CHAPTER FIVE

Chapter Five

I sat on the bed in my dressing room, staring at my wedding dress. My fingers traced the delicate lace, but I felt nothing. This wasn’t how I imagined my wedding day. I was supposed to be marrying Giovanni, the love of my life. Not a stranger. Not Reed.

The weight of everything pressed down on my chest. I hadn’t spoken to Reed much since the press conference. Everything moved too fast. The contract. The media. The fake love story. Now, I was about to walk down the aisle and marry a man I barely knew.

A knock at the door. "Angie?" It was Mitchell’s voice.

“Come in,” I said softly.

She stepped inside, looking beautiful in her bridesmaid dress. Her eyes softened when she saw me. “You okay?”

I shook my head. “Mitchell, I can’t do this.”

She sighed, sitting beside me. “Angie…”

“This isn’t what I wanted.” My voice cracked. “I never thought my life would turn out this way.”

Mitchell took my hands. “I know this is hard. But it’s only for a while. A year, and then you’re free.”

I bit my lip. “What if I regret it?”

She squeezed my hands. “You won’t. You’re protecting yourself, your career. This is the best move right now.”

I looked down. “But I don’t even know him. Yes, he has been kind since I met him, but I don’t…”

Mitchell was quiet for a moment. Then she whispered, “Then don’t know him. Just survive this.”

I nodded slowly. Survive. That’s all I had to do.

The wedding happened, and It moved so fast, it felt like a blur.

I walked down the aisle with my heart numb. We said a few words and exchanged rings, and before I could even process it, Reed was kissing me. It wasn’t soft like our first kiss. It was firm, full of purpose, as if he was making a point. It lasted a little too long, and I had to slowly pull away. When he let me go, I saw something flicker in his green eyes; something unreadable. Like this was the moment he had waited for. Like he had gained something he once lost.

I ignored it.

We got to the apartment my dad had gotten it for us; large windows, modern furniture, the kind of place newlyweds should have. It was beautiful, but it didn’t feel like home. Reed walked in first, tossing his jacket on the couch. He didn’t say anything to me. He just pulled out his phone and started typing. I frowned. He had been doing that a lot.

Who was he talking to?

I didn’t ask. There were bigger problems I had no solutions to.

My phone buzzed again. Giovanni.

“Angie, please. Just talk to me.”

”I never meant to hurt you. You have to believe me.”

”I still love you.”

I closed my eyes tight, my chest was aching, a part of me still loved him too. I had dated him my whole life, how was I supposed to stop loving him overnight? I thought.

But then I remembered the video; his hands on Miles, his lips on her skin, the way he touched her, her screams of pleasure, I put my phone down, exhaling shakily. I wouldn’t answer him. Not now.

That night, we ate in silence. The air between us was thick with tension. Reed barely looked at me, only speaking when necessary.

I cleared my throat. “Are you okay?”

He glanced at me, raising a brow. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

I pressed my lips together. “Why did you even agree to this?”

He leaned back in his chair, staring at me with unreadable eyes. “I already told you. The money.”

I studied him. He didn’t look like someone who needed money. His suit, his watch, the way he carried himself, it didn’t add up.

“You don’t look like you need it,” I said quietly.

His lips twitched, but he didn’t say anything. He simply went back to eating, dismissing the conversation like it wasn’t important.

After dinner, I stood up. “I’m sleeping alone.”

Reed raised an eyebrow. “You sure?”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “You can sleep on the couch.”

He didn’t argue. He simply leaned back, watching me as I turned to leave.

“It’s not like we haven’t done this before,” he murmured.

I glared at him. “Goodnight.” I walked away before I could say something I’d regret.

I woke up to silence, for a moment, I forgot where I was. I stretched, my body still sore from the stress of yesterday. Then reality hit me.

I was married, to Reed.

I groaned, rubbing my face, this wasn’t a dream. The apartment was too quiet, I slipped out of bed and stepped into the hallway. Reed was in the living room, dressed and ready to leave.

“You’re up,” he said, not looking at me.

I nodded. “Where are you going?”

He picked up his keys. “Does it matter?”

Something about his tone sent a chill down my spine.

“I was just asking,” I said softly.

He turned to me, his green eyes cold. “I have things to do.” And just like that, he left.

The day passed slowly, I stayed in the apartment, regretting everything, I regretted signing that contract. I regretted walking down that aisle. I regretted saying “I do” to a man who barely acknowledged my existence.

I thought about Giovanni. About how he betrayed me. About how I had been forced into this situation.

By evening, I was exhausted.

Reed was in the shower, his phone buzzed on the coffee table. I wasn’t going to check, that would be wrong. But then it rang again.

I hesitated. What if it was important?

I reached for it, but my fingers accidentally pressed the wrong button, ending the call.

Crap.

A message popped up.

“We need you here. When are you coming home?”

My heart pounded. Home?

Who was waiting for him?

I was about to put the phone down when a deep voice sent chills down my spine.

“Why are you with my phone?”

I froze.

Slowly, I turned.

Reed was standing there, a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair dripping wet. But his expression… it was terrifying. His green eyes were cold, sharp. Like I had done something unforgivable, my hands trembled as I placed his phone back on the table.

“I-I didn’t mean to…”

He took a step closer. I took a step back, and for the first time, I felt a wave of fear.

Then, just like that, his face softened. The anger disappeared.

“You should ask before touching people’s things,” he said calmly.

I nodded quickly.

Without another word, he picked up his phone and walked away. I exhaled shakily, my heart still racing. I couldn’t help but ask myself questions.

Who was he really?

And what was he hiding?