Just two days ago, I signed a contract I never should have touched.

Two days ago, I accepted Adrian Blackwood's offer. He, the man who had held the source of my shame, the ruin of the family, and my freedom under the palm of his hand.

And now… here I am, standing in front of a magistrate in a stuffy courtroom, marrying him.

I stepped to the side. My father was seated a short distance off, beaming guiltily, as if he were the groom. His euphoria seared itself into me like acid.

Of course he’s smiling. This saves him, doesn’t it? His debts, his pride, his company.

But something gnawed at me.

No brothers, no uncles, no parents came. It was just me, my dad, Adrian, and the man who would be performing the ceremony.

It was strange.

Do you, Aria Montgomery, take Adrian Blackwood to be your lawful wedded husband…?" the voice of the magistrate echoed," I do.

My hands were shuddering as I signed the register of marriage.

The magistrate stood up, stamped the documents, and looked both of us up and down, smiling faintly.

"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood. You may kiss the bride."

My head jerked up. Kiss what?

I didn't even get the chance to complain, as Adrian's hand came around my waist, pulling me up close to him. His lips came down abruptly on me, taking the breath from my lungs.

"Mmph…" I attempted to push, but his other hand gripped the back of my head, so the kiss was more intense. Flame ran through me, both as a product of rage as well as the mortifying response of my body.

As he finally stepped back, our faces were mere inches apart. His eyes, as dark as a winter sky, stared into mine. It was as if the whole courtroom had disappeared, leaving just us.

My father's loud clapping then broke the silence.

Excellent! Excellent!" he cheered.

Adrian stepped back without any effort, as if nothing had happened. My face flamed, heat rising up the long hallway to my ears.

What was that all about?

Next came the family photos. Father shook hands squarely with Adrian, then knelt to whisper in my ear:

Be a good wife, Aria. Do not spoil this for me.

They were poisonous words. I boiled, but I clenched my teeth and smiled stiffly before the camera.

As the shutter snapped, my father departed, leaving me within the sphere of Adrian.

Adrian's mouth twitched into that smug expression that I longed to shriek about.

"Shall we then go to your dwelling, O wife?"

His talking about my wife left butterflies a-fluttering around within me, and I hated myself for it. I had to remind myself, this wasn't real.

This was a transaction. A trap. I needed to play along only long enough to find something, anything, that I could use against him.

He escorted me outside to his car. A sleek, obsidian Rolls-Royce Phantom, polished so perfectly I could see my own reflection trembling in its door.

The car ride was quiet, thick with unuttered conversation. As the city yielded to high iron gates and superbly trimmed hedges, I knew that we were not going to a normal house.

We passed into the private estate. Outside the gates lay a mansion, no, a palace, stretching the length of stone and glass, shrouded in gardens that flowed like emerald seas.

I couldn't help looking. My family's house was a cottage next to this.

Adrian saw me looking and smiled. "Get used to it."

The smirk knocked me out of my awe. I snapped my eyes forward, heat rising in my chest again. Anger pushed out whatever awe lingered.

I trailed behind him up the marble staircase, still furious, until he stopped abruptly. I collided into him, thudding the forehead off his back.

"Aww! Will you get out of the way? What's your issue?"

No response.

I huffed and stepped sideways to walk past him, but froze when I saw his face. The smirk was gone, replaced by something darker. His jaw was tight, eyes fixed ahead.

Glancing back over his shoulder, I saw a person lounging casually on the gigantic velvet couch in what must be the living room. He was a man.

As if he could perceive us, he stood up, a big smile appearing on his face.

Well, well," he yawned, sauntering toward us with negligent air. "Is that the way to roll out the red carpet, brother?

I blinked. Brother?

His tone dropped, infused with warning steel.

"Lucas. What do you think you're doing here?"

The man, Lucas simply grinned more, his eyes inspecting me as if I were some kind of trophy.

Oh, come on, Adrian. You didn't inform me that you're getting married. Surprise, surprise, imagine that.

My breath stopped. Brother. Lucas Blackwood.

Hello, darling," he said smoothly, his warm honey voice dripping with a dangerous undertone. His eyes, coldly calculating, rested on me. "Please, your name?

I froze. The way that Adrian stiffened beside me, the cold gleam in his eyes as they locked on the man, was warning enough: whatever this Lucas was, Adrian did not want me to speak to.

But the intensity of his stare ingrained itself in me, waiting. I swallowed, unwillingly, and responded, "Aria. Aria Montgomery."

It was immediate. Lucas's face wavered, just a little, but long enough that I saw it. His smile changed, his body tensed up.

"What is the matter?" I asked cautiously, turning.

"Nothing," he replied too hastily, adjusting his shoulders. Back came the smile. "It's just that I've never come across such a lovely woman as yourself before."

I could not step back before his hand touched mine, bringing it up tenderly. His lips caressed my skin in a kiss too intimate for a first encounter. Heat traveled the length of my arm, due to the unnerving vehemence in his eyes as he gazed at me.

He was appealing, almost as charismatic as Adrian. Same jaw, same black hair. But there was something different about Lucas's eyes.

I didn't like it.

"What do you want, Lucas?" Adrian broke the moment.

Lucas smiled thinly, letting go of my hand. "To the point, as always. Well… Mum and Dad want to see you." He leaned forward ever so slightly, his eyes glinting mischievously. "You can imagine their surprise when they found that you were getting married today. And without telling them."

My eyes had gone wide. Their parents? I was panicking. Adrian never ever mentioned his parents. Never. And now Lucas was saying to me… they didn't know about this wedding?

His face set. "That's my problem to handle. Not yours. Now, if that was the reason why you came, I believe that it is time that you departed."

The atmosphere between them grew thick, burdened with unuttered words. They stood paralyzed before each other, speechless but furious, as if a war was about to unleash itself.

My throat was dry. I coughed once. "Ahem.

CherPs eyes both jerked to me, shattering whatever hazardous thread united them.

Lucas smiled once more, his bow this time slow, almost sneering. "Pardon me, Mrs. Blackwood. I must be off now." He looked back at Adrian. "Don't forget your evening dinner with our parents, brother."

With that, he turned and walked toward the gate.

I drew breath slowly, only then realizing that I had been holding it. I glanced over to Adrian.

You. didn't inform your parents about the wedding?

His face was impassive. "I don't want to discuss it." He passed me, into the heart of the mansion, without saying a word.

I stood there, my chest constricted and mind reeling.

As the quiet became too intense, I glanced around the massive steel gates which opened off the drive.

It was there I saw Lucas.

Standing there still next to a shiny black car, his body relaxed, his eyes locked on me as if he had been waiting. Waiting. Shivers ran down my spine. His gaze wasn't warm. It wasn't appreciative. It was examining, tearing apart, owning. And then, as the unease was strangling me, he smiled. Slow, measured smile that only made me more uneasy. Without glancing away, he entered his car and was gone beyond the gate. I wrapped my arms around me, thumping heart