CHAPTER 4

Sunlight streamed through the towering windows of the guest bedroom.

Ava slowly opened her eyes, momentarily forgetting where she was.

The silk sheets.

The elegant chandelier.

The spacious room larger than her entire apartment.

Then reality crashed into her.

She was in the Blackwood mansion.

And in less than twenty-four hours, she would become Damien Blackwood's wife.

A knock sounded on the door.

"Miss Hart?"

"Come in."

A middle-aged woman dressed in a maid's uniform entered with a polite smile.

"My name is Margaret. Mr. Blackwood asked me to assist you."

Assist?

Before Ava could ask what she meant, six more women entered carrying garment bags, jewelry boxes, and shopping bags from luxury brands.

"What... is all this?"

"Your wardrobe, Miss Hart."

"My wardrobe?"

"Mr. Blackwood said nothing in your closet was suitable for Mrs. Blackwood."

Ava's mouth fell open.

"This has to cost a fortune."

"No expense is too great for the future Mrs. Blackwood."

She stared at the rows of designer dresses.

High heels.

Handbags.

Diamond earrings.

Everything looked far too expensive to touch.

"I can't accept all this."

Margaret smiled gently.

"I'm afraid you don't have much choice."

Ava sighed.

That seemed to be the story of her life lately.

An hour later...

Ava stepped downstairs wearing a cream-colored dress that fit her perfectly.

She felt uncomfortable.

Not because the dress wasn't beautiful.

It was.

She simply didn't feel like herself.

Damien stood in the foyer, reading something on his tablet.

Without looking up, he spoke.

"You're late."

She folded her arms.

"Good morning to you too."

He finally lifted his eyes.

For a brief moment...

He was silent.

His gaze lingered on her longer than usual before he looked away.

"The dress fits."

"That's all you have to say?"

"It answers the question."

"I didn't ask one."

"You were about to."

She rolled her eyes.

"You really aren't good at compliments."

"They're unnecessary."

"No."

"They're called manners."

The corner of Lucas' mouth twitched as he entered the room carrying a cup of coffee.

"I think that was Damien's version of a compliment."

Damien ignored him.

"We're leaving."

Ava frowned.

"Leaving for where?"

"The courthouse."

She blinked.

"What?"

"We're registering the marriage today."

"So suddenly?"

"I don't delay important matters."

Lucas grinned.

"You mean he doesn't like giving people time to change their minds."

Damien shot him a look.

Lucas wisely fell silent.

The drive to the courthouse passed in uneasy silence.

Ava watched the city rush by outside the window.

People walked to work.

Students laughed on sidewalks.

Life continued as though nothing had changed.

Yet everything in her world had.

She glanced sideways.

Damien was reviewing documents on his tablet.

His face remained calm.

Unbothered.

Didn't he feel nervous?

Didn't this marriage mean anything to him?

"Can I ask you something?"

He looked up.

"Yes."

"Have you ever been in love?"

For the first time...

Damien didn't answer immediately.

Finally, he spoke.

"Love clouds judgment."

"That wasn't my question."

"No."

His voice was flat.

"I haven't."

"You say that like it's a good thing."

"It is."

Ava looked away.

What kind of person had never allowed themselves to love anyone?

The courthouse was surrounded by reporters.

The moment Damien stepped out of the limousine, camera flashes exploded.

"Mr. Blackwood!"

"Who's the woman beside you?"

"Are wedding rumors true?"

"Mr. Blackwood, are you engaged?"

Security quickly formed a path through the crowd.

Ava instinctively stepped closer to Damien.

The reporters pushed forward.

Questions flew from every direction.

Someone accidentally bumped into Ava.

She stumbled.

Before she could lose her balance, a strong hand wrapped around hers.

Damien.

His fingers tightened around her hand.

"Stay close."

She looked at him in surprise.

"You don't want them getting the wrong picture," he said quietly.

It sounded like another business decision.

But...

His grip remained firm until they reached the entrance.

Inside the courthouse, the noise faded.

Only then did Damien let go.

A strange warmth lingered in her hand.

She quickly ignored it.

The marriage registrar smiled warmly.

"Congratulations."

Neither of them smiled back.

The woman awkwardly cleared her throat.

"I'll just explain the legal process."

Fifteen minutes later...

Two documents lay on the desk.

The marriage certificate.

The contract.

Damien signed first without hesitation.

He slid the pen toward Ava.

"This is your final chance."

She stared at the paper.

If she signed...

There would be no turning back.

Images flashed through her mind.

Her mother's smile.

The hospital room.

Years of struggling.

The promise she had made to protect the only family she had left.

Slowly...

She picked up the pen.

Her hand trembled.

Then she signed.

The registrar stamped the documents.

"Congratulations."

"You are now legally husband and wife."

The words echoed through the room.

Husband.

Wife.

It didn't feel real.

Not yet.

Outside the courthouse, the reporters erupted.

"They're married!"

"Look over here!"

"When did you start dating?"

"Mrs. Blackwood! Smile!"

Ava froze.

Mrs. Blackwood.

The title sounded completely foreign.

Damien leaned closer.

"Smile."

She forced one.

It probably looked painful.

He unexpectedly wrapped an arm around her waist.

She stiffened.

"What are you doing?"

He smiled for the cameras.

"Playing the part."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Remember the contract."

Before she could respond, the reporters cheered as Damien gently kissed her forehead.

Ava's heart skipped.

It lasted only a second.

Just long enough for hundreds of cameras to capture the moment.

When he stepped back, his expression returned to its usual cold indifference.

As though nothing had happened.

As though he hadn't just stolen her breath.

Across the street...

A black luxury sedan pulled to the curb.

A tall woman wearing oversized sunglasses lowered the tinted window.

She stared at the newlyweds surrounded by flashing cameras.

Her perfectly manicured nails dug into her designer handbag.

"So..."

she murmured.

"You really married someone else."

She removed her sunglasses, revealing icy blue eyes filled with fury.

A bitter smile curved across her lips.

"Enjoy your happiness while it lasts, Damien."

"Because I'm about to make sure this marriage becomes the biggest mistake of your life."

She started the engine.

Then drove straight toward Blackwood Tower.

She wasn't coming back to beg.

She was coming back...

To take back what she believed belonged to her.

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