Xavier was surprised at how she instantly made a decision. She'd be signing a year of her life away to live as his wife and she decided within a few minutes?

“Are you sure you don’t need to think about it more?” He asked, perplexed by her response.

Hannah’s mind was made up. Thinking about it for longer wouldn’t change anything.

Her gaze met his once again. “I'm sure of what I want, Mr. Cruz,” she said.

Xavier's gaze lingered on her for longer than anticipated. He nodded. “Fine, then”

Things moved fast between them and he drove her to a hotel after learning she had no place to stay.

The moment he handed the key over to her, he said:

“Tomorrow morning, I'll be here and we'll talk more about the contract”

Hannah thanked him. She watched his back as he exited the hotel's lobby before heading over to the room.

The night ended in a blur. By the next morning, Xavier was at the hotel like he had said.

He stood in front of Hannah in the hotel room, arms crossed while she glanced at the written contract he had brought.

The clauses were simple. She plays the role of his wife for a year, her position beside him helps her get the vindication she deserved, and they both get what they want.

They live together, appear married to the world, and go about their private lives without interference.

Hannah read every single line until the end and she was comfortable with everything. She scribbled her signature where it was needed without hesitation.

There, the deal was sealed. She handed the contract back to Xavier.

“We need to make it official” He stared into her eyes and she stared back. They both understood what he meant.

By afternoon, they were seated at the courthouse, watching the lawyer prepare their wedding certificate.

Hannah suddenly became nervous. That morning, it hadn't seemed like a big deal but as she watched her name get printed on the certificates, the realization crashed over her like a wave.

It was happening. She was marrying Xavier Cruz.

“All done Mr. & Mrs. Cruz” the lawyer's voice brought her back to reality.

He handed the certificate over to them. Hannah glanced over it and gulped.

“Thank you Mr. Gates” Xavier said, giving the lawyer a small professional smile.

They walked out of the courthouse and paused in the hallway.

Xavier turned to face Hannah. “Mrs. Cruz?”.

Hannah's breath hitched at the way he called her. She'd have to get used to that.

“One last thing,” he dipped his hand into his pocket and yanked a silver ring outside.

He handed it over to Hannah. She dragged in a deep breath, hesitating before she took it.

“Don't mistake this marriage for love.” His voice was rough and laced with dark edges. “This is solely a marriage of convenience. To make it believable to the public, we have to go through this”

Hannah knew. She didn't need the explanation.

“I also don't want your love, Mr. Cruz. This is solely a deal”

Both understood each other and that gladdened Xavier's heart. They resumed walking and the moment they stepped out of the courthouse, reporters swarmed in from nowhere, their cameras flashing across Xavier and Hannah’s face.

Xavier's men immediately stepped in. They made way for them to pass through. The moment they did, Xavier grabbed Hannah’s hand and moved swiftly through the crowd, gently pulling her behind him.

For a moment, the crowd blurred. Nothing registered in Hannah's brain anymore, all she could think about was the huge hand that held hers.

It was starting. The show.

They got into the car but the cameras kept flashing, everyone wanting to get a glimpse of Xavier's face, especially Hannah’s. They were curious about the woman Xavier Cruz had left a courthouse with.

Hannah stared out the window, another realization hitting hard. She knew things wouldn’t be the same by daybreak and she wasn't wrong.

The headlines the next morning were crazy.

“Xavier Cruz gets married to an unknown mysterious lady”

Hailey saw it first. Her face was filled with shock when she clearly saw the face of the mysterious lady the whole country spoke about.

That was unmistakably Hannah, her sister.

She rushed downstairs barefooted, almost tripping the stairs as she ran.

“Mom!” She screamed.

Mrs. Kingsley was at the dining table serving breakfast. Her gaze lifted when Hailey called, her lips parting in disbelief when she saw how she ran.

“Easy, sweetheart!” She yelled. “You could fall!”

That didn't stop Hailey. She climbed down the last stairs and rushed to her mother's side, showing her the screen.

“Hannah got married,” she breathed heavily.

Mrs. Kingsley's eyes widened. She read the caption over and over again in disbelief. Xavier Cruz was her boss, the popular CEO everyone knew. And now he's married to her?

Hailey snatched her phone from her mother, fuming in anger.

“Hannah is definitely playing some stupid game.” Hailey shook her head, and her mother agreed.

Hailey's phone suddenly lit up with a call from Jaxon, she picked it up immediately.

“Have you seen the news?” Jaxon sounded restless, panicked.

“I did. A bunch of nonsense, I must admit” Hailey said.

“Hannah and Xavier Cruz?” she laughed. “That's impossible.”

Jaxon agreed with her. Together, they laughed at Hannah and the circulating news.

On the other hand, Hannah was seated on the bed of the hotel room, her gaze fixed on the TV.

Xavier stood beside her, hands calmly placed in his pocket.

“At 4pm yesterday, Xavier Cruz walked out of the courthouse with a lady. Identity remains unverified.”

“Everyone believes he got married. But nothing is confirmed yet as Xavier Cruz hasn't given an official statement” The anchor woman said. “The whole country is curious. Did Xavier Cruz really get married? And who is the lucky woman?!”

Xavier and Hannah focused on the news in silence. Until Hannah's phone rang. Her mother's name displayed on the screen and she stared at it for a moment. She hesitated, but eventually, she picked.

“What absurd stunt is that, Hannah?” Her mother asked sternly. “You are pranking the whole country? How bold of you.”

Hannah almost scoffed. “There's no prank anywhere. I'm married to Xavier”

Her mother fell silent. None of them uttered a word until several seconds passed.

“Hannah, come home sweetheart” Mrs. Kingsley's voice rose, words said sweetly. “We've all been waiting for you”

Hannah's face turned firm, resolute. “I'm not coming back. You wanted me gone, now I'm out of your hair”

She ended the call. She set her phone down and returned her gaze to the TV.

A smile crept up her lips when she thought about the call. They'll regret ever treating her the way they did, this was just the start.

“Feeling better?” Xavier asked. He had been watching Hannah from the call, to the smile on her face.

Hannah nodded. “Yes, I guess”

She wasn't sure yet, but moving forward, she believed the clarity would be there.

She was still focused on the news when Xavier dropped the bombshell. She would be moving in with him.

Hannah expected it. Hence, no surprise showed on her face.

They headed out of the hotel and headed to Xavier's car. Minutes later, they arrived at the mansion. The mansion was bigger than what Hannah envisioned. Her lips parted as Xavier led her inside.

Maids stood in the sitting room, lined up beside each other with their heads slightly bowed.

“Welcome, Mr. Cruz. Welcome Mrs. Cruz” They greeted in chorus.

Xavier had informed them about his new wife. They were to treat her with utmost respect just like they treated him.

He led her upstairs and they stopped in front of a room. Xavier opened the door. Hannah walked in first while he followed behind.

The room itself was another world of its own. It had everything a room needed, and it was way too big than anything Hannah had ever lived in.

“This will be your room, Ms. Kingsley,” he said. “Feel free to reach out if you need anything”

He stepped out of the room before she could reply. Hannah stared through the room, and once again, reminded herself about who she currently was.

Not just Hannah Kingsley. But the wife of Xavier Cruz, Hannah Cruz.