Chapter Four

The ceremony itself was surprisingly quick. Daniel had already reserved a private room, and the registrar seemed unsurprised by the lack of guests or celebration. They must see all types, Mira thought.

She stood beside Daniel, very aware that she knew virtually nothing about the man she was about to marry. He was tall, probably six feet, with the kind of confident posture that came from a lifetime of privilege. His dark suit was expertly tailored, his shoes probably cost more than her monthly rent. But his eyes, when they briefly met hers during the ceremony, weren't cold. Just careful.

The registrar pronounced them husband and wife, and just like that, Mira Walsh became Mira Chen.

"Congratulations," the registrar said warmly. "Would you like a moment?"

"We need photographs," Daniel said, pulling out his phone. "My grandmother will expect them."

Right. This was all for his grandmother. Mira had nearly forgotten that part in the surreal rush of the last half hour.

They stepped outside into the pale sunlight, and Daniel gestured to a photographer who'd been waiting discreetly nearby. Of course he had a photographer ready. This man planned for every contingency.

"Stand closer," the photographer directed. "This is your wedding day. You should look happy."

Mira tried to smile, but it felt wooden. Beside her, Daniel's expression was equally strained.

"Perhaps if you put your arm around her?" the photographer suggested tentatively.

Daniel's arm settled around her waist, the touch both foreign and oddly grounding. Mira let herself lean slightly into him, and something in the gesture must have looked right because the photographer started clicking away.

"Better," he said. "Much better. Now, Mr. Chen, if you could look at your bride..."

Daniel turned to face her, and Mira found herself looking up into dark eyes that were studying her with an intensity that made her breath catch. For just a moment, she could almost believe this was real. That she'd married this man because she wanted to, not because her world had imploded.

"Perfect," the photographer murmured.

After several more shots, Daniel checked the images and nodded approval. "Send the files to my assistant. We'll need prints by tomorrow."

"Of course, sir."

Daniel pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and opened it to reveal two platinum wedding bands. Mira stared at them in surprise.

"I had these prepared for the original arrangement," he explained quietly, taking her left hand. "I hope the size is close enough."

He slid the ring onto her finger. It was slightly loose but not enough to fall off. The band was elegant in its simplicity, the kind of thing she might have chosen for herself if she'd ever had the money for platinum.

She took the other ring and reached for his hand. His fingers were warm, steady. She pushed the band onto his ring finger, the gesture feeling far more intimate than anything that had come before.

"There," Daniel said, his voice businesslike again. "Now, we should discuss living arrangements."

"Living arrangements?"

"You'll need to move into my home. Today, if possible." He must have seen her expression because he added, "You'll have your own space. The house is large enough for privacy."

"I have a lease on my apartment," Mira said, her mind spinning. "And my job at the library. I can't just abandon everything."

"We'll buy out your lease. As for your job..." he paused. "My grandmother will expect you to be available. But we can work something out if it's important to you."

It was important. The library was the one constant she'd had for the past five years, the one thing that was entirely hers. But looking at the man she'd just married, seeing the tension around his eyes when he mentioned his grandmother, Mira understood what he wasn't saying.

His grandmother was dying. He was trying to give her peace in her final days. How could Mira's job at a library compare to that?

"I'll request a leave of absence," she heard herself say. "Family emergency. It's not even a lie."

Something that might have been relief crossed Daniel's face. "Thank you."

He pulled out his wallet and removed a black credit card, holding it out to her. Mira recognized it as the type with no spending limit, the kind she'd only ever seen wealthy patrons use at the rare bookshop next to the library.

"For anything you need," Daniel said. "Clothes, personal items, whatever you require."

Mira stared at the card but didn't take it. "I have my own money."

"I'm aware. But you'll need appropriate attire for the events you'll attend as my wife. Consider it a work expense."

Put that way, it was harder to refuse. Slowly, she reached out and took the card, the plastic feeling strangely heavy in her hand.

"I'll have my driver take you to collect your things from your apartment," Daniel continued. "I need to go to the office for a few hours, but I'll be home by six. We can discuss the contract terms over dinner."

"Okay," Mira said, feeling overwhelmed by how quickly her life was changing.

Daniel's phone buzzed and he glanced at it, his expression softening slightly. "That's the hospital. My grandmother wants to know when we're visiting." He looked at Mira. "Are you ready for this?"

No, Mira thought. But she said, "Yes."