Elara stood by her small wardrobe, folding her clothes one by one into a suitcase that looked too old for what her life was about to become and till not believe that she is married to a total stranger. Her fingers trembled, not because of the move, but because of what she was about to reveal. For days she had been dodging her best friend's calls, afraid she might blurt everything out. But tonight, she couldn't leave without telling her.
"Come in," she whispered when the knock came at her door.
Maya—her closest friend since college—stepped in, her curious eyes scanning the half-packed suitcase. "Elara… where are you going? Don't tell me you're running away from your problems again."
Elara pressed her lips together, fighting back tears. "No, Maya. I—I got married."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Maya's jaw dropped. "Married? To who? When? And why am I just hearing about this now?" Her voice rose with every question.
Elara's eyes filled with guilt. "It was sudden. Complicated. I didn't want to drag you into it… not when my mom was fighting for her life."
Maya sat heavily on the edge of the bed, staring at her like she was a stranger. "You—you got married in secret? Elara, I'm supposed to be your person. The one you run to, not the one you keep in the dark."
Elara's voice cracked. "I know. I'm sorry. If I told you, you would've tried to stop me. And I couldn't risk losing the money that saved Mom's life."
The anger in Maya's eyes softened into something else—pain. Then, slowly, a small smile tugged at her lips. "So… who's the mystery man? Please don't tell me it's some old politician or sugar daddy."
Elara shook her head quickly, cheeks warming. "No… his name is Adrian Cole."
Maya's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, Cole? As in the wealthy Cole family? Girl!" She grabbed Elara's shoulders, half excited, half disbelieving. "You're seriously telling me you're married to Adrian Cole? And you kept this from me?"
Elara let out a weak laugh. "Don't look at me like that. It's not… a real marriage. It's a contract. He helped me save Mom, and in return, I'm supposed to play the role of his wife."
Maya blinked, then groaned dramatically. "So you're basically in one of those romance novels I read? My best friend? Elara, how could you not tell me?"
Tears slipped down Elara's cheeks as she hugged her friend. "Because if I told you, I'd break down. And I didn't have the luxury of falling apart."
Maya hugged her back tightly, whispering, "You're stronger than you think… but I'm still mad at you. Don't ever shut me out again. If this man hurts you, contract or not, I'll be the first to drag you back."
For the first time that night, Elara managed a real smile. "Deal."
---
Hours later, after saying goodbye to Maya, Elara stepped into the imposing Cole mansion. Chandeliers glimmered above, polished marble reflected her nervous face, and Adrian stood waiting by the staircase, arms crossed.
"You're late," he said coolly.
Elara tightened her grip on her suitcase. "I had to say goodbye."
Adrian's sharp eyes softened for a fraction of a second. "Goodbyes are dangerous. They make you doubt."
She didn't reply, only followed as he led her through the massive halls. Every corner screamed wealth, yet Elara had never felt more out of place.
"This is your room," Adrian finally said, stopping at a door near his own. "We'll play the perfect couple in front of my family. Behind closed doors, we keep out of each other's way."
Her chest tightened at the reminder—this wasn't love. It was survival.
---
The next morning, Elara rushed to the hospital, fear and relief battling inside her. When she pushed open the door to her mother's ward, her breath caught. Sitting beside her mother's bed, reading softly from a book, was Adrian Cole himself.
Elara froze. He hadn't told her he would come.
Her mother, still weak but smiling faintly, reached out a trembling hand to Adrian. " Thank …thank you for coming to my daughter's world."
Adrian rose smoothly, his usual arrogance replaced with gentle warmth. He took her mother's hand and bowed slightly. "I'm glad to be your son-in-law, ma'am. I promise to always care for you and Elara ."
Her mother looked between them, tears welling up. "You chose well, Elara. He's a good man."
And in that moment, watching Adrian's steady gaze, Elara wasn't sure if it was all an act anymore.