Chapter 4: THE FLASH MARRIAGE

The black SUV smelled like leather and expensive cologne.

I sat in the back seat. Ethan beside me. The suited man... his assistant... driving.

My phone wouldn't stop buzzing.

Marcus. Mom. Dad. Marcus again.

I turned it off.

"Second thoughts?"

Ethan's voice was calm. Too calm.

"I'm having all the thoughts. Every single thought possible."

"And?"

"And I think I'm losing my mind."

He smiled. Just slightly.

"That's fair."

The assistant's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror.

"Sir, perhaps we should reconsider..."

"David. Drive."

David's mouth snapped shut.

We pulled up to a building downtown. All glass and marble.

"Where are we?"

"City registry."

My stomach dropped.

"The... the what?"

Ethan got out. Opened my door. Held out his hand.

"You asked me to marry you, Emma. I'm only honoring your wish."

The way he said it. Low. Intense.

Like a promise. Like a threat.

"I... I was drunk. On wine. And emotion. And..."

"And you meant it."

"No. I didn't. I couldn't have."

He leaned in closer. So close I could feel his breath.

"Then why are you still here?"

Good question.

Why was I here?

I should call Marcus. Go home. Pretend this never happened.

But Jake's voice echoed in my head.

Boring. Predictable.

This was definitely not predictable.

"I need to think."

"We don't have time."

"What do you mean we don't have time?"

"The registry closes in twenty minutes."

He was serious. Actually serious.

"Ethan... we can't..."

His hand cupped my cheek. Gentle. Warm.

"Do you want to go back to your old life?"

No.

God, no.

"This is insane."

"Most good things are."

My heart hammered against my ribs.

This was crazy. Marrying a stranger. A billionaire stranger who looked at me like I was something precious.

Something worth keeping.

"Okay."

The word came out as a whisper.

Ethan's eyes lit up. Just for a second.

"Okay?"

"Let's do it. Before I change my mind."

He took my hand. We walked inside.

The registry was almost empty. Cold fluorescent lights. Gray walls.

Not romantic at all.

A tired looking clerk sat behind the desk.

"We're closing soon."

"We need a marriage license."

The clerk looked up. Did a double take when she saw Ethan.

"You're... oh my God... you're Ethan Blackwood."

"Yes."

"And you want to get married? Right now? Here?"

"Is that a problem?"

"No! No, of course not. I just... wow. Okay."

She fumbled with papers. Her hands shaking.

"I'll need both your IDs."

We handed them over.

She typed frantically. Kept glancing at Ethan like he might disappear.

"You need two witnesses."

David stepped forward.

"I'll be one."

"And the other?"

The clerk raised her hand.

"I... I can do it. If that's allowed."

"Perfect."

Everything moved fast after that.

Papers. Signatures. More papers.

My hand shook as I signed my name.

Emma Foster.

Soon to be Emma Blackwood.

Oh God.

What was I doing?

The clerk printed something. Handed it to us.

"Congratulations. You're officially married."

Married.

I was married.

To a man I met two hours ago.

Ethan pulled me close. Kissed my forehead.

"Hello, wife."

My knees felt weak.

"Hello... husband."

The word felt strange. Foreign.

We walked back outside.

Cameras flashed.

Wait. Cameras?

"Mr. Blackwood! Is it true?"

"Who is she?"

"When did you meet?"

"Is this a publicity stunt?"

Paparazzi. Everywhere. Like they materialized out of thin air.

David pushed them back.

"No comments. Move aside."

Ethan's arm wrapped around my waist. Protective.

We got back in the SUV.

The phones started immediately.

David's phone. Then another phone. Then another.

"Sir, it's already trending. TMZ has the story. Your PR team is... they're not happy."

"They'll survive."

"Your mother is calling."

"Don't answer."

My phone. I turned it back on.

Fifty three missed calls.

Seventy two texts.

Most from Marcus.

WHERE ARE YOU

EMMA ANSWER YOUR PHONE

MOM IS FREAKING OUT

WHO IS ETHAN BLACKWOOD

DID YOU ACTUALLY MARRY HIM

ARE YOU INSANE

Yes. Yes I was.

The phone rang. Marcus again.

I answered.

"Emma! What the hell is going on?"

"I... I got married."

