Chapter 2

Nora stayed on her knees, her palms pressed tightly against her thighs to stop them from shaking. The silence stretched between them until it became unbearable. She wished he would say something, even if it was another insult.

The man looked down at her without the slightest hint of surprise. His expression remained unreadable, as though she had merely interrupted an ordinary meeting instead of asking him to marry her. Then, very slowly, one corner of his mouth lifted into a faint smirk showing contempt.

He slipped his phone into his pocket and walked toward her with unhurried steps. Every step echoed through the quiet room, making Nora's heartbeat pound even louder. By the time he stopped in front of her, she had to tilt her head to meet his eyes.

"What," he asked evenly, "makes you think you're fit to be the kind of bride I want?"

The words hit harder than she expected. Her lips parted, but nothing came out.

Heat flooded her cheeks as reality finally caught up with her. What had possessed her to walk back into this room? She had overheard a private conversation, barged in uninvited, and offered herself as though she belonged in his world.

She didn't. Not even close.

Her clothes had flour on them from the bakery. His wristwatch alone probably cost more than everything she owned.

She lowered her eyes, unable to hold his gaze any longer. "I..." Her voice faltered. She swallowed before trying again. "I know I'm not."

He said nothing. That somehow made it worse.

"I know I'm not the kind of woman you imagined," she continued quietly. "I'm not from your world, and I don't have the background or... or anything someone like you would be looking for."

Her fingers curled into her palms until her nails dug into her skin. "But I wasn't trying to insult you."

His face remained expressionless. "I only..." She let out a shaky breath. "I only need the money."

The words tasted bitter. She hated saying them out loud. It made her sound desperate.

Maybe she was.

"My bakery is drowning in debt," she admitted. "The bank has been sending notices for months. Suppliers are refusing to give me ingredients unless I pay what I already owe them."

She forced herself to continue before fear could stop her. "If I lose the bakery..." Her voice softened. "I'll lose my mother's house too."

For the first time since entering the room, her eyes glistened. She quickly blinked. She wasn't going to cry.

Not here.

"My mother spent her whole life paying for that house," she said. "She died believing I'd always have somewhere to call home."

A painful knot formed in her throat. "I couldn't even keep that promise."

She laughed softly at herself, though there wasn't a trace of happiness in it. "So no... I don't think I'm good enough for you."

She finally looked back at him. "I just don't know what else to do."

Silence settled over the room again. The man studied her carefully, his sharp eyes lingering on her face as though weighing every word she had spoken.

He had met countless people willing to lie for money. Some lied with confidence. Others cried on command.

She didn't seem like either. Still, appearances meant nothing.

His voice remained flat. "What is your name?"

"Nora."

He waited.

"Nora Hayes."

He gave a small nod. "So you want to be Ethan Blackwood's wife for a yearl."

The name alone made Nora's stomach drop. She had heard it before. Everyone had.

Ethan Blackwood.

The billionaire behind Blackwood Holdings. The youngest CEO to expand the company into multiple countries. A man whose business deals made headlines almost every week.

She stared at him in disbelief. So he wasn't just some wealthy groom.

He was Ethan Blackwood.

The Ethan Blackwood.

Her embarrassment deepened. She had walked into one of the most powerful men's private room and offered herself as his temporary wife.

If anyone else heard this story, they would think she'd lost her mind.

Ethan noticed the change in her expression. "So you know who I am."

Nora nodded slowly. "Yes."

"And you're still standing by what you said?"

She hesitated for only a second. "Yes."

He held her gaze. "You don't know anything about me."

"I don't."

"You don't know why my bride disappeared."

"No."

"You don't know what kind of family you're asking to marry into."

She shook her head. "No."

"And yet you're willing to tie your name to mine for a year."

Nora drew in a slow breath. "I am."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?"

She almost laughed. Because she was terrified. Because she hadn't slept properly in weeks. Because every morning she woke wondering whether someone would lock the doors to her bakery.

Because she couldn't bear the thought of strangers taking away the last place that still reminded her of her mother.

