Zayn's Pov

CHAPTER 4.

Zayn's POV

I stood by the window, watching as Aurora helped one of the maids carry a heavy load of luggage. It was a strange sight—my so-called wife, the daughter of the poorest man in the clan, doing tasks that were clearly beneath her. But she didn’t complain. She just picked up the bags and walked alongside the maid as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

I didn’t understand her. She was too...different from what I expected. But then again, I hadn’t really given her much thought since our wedding. Why would I? She was only here because of some outdated tradition, and in a year, she would be gone.

As I continued to watch, the door to my room creaked open, and I heard footsteps approaching. “Zayn,” my friend Cole’s voice rang out, light and teasing. “What are you doing, standing there like a statue?”

I turned to see Cole grinning at me, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Just thinking,” I replied, shrugging it off.

“Thinking?” Cole raised an eyebrow as he walked over to me. He glanced out the window at Aurora, then back at me.

“Let me guess—you’re still thinking about that girl you met years ago? I mean you should be channeling that energy to your wife, It's almost 3 months now and I'm sure you guys have never even had a proper conversation talk more of sleeping together"

I couldn’t help but laugh at the way he said it. “You know me too well,” I said, shaking my head. “But honestly, Cole, there’s no way I’m accepting Aurora as my wife. This is just for 365 days, and after that, she’s gone.”

Cole smirked, leaning against the windowsill. “If only you’d learn to love her and treat her better, you could lift that duration, you know? Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.”

I burst into laughter at the thought. “Love her? You must be joking. I’ve only ever had eyes for one woman, and she’s definitely not Aurora.”

Cole joined in on the laughter, though his tone had a hint of mockery. “Ah, yes, the mysterious woman you’ve been pining over for years. The same one you can’t even remember what she looks like or didn’t even bother to ask her name.”

I felt a flicker of annoyance at his words, but I knew he was right. “It’s my fault,” I admitted with a sigh. “I never asked for her name, and now, she’s just a memory.”

“Exactly,” Cole said, his voice more serious now. “So why not forget about her and focus on your beautiful wife instead? Aurora might surprise you if you give her a chance.”

I scoffed at the idea, not convinced in the slightest. “You really think Aurora is pretty?” I asked, genuinely curious. I hadn’t taken the time to really look at her.

Cole nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, she’s got this quiet beauty about her. But you’d never notice because you’re too busy clinging to the past.”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not about looks, Cole. There are so many reasons why this marriage is going to end as soon as the year is up.”

“Oh, really?” Cole challenged, crossing his arms. “And what reasons would those be?”

“For starters,” I began, counting on my fingers, “she’s from a poor family. She doesn’t belong in this world, and she doesn’t fit in here. Plus, she’s too quiet, too meek. She has no backbone. And let’s not forget she’s just here because of some old debt her father owed. I didn’t choose her, and I sure as hell don’t want her.”

Cole looked at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “You’re sure about all that?” he asked, his tone softer now.

“Absolutely,” I said without hesitation. “This marriage was doomed from the start.”

Cole sighed, shaking his head. “You’re stubborn, Zayn. But maybe one day, you’ll realize that you’re the one who’s missing out.”

I didn’t respond, turning back to the window instead. Aurora was still out there, helping the maid with a smile on her face. I didn’t understand her, and I didn’t want to. This marriage was just a temporary inconvenience, and once it was over, I would move on.

But as much as I tried to convince myself of that, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something about Aurora that I was missing. Something I refused to see.