The next morning felt unreal.
Serena stood before the mirror in the hotel room Adrian had arranged for her.
On the bed behind her lay a simple white dress.
It wasn't a grand wedding gown.
There were no diamonds, no elaborate decorations, and no veil.
Just clean lines, delicate fabric, and understated elegance.
It looked exactly like the agreement they were about to enter.
Simple.
Clear.
Emotionless.
Serena touched the fabric.
"One year," she whispered.
Not forever.
Just one year.
She repeated the words until they sounded believable.
Her phone vibrated.
Adrian: The car is downstairs.
Serena stared at the message.
Her heart beat faster.
This was really happening.
She changed quietly, fixed her hair, and looked at herself one final time.
There was no family waiting outside.
No friends.
No celebration.
Perhaps that made it easier.
Or perhaps it made the whole thing a little sadder.
She picked up her handbag.
"Let's do this."
A black luxury sedan waited outside the hotel.
The driver stepped out immediately and opened the rear door.
"Good morning, Mrs—"
He stopped himself.
"Miss Vale."
Serena gave him a small nod.
"Good morning."
As she settled into the back seat, she looked through the window.
The city moved around her as usual.
People hurried to work.
Cars filled the streets.
Shops opened for the day.
Nobody knew that Serena Vale was on her way to become the wife of one of the most powerful men in the city.
Nobody knew that the marriage wasn't born from love.
It was born from necessity.
The civil marriage registry was surprisingly ordinary.
There were couples waiting in the hallway.
Some held flowers.
Some laughed nervously.
One young couple stood close together, their hands intertwined.
Serena looked away.
She wondered briefly what it felt like to marry someone because you couldn't imagine your future without them.
Then she saw him.
Adrian Kingston stood beside one of the large windows.
Dark suit.
Perfect posture.
Calm expression.
He looked less like a groom and more like a businessman waiting to finalize another important agreement.
When his eyes found her, something changed.
Only for a moment.
His gaze softened.
Then the familiar composure returned.
"You came."
Serena stopped in front of him.
"I said I would."
His eyes moved briefly over her dress.
Not possessively.
Not suggestively.
He simply noticed.
"You look appropriate."
Serena almost smiled.
"That's probably the least romantic compliment I've ever received."
A faint pause.
"I'm not known for romance."
"Good."
She adjusted her handbag.
"Neither am I."
Something almost resembling amusement flickered in his eyes.
Then the registrar called their names.
"Mr. Adrian Kingston and Miss Serena Vale?"
They stepped forward.
The registrar placed the documents before them.
Names.
Identification.
Legal declarations.
Everything suddenly felt more serious.
The registrar looked between them.
"Do you both enter this marriage willingly?"
Serena hesitated.
Only for a second.
Then she answered.
"Yes."
Adrian's response came without hesitation.
"Yes."
"Do you understand that this marriage is legally binding?"
"Yes," they answered together.
"Then sign here."
Serena picked up the pen.
Her hand remained steady.
She signed her name.
Serena Vale.
For a brief moment, she stared at it.
Then Adrian signed beside hers.
The registrar collected the papers.
Just like that…
Serena Vale became Serena Kingston.
No music.
No applause.
No kiss.
No promises of forever.
Just ink.
The registrar smiled.
"Congratulations."
Adrian nodded politely.
Serena released a quiet breath.
It was done.
Outside the registry, Adrian stopped beside the car.
He reached into his pocket and handed Serena a small velvet box.
She looked at him suspiciously.
"What's this?"
"For appearances."
She opened it.
Inside was a wedding band.
Simple.
Elegant.
Clearly expensive, but without unnecessary diamonds or decoration.
Serena stared at it.
"This makes it feel real."
Adrian's gaze rested on the ring.
"Legally, it is."
She looked at him.
"You really know how to ruin a moment."
"I wasn't aware we were having one."
She almost laughed.
"Of course you weren't."
Adrian took the ring from the box.
He reached for her hand.
His fingers brushed hers.
A tiny spark of awareness passed through both of them.
Neither acknowledged it.
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
"There."
Serena looked down.
A single band.
Yet somehow, it felt heavier than the contract she'd signed.
"We should look convincing," Adrian said.
She nodded.
"Right."
She took his ring and carefully slid it onto his finger.
For one brief moment, their hands remained joined.
Neither moved.
Then Serena withdrew hers.
The moment was gone.
Before they could enter the car, hurried footsteps approached.
Adrian's assistant appeared, a tablet in hand.
"Sir."
Adrian turned.
"What happened?"
"The news leaked."
Adrian's expression barely changed.
"How bad?"
The assistant handed him the tablet.
Serena leaned closer.
The first headline made her stomach drop.
KINGSTON HEIR SECRETLY MARRIES UNKNOWN WOMANAnother headline appeared beneath it.
WHO IS SERENA VALE? GOLD DIGGER OR MYSTERY WIFE?Her fingers tightened around her handbag.
"That was fast."
"Someone wanted it public," Adrian said.
She looked at him.
"Do you know who?"
"Not yet."
His calmness irritated her.
"They're already calling me a gold digger."
"I'm aware."
"They don't even know me."
"They don't need to."
Serena frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"The media doesn't sell truth."
He handed the tablet back to his assistant.
"They sell whatever people want to believe."
Serena stared at him.
"And they're going to attack you too."
"I'm used to it."
His eyes shifted toward her.
"You're not."
She straightened.
"I'll survive."
Something in her answer seemed to satisfy him.
Before he could respond, his assistant spoke again.
"There's another problem."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"What?"
"Your father is demanding an immediate meeting."
Silence.
Serena looked between them.
"Your father?"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"My family."
The temperature around him seemed to drop.
"Is that bad?"
Adrian looked at her.
"He will try to end this marriage before it begins."
Serena's stomach tightened.
"And me?"
A brief silence.
"Yes."
She took a slow breath.
"Then I suppose I should prepare."
Adrian opened the car door for her.
"You won't face them alone."
Serena paused.
She looked at him.
The words were simple.
Yet they stayed with her.
She entered the car.
Adrian followed.
As the vehicle pulled away from the registry, Serena looked through the window at the city disappearing behind them.
Her old life was gone.
Her new life had begun.
Beside her sat her husband.
A man she barely knew.
A man who claimed not to believe in love.
A man whose world was about to become hers.
And neither of them knew that the moment they entered Kingston Mansion…
Their carefully written contract would be tested for the first time.
Because Adrian's family wasn't waiting to welcome their new daughter-in-law.
They were waiting to see how long she would survive.