Chapter 2
“All done! Ma’am, you are truly the most stunning bride we have ever served!”
“Thank you,” Kinsley replied, forcing a polite, practiced smile.
In the mirror, the bride’s gown trailed elegantly across the floor, her hair swept up into a sophisticated chignon.
The diamond necklace caught the light, dancing with brilliant fire.
The low-cut neckline and the snug fit of the bodice accentuated the enticing curves of her chest, pushing the limits of the lace.
She had worn lots of styles of makeup while filming micro-dramas, but this... this was a beauty so radiant it felt foreign even to her.
She turned slowly, admiring her reflection from different angles.
Then, a dark silhouette appeared at the edge of the mirror.
Startled, she spun around immediately.
Aaron was leaning against the doorframe, watching her. There was no telling how long he had been there.
He had changed into a formal tuxedo with a sleek shawl collar, his hair swept back with precision.
In the amber glow of the room’s warm lighting, the harsh, cold lines of his face seemed to soften, if only by a fraction.
Kinsley offered a stiff, nervous smile.
“Hi.”
It felt surreal. But this was her... husband.
“Are you ready?” He offered a faint, enigmatic smile and extended his hand.
She froze for a beat, then, as if a director had just snapped a clapperboard shut, she stepped forward to meet him, and placed her palm in his.
“The show begins now,“she told herself.
They moved together through the long gallery and out toward the rear courtyard.
A team of florists had clearly just finished transforming a corner of the garden; they were busy clearing away stray stems and toolkits.
Deep crimson roses and white lilies—along with dozens of blooms she couldn’t name—had turned that patch of earth into something out of a fever dream.
Kinsley couldn’t suppress the spark of joy fluttering in her chest, stealing a glance at Aaron.
His gaze happened to sweep over her at that exact moment.
Her heart hammering against her ribsand she looked away instantly.
“This wedding... it feels so real.”
“It is real. I told you that.”
His eyes were dark, lingering on her for a beat too long.
Kinsley’s heart skipped; her lips parted slightly in a silent gasp.
She had assumed that signing the contract was the end of the formalities.
“But the marriage registration...”
“Already processed.”
His hand slid around her waist, warm and possessive.
“You are my legal wife now.”
The heat of his body and the faint, expensive scent of his cologne enveloped her.
Her spine stiffened for a fraction of a second.
“The photographers are watching. Mind your expression.”
He leaned in, his lips brushing hers in a phantom kiss.
In that moment, she forgot how to breathe.
The crew retreated, and a priest stepped into the center of the clearing, lending the space a sudden, heavy air of sanctity.
The courtyard lights flickered between shadow and gold, casting a glow over them that made the absurdity of the last few hours feel, quite suddenly, intimate and perfect.
Kinsley forced a sweet, practiced smile, even as her pulse quickened.
This is a real wedding.
This man is actually my husband.
A wave of helplessness washed over her.
She hesitated, wanting to say something—anything—to him, but the words died in her throat.
Itwas like the cameras started rolling, but the director never gave her a script.
Her mind was a whirlwind of panic.
Finally, gathering a scrap of courage, she nudged him with her elbow.
“Technically... the contract was enough. I would have played along with whatever you needed. Why did you have to make the wedding real, too?”
He turned to look at her.
“You don’t need to know that much.”
He said it with a casual shrug, but the dismissive tone made her chest tighten.
The ceremony began.
They stood face-to-face as the priest’s voice droned through the vows and the photographers circled.
It felt exactly like the micro-drama she usually acted in—except there was no director here.
She was the lead.
She had no script.
And no one was going to yell “Cut.” Not for another six months.
This should have been the happiest moment of her life—a memory she would treasure forever.
Instead, she was sharing it with a total stranger.
Herfingertips grew icy.
The bodice of the gown was so tight it felt like a vise, making every breath a struggle.
She took several deep draws of air, her chest heaving against the restrictive lace.
Across from her, the man watched her intently.
The curve of his lips deepened.
Photographers and assistants circled them, capturing the scene from every conceivable angle.
Kinsley commanded herself to look radiant, to give them the perfect shot, but tears began to blur her vision against her will.
Her grip on the bouquet tightened until the stems began to snap under the pressure.
Every instinct screamed at her to run—to flee this inexplicable farce.
But she knew she couldn’t.
The contract was signed; the money had cleared.
If he could be a man of his word, she could be a woman of hers.
Taking a sharp breath, she dug her freshly manicured nails into her palms and forced her smile to brighten, turning it sweet and dazzling.
His eyes flickered, a spark dancing in the darkness of his pupils.
“You may now kiss the bride,” the priest announced with solemn gravity.
Aaron pulled her flush against him, his lips meeting hers in a soft, fleeting brush.
“A fine performance,” he whispered against her ear, his breath warm against her skin.
At that exact moment, a single tear escaped and tracked down her cheek.
He stiffened slightly, then reached up to brush the moisture away with his thumb.
As his eyes locked onto hers, his pupils constricted.
Then, he leaned in again, deepening the kiss.
Kinsley’s spine went rigid, but she didn’t pull away; she played her part, leaning into the lie.
The frantic, rhythmic click of the shutters surrounded her, and the cameras were still rolling.
She pretended,endured, andwaited.
Finally, he let her go.
Kinsley gasped for air, her spirits crashing into a dark abyss the moment the contact broke.
The ceremony was over. The photographers packed their gear and vanished into the night.
Aaron offered his thanks to the priest and saw him out, leaving Kinsley standing alone in the center of the makeshift wonderland.
His warmth still lingered on her lips, yet she knew absolutely nothing about him.
In less than three hours, her entire life had been rerouted.
Something massive and immovable had been forced into her world.
A high-powered CEO.
A legal contract.
A new identity.
And she had no idea how to face any of it.
She ripped off the veil and tossed it aside. Seizing the moment of solitude, she let a few jagged tears fall.
When she wipe them away, she realized he was already standing beside her.