I Do…For Now

Lana had rushed the entire preparation.

Within a week, everything was set—no time for second thoughts. Zoe barely had time to process it. One minute, she was meeting Adonis for the first time, and the next, she was walking down the aisle.

The wedding was small and private, just a handful of important people. Zoe’s father was there, silent and watchful. Adonis’ older brother, Avron, sat in the front row, his expression dark. The moment his eyes landed on the couple, he shook his head and looked away, clearly displeased. And then there was Lana, smiling like she had already won.

As Zoe stood at the entrance, she took a deep breath. This is it.

Adonis, in a sharp black suit, waited at the altar, unreadable as ever. If he felt anything—nervousness, regret, excitement—he didn’t show it.

The ceremony was quick.

“Do you, Adonis Walter, take Zoe Powers to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

A long pause. Zoe held her breath. Adonis finally smirked.

“I do.”

Her turn.

“Do you, Zoe Powers, take Adonis Walter to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

She swallowed hard. No turning back now.

“I do.”

“You may kiss the bride.”

Zoe stiffened. Oh, hell no.

Adonis stepped forward, ready to kiss her, but she instinctively leaned back. Her eyes darted to her father, who gave her a subtle nudge. With a sigh, she leaned in and gave Adonis the quickest, most meaningless kiss possible.

But Adonis wasn’t having it.

Before she could pull away, he grabbed her waist and deepened the kiss, his lips pressing firmly against hers. Zoe’s eyes widened in shock. She pushed against his chest and broke free, staring at him like he had lost his mind.

“What the hell did you just do?” she hissed.

He leaned in, smirking. “I’m your husband now.”

Her stomach twisted. She knew Adonis disliked her, so what the hell was that?

Her mind raced, and then it hit her.

The wedding night.

Her breath hitched.

“Oh my god, this is not happening.”

“Time for wedding pictures!” Lana urged excitedly, clapping her hands. Everyone started gathering around the couple, but Avron remained seated, unmoving.

“I don’t want to be part of this nonsense,” he said coldly.

The room fell silent.

Lana’s smile faltered for a second before she sighed. “Avron, that’s enough. This is your brother’s wedding—behave.”

“I don’t want to be a part of it,” Avron repeated, his tone sharp. He turned to a servant. “Take me out of here.”

The servant hesitated, glancing at Lana for approval, but at her slight nod, he quickly rolled Avron’s wheelchair away.

Lana pinched the bridge of her nose, then quickly forced a smile. “A toast, everyone!” she called, trying to smooth over the awkwardness. The guests played along, raising their glasses, but the tension lingered in the air.

Adonis stood there, watching his brother leave.

They had never been perfect brothers, but something about Avron’s hatred always nagged at him.

And today, for some reason, it felt personal.

“A toast to you, my lovely wife,” Adonis said smoothly, turning to Zoe with a smirk.

But she wasn’t having it. She kept her expression blank, refusing to play along.

His eyes darkened slightly. Leaning in, he whispered just low enough for only her to hear, “Smile… You know you actually need this wedding to happen more than I do.”

Zoe’s fingers tightened around her glass. She wanted to wipe that smug look off his face, but instead, she forced a tight-lipped smile.

Adonis clinked his glass against hers, his smirk never faltering. Leaning in once more, he whispered, “And don’t get too comfortable with me. I’m just doing this for Gran, trying to stay in character. After today, we’ll pretty much go back to our normal lives.”

Zoe scoffed, lowering her glass. “Trust me, the last thing I want is to be comfortable with you.”

Adonis chuckled. “Good. Because I already have a woman I love.”

Zoe’s jaw tightened, but she quickly masked it with indifference. “Perfect. Then stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours.”

“Kiss for the picture!” a voice called out from the crowd.

“Don’t you dare,” Zoe whispered sharply.

Adonis scoffed. “The last thing I want to do is kiss you, old lady.”

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” More voices joined in, chanting.

Zoe shot him a glare before turning away. She exhaled, then muttered through gritted teeth, “Let’s just get it over with.”

Adonis sighed dramatically, leaning in slightly. “The things I have to endure,” he muttered.

Zoe clenched her jaw. “Just shut up and do it.”

As the guests chanted louder, Adonis grabbed her waist, pulling her closer. Zoe stiffened, her hands pressing against his chest. Before she could protest, he tilted his head and pressed his lips against hers.

The crowd cheered, cameras flashed, but Zoe barely registered any of it. The kiss was supposed to be quick, just for show, but Adonis lingered, his grip firm.

Annoyed, Zoe pulled back first, her face heating up. “Was that necessary?” she hissed.

Adonis smirked, wiping his lips with his thumb. “You were the one who said to get it over with.”

Zoe exhaled sharply. “I hate you.”

Adonis chuckled. “Oh, the feeling is mutual, sweetheart.”

The wedding had ended. Zoe hugged her father goodbye, assuring him she’d see him soon.

Just as she turned, Grandma Lana approached the couple, beaming. “I’ve arranged a honeymoon for you two in Paris!” she announced excitedly.

Zoe’s brows twitched. A honeymoon? Was that really necessary? This was clearly a contract marriage—did they really have to go through all the motions?

Before she could voice her thoughts, a sleek black car pulled up to take them home.

Adonis slid into the car first without a second thought. Zoe huffed, staring at him. “Why is it so hard for you to be a gentleman? You could at least open the door for me.”

He leaned back lazily, unimpressed. “You coming or not?” He smirked. “You watch too many romance movies.”