But none of those answers sounded strong enough. So she gave him the truth.

"Because I don't have another choice."

Ethan looked at her for several long seconds. Then he spoke.

"You don't understand what you're asking for." His voice was calm, but every word carried weight.

"If you become my wife, even temporarily, your life won't belong to you anymore. The media will follow you. You'll be watched."

"You'll be judged. My enemies will look for weaknesses. If they discover you, they'll use you."

His face hardened. "And if you think this will be easy because it lasts only one year..."

He took another step closer. "...you're mistaken."

Nora's heartbeat quickened again. She believed him. Every word.

But none of it frightened her as much as going back to the life waiting outside this mansion.

"I understand," she whispered.

"No."

His tone remained cold. "You don't."

He looked directly into her eyes. "So I'll ask you one last time."

"If you're serious..." His voice dropped lower. "...be absolutely certain before you take another step."

Nora closed her eyes for a brief moment. She saw her bakery. The unpaid bills.

The cracked kitchen tiles her mother used to complain about replacing. The home she was about to lose.

When she opened her eyes again, the fear was still there. So was her answer.

"I'm sure."

Ethan searched her face for any sign of hesitation. He found none.

"Fine," he said simply.

He turned toward the door. "Follow me."

Nora blinked. "...What?"

Without looking back, Ethan stopped walking. A trace of annoyance crossed his face.

"Did I stutter?"

She hurried after him, still struggling to understand what was happening. "You... you're actually considering this?"

"I'm considering whether you're suitable."

Before she could ask what he meant, he answered, "I don't marry strangers without knowing they're medically fit."

The words landed heavily. Nora slowed.

For a second, it felt as though someone had slapped her across the face. Medically fit.

He wasn't talking about her as a person. He was talking about her like a contract waiting to be inspected.

Her chest tightened, but she lowered her head and quietly followed him out of the room.

Chapter 3

Nora hurried after Ethan, her mind still struggling to catch up with everything that had happened in the last few minutes. She had walked into the wedding venue carrying a cake, hoping to earn a good reputation for her bakery. Somehow, she was now following the most powerful man in the country after asking to become his wife.

The moment they stepped outside, the chilly afternoon breeze brushed against her face. A long black luxury sedan waited at the entrance, its polished body reflecting the sunlight. Two bodyguards stood beside it, and one of them immediately opened the rear door the instant Ethan approached.

Nora slowed to a stop. Her eyes remained fixed on the car.

She had only ever seen vehicles like this in movies or on the covers of magazines while waiting for customers at the bakery. Sometimes she read billionaire romance novels during quiet afternoons, and cars like this were always described as something only the richest people in the country owned. Now she was standing in front of one.

For a brief second, she wondered if they were waiting for someone else. Ethan had already reached the open door before noticing she wasn't behind him. He turned his head slightly, his expression as unreadable as ever.

"Get in."

Nora blinked. "Me?"

His patience was already wearing thin. "If I count to three and you're still standing there..."

His voice remained calm. "...you'll walk to the hospital." He looked at her for another second. "And don't keep me waiting."

Nora didn't wait for him to reach one. She hurried toward the car so quickly that she nearly tripped over her own feet. One of the bodyguards steadied the door for her as she climbed inside, trying her best not to touch anything she wasn't supposed to.

The seats were softer than any chair she had ever sat on. Everything smelled clean and expensive. She carefully folded her hands together on her lap.

A moment later, Ethan entered from the other side without looking at her. The door closed and the driver pulled away from the estate.

The ride was completely silent. Nora stole a quick glance toward Ethan.

He sat with one leg crossed over the other, reading something on his tablet as though she wasn't sitting beside him. His face showed no trace of frustration over the bride who had abandoned him just hours earlier. That surprised her.

She expected anger. Instead, he looked like a man discussing tomorrow's business schedule.

She couldn't help herself.

"Aren't you..."

She stopped.

Ethan didn't lift his eyes from the screen.

