Chapter 5

I didn’t sleep.

Not even for a second.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it again—

Victor standing beside Lily.

The applause.

The humiliation.

And then…

Sebastian.

His voice.

“Do you want revenge?”

I exhaled slowly and sat up in the massive bed, pushing the silk sheets aside.

The sunlight filtering through the curtains was soft, golden… peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Like the world didn’t care that my entire life had been flipped upside down overnight.

I swung my legs off the bed and stood, my bare feet sinking into the plush carpet.

Mrs. Blackwood.

The title echoed in my head again.

Still unfamiliar.

Still dangerous.

A soft knock came at the door.

“Come in.”

A maid stepped inside, followed by another staff member pushing a breakfast cart.

“Good morning, Mrs. Blackwood.”

That again.

I gave a small nod.

“Good morning.”

They set everything neatly by the window—coffee, fruit, pastries, something warm that smelled far too expensive to be called just breakfast.

“Mr. Blackwood asked us to inform you that he will be waiting for you in the study when you’re ready.”

My fingers paused slightly.

Of course he would.

Business.

Rules.

Reality.

“Thank you.”

They left as quietly as they came.

I stared at the breakfast for a moment… then at my reflection in the window.

I looked the same.

But I didn’t feel the same.

Not even close.

---

Thirty Minutes Later

The hallway felt endless.

Every step I took echoed faintly against polished marble, like the house itself was aware of my presence.

I stopped in front of a large wooden door.

The study.

I lifted my hand and knocked once.

“Come in.”

His voice was calm.

Exactly the same as last night.

I pushed the door open.

Sebastian sat behind a large desk, sleeves rolled up, reading something on a tablet. The morning light framed him from behind, making him look even more distant.

He didn’t look up immediately.

“Sit,” he said.

I walked in and sat across from him, crossing my legs to keep myself grounded.

A few seconds passed before he finally set the tablet down and met my gaze.

And just like that— The air shifted again.

It was subtle.

But I felt it.

“Did you sleep?” he asked.

I let out a small breath.

“No.”

A flicker of something crossed his eyes.

“Expected.”

“Is that part of the contract too?” I asked lightly. “Sleep deprivation?”

His lips curved—just slightly.

“If it was, you would have signed it anyway.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Confident.”

There it was again.

That quiet arrogance.

Strangely… it didn’t irritate me as much as it should have.

He reached into a drawer and pulled out a thin document, sliding it across the desk toward me.

“The full version,” he said.

I looked down.

The contract.

More detailed than the one I signed last night.

Of course there was more.

“There’s always fine print,” I murmured.

“There’s always reality,” he corrected.

I picked it up.

“Should I be worried?”

“That depends,” he said calmly, “on whether you plan to break the rules.”

I flipped it open.

My eyes scanned the first page quickly.

“Public appearances… agreed.”

“Confidentiality… expected.”

“No romantic involvement with others…” I paused, glancing up at him.

“That applies to you too, right?”

His gaze didn’t waver.

“Of course.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“Good. I don’t share well.”

Something dark flickered in his eyes at that.

“Separate living spaces… already established.”

“Mutual respect…” I let out a quiet breath. “At least you tried to make it sound like a real marriage.”

“It is a real marriage,” he said.

The firmness in his voice made my fingers still.

I turned the page.

Then froze.

“…What is this?”

My voice dropped.

Sebastian didn’t answer immediately.

Which told me everything.

I looked up slowly.

“There’s a clause here about… early termination.”

“Yes.”

“If I choose to leave before the one-year term…” I continued, my voice tightening slightly, “…I forfeit certain… benefits.”

“Correct.”

“Benefits?” I repeated. “Or leverage?”

Silence.

That was answer enough.

I leaned back slightly, studying him.

“You really don’t like losing control, do you?”

His gaze sharpened.

“I don’t like instability.”

“And I’m instability?”

“You were,” he said calmly. “Now you’re an investment.”

The words should have offended me.

But somehow…

They didn’t.

Not completely.

Because at least he was honest.

Brutally honest.

Still—

I closed the document.

“You planned this.”

It wasn’t a question.

A pause.

Too brief for most people to notice.

But I noticed.

“I prepare for possibilities,” he said.

I leaned forward slightly.

“You had your lawyer at the ballroom before I even agreed.”

“That was efficient timing.”

“And you knew my name without introduction.”

“A simple detail.”

My eyes narrowed.

“Nothing about you feels simple, Sebastian.”

For the first time, he didn’t respond immediately.

Instead, he watched me.

Carefully.

Like I had just said something important.

Then—

His lips curved slightly.

“Be careful, Aurora.”

My pulse skipped.

“Of what?”

“Of looking too closely.”

The way he said it…

Wasn’t a warning.

It was a challenge.

A chill ran down my spine.

But instead of backing away—

I smiled.

“Too late.”

Something shifted in his expression.

Subtle.

But real.

And for a brief second…

It felt like we weren’t talking about a contract anymore.

We were circling each other.

Learning where the edges were.

And how far we could push.

I placed the document back on the desk.

“I’ll follow the rules,” I said.

His gaze held mine.

“I expect you to.”

“But don’t expect me to be predictable.”

A slow pause.

Then—“I wouldn’t have chosen you if you were.”

My breath caught slightly.

I stood up.

“So,” I said lightly, “what’s my first duty as Mrs. Blackwood?”

He leaned back in his chair, watching me.

“There’s a dinner tonight.”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“Of course there is,” I muttered.

“High society moves fast.”

I let out a small breath.

“Who’s going to be there?”

His answer was calm.

But precise.

“Victor Hale.”

My entire body went still.

Of course.

Of course he would be there.

This wasn’t coincidence.

This was strategy.

I looked at Sebastian slowly.

“You really don’t waste time, do you?”

“No.”

Our eyes locked.

And in that moment…

I understood something clearly.

Last night wasn’t just about saving me.

And this marriage?

Wasn’t just about appearances.

This was a game.

A calculated, dangerous game.

And whether I liked it or not—

I was already a key piece.

Sebastian’s voice broke through my thoughts.

“Be ready by seven.”

I nodded once.

Then turned and walked toward the door.

But just before I stepped out—

I paused.

Without turning back, I said quietly—

“I won’t be humiliated again.”

A beat of silence.

Then his voice came, low and certain:

“You won’t be.”

This time…

I believed him.

And that was the most dangerous part of all.