Chapter 3: The First Test
The next morning, the reality of her new life set in. A designer arrived with racks of expensive clothes. "Mr. Adyan ordered these for you, Ma'am," the stylist said. Mayra felt like a doll being dressed up for a show.
Later that evening, Adyan entered her room. "My grandfather is coming for dinner," he said while adjusting his cufflinks. "He must believe this marriage is real. If you fail to convince him, our contract ends, and your family gets nothing."
Mayra's heart raced. She had to act like she loved a man who barely spoke to her. When the grandfather arrived, Adyan played the perfect husband, even holding Mayra's hand. His touch was warm, but his eyes remained distant.
"You've chosen a lovely girl, Adyan," the old man smiled. For a second, Mayra felt a spark of hope, but Adyan's grip on her hand tightened—a silent reminder that this was all just a performance.