Silence.

Then...

"YOU WHAT?"

"I married someone."

"We can see that! It's all over the internet! Who is Ethan Blackwood?"

"He's... um..."

"A billionaire! You married a billionaire! Without telling anyone!"

"It happened kind of fast."

"FAST? You were supposed to meet Daniel! Sweet, normal Daniel!"

Oh.

Oh no.

"Wait. Ethan wasn't my blind date?"

More silence.

"Emma. Please tell me you're joking."

"I thought... he was sitting at table seven... I just assumed..."

"You married the WRONG MAN?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow. Amused.

"I have to go."

"Don't you dare hang up. Mom wants to talk to you. Dad wants to talk to you. Everyone wants to..."

I hung up.

Looked at Ethan.

"I married the wrong man."

"Technically you married exactly who you asked to marry you."

"You knew. You knew I thought you were Daniel."

"I suspected."

"And you didn't say anything?"

He shrugged. Casual. Like we were discussing the weather.

"You seemed determined. Who was I to stop you?"

"This is... this is..."

The SUV pulled up to a hotel. Massive. Fancy. The kind with doormen and chandeliers.

"Where are we?"

"The Riverside Hotel. I own the penthouse."

Of course he did.

We got out. Walked through the lobby.

People stared. Whispered.

The elevator took us to the top floor.

The penthouse was huge. Floor to ceiling windows. View of the entire city.

"David. Handle the press. Call my lawyers. Tell the board I'll speak with them tomorrow."

"Sir, about Mrs. Blackwood..."

Mrs. Blackwood.

That was me.

"What about her?"

"The background check..."

"Is unnecessary."

"But protocol..."

"She is my wife. That's all that matters. Handle it."

David nodded. Left.

Suddenly we were alone.

Ethan loosened his tie. Poured two glasses of whiskey.

Handed me one.

"To impulsive decisions."

We clinked glasses. Drank.

The whiskey burned. I welcomed it.

"Why did you really marry me?"

He didn't answer right away. Just watched me.

"Why did you really say yes?"

"I asked first."

"Doesn't mean I have to answer first."

Fair.

"I wanted to escape. To be someone different. Someone exciting."

"And?"

"And you looked at me like I mattered."

Something flickered in his eyes. Something deep.

"You do matter."

"You don't even know me."

"I know enough."

There it was again. That certainty.

Like he could see inside me. See all the broken pieces I was trying to hide.

My phone rang.

Mom this time.

I answered. Put it on speaker.

"EMMA MARIE FOSTER!"

Full name. I was in trouble.

"Hi Mom."

"Hi Mom? HI MOM? You get married without telling us and all you can say is HI MOM?"

"I can explain..."

"We're on our way. To whatever hotel that is. Don't you dare leave."

"Mom, it's late. Maybe tomorrow..."

"NOW, EMMA."

She hung up.

I looked at Ethan.

"My family is coming."

"Good. I should meet them properly."

"You're not worried?"

"Should I be?"

Before I could answer, the elevator dinged.

How did they get up here so fast?

The doors opened.

Marcus stormed out first. Then Mom. Then Dad.

And behind them...

A man I'd never seen before. Asian. Nice looking. Wearing khakis and a button up shirt.

Daniel Chen.

He looked confused. Hurt. Angry.

"That's him," Marcus pointed at me. "That's the girl who stood me up to marry a billionaire."

Daniel stepped forward.

"You... you were supposed to meet me. We had plans."

"I know. I'm sorry. There was a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding? You married the wrong man!"

His voice echoed through the penthouse.

Mom started crying.

Dad's face was red.

Marcus looked ready to punch someone.

Daniel just stared at me. Betrayed.

"I didn't mean for this to happen."

"But it did happen," Daniel said.

"Do you have any idea how this makes me look? My family? Your family?"

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't good enough."

He stepped closer. Angry now.

"You humiliated me. Us. Everyone."

Before I could respond, Ethan moved.

Fast.

He stepped in front of me. Blocking Daniel with his body.

His voice was ice cold.

"That's close enough."

Daniel stopped.

"Who do you think you are?"

"Her husband."

The words hung in the air.

Daniel's hands clenched into fists.

"This isn't over."

Ethan's smile was dangerous.

"Yes. It is.”