Under His Condition

aglow with soft golden light bouncing off the chandeliers, casting a dreamy hue over everything. A t

aroma of vanilla-scented candles flickering in corners. It looked like something out of a roma

felt heavier than the last. She didn't know what to expect. She'd signed a contra

his suit jacket over the back of a plush chair.

toward the table set for two. A bottle of

n her lap. Her eyes followed him as he expertly opened the bottle. The p

as he poured the wine into

s he held the g

ng to drug you or somet

startled. The bluntnes

ir opposite her, and took a long sip of his o

f you, I had plenty of chances b

little ashamed at her

verything tonight. This is a marriage on paper. A transaction. I need a wife for appearances, and you

t another part stung unexpectedly. The way he said "girls like y

slightly, "Then why me? Why marry someone like

nishing the wine in hi

cent. Quiet. You won't embarrass me in public. And frankly, I don't want

hidden in the compliment b

ou stay out of my business, I stay out of yours. You get your mon

e disappeared in

t there,

rrative? Her cheeks flushed, not from attraction, but from a mix of anger and humi

k t-shirt. His hair was damp, the scent of his aftershave trailing behind him. Without s

gh, he wa

d at him in

t was infuriating. She had imagined all kinds of awkwardness on their wed

irpins that held her updo in place, letting her curls fall over her shoulders. Then she unzipped her go

had packed herself, she turned off the lam

him, her thou

debts. That was why she was here. For them. For their survi

willing herself to sleep. B

You're someone I can control... You'r

ted, felt wounded. Maybe it was because a small part of her had hoped this night

d to have no plac

and pulled the bla

beside a man she barely knew, a man who had just made her hi

ed with roses and candlelight, th

the white walls. Kian stirred first, blinking slowly before pushing the covers off his body. He ran

watching her, expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he left the room and walked out to the suite

said, voice l

. "Where the hell have you been, man? Nobody's seen you in two da

ed back on the couch. "I've been..

line, then a loud burst

t married,"

you drunk?

ser

ords finally sinking in. "Okay. This better be

'll talk," Kian said. "I

still felt foreign. And yet, here he was, sitting in a hotel suite with his brand-ne

r eyes fluttered open, momentarily co

the bed was cold. She looked around and frowned, no sign of him. Her he

d settle in, her

ckly an

ment. "So? Tell me everything! Did he...?" Her voice

aned softly. "Bella, no. Noth

t...

ing up and walking over to the window. "He

. what exactly is his type th

needs a wife who's quiet, obedient, and won't get in his

es a beautiful girl like you and just, what? Leav

" Elara whispered. "But I signed th

cold now, but people like him don't stay neutral forev

her intermittently. Eventually, Elara laughed a little, her ne

d to clea

sh away the tension from the night before. Her eyes closed as the warmth pou

the door open

re-chested. His eyes scanned the room, noting

hro

, now wearing nothing but his boxers, and walke

ck

and and knocked

e. Her hand halted

said calmly from the ot

d. "I'm... I'm

latly. "I want to s

heart thumped in her chest. What k

what to do or say. Silence hung thick in the steamy air,