Chapter 2: Married to a stranger

"I..."

Every eye in the room was fixed on Debbie.

Her heart pounded so hard she was sure everyone could hear it.

She looked at her mother.

Then at Edward.

Then at Eleanor Blackwood.

The terrifying woman still looked completely calm, as though arranging emergency marriages was something she did every Tuesday.

Debbie swallowed.

"I'll do it."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Then chaos exploded.

"What?!"

Her mother nearly fainted.

Edward looked as though he'd just been sentenced to prison.

The wedding planner burst into tears.

This time they were tears of relief.

"Oh thank God!" she cried.

"I thought I was going to lose my job."

Debbie immediately regretted everything.

Everything.

Every decision that had brought her to this moment.

Especially saying yes.

Eleanor smiled.

"Excellent."

Debbie narrowed her eyes.

Why was that woman so happy?

That couldn't be healthy.

Meanwhile, Edward looked ready to argue.

But after a long moment, he sighed.

The fight left his shoulders.

"Fine."

That one word changed everything.

Within minutes the wedding planner transformed into a military commander.

"Move! Move! Move!"

People ran in every direction.

Hair stylists.

Photographers.

Makeup artists.

Florists.

At one point Debbie was fairly certain she saw someone carrying a swan.

Why there was a swan inside a mansion remained a mystery.

Before she could ask, someone grabbed her arm.

"Come with me."

She turned.

Edward.

Still devastatingly handsome.

Still annoyingly serious.

Still looking like he'd rather wrestle a bear than get married.

Debbie followed him upstairs.

The moment they entered a private study, Edward shut the door.

Silence filled the room.

Neither spoke.

Neither knew what to say.

Finally, Debbie broke first.

"This is weird."

Edward stared.

"Very weird."

Still nothing.

Debbie sighed.

"Okay, this is the part where you say something."

"What exactly would you like me to say?"

"Oh, I don't know."

She folded her arms.

"Maybe 'thank you for saving my family's reputation.'"

Edward blinked.

"Thank you."

Debbie wasn't expecting him to actually say it.

For the first time, his expression softened.

Just slightly.

"I know this isn't what you wanted."

The honesty surprised her.

"It wasn't exactly on my vision board."

A small smile appeared.

It vanished quickly.

But she saw it.

Interesting.

Mr. Ice Billionaire could smile.

Good to know.

Edward walked toward the window.

"The marriage doesn't have to be complicated."

That sounded suspicious.

"What does that mean?"

He turned.

"It means we'll get married."

Debbie nodded.

"Okay."

"We'll stay married for one year."

"Okay."

"We'll respect each other."

"Reasonable."

"No emotional expectations."

Debbie blinked.

"What?"

"No romantic expectations."

Her eyebrows rose.

"No romance?"

"No."

"No kissing?"

Edward nearly choked.

"What?"

"I'm clarifying the rules."

His jaw tightened.

"No kissing."

"No flirting?"

"No."

"No accidental falling in love?"

Edward looked horrified.

"Definitely not."

Debbie burst out laughing.

For the first time that day, a genuine laugh.

To her surprise, Edward's lips twitched.

The man was fighting a smile.

And losing.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

A knock interrupted them.

The wedding planner entered.

"The ceremony starts in ten minutes."

Reality crashed back.

The wedding.

The marriage.

The life-changing decision.

Suddenly Debbie felt terrified.

The planner handed her a bouquet.

"You need to get dressed."

Debbie nodded slowly.

As the woman left, she turned toward Edward.

Something vulnerable flickered across his face.

Fear.

The same fear she felt.

For a moment they were no longer strangers.

They were simply two people standing on the edge of a cliff.

About to jump.

Together.

***

Thirty minutes later.

The music began.

Guests stood.

Phones appeared.

Cameras flashed.

Debbie's hands shook.

She stared down the aisle.

At the end stood Edward.

Tall.

Handsome.

Waiting.

Not for Sophia.

For her.

The realization nearly knocked the air from her lungs.

This wasn't a dream.

This was really happening.

The doors opened.

The orchestra swelled.

And Debbie started walking.

Every step felt unreal.

Every face blurred.

Only Edward remained clear.

His gaze never left hers.

When she finally reached him, something strange happened.

Her nerves settled.

Just a little.

As though somehow...

He understood exactly how scared she was.

The officiant began speaking.

The words washed over her.

Love.

Commitment.

Marriage.

Forever.

The irony was almost funny.

Then came the vows.

Edward looked at her.

For a brief second, the cold billionaire disappeared.

In his place stood a wounded man trying his best to survive a terrible day.

"I promise honesty."

His voice was steady.

"I promise respect."

Debbie's chest tightened.

"And I promise that no matter what happens, I will never intentionally hurt you."

The words felt real.

Painfully real.

When her turn came, she swallowed hard.

"I promise honesty too."

Her voice trembled.

"I promise respect."

She paused.

Then smiled slightly.

"And I promise not to spill coffee on your expensive suits."

A few guests laughed.

Even Edward looked amused.

The tension eased.

Just enough.

Then came the moment.

The moment neither of them expected.

"Husband and wife."

The room erupted into applause.

Debbie stared.

Edward stared.

They were married.

Actually married.

To each other.

The realization was terrifying.

And strangely exciting.

***

That night.

The mansion was finally quiet.

The guests were gone.

The reporters were gone.

The celebrations were over.

Debbie stood outside the master bedroom.

Frozen.

This was awkward.

Very awkward.

Inside waited her husband.

The word still felt ridiculous.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door.

Edward looked up from his laptop.

Neither spoke.

The silence stretched.

Finally Debbie pointed.

"The couch?"

Edward nodded.

"The couch."

"Good."

"Good."

Another silence.

Then she noticed a document on the table.

"What is that?"

"A list."

"A list of what?"

"House rules."

Debbie laughed.

"No."

Edward slid it toward her.

She looked down.

Rule 1: Respect privacy.

Rule 2: Knock before entering.

Rule 3: No discussing Sophia.

Rule 4—

Debbie suddenly burst out laughing.

Coffee slipped from her hand.

The entire cup spilled directly onto the document.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Debbie stared.

Edward stared.

The paper dripped coffee.

For one terrifying second she thought he might fire her.

Or divorce her.

Or both.

Then unexpectedly—

Edward laughed.

A real laugh.

Deep.

Warm.

Genuine.

The sound shocked them both.

Debbie couldn't stop smiling.

And for the first time since the wedding disaster began...

Neither of them felt quite so miserable.

Unfortunately, the peace didn't last.

Because at that exact moment, Debbie's phone vibrated.

A text message.

Unknown Number.

Her smile faded.

Slowly she opened it.

Three words appeared on the screen.

I made the right choice.

Below the message was a photo.

Sophia.

Alive.

Smiling.

Standing beside an unknown man.

Debbie's blood ran cold.

Sophia had disappeared willingly.

And she wasn't coming back.

To Be Continued...

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