Nora bit her lower lip. "Aren't you angry?"

Only then did he look at her. His gaze was calm.

"What would anger solve?"

She opened her mouth before closing it again. He looked back at the tablet.

"It won't bring her back."

Those four words ended the conversation. Nora turned toward the window.

She suddenly realized this man didn't waste emotions. Not on disappointment. Not on regret. Not even on humiliation.

Everything about him felt controlled. The car drove through the city before finally stopping in front of an enormous private hospital. The building looked more like a luxury hotel than a medical center.

Before Nora could ask anything, one of the guards opened her door. "This way, Miss."

She climbed out. Ethan was already walking toward the entrance. The guards surrounded them as they entered the hospital.

Doctors, nurses and receptionists greeted him the moment they saw him.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Blackwood."

"Welcome, Mr. Blackwood."

"Good to see you again, sir."

Ethan acknowledged none of them. He walked straight toward the private elevators without slowing down. Nora quietly followed.

The elevator stopped on the highest floor. A middle-aged doctor stepped out of his office almost immediately.

"Mr. Blackwood."

Ethan gave a small nod. "I need her medical records."

The doctor looked at Nora before nodding. "Of course."

Ethan's eyes shifted toward the doctor. "Take every sample you need. I want complete results."

The doctor didn't ask questions. "Yes, Mr. Blackwood."

Only then did Nora finally find her voice. "Medical... records?"

Ethan looked at her. "If we're getting married, I need to know you're healthy."

The words were simple. Yet they still made her chest tighten.

She wasn't offended. She simply hadn't expected everything to happen this quickly.

The doctor offered her a kind smile. "Miss, please come with me."

She nodded. As she followed him through the bright hallway, one thought refused to leave her mind.

What had she gotten herself into?

One nurse collected blood. Another checked her blood pressure. A third measured her height and weight before asking questions about illnesses that ran in her family.

Everything happened so quickly that Nora barely had time to think. She answered every question honestly. She had nothing to hide.

Nearly two hours passed before the doctor finally returned to his office with a thick file in his hands. Nora sat nervously outside while Ethan remained inside the office waiting. Her fingers twisted together until they hurt.

She had never been this anxious over a medical report before. Not because she feared being sick. Because she feared losing the only chance she had left.

A nurse opened the office door. "Miss Hayes."

Nora immediately stood. Taking a deep breath, she walked inside.

Nora stepped into the doctor's office and quietly closed the door behind her. Ethan sat across from the doctor with the same composed expression he had worn since she met him. He didn't look nervous, nor did he look impatient. He simply waited.

The doctor adjusted his glasses and opened the file lying on his desk. He carefully went through each page one last time before looking up at Ethan.

"Everything came back normal," he said. "Her blood work is clear, her vital signs are healthy, and there are no underlying medical conditions that should concern you."

Ethan's eyes remained on the file.

"You're certain?"

The doctor nodded without hesitation.

"I've reviewed the results twice myself. If I had any concerns, I would tell you immediately."

He pushed the file across the desk.

"She's perfectly healthy."

Ethan picked up the report and scanned through every page himself. Nora sat quietly, watching him read medical terms she couldn't even pronounce. It wasn't until he placed the file back on the table that she finally let herself breathe.

Without another question, Ethan stood.

"Let's go."

The doctor rose to his feet as well.

"Congratulations in advance."

Ethan gave no response.

He simply walked out of the office, and Nora hurried after him.

The same luxury sedan was already waiting outside the hospital. One of the guards opened the rear door, and Ethan got in first. Nora followed a second later, smoothing her skirt beneath her as she sat down.

The driver looked at Ethan through the rearview mirror.

"Where to, Mr. Blackwood?"

"Havilah Boutique."

"Yes, sir."

The car pulled away from the hospital.

Nora frowned slightly.

She had heard that name before.

Havilah Boutique wasn't just another bridal store. It was where celebrities, politicians, and wealthy families bought their clothes. The dresses displayed there probably cost more than her bakery earned in months.

