Chapter 3 The vows we didn't mean

~Sophia~

I fidgeted in the plush leather seat of Julian's car, my palms clammy against the cool silk of my wedding dress. The fabric clung to me like a second skin; elegant and expensive, yet suffocating. I glanced at the man seated beside me, his gaze fixed solely on his phone, his posture composed as always.

"This is insane," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to him.

"You have said that three times in the past hour," Julian said without looking up.

"Because it is," I shot back. "People Usually date, fall in love, and then get married, not...this," I said hesitantly.

At that, he set his phone down and turned to face, "This isn't a love story, Sophia, it's a transaction. The earlier you keep that in mind, you'll do just fine."

His words stung more than they should have, even though I'd known exactly what I was signing up for. I huffed, crossing my arms, "You're surprisingly good at making a girl feel special on her wedding day."

A flicker of something (was it regret?) passed across his face before he masked it off with a scowl. "I didn't think you would want a sentimental wedding."

"I don't," I said quickly, despite the lie feeling heavy on my tongue.

The car slowed to a halt outside City Hall, and Crawford opened the door. "We're here," he said, his tone neutral but his eyes darting between them as if gauging the tension between Julian and me.

I stepped out first, the cool air brushing against my skin. I had imagined my wedding day to be a fairy tale of soft lights, music, and laughter but this was the opposite.

No distant family, No friends; just me, Julian, and the cold indifference of reality.

The hall was sterile and impersonal, with stark white walls and a simple arch adorned with plastic flowers. The officiant "a bored-looking man in his fifties, barely glanced at us as he shuffled through his papers."

"Do you have your witnesses?" the officiant asked.

Crawford stepped forward, along with my brother Ethan and a young woman I didn't recognize. She was petite, with sharp features and a clipboard clutched tightly to her chest.

"Isabel Rivera," the woman introduced herself briskly nodding at me due to my questioning eyes. "Mr. Blackwell's assistant."

I managed to show a weak smile "Of course."

Julian, ever the picture of efficiency; handed the officiant the necessary paperwork, "Let's get started."

The officiant nodded, his voice monotone as he began the ceremony "Do you, Julian Alexander Blackwell, take Sophia Elise Bennet to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do," Julian said with hesitation, his voice emotionless and steady.

My chest tightened, it wasn't the words but the absence of meaning behind them.

"And do you, Sophia Elise Bennett, take Julian Alexander Blackwell to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

My mouth went dry for a split second, I considered bolting. But the memory of my mounting bills and the weight of the contract I'd signed helped keep me in place, looking at my brother one more time I whispered"I do."

The moment the officiant declared us husband and wife, I braced myself for the next step. There was no applause, no cheers- just silence, never have I ever thought my marriage would turn out like this.

"You may kiss the bride," the officiant said, almost as an afterthought.

I froze, my eyes darting to Julian. He leaned in, with an unreadable expression and pressed a brief, clinical kiss on my lips. It was over before I could process it, making me feel more like a business associate than a bride.

"Congratulations," Crawford and Ethan said softly as we exited the hall, their voice breaking the heavy silence.

"Thanks," I murmured, despite not feeling the least bit celebratory.

Back in the car, the tension was palpable. Julian finally broke the silence "You will move into the penthouse tonight, Crawford will handle the details."

"Of course, he will," I muttered, staring out the window.

His voice softened, almost imperceptibly "It's just for a year, Sophia."

"I know, but that doesn't make everything easy or alright," I said to him while searching his eyes for any sign of humanity.

For once, he didn't have a response.

~~~~~~~

Standing in my new bedroom, the expensive space felt more like a museum exhibit than a home. The bed was enormous, covered in pristine white sheets that looked too perfect to touch.

I sank onto the edge of the mattress, staring at the big rock (wedding band) as it glinted in the dim light, a cold reminder of what I'd just agreed to.

My phone buzzed, I picked it up only to see a message from Lily.

Lily: How's married life, Mrs Blackwell?

I stared at the screen, my throat tightening, I hadn't told Lily the complete truth about this arrangement, just enough to justify the whirlwind wedding.

"Weird, but fine" I replied.

I set my phone down and laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The reality of my decision was beginning to sink in and for the first time, I felt truly alone.

~Julian~

I poured myself a glass of scotch in my study, my tie loosened but still neatly in place. The wedding had gone exactly as planned- efficient, unemotional, and free of complications.

So why did I feel so unsettled? I thought.

Swirling the amber liquid in my glass, my mind replaying the look in Sophia's eyes during the ceremony. She had looked vulnerable, almost fragile, but there was also a spark of defiance that I couldn't ignore.

It reminded me too much of the parts of myself I tried to bury.

Sighing, I set the glass down and leaned back on my chair. This wasn't supposed to be personal, she was just a means to an end; nothing more. Yet as I sat alone in the silence of my penthouse, gazing out at the skyline; my thoughts a tangled mess of logic and doubt, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just made a decision I couldn't fully control.