Lucy’s POV

"You think this is something we can just undo?"

With her heart thumping and the marriage license trembling in her palms, Lucy’s voice reverberated throughout the hotel room. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real.

Bill narrowed his piercing blue eyes, raking a hand through his hair. “Maria is lying. This must have been forged.”

But the paper felt real. Too real. The autographs were perfectly in place, the ink dry. Worst of all, she recognized her own signature.

Her throat tightened. Every breath felt like a struggle. "I don’t remember signing this!"

Bill snatched the certificate from her, scanning it again. His jaw tensed. "This… isn’t rational. I don’t remember signing this either."

Lucy studied him. His expression was strained, but was he truly as shocked as she was?

Before she could ask any questions, the door was wide open.

A man in a grey suit walked in, his face was undetectable. Maria walked in behind him, her lips twisted in fulfilment.

“Good morning, lovebirds,” Maria murmured, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

Lucy’s hands twisted into fists. “Get out.”

Maria ignored her, turning to the man beside her. “Tell them, Mr. DeSantis.”

The man adjusted his glasses, his gaze sweeping between them. “I am your legal advisor, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. Last night, your marriage was conducted in a private ceremony. Witnesses signed the documents. Everything is legally binding.”

Lucy’s stomach curled anxi.

No. No, no, no.

Bill stepped forward. “That’s impossible. We were drugged. This marriage can't be valid.”

Maria let out a theatrical sigh. “Oh, don’t be so dull, Bill. It was all legal. The law doesn’t care if you were a little intoxicated.” She turned to Lucy, her smile widening. “Congratulations, my dear. You are officially Mrs. Thomas.”

Lucy’s chest raised. “You can't get away with this.”

Maria’s calm laughter sent cold down her spine. “Oh, but I already have. You see, Lucy, you don’t know everything.”

She reached into her bag and pulled out a stack of pictures. Lucy’s hands began to shake even before Maria threw them onto the bed.

Her blood turned to ice.

Photos of her and Bill. In bed.

Her dress is half-off. His arms wrapped around her. The way their bodies intertwined—there was only one conclusion.

Lucy stumbled back. “This… this didn’t happen!”

Maria cocked her head. “Didn’t it? How would you know? You blacked out so quickly.”

Lucy’s breath came in short, sharp breath. She turned to Bill, her vision unclear, looking at his face for answers.

Maria bent in, murmuring, "If you even think about canceling this marriage, these images will be on every major news site by morning. The headline? *Drunken Heiress Seduces Billionaire CEO in Scandalous Secret Wedding Night.*”

Lucy's world spun.

Maria was playing a game she couldn’t afford to lose. If those photos were leaked, her reputation would be destroyed.

Maria’s smirk deepened. “Oh, but I have more. If you refuse to stay married, these will look *tame* compared to what I have.”

Lucy’s throat dried. “You’re bluffing.”

Maria’s gaze gleamed. “Try me.”

A tense silence stretched through the room.

Then, Bill exhaled sharply. “What do you want?” His voice was like ice.

Maria’s eyes danced with victory. “Simple. Stay married. Be the doting husband. And Lucy—" she said, turning to her with sick amusement, "—be the perfect little wife."

Lucy shook her head. "No. Never."

Maria’s expression turned grave. “They bid goodbye to everything you’ve ever worked for.”

Lucy’s hands shake . The walls felt like they were collapsing on her. She look at Bill, eager for a way out. But his face was unreadable.

Then, after an painful pause, he spoke.

“Fine.”

Lucy’s heart dropped. “What?”

Bill met Maria’s gaze, his jaw clenched. “We’ll stay married.”

Lucy’s world shattered. “Bill—”

His voice was low as he turned to her. “Lucy, now isn’t the time to fight. We need to play along. For now.”

Maria clapped her hands. “Good boy, Bill.” She turned to Lucy, a wicked gleam in her eyes. “And you, sweetheart. Better practice that smile. You’ll need it.”

Lucy glared. “I swear, Maria, I’ll make you pay for this.”

Maria simply chuckled. “Oh, my dear. *You’ve already paid.*”

She turned and sauntered out of the room, Mr. DeSantis following behind.

As the door clicked shut, silence suffocated the space.

Lucy’s fists trembled. “Why did you agree to this?”

Bill exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. “Because we need time to figure this out. If we push back now, she’ll bury us.”

Lucy inhaled sharply. “So we just pretend?”

Bill’s mouth tightened. “For now.”

Then his next words made her stomach drop.

“We need to get ready. The press conference is in an hour.”

Lucy’s breath hitched. “Press conference?”

Bill’s expression darkened. “Maria already leaked the news of our marriage to the world.”

Her knees nearly gave out.

This was beyond a nightmare.

Before she could fully process, the door burst open.

Hairdressers, stylists, and assistants flooded the room. A sharp-eyed woman clapped her hands. “We have an hour, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. Let’s make you look perfect.”

Lucy’s stomach twisted.

**Mrs. Thomas.**

She wasn’t Bill’s wife. She never would be.

But today, she had to pretend.

---

An hour later, Lucy sat stiffly at a long table, microphones and cameras aimed directly at her.

She barely breathed as reporters fired questions.

“Mr. Thomas, when did you and Miss Henrique fall in love?”

Bill didn’t hesitate. He reached for her hand.

She tensed but didn’t pull away.

He smiled. “Lucy and I have known each other for years. We kept our relationship private, but when you know, you know.”

Laughter. Murmurs of admiration.

Lucy swallowed back bile.

A female reporter raised her hand. “Mrs. Thomas, what made you say yes?”

Lucy forced a smile. “Bill has always been there for me.” Her voice sounded distant. “It just felt right.”

Maria smirked in the background.

Lucy wanted to rip it off her face.

The question that changes everything came.

A journalist in the front row moved forward. “Mrs. Thomas, is the pregnancy gossip true?”

Lucy’s breath caught.

Her vision was not clear. “What?”

The journalist turned a notebook open. “Sources say your marriage was rushed because you're pregnant with Mr. Thomas’s child. Can you confirm?”

Her heart pounded.

She wasn’t pregnant. She **couldn’t** be.

Then—

Her eyes locked onto Maria’s.

The smirk was back.

That’s when it hit her.

This was part of the plan.

Maria wasn’t just forcing her into marriage.

She was **trapping her in it.**

Forever.

And then—

Bill suddenly stood. His whole body went strong, his face blurry.

Then, in a cold tone, he said, “That’s hopeless.”

The whole room was quiet.

Lucy turned to him, confused. “Bill—?”

His fists gripped. His blue eyes turned ice-cold.

Then he dropped the bombshell.

“I had a vasectomy five years ago.”

Gasps echoed throughout the room.

Maria’s smirk finally disappeared.

And Lucy realized—

Maria’s game just backfired.