Victoria Blackwood stared at me, her eyes like two frozen lakes. "Well, Elena? I'm waiting. How did my grandson—a man who hates romance—ask you to be his wife?"
I felt Alexander's fingers dig slightly into my hand. A warning. I took a slow breath, remembering the cold contract we signed. I had to make it sound real.
"It wasn't a grand gesture, Victoria," I began, my voice gaining strength. "It was raining. We were leaving the office late, and the city was glowing. He stopped me by the fountain, looked me in the eyes, and told me he couldn't imagine his future without me by his side. It wasn't about the ring; it was about the promise."
I looked at Alexander, adding a fake shimmer of affection to my eyes. He played along perfectly, leaning in to brush a stray hair from my face.
"I didn't need a crowd, Grandmother," Alexander added, his voice surprisingly warm. "I just needed her answer."
Victoria narrowed her eyes, then finally, she took a sip of her tea. "A fountain in the rain. How... cliché. But if it made you happy, then so be it."
I exhaled, but the relief was short-lived.
"Since you are so 'in love'," Victoria continued, "you won't mind moving the wedding date up. You will marry in two weeks. A small, private ceremony here at the estate."
My heart dropped. Two weeks? The contract said we had time to prepare.
"Two weeks is perfect," Alexander said, his face a mask of stone.
I looked at him, panicked. We weren't just playing house anymore. In fourteen days, I would legally belong to the devil.