, her heart pounding. "What are you talking about?"
Liam stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "You're not just a substitute bride anymore, Elena. You've become a target."