Joanne never imagined her wedding day would be like this—no white dress, no guests, no vows of love. Just a cold, impersonal office in City Hall and a piece of paper binding her to a man she barely knew.
Alexander King stood beside her, dressed in a sharp black suit, his presence commanding even in the simple setting. He signed the document first, his pen gliding smoothly over the paper. Then, he slid it toward her.
Joanne hesitated. This is it. No turning back.
With a deep breath, she signed her name.
The clerk barely spared them a glance as he stamped the document. "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. King," he said flatly before moving on to the next couple.
Joanne looked down at her hand, half expecting to see a ring, but there was none. This wasn't a real marriage—it was a transaction.
Alexander tucked the certificate into his coat pocket and turned to her. "Let's go."
"Where?" she asked, still feeling numb.
"To your new home," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You're moving in today."
Reality sank in. She was now Mrs. King, and her life was no longer her own.