Chapter 4 No Affection, No Love ‎

Georgia didn't speak to Liam during the drive to his mansion.

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‎She sat quietly beside him in the backseat of the sleek black car. The air between them was heavy and cold, filled with unspoken words that neither of them was willing to say.

Her hands rested stiffly on her lap, her wedding ring feeling too tight on her finger just like it didn't belong there.

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‎Liam stared out the window as if she wasn't there at all.

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‎Outside, the city lights faded as they left downtown and drove into a more private part of town. The streets grew quieter, the buildings more distant. Soon, they reached a high black gate with tall iron bars and a security post just beyond it.

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‎The iron gates slowly opened with a soft mechanical hum.

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‎The car glided through without stopping.

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‎Georgia's eyes followed the long, winding driveway ahead. It was lined with perfectly trimmed hedges, clean gravel, and blinking red lights hidden among the trees which are security cameras, watching every move.

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‎The mansion appeared ahead like something from a magazine.

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‎It was enormous.

‎Sharp.

‎Beautiful.

‎And cold.

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‎When the car stopped, the driver stepped out and opened her door.

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‎Georgia hesitated for a moment before stepping out. The night air was crisp and quiet. She looked up slowly, her eyes sweeping over the massive house.

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‎It was modern. Sleek.

‎All glass and stone and sharp lines.

‎It looked like it had been built without warmth only for display.

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‎Just like Liam.

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‎He didn't wait for her.

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‎Without saying a word, he walked up the steps and disappeared into the front doors like he was walking into his office.

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‎Georgia followed behind in silence, her heels tapping softly against the steps.

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‎The front door opened automatically, revealing a wide, cold foyer filled with silence.

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‎Inside, everything gleamed.

‎White marble floors shone under soft, expensive lighting.

‎Tall ceilings stretched far above her head, and a grand staircase curved upward into the shadows of the second floor.

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‎It was beautiful, breathtaking and even.

‎But it wasn't a home.

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‎It was a house built to impress. A place made to feel powerful, not personal.

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‎Georgia stepped inside and glanced around. The air smelled faintly of lemon polish and fresh paint.

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‎Liam walked ahead without a word. She trailed after him, the sound of her heels echoing like whispers across the marble floor.

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‎He stopped in front of a tall set of double doors on the right side of the hall.

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‎"This is your room," he said, his voice emotionless.

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‎Georgia looked past him. The suite beyond the doors was larger than her entire apartment had ever been. A queen-size bed sat in the center, surrounded by modern furniture, soft rugs, and large windows covered with heavy drapes.

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‎"My room?" she repeated quietly. Her voice stayed calm, but something deep inside her felt hollow.

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‎He nodded once. "We'll maintain separate spaces. It will be easier that way."

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‎Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Easier for whom?"

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‎His gaze remained steady. "For both of us."

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‎Georgia folded her arms across her chest. "So you expect me to pretend we're a happy couple in public while we live like strangers in private?"

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‎There was a flicker of something in his face like a tightening of the jaw, a slight shift in his eyes which but he covered it quickly.

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‎"I expect you to honor the agreement."

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‎She took a step closer to him, forcing him to look at her more directly.

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‎"And if I don't?" she asked.

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‎Liam didn't move. His voice was calm, steady. Too calm.

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‎"Then you'll break the contract. Which means your father's company will be liquidated."

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‎The words hit like a slap.

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‎She clenched her hands into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her skin.

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‎She hated him in that moment.

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‎Not just for the contract. Not for the house.

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‎But for the way he made her feel so small, so powerless... while he stood there like he owned everything.

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‎He must have seen the anger in her eyes, because his lips curved into a humorless smile.

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‎"Don't look at me like that, Georgia. You knew exactly what this was."

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‎Her voice was barely a whisper. "A prison."

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‎He didn't deny it.

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‎After a long moment, Liam stepped back.

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‎"I have meetings early. I'll be leaving before sunrise."

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‎Her heart thumped. She blinked once. "So that's it? No wedding night?"

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‎He paused.

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‎His dark eyes swept over her slowly. Not with desire. Not with care. But with a cold, quiet calculation. As if he were checking the terms of a deal in his mind.

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‎For one terrifying moment, she thought he might say yes.

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‎But then his voice came, low and flat.

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‎"This isn't a real marriage. I won't pretend otherwise."

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‎Something inside her cracked.

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‎It wasn't loud. It didn't shatter.

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‎But it hurt.

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‎Liam didn't wait for her to respond.

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‎He turned around and walked down the hallway, his footsteps fading into the quiet until he disappeared completely.

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‎Georgia stood in the middle of the large, empty foyer.

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‎The walls around her were tall and perfect. The lights were soft and golden.

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‎But everything felt cold.

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‎Too cold.

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‎Her chest ached as she stared at the door he had gone through. She was still wearing the pale cream dress from the city hall ceremony. Her hands were still trembling. Her heart was still breaking.

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‎No affection.

‎No love.

‎Only a contract.

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‎She swallowed hard.

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‎Slowly, she turned and stepped into the bedroom that wasn't hers. The bed looked untouched. The silence felt too loud.

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‎She had made her choice.

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‎And now...

‎She had to live with it.

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