She glanced at Ethan.

"Why are we going there?"

He didn't look at her.

"You need a wedding dress."

Nora stared at him.

"So... we're really doing this?"

He finally met her eyes.

"You asked for the position."

His voice remained as calm as ever.

"I'm giving it to you."

Nora looked away.

Somehow, hearing him say it made everything feel real.

The car came to a stop in front of an elegant building with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Before Nora could even open the door herself, several women dressed in black uniforms hurried outside.

"Welcome, Mr. Blackwood."

One of them smiled politely.

"We weren't expecting you today."

Ethan gestured toward Nora.

"She's getting married."

The women immediately turned toward Nora with bright smiles.

"Please come with us."

Nora barely had time to react before they gently led her inside.

The boutique was breathtaking.

Elegant wedding gowns lined both sides of the showroom, each one more beautiful than the last. Crystal lights reflected off polished marble floors, and soft music floated through the air.

She had never imagined a place like this actually existed.

One of the women stopped in front of her.

"Miss, we'll begin with a bath before your fitting."

Nora nodded absentmindedly.

Everything was happening too fast.

She was led into a luxurious private suite where warm water had already been prepared. Another woman helped wash the flour from her hair while someone else carefully removed the light makeup she had worn to deliver the cake.

As they worked, Nora stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Just this morning...

She had been worried about paying her electricity bill.

She had been praying that delivering one wedding cake would save her struggling bakery.

Now complete strangers were preparing her to marry the wealthiest billionaire in the country.

She couldn't decide whether she was dreaming or making the biggest mistake of her life.

After the bath, they brought out several wedding gowns.

One after another.

Silk.

Lace.

Handmade embroidery.

Each dress looked more expensive than the last.

The women finally chose one with a fitted bodice and a long flowing skirt.

"It suits you perfectly," one of them said with a smile.

Nora stood quietly while they zipped the dress and adjusted the veil over her hair.

Another stylist carefully applied fresh makeup.

She didn't use much.

Just enough to make Nora's natural features stand out.

When everything was finished, the room suddenly grew quiet.

The women stepped back to admire their work.

Nora slowly turned toward the full-length mirror.

She barely recognized herself.

The woman staring back looked elegant.

Confident.

Beautiful.

For a second, tears threatened to gather in her eyes.

This wasn't how she had imagined wearing a wedding dress.

There was no man she loved waiting for her.

No family excitedly helping her get ready.

No joyful laughter filling the room.

Everything was happening because she needed money.

She forced herself to swallow the lump rising in her throat.

This was the choice she had made.

One of the attendants smiled gently.

"Mr. Blackwood is waiting outside."

Nora nodded.

Her legs suddenly felt weak.

Taking a slow breath, she reached for the door and walked out.

Ethan was standing near the entrance with both hands in his pockets.

The moment he looked up, his steps came to a stop.

For the first time that day, something flickered across his face.

His eyes rested on her a second longer than they had ever rested on anything else.

His throat moved almost unnoticed.

He swallowed once.

Then, just as quickly, his expression returned to its usual calm.

"You took long enough."

Nora almost laughed.

After everything those women had done, that was all he had to say.

She lowered her eyes and walked toward him.

"Do I... look acceptable?"

Ethan studied her for another brief moment before answering.

"You'll do."

It wasn't a compliment.

Yet somehow, she found herself smiling anyway.

One of the attendants handed Ethan a garment bag.

"Everything else has been prepared, Mr. Blackwood."

He accepted it with a nod. "Thank you."

Without another word, he turned toward the exit. "Let's go."

Nora followed behind him.

She thought they were finally heading back to the grand wedding venue where hundreds of guests were probably still waiting.

Instead, the car drove past it without slowing down.

She frowned.

"Aren't we going back to the wedding?"

Ethan looked straight ahead.

"No."

"Then... where are we going?"

His answer was short.

"The marriage court."

Nora's heart skipped a beat.

Within the next hour...

She would legally become Ethan Blackwood's wife.