Hannah’s pov

I was standing in Sebastian Wolfe’s penthouse in a borrowed dress, about to marry a man I’d known for less than two days. My palms were sweating so badly I kept rubbing them against the fabric like that would help.

“You look terrified,” Sebastian said, his voice low and unreadable as he came up beside me. He smelled faintly of something expensive,clean, sharp, distant. His charcoal suit probably cost more than my car.

He tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was some puzzle to solve. “You’re not thinking about running, are you?”

“Maybe a little.” My voice came out thinner than I wanted. I forced a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes and smoothed the cream dress again. His assistant had dropped it off this morning with a note that just said, Something appropriate for the ceremony—S.W.

It fit perfectly, which somehow made it worse.

It meant he’d guessed my size. Without asking. Without even trying.

“Don’t,” he said simply, pouring himself a drink even though it wasn’t even two o’clock yet. “We have a deal.”

“I know.” I looked around his place,cold, modern, all glass and marble and silence. Not a family photo, not even a book out of place. It was like living inside a catalog.

I tried to sound brave. “I’m not backing out.”

He checked his watch, precise as a heartbeat. “Good. The judge will be here in ten minutes. Your friend’s with Lily. My head of security will be our second witness.”

“Klaus?Your friend?”

“Associate,” he corrected coldly. “I don’t have friends.”

“That’s sad.”

“That’s practical.” He moved to the bar, pouring himself scotch even though it was two in the afternoon. “Friendships are liabilities. People you care about become weapons someone can use against you.”

My throat tightened. He wasn’t wrong. Lily was the one thing that could break me.

The elevator dinged, and a man with messy brown hair stepped out,jeans, blazer, easy grin. He looked so normal he didn’t belong here.

“Klaus Klein,” he said, shaking my hand firmly. “Sebastian’s head of security, occasional voice of reason, and apparently best man though he’ll deny we’re friends.”

“We’re not friends,” Sebastian muttered behind him.

Klaus laughed. “He’s been saying that since college. I Don’t take it personally he says the same thing to his dog. Oh wait, he doesn’t have one.”

I couldn’t help it; a small, shaky laugh escaped me.

Klaus’s tone softened. “You sure about this, Hannah? Because I’ve got a car downstairs if you change your mind.”

“Klaus.” Sebastian’s tone was a warning,ice wrapped in velvet.

“I’m serious,” Klaus went on. “You don’t look sure. Blink twice if you need rescuing.”

I smiled weakly. “I’m sure. Thank you, though.”

He studied me for a beat, then nodded and went to check on Lily.

Sebastian downed the rest of his drink. “Ignore him. He thinks everyone can be saved.”

“And you don’t?”

“No one can be saved if they don’t want to be.” He set the glass down so carefully it didn’t even make a sound. “Are you ready?”

“No,” I admitted quietly. “But I’ll do it anyway.”

One corner of his mouth twitched,almost a smile. “Good enough.”

The elevator dinged again. The judge walked in, older, kind-eyed, with a clerk in tow holding a camera.

“Mr. Wolfe,” she greeted warmly. “Judge Morrison. And this must be your bride.”

“Soon-to-be,” Sebastian said smoothly, shaking her hand. “Thank you for coming on short notice.”

His hand brushed the small of my back as he introduced me,barely a touch, but my pulse jumped anyway.

Judge Morrison smiled at me. “Congratulations, dear. Sebastian tells me it’s been quite the whirlwind romance.”

I almost snorted but caught myself. Romance, right.

“It has,” he said without missing a beat. “When you know, you know.”

I glanced at him sharply, but his face was carved from stone. I couldn’t tell if he was mocking me or saving face.

Jess entered, pushing Lily’s wheelchair. My sister’s eyes were wide with excitement, even though she looked tired. Jess, meanwhile, looked like she might throttle Sebastian at any moment.

“Han, you look so pretty!” Lily grinned.

“Thanks, baby.” I knelt to hug her, careful not to jostle her brace. “You doing okay?”

“I’m great! This is so cool!” She looked up at Sebastian. “You must be Sebastian.”

He crouched down,unexpectedly,to meet her eyes. “You must be Lily. Your sister talks about you all the time.”

Her smile widened. “She does?”

“She does.” His voice softened, just barely. Then he stood again, that brief warmth gone like it had never existed.

Jess pulled me aside, her whisper sharp. “Are you seriously doing this? You can still walk away, Hannah.”

“Jess,”

“No, I mean it. This is insane. You barely know him.”

“I know enough,” I said, even though I didn’t. My stomach was doing somersaults. “Just… please, be here for me.”

She sighed, eyes glassy. “Always. I just,he’s scary, Han. Not like, dangerous scary. Just… empty scary.”

“Yeah.” I tried to smile. “I noticed.”

“Places, everyone!” the judge called, and that was that.

We gathered in front of the huge windows. The city glittered below us, too big, too bright for something so small and personal.

The judge’s voice was warm and practiced, but I barely heard her words.

Sebastian said “I do” like it was a boardroom agreement.

When it was my turn, my voice wobbled. “I do.”

The rings slid on,cold, smooth, perfect fits. Everything in his world fit perfectly.

“By the power vested in me,” Judge Morrison said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. Wolfe, you may kiss your bride.”

My brain blanked. We hadn’t talked about that part.

Sebastian stepped forward. His fingers brushed my jaw, just the lightest pressure, like he wasn’t sure if he should be touching me at all. His eyes,ice blue and unreadable,flickered once with something I couldn’t name.

Then he kissed me.

It was brief. Careful. His lips were warm but his body stayed rigid, like he was forcing himself to follow protocol.

Everyone clapped softly.

When he pulled back, the air between us felt heavier somehow.

The judge was smiling. Klaus was smirking. Lily clapped. Jess wiped her eyes.

And I just stood there, staring at the man I’d just married, trying to find a trace of emotion in his face.

There was nothing.

The ceremony ended. The judge left. So did the clerk. Klaus started talking logistics. Jess and Lily got ready to leave.

When the elevator doors closed behind them, the silence hit,loud, suffocating, final.

Sebastian poured another drink. “Your belongings will arrive tomorrow. My assistant will show you your room.”

“My room?”

“The guest suite. The master’s mine. We agreed on that.”

“Right.” I folded my arms, the satin fabric of the dress whispering against my skin. “Everything separate. Clean. Efficient.”

“This isn’t real Hannah,”Sebastian said finally his voice cold”so don’t start hoping it could be”

“You don’t have to be so cold, you know,” I said, my voice sharper than I meant it to be. “You got your inheritance. I got my sister’s surgery. You can drop the act now.”

He turned slowly. His eyes caught mine.

“You think this is an act?” His voice was quiet. Too quiet.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

He took a step forward. Then another. Every inch closing between us felt dangerous. Charged.

By the time he stopped, he was close enough that I could see the faint shadow of stubble on his jaw, the muscle ticking in his throat.

“No one pretends to be this way,” he said softly. “Not for fun.”

I forgot how to breathe. His hand lifted slightly,like he almost wanted to touch me,but he stopped himself, fingers curling into a fist instead.

Then, just as suddenly, he stepped back. The distance hit like a slap.

“Goodnight, Mrs. Wolfe.” His tone was smooth again, flat and final.

He walked past me toward his room, the quiet echo of his footsteps fading down the hall.

I stood there in my borrowed dress, the city lights painting reflections on the glass, my heart pounding way too fast for a marriage that wasn’t supposed to mean anything.