The following days passed in a blur of photoshoots, gala events, and endless interviews. The world now knew Maya Cole as Mrs. Elias Vale, a woman wrapped in wealth and mystery. But behind the polished facade, things weren't as simple as they appeared.
She had thought she could fake her way through it. Pretend the marriage was real, keep up the act, and collect the money she so desperately needed. But the more time she spent with Elias, the more she realized there was something darker at play. Something she couldn't ignore.
Her room in the penthouse was luxurious—more space than she'd ever had in her life. And yet, it felt suffocating. Every corner of the apartment felt cold, distant, as if it didn't belong to her. As if she didn't belong here.
Elias was always at work, always on his phone, always preoccupied. She had his attention only when the cameras were on them. When they were alone, it felt like she was invisible.
That evening, she found herself standing in front of the grand mirror in the hallway, adjusting the strap of her dress as she prepared for another event. The dress was beautiful—black silk with delicate lace trimming—but it didn't matter. It wasn't hers. None of this was hers.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Maya?" Elias's voice was smooth, but there was something in it—something unspoken. "We need to talk."
She turned, her heart racing for reasons she didn't quite understand. "About what?"
"The press event. And the rumors."
She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. Elias had been quiet since the night of the gala, his mood shifting between moments of cold distance and rare bursts of intense focus. She didn't know what to make of him anymore.
Elias stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. His eyes flicked over her, taking in her appearance, before he took a step forward. "You did well in front of the cameras. But this isn't just about appearances, Maya. There are people watching us—waiting for us to slip."
She felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you mean?"
"You don't get it, do you?" Elias's voice dropped to a lower, more dangerous tone. "This marriage isn't just about you and me. It's about power. Control. There are people who want to tear us apart, and they'll use anything they can to do it."
Maya's breath hitched. She was still processing his words when Elias closed the space between them. His hand gently brushed a lock of hair from her face, his touch colder than she expected.
"Who are these people?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"The same people who are trying to destroy me. My family. My enemies." His eyes hardened, a flash of something dark flickering in them. "I need you to be more than just a wife, Maya. I need you to be my shield. My partner."
Her mind raced. She hadn't signed up for any of this. She hadn't signed up for power struggles or dangerous enemies. She had signed up for survival.
"You knew about the rumors, didn't you?" Maya said, her voice steady despite the chaos inside her. "You wanted me to marry you because of the rumors, because of the family drama, didn't you? You wanted me to be a cover-up."
Elias's jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it. Instead, he stepped back, his gaze unwavering.
"I did," he said bluntly. "But it's not just about the rumors. It's about control. The world thinks they know me. They don't. I don't trust anyone in my life, but I need this—need you. This marriage is a contract. It's protection. For both of us."
Protection? Was she supposed to be a pawn in his game? Was this her life now?
"I didn't know what I was getting into," she whispered, more to herself than to him.
"You still don't," Elias said, his voice quieter now, tinged with something almost like regret. "But you will. And you'll see why this is the only choice we have."
A long silence fell between them, thick with unspoken tension. Maya wanted to scream, to throw the contract back in his face, but she didn't. She couldn't. Not when everything she had was tied to this lie.
"Why me?" she finally asked, her voice trembling. "Why not someone else? Why did you choose me?"
Elias's gaze softened, but only slightly. "Because you're the only one who doesn't ask questions."
Maya swallowed hard. She didn't know what hurt more—the answer, or the realization that he might be right. She hadn't asked questions. She'd signed her name on the dotted line, desperate to escape a life of poverty, never thinking of the consequences.
"Fine," she said, her voice shaky but resolute. "I'll play my part. But don't expect me to fall in line. I didn't sign up for a war."
Elias's lips twitched into the slightest smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I never expected you to, Maya. But that doesn't change the fact that you're in this now. With me."
Her heart raced as she watched him turn to leave. She was in this with him. And there was no way out.