Chapter 6 Wedding ring

The moment Grace placed the pen down, her heart pounded with the weight of what she'd just done.

Alpha Nelson didn't hesitate; he took the pen, signed his own name with a practiced flourish, and sealed their contract.

"I'll be going home now," Grace said quickly, eager to escape the surreal atmosphere.

"Not so fast, wifey," Nelson said, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

She turned sharply to glare at him. "What do you want now?"

Nelson leaned back casually, amusement flickering in his eyes. "As a married woman, don't you think you should stick close to your husband?"

Grace folded her arms, unimpressed. "You want me to sit here and watch you?"

"That sounds great," Nelson replied, smirking. "You'll have the privilege of watching the hottest body in the world."

She rolled her eyes. What kind of man have I gotten myself involved with?

Before she could respond, Nelson closed the distance between them. Grace felt her knees weaken as his presence overwhelmed her senses. His bare chest-still visible beneath the loosened bathrobe-reminded her just how dangerous his charm could be.

"I need to get back to work," she said firmly, fighting the flutter in her chest. "I've already wasted too much time here."

Nelson tilted his head, a serious expression replacing the teasing. "I have something for you."

"What is it this time, Mr. Divine?"

Wordlessly, Nelson reached into his pocket and pulled out a small red box.

Grace stared at it, her expression unreadable. Hesitantly, she took it from him and flipped it open. Her breath caught. Inside lay a sparkling diamond ring, its brilliance almost blinding.

"I can't accept this, Mr. Divine," she said in shock. "It's far too expensive."

Nelson arched an eyebrow. "If you reject it, how will anyone believe we're truly married?"

She opened her mouth to argue but found no words.

Seeing her speechless, Nelson smirked. "Exactly." Without waiting for her response, he plucked the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger.

Grace stared at the glimmering stone on her hand, utterly at a loss. "Thank you," she murmured.

"Don't just thank me," he said. "Put my ring on, too."

Blinking in surprise, Grace pulled the remaining ring from the box and slid it onto Nelson's finger. His hand was strong, his fingers steady.

As she finished, she frowned. "Why are both my rings joined?"

"Because," Nelson replied casually, "that's your engagement ring and wedding band combined." He moved toward a chair, collapsing lazily into it. "Smart, isn't it?"

Grace didn't respond, her mind still spinning.

"What would you like to drink?" Nelson asked, watching her intently.

"Nothing, thank you. I really need to go-it's almost the end of my lunch break." She glanced at her watch for emphasis.

Nelson sighed and called over one of his guards. "Gerald, drive my wife back to her workplace."

Grace raised her hands in protest. "No, Mr. Divine. Don't bother. I'll take a taxi."

Nelson shot her a sharp look. "I'm not letting my wife take a taxi. Gerald, what are you waiting for? Take her."

"Yes, Alpha," Gerald replied with a bow.

Grace bit her lip, realizing she had no choice. She followed Gerald out of the room, feeling like a rebellious child who had just been scolded.

"Alpha, you need to see this," Nathan, Nelson's personal assistant, said as he entered with his phone.

Nelson's gaze flicked to the screen. A security footage played, showing Grace stopping abruptly at the sight of her ex-boyfriend, Victor, and another woman-Cindy Rodriguez.

Nathan cleared his throat. "Alpha, I think those two are the reason Mrs. Valdez agreed to the contract."

Nelson's jaw tightened as he watched. "Call the manager," he ordered coldly. "Make sure those two never step foot here again."

"Yes, Alpha."

Nelson stood and turned toward his private suite. Nathan called after him. "Alpha! Your father called earlier."

Nelson paused. "What does he want?"

"I don't know. But he asked you to call him back."

Without answering, Nelson strode into his room, leaving Nathan to sigh in resignation.

In the car, Grace sat quietly as Gerald drove. Her gaze drifted to the ring on her finger-the evidence of the contract marriage she'd just signed.

"Please stop here," she said suddenly, as they neared her office.

"But Mrs. Divine, Mr. Divine ordered me to drop you at your workplace."

"This is my workplace," Grace insisted, pointing ahead. "It's just a short walk from here. Please."

Gerald hesitated. "But-"

"Don't worry, your boss won't find out. Unless you tell him."

Gerald sighed. "Fine, Mrs. Divine. As you wish."

Grace stepped out of the car, forcing a smile. "Goodbye, Gerald. Take care."

"Goodbye, Mrs. Divine," he replied before driving away.

Once he was out of sight, Grace exhaled shakily. She stared at the ring on her finger again. If I walk in with this on, my colleagues will never let me hear the end of it.

Without hesitation, she pulled off the ring and slipped it into her handbag.

The moment she stepped into the office, her friend Kiana rushed toward her. "Girl! Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"What happened?" Grace asked, startled.

"What happened? You left me hanging at the canteen! We always go together!"

"Oh... that. I'm sorry," Grace said quickly. "I had something important to attend to."

Kiana's eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me you went on a lunch date with your fiancé?"

Grace froze as Kiana's voice rang loud enough to draw the attention of several nearby colleagues.

"What lunch date?" Grace asked, feigning ignorance. "You're imagining things."

Before Kiana could press further, another colleague appeared. "Grace, the boss wants to see you in his office."

Relieved for the escape, Grace turned to Kiana with an apologetic smile. "We'll talk later."

Kiana grinned knowingly. "Fine, but you owe me details!"

Ignoring the curious stares around her, Grace hurried toward the boss's office, silently dreading whatever awaited her.