Melissa didn't sleep that night.
The glow of her laptop illuminated her sharp features as she sat cross-legged on her bed, eyes scanning lines of information with growing intensity. The more she read, the clearer the picture became—and the colder her smile grew.
"So that's who you are," she whispered.
Selena Ward.
A modest background. No wealthy relatives. No powerful connections. But what caught Melissa's attention wasn't the lack of status—it was the pattern.
Medical bills.
Hospital visits.
A sudden, unexplained marriage to Jace Arinston.
Melissa leaned back slowly.
"This isn't love," she murmured. "It's a transaction."
Her fingers tapped thoughtfully against the laptop.
She flipped through more records, digging deeper, calling in favors, pulling threads others never thought to connect. And then—there it was. The hospital. The timing. The overlap.
The answer settled almost gently.
A contract marriage.
Melissa laughed softly, a hollow sound.
"So that's how you got in."
Her irritation didn't vanish—but now it had direction.
The next morning, Selena arrived at the office earlier than usual.
She needed the quiet.
Since the previous night, she hadn't been able to shake the uneasy feeling in her chest. Jace had returned late, said little, and though his manner toward her hadn't changed much, she sensed something heavy lingering beneath the surface.
She placed her bag down and began organizing files when she heard voices approaching outside the office.
Jace's voice—low, controlled.
And Clara's.
Selena paused instinctively.
"I'll confirm the schedule again," Clara said. "But President Arinston, about the family dinner—"
"Lower your voice," Jace replied, stopping just outside the office door.
Selena froze.
"I told you," Jace continued, "I'll handle it."
Clara hesitated. "Chairman Arinston seems very serious this time. He asked specifically if… your wife understands what this meeting means."
There was a brief silence.
Selena's fingers clenched around the edge of her desk.
Jace finally spoke. "She doesn't need to know everything yet."
Selena's breath caught.
Doesn't need to know… what?
Clara sighed. "Sir… rumors are starting. Especially with Miss Anderson around. She's asking questions."
Jace's tone cooled instantly. "Melissa has no business asking anything."
"But if she finds out—"
"She won't," Jace cut in sharply. "And if she does, it changes nothing."
Another pause.
"For now," he added quietly.
Selena felt something inside her chest drop.
She stepped back unconsciously, her heart pounding loud enough that she feared it might give her away.
Before she could hear more, footsteps approached again—and Selena quickly moved, pretending to busy herself with documents just as the office door opened.
Jace walked in first. His eyes met hers almost immediately.
Something unspoken flickered between them.
Clara followed behind him, greeting Selena as usual. "Good morning, Miss Ward."
"Good morning," Selena replied softly, forcing a smile.
Jace moved to his desk, unaware—or maybe pretending not to notice—that Selena's hands trembled faintly as she returned to work.
Across town, Melissa sipped her tea calmly, scrolling through her phone.
She had confirmed it.
Hospital records. Payment logs. Legal documents disguised under corporate channels.
"A three-month contract," she read aloud softly.
Her lips curved slowly upward.
"So fragile," she whispered. "One push, and it all collapses."
She typed out a message, sending it to a private contact.
Proceed carefully. I want proof—something undeniable.
Melissa set her phone down and leaned back.
Jace thinks he's in control.
Selena thinks she's just passing through.
They're both wrong.
Back at the office, Selena couldn't focus.
Every word she'd overheard repeated mercilessly in her mind.
She doesn't need to know everything yet.
For now.
So there were things Jace wasn't telling her.
Things that could change everything.
She swallowed hard.
What exactly am I to him?
That afternoon, Jace noticed her distraction.
"You've been quiet today," he said calmly.
"I'm fine," Selena replied quickly, not meeting his eyes.
He studied her for a moment, sensing her distance but choosing not to press.
"Clara," Jace said, "reschedule the rest of my meetings. I need some time."
"Yes, sir."
Jace turned back to Selena. "You can leave early today."
Selena blinked in surprise. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Okay," she said softly, gathering her things.
As she passed him, she paused—just enough to make Jace look up.
"Jace," she said, voice steady but fragile. "If… something changes… will you tell me?"
The question caught him off guard.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
She shook her head quickly. "Nothing."
And with that, she left.
Jace stared at the closed door long after she was gone, unease creeping into his chest.
That evening, Selena stood on her balcony, phone pressed to her ear.
"Yes, Mum," she said quietly. "I'm listening."
Tinu's voice was warm, reassuring. "I just wanted to check on you. You sounded off earlier."
Selena hesitated. "Mum… if you care about someone, but you know the ending was decided long ago… what do you do?"
A pause.
Then Tinu said gently, "You guard your heart—but you don't lie to it."
Selena closed her eyes.
After the call, she leaned against the railing, staring out at the city lights.
Somewhere nearby, Jace stood by a window too, phone glowing in his hand with an unread message from an unknown number.
I know about your marriage.
And so will others—soon.
His jaw tightened.
The fragile peace between them had been compromised.
And Selena… had already heard enough to start breaking.