Episode 4: The Wife Clause
The sun poured into Evan's new bedroom, soft and golden. The kind of light that made everything look prettier than it actually was.
But nothing about her reality was beautiful.
She lay in a king-sized bed that wasn't hers, inside a house that didn't feel like home, wearing a ring that didn't mean love.
Married.
To a man who had once kissed her like she was air...
And then signed her into a contract like property.
Evan sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her belly. Eleven weeks. She could feel the tiniest curve forming just above her waistline. It wasn't visible to anyone else, but she noticed.
And Abel?
He hadn't said a word since the wedding.
No texts. No knocks. No late-night appearances. Nothing.
---
Downstairs – The Dining Room
Evan stepped into the oversized kitchen, eyes adjusting to the polished chrome and marble everything.
A staff of four moved around like shadows. The chef, the housekeeper, someone who seemed to just polish things that didn't need polishing.
The butler, Grant, approached with practiced politeness.
"Mrs. Luna," he said, offering a polite nod.
She still wasn't used to hearing that.
"Mr. Luna asked me to give you this."
Another envelope.
Of course.
She opened it while nibbling on toast.
> Breakfast is always at 8.
My driver will be waiting at 10.
You begin your onboarding at the private lab today.
I suggest flat shoes. – A
Her fingers tightened around the paper.
No "Good morning."
No "How are you feeling?"
Just orders.
Still, she couldn't deny the pull in her chest.
He was giving her access to a private lab. Her dream. Something she could never afford alone.
But why?
What did he want in return?
---
Two Hours Later – LunaTech Research Annex
The private R&D facility was buried five levels underground beneath LunaTech's Eastside building. Swipe-access doors. Facial recognition locks. Walls of chrome and glass.
Evan stood in a lab coat, staring at the workstation reserved in her name. Her name. Not Abel's.
Her project's blueprints—uploaded, printed, and laid out neatly across a steel desk.
A young female tech assistant with neon glasses smiled at her.
"You're the new wife?" the girl chirped. "You must be crazy smart if the Ice King is backing your project."
Evan flinched. "The Ice King?"
The girl giggled. "Abel Luna. That's what the staff calls him. Hot body. Frozen soul."
Evan bit the inside of her cheek. "Good to know."
But as she settled in at her station, flipping through the schematics she'd designed in poverty, now printed on top-grade paper under LunaTech's logo, a strange ache filled her chest.
She had everything she'd ever dreamed of.
So why did it still feel like she'd lost something?
---
Later That Night – Luna Estate
The house was dark again.
She'd eaten dinner alone. Again.
She didn't expect Abel to show up, but a part of her kept waiting for his footsteps. A knock. A voice.
Anything.
Instead, she wandered the halls in bare feet, touching polished wood, breathing in the cold, expensive quiet.
Then she saw it—a light under the door of the study.
She hesitated.
Curiosity pulled her closer.
The door wasn't closed fully.
She pushed it open a crack—
And froze.
Abel stood at the fireplace, sleeves rolled, collar loosened. Whiskey glass in hand. His back turned.
But that wasn't what stopped her.
It was the photo in his hand.
A picture of her.
Not recent.
A school photo. From when she was fifteen.
Where had he even gotten that?
"I know you're there," he said without turning.
Evan swallowed hard. "Sorry. I was just—"
"Wandering," he finished. "You do that."
She stepped inside carefully. "Is that… me?"
He turned, showing her the photo. "You look exactly the same. Soft. Sad."
"That's not a compliment."
He poured another drink and offered her one. She shook her head.
Silence stretched between them.
Then—
"You kept that?"
"I never threw it away."
She sat on the edge of a velvet chair. "Why?"
He looked at her long and hard.
"Because I needed to remember."
"Remember what?"
"That you weren't him."
Evan blinked. "My father?"
Abel nodded. "I hated you for his sins. But you were just a girl back then. Kind. Always scared."
"I'm not scared anymore," she said quietly.
"Good," he replied. "Because I am."
She stared at him.
That admission… from Abel Luna?
He ran a hand through his hair, the façade cracking just slightly.
"I don't know how to do this, Evan. I can run empires. Crush markets. Destroy enemies. But sitting across from you in a quiet house makes me feel…" He exhaled. "Useless."
Her heart thudded.
She stood up, walked to the window, arms crossed.
"You want honesty?" she said, back still to him. "So do I."
He turned.
"I want to stop being handled like a fragile piece of your guilt. I want to be seen—not as a mistake you made ten years ago—but as the woman standing in front of you now."
Abel stepped closer.
"You are seen."
"Then stop hiding from me."
His breath caught.
"You think I'm hiding?"
She faced him now. Bold. Brave. Pregnant with his child and no longer afraid.
"You married me for control," she said. "But if you want this marriage to be more than a prison, start acting like it."
They stood inches apart.
Chest to chest.
Silence.
And then—
His voice dropped.
"Would it scare you… if I told you I wanted it to be more?"
Evan froze.
He reached for her hand but didn't take it. Just hovered.
"Say the word," he whispered, "and I'll touch you."
Her lips parted.
The tension thickened.
But just before she could answer—
Her phone buzzed.
She flinched, breaking the moment.
A text.
Unknown number.
No name.
> You're not safe with him. He destroyed your father. You're next.
Her blood ran cold.
---
End of Episode 4
> Next Episode: Who sent the message? Is Evan in danger—or being manipulated again? And what exactly is Abel hiding from?