Chapter 4 - Mrs. Blackwood

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Chapter 4: Mrs. Blackwood

Elena didn't sleep.

Not even for a second.

The room she had been given was larger than her entire apartment—cold, spotless, and unfamiliar. Everything about it felt like it belonged to someone else's life.

Not hers.

She sat at the edge of the bed, still wearing the same dress from earlier, her mind replaying everything over and over again.

Daniel's betrayal.

Vanessa's laughter.

Her father's face.

And Adrian.

Her chest tightened.

"Now you become my wife."

The words echoed endlessly in her mind.

A knock on the door broke the silence.

Elena flinched slightly before forcing herself to stand.

"Come in," she said softly.

The door opened, and a middle-aged woman stepped inside, dressed neatly in a uniform. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were observant.

"Good morning, Madam," she said politely.

Madam.

The word felt strange.

Wrong.

"I'm Clara, the head housekeeper. Mr. Blackwood asked me to assist you."

Elena blinked. "Assist me…?"

Clara smiled faintly. "You'll need to get ready. The civil ceremony is in an hour."

Elena froze.

"An hour?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Clara nodded. "Everything has been arranged."

Of course it had.

Adrian didn't waste time.

Elena let out a slow breath, her fingers curling slightly at her sides. "I don't even have a dress…"

Clara gestured toward the wardrobe behind her.

"It's already been taken care of."

Elena turned slowly.

Her heart skipped.

Hanging inside the wardrobe was a white dress—simple, elegant, and far too beautiful for something that meant so little.

Or maybe…

Too much.

Her throat tightened.

"Please prepare quickly, Madam," Clara added gently before stepping out of the room.

The door closed softly behind her.

And just like that—

Elena was alone again.

She walked toward the wardrobe slowly, her steps heavy. Her fingers brushed against the fabric of the dress.

It was soft.

Perfect.

Everything her life wasn't right now.

Her reflection caught her eye in the mirror.

Her hair slightly messy. Her eyes red from unshed tears.

She looked like a stranger.

"Mrs. Blackwood…" she whispered under her breath.

The title felt unreal.

Like it belonged to someone stronger.

Someone who wasn't breaking inside.

But she didn't have a choice.

Not anymore.

An hour later—

Elena stood in front of the mirror again.

But this time…

She didn't recognize the girl staring back at her.

Her hair was neatly styled. The dress fit her perfectly, hugging her figure in a way that made her look… different.

Not invisible.

Not weak.

Beautiful.

Her heart twisted painfully.

If only tonight had been different…

If only she was wearing this dress for the right reason.

Another knock.

"Elena," a deep voice called from outside the door.

Adrian.

Her breath caught.

"I'm ready," she said, though her voice didn't feel like her own.

The door opened.

And for a moment—

Everything went still.

Adrian stepped inside, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His presence filled the room instantly, cold and commanding as always.

But his eyes—

His eyes paused on her.

Just for a second.

Elena noticed it.

That brief moment of stillness.

Of surprise.

Then it was gone.

"Let's go," he said simply.

Just like that.

No compliment.

No reaction.

Elena swallowed the strange feeling in her chest and nodded.

Of course.

Why did she expect anything else?

The civil office was quiet.

Too quiet for something that was supposed to be a wedding.

No family.

No friends.

No love.

Just paperwork.

Elena stood beside Adrian, her hands clasped tightly together as the official spoke words she barely heard.

Her mind felt distant.

Disconnected.

"…do you agree to this marriage?"

The question pulled her back.

Elena hesitated for a fraction of a second.

Then—

"I do," she said softly.

Her voice echoed in the small room.

The official turned to Adrian.

"And you?"

"I do."

His answer was immediate.

Cold.

Certain.

The sound of papers being stamped filled the silence.

Final.

Irreversible.

The official looked up with a small, polite smile.

"Congratulations. You are now legally married."

Married.

The word settled heavily in Elena's chest.

It was done.

There was no going back now.

Adrian reached for the document and glanced over it briefly before handing it to his assistant.

"Take it," he said.

Like it was just another business file.

Elena stood there, unmoving.

Was that it?

No vows.

No emotions.

No meaning.

Just signatures and silence.

Adrian turned to her.

"It's over," he said.

Over.

Or just beginning?

Her lips parted slightly. "My father…" she whispered.

Adrian held her gaze for a moment.

Then—

"It's being handled."

Not he's safe.

Not he's okay.

Just—

It's being handled.

Elena's chest tightened.

"You promised," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

"I keep my promises."

Something in his tone made her pause.

There was no doubt.

No hesitation.

But still…

Something didn't feel right.

They stepped outside.

The bright daylight felt almost blinding after everything that had happened.

Elena wrapped her arms around herself slightly, as if trying to hold herself together.

A car waited.

Of course it did.

Adrian opened the door for her.

The gesture surprised her.

But before she could think too much about it, he spoke—

"From now on, you don't go anywhere alone."

Her brows furrowed. "What?"

"It's part of the deal."

"This wasn't in the contract," she said, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice.

Adrian's expression didn't change.

"It didn't need to be."

Her heart pounded.

"What does that mean?"

His eyes met hers.

Sharp.

Unyielding.

"It means," he said slowly, "you're no longer just Elena Voss."

A pause.

Then—

"You're my wife."

The words felt heavier this time.

More real.

More suffocating.

Elena swallowed hard as she got into the car.

Her mind was racing again.

Too many questions.

Too many unknowns.

And not enough answers.

As the car door closed behind her, she looked down at her hands.

At the invisible chains she had just placed on herself.

For her father.

For the truth.

For something she didn't fully understand.

And as the car began to move—

Elena realized something she hadn't thought about before.

If Adrian had the power to arrange all of this overnight…

If he could control everything so easily…

Then—

Who exactly had she just married?

And more importantly—

What kind of life had she just stepped into?