The city lights glowed against the tinted windows of the car as Nathan steered them away from H-Star. The evening was settling in, painting the skyline in hues of deep blue and gold. Inside the car, silence stretched—a silence too heavy to ignore.
Lila sat with her hands folded neatly over her handbag, her posture calm, though her mind was still racing from her first day. The looks, the whispers, the way people had stared at her… it still lingered. She glanced sideways at Adrian, who sat with his usual composed elegance, his eyes fixed on nothing in particular as if lost in thought.
"Adrian," she finally broke the silence, her voice soft.
He turned his head slightly, one brow lifting in question. "Yes?"
She hesitated. "About Nathan… please, don't let him open the door for me when he drops me at work. People already stare. If they see that, it'll just cause… questions."
Nathan's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, hearing her but pretending not to. Adrian leaned back against the leather seat, studying her with those unreadable eyes.
"You don't want him to do his job?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying that edge of authority that always made her second-guess herself.
Lila shook her head gently. "I'm not saying that. Just… not at H-Star. I want to blend in, Adrian. Not stand out."
His gaze lingered on her for a long moment before he exhaled quietly. "You don't realize it, do you?"
She frowned slightly. "Realize what?"
"You already stand out," he said simply, his tone flat but the words hitting deep.
Her lips parted, caught off guard. She quickly looked away, her cheeks warming. "That's not what I mean. I just… I want people to see me as Lila Hart, the new writer. Not… your wife."
The word wife hung between them like smoke. Adrian's jaw flexed, his eyes narrowing. "You're asking me to let you ride taxis home, aren't you?"
She blinked at him, surprised he had guessed. "Yes. At least sometimes. You can drop me off in the mornings, but on my way back, I'd prefer—"
"No," he cut in firmly.
Her head snapped toward him. "Why not?"
"Because you're not just anyone, Lila," he said coldly, though there was something else beneath his voice—a hidden protectiveness. "You are my wife. Even if no one else knows, I do. And I won't have you wandering around the city in taxis when I can ensure your safety."
His words sent a strange flutter through her chest, but she pressed her lips together stubbornly. "So my safety is the only reason?"
He turned his head toward her, his eyes locking onto hers with piercing intensity. "Do you need another?"
Her breath caught, and for a second, she couldn't find a reply. The air between them thickened, filled with unspoken things.
She finally swallowed and whispered, "Adrian… how did you even know I'd do well at H-Star? You set everything up so fast. You didn't even hesitate."
This time, his expression softened just a fraction, though his gaze never left hers. "Because I already knew."
Her brows furrowed. "Knew what?"
"That you were capable." He leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping. "I've read your stories, Lila. The ones you wrote late at night when you thought no one noticed. The ones you left saved but never shared."
Her heart skipped. "You… read them?"
His lips curved into something faint—something that wasn't quite a smile but wasn't cold either. "I read everything."
She couldn't breathe for a moment, her chest tightening with shock and something warmer she didn't want to name. The man known as the coldest CEO, the man who never cared about anyone, had read her words. Had believed in her before she even believed in herself.
"Adrian…" she whispered, but her voice broke.
He turned away before she could say more, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "You belong there. That's why."
The rest of the drive passed in silence, but it was no longer an empty silence. It was heavy, charged with a tension neither of them dared to break.
---
When they finally reached home, Nathan pulled the car to a smooth stop. Lila stepped out quickly this time, holding her handbag close as if it could shield her from the weight of Adrian's gaze.
Inside the mansion, everything felt unusually quiet. Adrian disappeared into his study with his phone glued to his ear, his deep voice carrying bits of stern business conversations. Lila excused herself, retreating upstairs, her heart still fluttering with his words.
He read my stories… he believed in me…
The thought wouldn't leave her.
In the privacy of the bedroom, she let the hot shower wash over her, steam clouding the glass. For the first time in weeks, she smiled to herself, the exhaustion slipping away. Maybe—just maybe—this marriage wasn't only about transactions or appearances.
But as fate would have it, peace never lasted long in the Wolfe mansion.
---
Wrapped in a soft towel, Lila padded out of the bathroom, droplets of water still sliding down her shoulders. She crossed toward the wardrobe, humming quietly as she reached for her nightwear. Her wet hair clung to her skin, the scent of her soap lingering in the air.
But then—her foot slipped against the polished floor.
"Ah!" she gasped, her hand shooting out to steady herself against the wardrobe door. The towel loosened and slipped dangerously low, barely clinging.
At that exact moment, the bedroom door opened.
"Lila—"
Her heart leapt into her throat. Adrian stood there, tall and imposing, his phone in one hand, his tie slightly loosened after a long day. His eyes widened at the sight before quickly narrowing with control.
"Ahhh!" she screamed, yanking the towel back against her body. Her face turned scarlet. "Turn around! Adrian, turn around!"
He froze for a second, then—without argument—turned his back toward her, his broad shoulders tense beneath his shirt. "You should be more careful," he said, his tone even, though there was a sharpness beneath it.
Her chest heaved as she fumbled to secure the towel again. "Y-you can't just walk in like that!" she stammered, her voice flustered.
"I live here," he replied smoothly, though his voice was lower than usual.
"Yes, but… you should knock!" she said quickly, clutching the fabric tighter.
There was a brief silence, then the corner of his lips curved where she couldn't see. "Noted."
She hurried into her nightdress, her fingers trembling as she pulled the silk over her skin. Finally, she took a breath and said, "Okay… you can turn around now."
Adrian turned slowly, his gaze sweeping over her just once before locking onto her eyes. Something flickered in his expression—something dangerous, something she couldn't quite name.
But he said nothing more. Instead, he slid his phone into his pocket and walked past her toward the balcony, the faint scent of his cologne brushing her as he passed.
Lila sank onto the bed, her face burning. Her heart wouldn't calm down.
This wasn't supposed to happen. This was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, of names and business. But why then… why did she feel like she was slowly being pulled into his orbit?
And worse—why wasn't she fighting it?
---