Chapter 1 The Lies we keep

Rina's point of view

Desperation seems colder than I ever imagined. As soon as I entered the lavish office that didn't seem to belong on Earth, it began to permeate into my bones. With its polished mahogany, tall glass windows that overlooked the city skyline, and Martin Bryan sitting behind a huge desk like a king on his throne, every element shouted wealth. 

Without raising his head, he remarked, "Ms. Hayes," in a clipped, low voice, as if he had other things to do than deal with me. 

I erect my shoulders. "Mr. Bryan." 

When he did look up, his steely grey eyes met mine. It was as if he could see right through me, beyond the borrowed dress and meticulously applied makeup, to the girl underneath—the one who was drowning in debt and afraid of losing her mother. 

He pointed to the contract on his desk and remarked, "I assume you've read the terms." 

Yes, I had. repeatedly, until the words were jumbled. A merely ceremonial marriage. A year. appears in public as his spouse. No romantic relationships. No meddling in his private matters. Additionally, my mother's medical debts would be magically eliminated in exchange. 

"Every word," I answered, maintaining my composure in spite of the internal raging. 

"All right. Then you realise that this cannot be negotiated. Like a problem he wasn't sure he wanted to solve, he sat back in his chair and studied me. "I don't require a spouse. To keep up appearances, I need a partner. I'll do my part if you do yours. 

It hurt more than it should have because of his detachment. "Comprehensive." 

"Do you?" As he stood, the room seemed abruptly smaller due to his tall frame. "Ms. Hayes, this isn't a fairy tale. This isn't a "happily ever after." Don't expect more; you'll receive what you came for. 

I took a deep breath, not to be intimidated by him. "Mr. Bryan, I don't think fairy tales exist." 

"Well done." He held out his hand for the contract. "Then let's formally announce this." 

As I reached for the pen, my fingers shook. It was this. The turning point that would permanently alter my life. With the decision's weight bearing down on me, I hesitated. 

"Do you require additional time?" His voice was impatient and aggressive. 

"No." I sealed my doom by writing my signature over the paper. 

There was a moment of dense, oppressive silence. Then he talked in a softer but no less authoritative tone. Tomorrow, you'll move into my penthouse. Bring along anything you'll need. Victor will email you the information. 

"Tomorrow?" Startled, I asked. "Is that a problem for you?" 

"No," I responded hastily, despite my racing thoughts. I have less than twenty-four hours to leave my life behind and enter his. a world in which I had no place. 

"Well done." He was already discarding me when he turned away from me. "We've left this place." 

I felt as though I had just struck a bargain with the devil as I stood there. However, his voice interrupted me before I could get to the door. 

"Ms. Hayes, one more thing." 

He was staring at me with an enigmatic expression when I turned around. Even if you don't think fairy tales exist, you can play the part of a devoted wife in this arrangement. Loyalty and discretion cannot be compromised. Recognize? 

"Crystal clear." After he gave me a single nod, I walked away with my heart racing. 

My best friend Hannah sat cross-legged on my bed that night, watching me with a mixture of amazement and concern as I packed my few possessions. 

"You're doing this, then?" While throwing a pair of my socks into the luggage, she enquired. 

I avoided looking at her and shrugged. "I have no other option." 

"Rina, you always have a choice." She spoke in a harsher voice than usual. Getting married to a man like Martin Bryan? It's crazy. 

"I understand." I closed the suitcase and took a seat next to her. However, it's my only choice. Treatment is necessary for Mom, and this is the only option. 

With a sigh, Hannah drew me into an embrace. "Please just swear to me that you will exercise caution. He is the type of guy who doesn't follow the rules. 

I said, "I'll be fine," more to reassure myself than to her. 

When I entered Martin's apartment the following day, it seemed as if I had entered a movie set. A breathtaking view of the city was framed by floor-to-ceiling windows. Like the man who owned it, everything was sleek, contemporary, and icy. 

I was startled by a voice that stated, "Ms. Hayes." 

I looked over and saw an older man with a clipboard and salt-and-pepper hair. Martin's attorney is Victor Hargrove. 

With a sharp tone, he stated, "Mr. Bryan is in a meeting." "I'll lead you to your chamber." 

My chamber. Not in our space. Naturally. There was no true marriage here. 

I tried not to stare at the artwork that adorned the walls as I followed Victor down a hallway. I pondered whether Martin even noticed the pieces, which all seemed to belong in a museum. 

Victor opened a door to a guest room that was larger than my entire apartment and declared, "This will be your space." "Mr. Bryan wants you to join him tonight at a charity gala. formal dress. You will be picked up by automobile at seven o'clock. 

Overwhelmed by how quickly everything were happening, I nodded. 

Before leaving, Victor remarked, "Good luck," with a tinge of—sympathy?—in his voice. 

Glistening gowns, clinking drinks, and murmured discussions filled the gala. I held on to Martin's arm while grinning for the cameras, fully conscious of the interested onlookers. 

His lips hardly moved as he spoke, "You're doing fine." 

I looked up at him, taken aback by the infrequent support. "Thank you." 

However, the moment was fleeting. As the evening went on, a woman with blond hair styled in a sophisticated chignon and eyes that gleamed with deliberate curiosity came towards us. 

"Martin," she purred, completely oblivious to me. "Too much time has passed." 

"Sophia," he said calmly. "What a shock." 

Her smile deepened as her eyes shifted to me. "And your new wife must be this one." 

I feigned a courteous grin. "Hayes, Rina." 

Sophia examined me, not bothering to conceal her contempt. "I'm sure it's charmed." 

Martin's hold on my arm became a little tighter, a silent reminder to maintain composure. But before I could answer, there was a disturbance close to the door. 

A man strode in as the crowd parted, his dark eyes smirking at Martin in a way that made my skin crawl. 

Martin responded, "Ben," in a tone that was colder than anything I had ever heard. 

"Cousin," the man said, his voice full of derision. "I didn't think you would be vulnerable tonight." 

"And yet here I am," Martin replied, his stance unyielding. 

I felt like an outsider caught in the crossfire of something far larger than me throughout their heated and stressful exchange. 

Ben's grin, however, expanded as his eyes turned to me. "And who is this?" 

Martin's mouth clenched. "My spouse." 

"Wife?" Ben's eyes gleamed with laughter. "Interesting. Martin, I didn't believe you were the sort to get married. 

Martin stated bluntly, "People change," in a tone that left no space for debate. 

"Do they?" Ben grinned more broadly. "Well, I'm excited to learn more about Mrs. Bryan. Rina, welcome to the family. 

Martin's hand moved to the small of my back and steered me away before I could react, but something in his tone made my stomach turn. 

"We're heading out," he stated in a stern yet hushed voice. 

I dared to question, "Who is he?" as the automobile raced through the city. 

Martin had a stormy face. "Someone you would be better off avoiding." 

Although I could hear the caution in his voice, it simply piqued my interest. Why did I believe that marrying Martin was just the start of my troubles, and who was Ben Blackwood?