His lips were still on mine, too long, too deep.
I kissed him back longer than I should’ve, my fingers gripping his arms like I needed them to stay upright. My heart was racing, chest tight, heat rolling across my skin like a wave I couldn’t stop, everything in me was responding to him from muscle memory, craving this more than I had expected.
But it wasn’t real, not anymore.
I pushed at his chest, breaking the kiss.
“No,” I said, breathless.
He didn’t step back. “Why? Isn’t this something you want?” I could still feel his hot breath fanning my face as his voice dropped to a whisper, “I said I’d do my part as your husband,” he raked his eyes all over my body for a second before meeting my gaze again, “and I meant that in every way.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I couldn’t say the truth. That it felt wrong because he didn’t remember who I was because the man holding me wasn’t Rick, not really, not the Rick who once told me I was the only future he saw. This version didn’t know what he’d already thrown away.
I stepped back, my voice sharp now. “No.”
He frowned like I had just throw salt to his wounds but the only thing flashing through my mind were his
Father’s words.
I shook
my head fast, “I’m only your wife on paper,” I said, not sure if I was reminding me or him, “let’s keep it that way.”
I moved to the door, hand on the knob, then turned slightly, “for the contract period, I’ll be sleeping in the same room as my daughter.”
He didn’t answer.
I opened the door, but his hand caught my wrist again, gentler this time.
“Why are you doing this? I know what’s in it for me, but what’s in it for you? This sudden marriage?”
I didn’t look back.
“Just because I want to.”
That was all I gave him before pulling free from his grip and taking my leave.
The room they assigned for me and Lena was smaller than the one I had alone, but still bigger than anything we’d lived in before.
The walls were pale blue, the lighting soft. Lena’s little bed had already been made with new sheets, a pile
1/4
Chapter 8
-f stuffed animals stacked at the headboard.
he ran in immediately, squealing and jumping on the mattress.
stayed near the door, still holding the knob, heart too heavy to move.
55 vouchers
hated this. I hated every part of it. But the thought of Marissa ending up with Rick, smiling beside him in very photo, sliding into a life that should’ve never been hers burned worse. I couldn’t explain why it hattered, only that it did.
crawled into bed beside Lena and watched her fall asleep. She didn’t ask questions, she didn’t complain. he just curled into my side, her little hand resting on my stomach like she’d done every night for the last
hree years.
and when I closed my eyes, I told myself this was worth it. Even if I had to live like a stranger in a house here nobody knew me, even if he didn’t want me, even if this marriage was a cage.
survive it.
The knock came early the next morning. I pulled the covers back and stepped out quietly so I wouldn’t ake her. A woman in a black blazer stood at the door, polite but firm.
Mrs. Sterling,” she said and that made me cringe instantly, that would have been a name I was excited to ear a few years ago, “there’s an official event this evening. Mr. Sterling will be attending and you’ll be xpected to accompany him.”
blinked, “what kind of event?”
A public appearance as husband and wife. It’s on behalf of the Sterling Foundation, the family board requested it.”
folded my arms, “so it’s to show everyone the marriage is real.”
She nodded once.
Fine.”
And breakfast is ready. You’ll find Mr. Sterling in the sunroom.”
She left without another word.
I got dressed quickly, pulling on a soft cotton top and clean jeans. I brushed Lena’s curls, picked out one of her nicer dresses, and we made our way downstairs.
The sunroom looked more like a high–end café than a casual dining space. Wide windows, gold trim, pale marble flooring. Everything smelled like warm bread and honey.
Rick sat at the head of the table, dressed down in a plain black shirt and gray joggers, flipping through his phone. He didn’t look up.
8:4
pm
Chapter 8
Lena let go of my hand and walked ahead.
Her voice rang out across the room. “Hi!”
:{
55 vouchers
He glanced up, startled, blinking at me as if he had never interacted with a child before. The look on his face made me pause a little, I hadn’t thought of what would happen if they had to have an encounter, Lena had never known her father and she had been told young to ask about him.
I walked over slowly and sat beside her, watching him cautiously. He kept his eyes on his screen.
“Are you going to eat?” she asked him.
“In a minute,” he said without looking.
She leaned on the table, nose scrunching. “You’re supposed to say ‘good morning‘ to your family.”
That got his attention.
His eyebrows raised slightly, then he looked at her, actually looked.
“Good morning, Lena.”
I was almost surprised he even remembered her name.
She beamed.
He smirked, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe her nerve. She picked up her spoon, then paused.
“Do you like bunnies?” she asked him.
Rick blinked. “What?”
“Bunnies,” she repeated. “Because I have three invisible ones at home, and they came with me. They like toast, but not too brown, they don’t like burnt stuff.”
He stared at her like he didn’t know what to say, then nodded slowly. “I’ll make sure the toast isn’t too brown next time.”
She nodded seriously. “Good.”
He poured a glass of juice and slid it across the table to her. She took it without hesitation.
I watched them. The way he spoke to her like she was a person, the way he didn’t fake a smile or force it. Just quiet interest, like she caught him off guard and he wasn’t sure how to react.
For a second, I wanted to tell him, wanted to say it, that she was his, that everything about her, the shape of her mouth, the way her brow creased when she concentrated, was him.
But I stayed quiet.
Before breakfast was even over, Rick stood from the table and walked out without a word. I watched him leave, wondering where the hell he was going
3/4
8:41 pm E
Chapter 8
55 vouchers
I stayed seated, finishing what was on my plate while Lena hummed beside me, dipping her toast into syrup like she had no idea the air had shifted.
When I was done, I leaned over and kissed her head. “I’ll be back in a minute, okay?”
She nodded, already focused on her juice.
I stood and walked toward the direction Rick had gone. I didn’t have a plan. I just wanted to ask him about the event, maybe finally understand why any of this was happening.
As I neared the west wing hallway, I slowed.
Voices floated down the corridor, light, playful. A woman’s laugh.
I turned the corner and froze just outside the study door.
Rick was inside.
His arms were wrapped around a woman. Slim frame, long dark hair with her face pressed against his
chest.
“I married my father’s choice,” he said, voice low, like it was some secret, “now he’ll finally leave me the hell alone.”
He pulled her in tighter, and I couldn’t look away.
“We can spend all the time we want now. I fucking missed you so much.”
4/4
