What the hell

Ariana pov

I should walk out. Right now. Just turn around and leave before this gets any worse.

But before I could even open my mouth, Ethan leaned in, one hand braced against the door beside my head, his presence swallowing up the space between us.

His voice was low, final. “I’ll pay off all your loans and give you a hundred thousand dollars a month.”

My breath caught.

A hundred thousand. Every month. More than I made in a year. More than I’d ever seen in my life.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

Ethan studied me, his expression unreadable. Then, as if he were already bored of the conversation, he straightened, stepping back. “Just accept it. It’s part of the contract anyway.”

He turned, already pulling out his phone. “Maria will show you to your room. We’ll talk more after dinner.”

I was still frozen in place when a quiet voice spoke from behind me.

“This way, ma’am.”

I turned.

A young woman in a neatly pressed uniform stood just outside the doorway, her hands clasped in front of her. She smiled politely, but I barely registered it.

I felt lightheaded. Like I was dreaming.

Ethan was gone. Just like that.

Like he hadn’t just bought a year of my life.

I forced myself to move, following Maria through the long, dimly lit hallway. The soft click of her heels against the marble floor was the only sound.

Finally, she stopped at a large set of double doors. “This will be your room.” She pushed them open, stepping aside.

I walked in slowly, my brain struggling to process what I was seeing.

The room was huge. Bigger than my entire apartment. Soft, golden light spilled from an elaborate chandelier. A massive bed sat against the far wall, the comforter so plush it looked like a cloud. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the opposite side, overlooking the city.

I turned in a daze.

Maria smiled again. “Dinner is at eight. There’s a dress in the closet for you.”

“Do I really need to be there?”

“Yes, ma’am. Mr. Cole expects you downstairs.”

My stomach twisted.

Of course, he did.

Because agreeing to this insanity wasn’t enough. Now, I had to perform it too.

Maria slipped out, closing the doors behind her.

I stood there for a long moment.

Then, slowly, I turned toward the closet.

Sure enough, hanging right in the center was a dress. Elegant. Expensive. The kind of thing a billionaire’s wife would wear.

When did he even prepare all these things?

I exhaled, dragging a hand down my face.

One day in, and I was already drowning.

I stepped into the bathroom and froze.

There were so many products. Shelves lined with neatly arranged bottles, labels in sleek fonts, some in languages I couldn’t even read. My fingers hovered over them before I finally grabbed the one that smelled the most familiar—vanilla and rose oil.

The moment I turned on the water, it sprayed at me from all directions.

I yelped, flinching back.

Seriously? Even the showers in this house had to be extra?

By the time I figured out how to work the controls, I was already over it. I rinsed off quickly, wrapped myself in a thick towel, and stepped out.

The dress was still hanging in the closet, taunting me.

I ignored it. Instead, I pulled on joggers and a tank top. Simple. Comfortable. If Ethan had a problem with it, he could deal with it.

I made my way downstairs, my hands stuffed in my pockets, trying not to focus on the sheer size of this place. It was obnoxious. Chandeliers, marble floors, walls that probably cost more than my tuition fees.

A man in a black suit stood at the base of the grand staircase, clearly waiting for me. Without a word, he turned, leading the way to the dining room.

I followed, doing my best not to overthink things—until my foot caught on the edge of the carpet.

My body lurched forward.

I barely caught myself, my face heating in embarrassment.

Thank God the guy leading me was too professional to acknowledge it.

But the moment I stepped into the dining room, my stomach clenched.

There was someone else here.

I thought Ethan lived alone.

I moved closer, my steps slowing, my brain struggling to process what I was seeing.

Then my hand flew to my mouth.

Jared.

My coworker.

Sitting at the table, glass in hand.

He looked up, made direct eye contact with me—then choked, spitting water everywhere.

Jared coughed, wiping his mouth, eyes wide. “What are you doing here?”

Ethan’s smirk widened. “This is turning out to be a very pleasant evening.”

Jared’s head snapped between us, eyes narrowed in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

His voice was sharp, demanding.

“What the hell is going on here?” He looked at me, then back at Ethan. “How do you even know her?”

Ethan leaned back in his chair, completely at ease. “We met at the hospital where you work, Jared. And all I can say is—” he smirked, “—it was an instant connection.”

Jared’s face twisted. He turned to me, his expression shifting from disbelief to something I couldn’t quite name.

“This… is this why you always avoided me?” His voice was lower now, edged with something raw. “Is this why you never gave me a chance? Because of him?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

He let out a bitter laugh. “He’s using you, Ariana! Don’t you get it? He doesn’t love you—he just needs someone to play wife for his company!”

Ethan sighed, swirling the whiskey in his glass like this conversation bored him.

Jared turned back to him, anger flaring in his eyes. “I didn’t know you were this stupid,” he spat.

“You think you’ve won, Ethan?” Jared’s voice dripped with bitterness. “Mark my words—you’ll lose everything. And when you do, the company will be mine.”

He shot me a final glare before turning on his heel and storming out.

I let out a shaky breath, my pulse still racing. I hadn’t even realized I was holding it in.

“I didn’t know he was related to you,” I muttered, still trying to process the fact that my coworker was also Ethan’s cousin.

Ethan’s expression remained unreadable. “Now you do. And it would do you well to ignore him.”

I swallowed, nodding. “Who else stays here with you?” I wasn’t sure I was ready for another surprise, but at this point, what else could possibly shock me?

“Just the two of us,” he said simply.

I blinked. “No staff?”

“They don’t live here. My parents are in another country, and they don’t involve themselves in these affairs. My younger sister is married and has her own life.” He met my gaze. “It’s just us.”

I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

I took a slow breath, steadying myself. “So… what exactly am I supposed to do as your wife?”

Ethan leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping lightly against the table. “Public appearances, events, a few business dinners. Otherwise, your life stays the same.”

I let out a sharp laugh. “You keep saying that, but nothing about this is normal.”

His lips quirked in something that wasn’t quite a smirk. “It will be.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a promise or a warning.

I folded my arms. “And when is this wedding supposed to happen?”

Ethan glanced at his watch like he had somewhere better to be. “Next week.”

I choked on air. “Next week?”

“Yes.” His tone was calm, indifferent, like we were discussing the weather.

“You—you can’t just decide that!”

“I can. And I have.”

I pressed my fingers against my temples, fighting the oncoming headache. “Ethan, I don’t have a dress, or a venue, or—”

“All handled.”

I shot him a look. “Of course it is.”

Silence stretched between us. He was waiting for me to fight him on this. But honestly? What was the point? My life had already flipped upside down in a matter of hours. What was one more shock?

I exhaled, shaking my head. “Fine. But just so we’re clear—I’m not calling you husband.”

His lips twitched. “Noted.”