Chapter 2 Confrontation with Ethan

With her mind racing, Olivia clutched the edges of the marriage certificate, her fists were very tight on the piece of paper. This isn't real. It couldn't be.

Her body trembled as she paced the bedroom. She was overwhelmed by the ridiculousness of the situation. How did she go from a normal night out to waking up married to a man she didn't even know?

Her phone. She needed her phone.

She rushed toward the nightstand, yanking open the drawer. Nothing. Adrian had been sleeping on the other side, which she examined. Still nothing.

She looked around the room for her purse, her heart racing. There, on the dresser across the room. In her haste, she almost stumbled and fell as she ran towards it.

Snatching it open, she fumbled for her phone. The moment she found it, she pressed the power button. Dead.

Frustration overwhelmed her. "Damn it," she muttered, shoving her fingers through her tangled hair.

Her gaze strayed to the door through which Adrian had exited the room through. She had to leave before he came back.

Her bare feet padded the cold floor as she hurried into the hallway. With its sleek, contemporary décor and expansive city views, the penthouse was enormous. It screamed wealth and power-just like the man she had apparently married.

She started for what she thought was the elevator, but she was abruptly stopped by a voice.

"Going somewhere, Mrs. Blackwood?"

Olivia spun around, her breathing shallow.

A tall man in a black suit stood near the living room, arms crossed. His sharp brown eyes studied her with thinly veiled amusement.

Who was he? Adrian's security? Assistant?

"I-" Olivia swallowed hard. "I need to leave."

His smirk widened, a hint of amusement evident in his eyes. "Mr. Blackwood said you'd try to run."

Her stomach twisted. Of course, Adrian had anticipated this.

"I just need to charge my phone," she said, forcing herself to sound calm. "I need to call my fiancé-" She cut herself off, bile rising in her throat at the word. Fiancé? Was Ethan still her fiancé, or had this ridiculous marriage changed everything?

The man arched a brow. "You mean your ex-fiancé?"

Her pulse spiked. "He's not my ex," she snapped.

The man shrugged as if it didn't matter. "Regardless, you're not leaving without Mr. Blackwood's permission."

She clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. What kind of situation was this?

Before she could argue, the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.

Her breath caught as Ethan Walker stepped out.

His dark brown eyes locked onto hers, emotions crashing through them like a storm, relief, anger, betrayal. His jaw was tight, his usually impeccable suit slightly wrinkled, as if he hadn't slept all night.

"Olivia," he breathed.

Her chest ached at the raw emotion in his voice. "Ethan."

Without thinking, she rushed toward him. The moment she reached him, his hands gripped her shoulders, his touch firm yet desperate.

"I've been looking for you everywhere," he said, scanning her face as if searching for injuries. "Where the hell have you been?"

Her throat tightened. "I-I don't know."

His brows furrowed. "What do you mean you don't know?"

She exhaled shakily. "I don't remember. I woke up here this morning, and then..." She trailed off, biting her lip.

Ethan's gaze shifted behind her, his expression steeling. "Tell me this is some kind of joke, Olivia."

Her stomach twisted as she followed his gaze to Adrian, who had just stepped into the room, looking calm and composed, as if he hadn't just turned her world upside down.

"Good morning, Mr. Walker," Adrian said smoothly, his voice laced with amusement. "I assume you're here about your ex-fiancée since my assistant gave you a call?"

He paused before continuing, "I hope you know that the woman you are holding like that is now legally my wife," his hands gesturing to where Ethan was holding Olivia.

Ethan's jaw clenched together tightly. "She's not your wife."

Adrian slid his hands into his pockets. "Legally, she is."

A muscle ticked in Ethan's jaw as he turned to Olivia. "Tell me he's lying."

"I-I don't know," Olivia admitted, hating how small her voice sounded. "I woke up with a marriage certificate."

Ethan's eyes flashed with fury as he turned back to Adrian. "What the hell did you do to her?"

Adrian's gaze remained expressionless. "Nothing she didn't agree to."

Olivia stiffened. "I wouldn't have agreed to this."

Adrian arched a brow. "Wouldn't you?"

The insinuation sent a chill down her spine. What did he mean?

Ethan took a step forward, his fists clenching. "Whatever this is, it ends now. We'll get the marriage annulled."

Adrian's lips twitched. "Annulled?" He tilted his head slightly, eyes gleaming with amusement. "That won't be possible."

Olivia's heart slammed against her ribs violently. "What do you mean it won't be possible?"

Adrian's gaze flicked to her, his expression calm yet final. "You're staying married to me, Olivia. Whether you like it or not."

Ethan grabbed her hand. "Come on, Olivia. We're leaving."

Before she could react, Adrian's voice cut through the room like ice.

"Take another step, and I'll make sure your firm loses every major client it has."

Ethan froze. Olivia's heart was racing.

"What?" Ethan hissed, his grip tightening around Olivia's hand.

Adrian's gaze remained unwavering. "I own the largest conglomerate in this city. Do you really think your little law firm can survive if I pull my investments? If I make one phone call?"

Ethan's entire body tensed. Olivia could feel the anger radiating off him.

"Don't test me, Walker," Adrian continued smoothly. "You're already at a disadvantage."

Ethan's jaw clenched, but he said nothing.

Olivia felt her own anger bubbling beneath the surface. "You can't just keep me here like some-some hostage."

Adrian's lips curled into a smirk. "Hostage? No. Wife? Yes."

Olivia took a shaky breath, her heart pounding. This was madness.

Adrian stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "I suggest you get comfortable, Olivia. Because you're not leaving."

Tears burned behind Olivia's eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

Ethan turned to her, his voice tight with frustration. "I can't believe you got married to him. We were supposed to get married. We were engaged for Christ's sake. Why did you have to go and marry a total stranger?"

Olivia was quiet. She didn't know what to say or how to defend herself. She kept staring at the floor as if an answer to everything would magically appear.

Ethan's voice becomes softer. "I know he must have done something to you. Am I right?"

Olivia still remained without words.

"Nevertheless you can't seriously stay here, Olivia."

She swallowed hard. "I don't have a choice."

Adrian's satisfied smirk sent a chill down her spine.