Ren's Pov.....
The clock struck midnight.
I sat awkwardly on the edge of the massive bed in Evan's palace-like room, still processing everything....the wardrobe, the strange costumes, the way his mother definitely brushed off my suspicions.
The silence in the house was starting to unnerve me.
Then I heard it.
Footsteps. Calm, heavy, echoing through the marble halls.
The door swung open with a click.
There he was.
Evan Vallen.
The first time I'd seen him in the cathedral, he was like a prince. But now….now he was a whole storm.
His sharp black suit clung perfectly to his tall frame, his hair slightly tousled from the rain, his cold gaze flicking over me like I wasn't even worth a second glance.
He strode in, arrogance dripping from every step, and without sparing me a greeting, he casually tossed a thick envelope onto the table.
"Our marriage" he said, his voice smooth but emotionless, "is just a business transaction. Nothing more".
I blinked.
Huh? Marriage transaction? Business deal? Are we in a drama?
Before I could say anything, he pulled out the documents from the envelope.
Marriage Contract.
He flipped the pages like he had done this a hundred times. "Clause one: we will live separately unless I require your presence at events. Clause two: emotional involvement is prohibited. Clause three...."
"Wait, wait" I interrupted, waving my hands in panic. "Aren't we already married? Isn't this a little....."
His cold gaze swept over me from head to toe.
Then he froze.
His sharp eyes lingered just a little too long, as if he suddenly noticed.....something.
I held my breath under his intense stare.
Did I drop crumbs on my shirt again? Oh no, maybe he thinks I'm sloppy.
Then, right in front of me, he tore the marriage contract in half, slowly, dramatically, like he was performing for a movie.
The shredded pieces fluttered to the floor like falling snow.
"Forget this useless contract" he said, his voice suddenly deeper, smug now, his cold exterior cracking just slightly. "Someone like me doesn't need a boring deal."
He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a different stack of papers.
I squinted at the bold letters on the top:
LOVE CONTRACT.
Before I could process, he shoved the pen into my hand.
"Sign it" His smirk was dangerous now. "You belong to me. There's no escape, understand?"
I stared at the ridiculous clauses:
Clause 1: You must accompany me to breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Clause 2: You must allow me to personally drive you to and from events.
Clause 3: You must stay within hugging distance at all times.
Clause 4: You must fall for me by the end of the contract.
"Is this a prank?!" I squeaked.
He leaned down until our faces were inches apart. His cool breath brushed against my ear as he whispered, "It's not a prank. It's your fate".
I practically choked on air.
Who does this guy think he is?!
But as I flipped through the contract in disbelief, I noticed something else.....tiny handwritten notes in the margins:
(If you smile, I win.)
(If you hold my hand first, I'll buy you anything.)
(If you fall asleep on me, I'll take that as an extra win.)
Is this…..some kind of game to him?
I slammed the pen down. "I'm not signing this".
His smirk deepened. "You will. Eventually. Because I have everything you can"t resist".
He strutted out of the room like he'd just won a war.
I slumped onto the couch, completely clueless about what had just happened.
Was this supposed to be a cold marriage? What the hell just happened?
Somewhere outside the door, I heard him mutter under his breath, "One husband down….how many mores to go?".