contract signed in silence

Ava sat stiffly on the plush couch in Damien's massive penthouse, her fingers gripping the edge of her dress. The dinner had been… overwhelming. The expensive restaurant, the cold, assessing stares from the elite guests, and most of all—Damien's complete indifference. It felt like she had been thrown into an entirely different world, one where she didn't belong.

Her mind reeled from the evening's events. She had barely touched her food, too lost in thought about her mother and the weight of the secret she now carried. How would she hide her marriage from her mother for an entire year? How would she keep up the act of being the perfect wife to a man who had made it abundantly clear that this was nothing more than a business deal?

She was pulled from her thoughts as Damien stepped into the room, his presence as commanding as always. His sharp gaze swept over her, lingering on the dress she wore before his lips pressed into a thin line.

"That dress," he said, his voice calm yet cutting. "It looks cheap."

Ava's breath hitched. She swallowed hard, gripping the fabric of her dress. It wasn't designer, but it was decent—at least, she had thought so. She had chosen it carefully, knowing she would be standing beside him. Yet, standing beside Damien, with his tailored suit and effortless elegance, she felt small. Insignificant.

"I didn't have time to buy anything fancy," she said, forcing herself to stay composed. "I spent most of the day in the hospital."

Damien's expression remained unreadable. He slipped his hands into his pockets, his gray eyes studying her as if she were a problem that needed fixing.

"That won't happen again," he stated. "Tomorrow, we're going shopping. You need a wardrobe that suits my wife."

Ava's stomach twisted. His wife. The word felt foreign.

Before she could respond, Damien continued, "And after that, we're choosing your wedding dress."

Ava tensed. The wedding. It was happening so fast.

She had agreed to this. Signed the contract. But the reality of it was sinking in faster than she had prepared for.

Her mother had no idea.

A lump formed in her throat as reality crashed over her like a tidal wave. How was she supposed to hide something this big?

"Damien," she said hesitantly. "About my mother… she doesn't know about this marriage. I can't tell her."

His gaze darkened. "Why?"

"She'd never approve," Ava admitted. "She believes in love, in real marriages. If she knew I was doing this for money, it would break her heart."

Damien leaned back against the desk, crossing his arms. "And how exactly do you plan to keep this from her? The media will know soon enough."

Ava's nails dug into her palm. "She's in the hospital. She doesn't read tabloids or watch much TV. If I visit her without raising suspicion, I can keep this secret for a year."

Damien studied her for a long moment, then gave a small, indifferent shrug. "Fine. Your secret is yours to keep—just don't let it interfere with our deal."

Ava released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

But deep down, she knew this was only the beginning of the lies she would have to tell.

---

The Wedding Invitation

The next morning, Ava arrived at her workplace—one last time.

She knew she wouldn't be working here anymore, not as the future Mrs. Damien Cole. Still, she had one final task: to invite her boss to her wedding.

She knocked on his office door, her hands slightly sweaty.

"Come in," came the familiar voice.

Ava stepped inside. Her boss, Mr. Carter, was seated at his desk, flipping through files. When he looked up, his eyes widened in surprise at her appearance.

She wore an elegant, cream-colored dress, her hair styled neatly. She barely recognized herself in the mirror that morning.

"Ava?" he blinked. "Is something wrong?"

She hesitated before holding out the invitation. "I wanted to give you this… It's an invitation to my wedding."

His brows shot up. "Your wedding?"

"Yes," she said, bracing herself.

Mr. Carter took the envelope and opened it, his eyes scanning the contents. Then, his expression shifted from confusion to outright shock.

"You're marrying Damien Cole?" he asked, disbelief lacing his tone.

Ava stiffened. "Yes."

For a moment, her boss just stared at her. Then, he chuckled, shaking his head.

"Well, I'll be damned," he muttered. "I didn't see that coming."

Ava forced a small smile, but she could already imagine the rumors that would spread through the office in minutes.

And she was right.

---

Whispers and Gossip

As soon as she stepped out of Mr. Carter's office, all eyes were on her.

She could hear the hushed whispers.

"Did you hear? Ava is marrying Damien Cole!"

"No way! That billionaire?"

"She must have seduced him somehow. There's no way a girl like her could land someone like that."

Ava's fists clenched, but she kept walking, pretending not to hear.

But things only got worse when she stepped outside.

A sleek black car awaited her, and standing beside it was a team of Damien's personal bodyguards.

They escorted her to the car, ignoring the wide-eyed stares of her colleagues.

As she slipped inside, she felt a strange mix of emotions.

She was no longer just Ava Sinclair, the struggling waitress.

She was soon to be Ava Cole, the billionaire's wife.

And whether she liked it or not, her life was about to change forever.

---

The Price of the Contract

Later that night, Ava lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The city lights flickered outside her window, but she barely noticed.

Everything had happened so fast.

The hospital bills were paid. Her mother was no longer at risk of being thrown out due to unpaid fees.

But at what cost?

She turned on her side, hugging her knees to her chest.

Tomorrow, she would go dress shopping. Tomorrow, she would prepare to be a bride.

A bride without love.

She told herself it was worth it.

She repeated the words in her head, over and over again, hoping—desperately—that one day she might actually believe them.