5. After Marriage

Theo smiled thinly, a cynical smile. “Good. Because that will make everything much easier.” He turned and walked toward the door, but before leaving, he glanced back once more.

“One more thing, Hazel.”

Hazel stared at him, trying to remain calm even though her heart pounded wildly.

“We might be married on paper, but never forget that I’m still in charge here.” The door closed with a loud bang, leaving Hazel with mixed feelings—anger, hurt, and helplessness.

Hazel realized one thing very clearly: her life with Theo Filbert would never be easy.

***

The next morning, Hazel awoke with a heavy head and puffy eyes. Last night, she had barely slept. Her mind was filled with worries—about her mother, about the sham marriage that now bound her, and about the cold man who was now her husband.

She looked into the large mirror before her. A pale face with dark circles under her eyes stared back. With a heavy sigh, Hazel tried to muster her strength. There was no time to appear weak, especially while under the same roof as Theo Filbert.

After a quick shower, Hazel dressed in simple clothes chosen from the luxurious wardrobe provided for her—a soft blue dress with a simple cut, unassuming yet elegant.

When she descended to the dining room, the aroma of coffee greeted her. The spacious room featured large windows that showcased the perfectly arranged garden at the back of the mansion.

Theo was already seated at the dining table, wearing a white shirt rolled up to his elbows. His face looked fresh, though his expression remained as flat as ever.

“Good morning,” Hazel said softly.

Theo merely raised an eyebrow before resuming his sip of coffee without a word.

Hazel clenched her fists under the table, trying to ignore the man’s cold behavior. She had known from the start that this was not an ordinary marriage, yet Theo’s attitude still cut her deeply.

A waiter arrived with breakfast—toast, eggs, and orange juice. Hazel tried to eat, although her appetite was nearly gone.

After a few excruciating minutes of silence, Theo finally spoke. “Today, you’re coming with me to the office.”

Hazel was startled. “To the office?”

Theo nodded without looking at her. “We must show the public that this marriage is real. Reporters will be waiting outside the building. I don’t want to see you make a mistake.”

Hazel felt her chest tighten. “And what if I don’t want to?”

Theo set his coffee cup down with a sharp clink. His gray eyes stared piercingly at Hazel. “You don’t have a choice, Hazel. Remember our agreement.”

Those words pierced Hazel like a knife. She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself. “Alright,” she finally replied, her voice trembling.

Theo rose from his chair and quickly straightened his suit. “We leave in fifteen minutes. Don’t be late.”

After he left, Hazel remained seated. Her hands trembled, and her heart was filled with anxiety and uncertainty. One thing was clear—today would be the first test of her new life with Theo Filbert.

A sleek black luxury car glided smoothly out of the grand mansion’s gate. Hazel sat silently in the passenger seat, her hands folded in her lap, while Theo drove with an expressionless face.

Outside, the city streets were beginning to fill with vehicles in neat rows. A thin mist from last night’s rain still clung to some corners of the road, creating a cold and gloomy atmosphere—just like the mood in her heart.

Hazel glanced at Theo, who remained focused on the road ahead. He looked perfect in his neatly tailored black suit, his hair immaculately combed. Yet that perfection was only superficial—beneath it lay a cold and unpredictable nature that always made Hazel uneasy.

“How many reporters will be there?” Hazel finally asked, breaking the stifling silence.

Theo paused for a moment before replying in a flat tone, “Enough to make big news.”

Hazel swallowed hard, her heart racing. She was not used to being the center of attention, especially not in a situation like this—a sham marriage that had to appear perfect to the public.

Theo glanced briefly at her. “You just need to smile and pretend to be happy. Understood?”

Hazel clutched her hands in her lap. “I’ll try.”

Theo exhaled shortly, as if he had anticipated her answer. “Trying isn’t enough, Hazel. I need certainty.”

Hazel gritted her teeth, holding back the surge of emotion in her chest. “I’ll do it, Theo. But don’t expect me to enjoy any of this.”

Theo smiled thinly, though his smile conveyed no warmth. “Good. We’re not here to enjoy anything, Hazel. Remember that.”

The car finally stopped in front of the towering Filbert Corporation building. Reporters had already gathered at the entrance, their cameras ready to capture every moment.

Theo stepped out first, then walked over to Hazel and opened the car door with a gesture that appeared courteous to the public, though Hazel knew it was all an act.

“Hold my hand,” Theo commanded in a low whisper.

Hazel hesitated for a moment before finally taking his cold yet firm hand.

The flash of camera lights greeted them as soon as Hazel stepped out of the car. Reporters shouted, seeking a comment or statement from the newlywed couple who had become the center of attention.

Theo smiled thinly at the cameras, as if everything were perfect. With all her strength, Hazel forced a fake smile that nearly made her face stiff.

Amid the commotion, Hazel felt like a puppet on display on a grand stage. Yet behind her feigned smile, one question echoed in her mind: How much longer can I live this lie?

After enduring a full session of attention outside the Filbert Corporation building, Hazel felt as though her body would collapse. Theo guided her into the building with a casual demeanor, and his thin smile gradually faded as the large glass doors closed, blocking the view of the lingering reporters outside.

“Good job,” Theo said without turning around. “You’re beginning to understand your role.”

Hazel said nothing. Her thoughts were solely on her mother.

They walked toward the private elevator that would take them to the upper floors. Once the elevator doors closed, Hazel summoned the courage to speak.

“Theo, I want to go to the hospital.”

Theo turned his head, looking at her with an impassive expression. “For what?”

“I need to check on my mother’s condition,” Hazel said, her voice trembling yet resolute. “I can’t rest until I know she’s alright.”

Theo folded his arms across his chest. “You do realize our schedule is packed today, don’t you? You were supposed to accompany me to meet some important business partners.”

Hazel clenched her fists by her side. “I know this is part of the deal. But my mother is more important than any schedule.”

A silence fell. The elevator continued its ascent in quiet tension. Hazel held her breath, hoping Theo wouldn’t make this any harder than it already was.

Finally, Theo exhaled deeply. “Fine.”

Hazel looked at him in disbelief. “Really?”

Theo pressed the emergency button in the elevator, causing it to stop at a middle floor. “I’ll send a driver to take you to the hospital. But after that, I expect you back at the office to finish your duties.”

“Thank you,” Hazel said, her voice filled with relief.

Theo fixed her with a sharp gaze, his grayish-brown eyes intense. “Don’t make me regret granting you this permission, Hazel.”

Without waiting for further response, the elevator doors opened, and Theo stepped out with determined strides.

Hazel exhaled deeply, feeling a slight weight lift from her chest. She didn’t care about Theo’s threats or the schedule awaiting her later; what mattered most now was her mother.

Soon, Hazel found herself seated in a car speeding toward the hospital, her heart pounding with anxiety. She knew her mother’s condition was still unstable.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Hazel hurried toward room 312. The scent of antiseptic and the sound of medical monitors greeted her in an atmosphere that tightened her chest.

When the door opened, Hazel saw her mother still weakly lying in bed, her face growing even paler. Yet something made Hazel feel a small measure of relief—her mother’s breathing now seemed more regular than the last time she had seen her.

“Mother…” Hazel whispered as she approached and took her mother’s cold hand.

Maria Gabriella slowly opened her eyes, her lips forming a weak smile. “Hazel… you came.”

Tears welled up in Hazel’s eyes. “Of course I came, Mother. I’ll always be here for you.”

She couldn’t let her mother know that this visit was the result of a bitter arrangement with Theo. What mattered now was ensuring that her mother remained alive and received proper care.

“I will fight for you, Mother,” Hazel whispered, her heart heavy with guilt. “I promise.”