Chapter 4

Vows and Sides

Serena POV

​The morning air was crisp when Ethan's black car stopped in front of the house. Not even a "hi." Just a nod, like I was a passenger he was being paid to haul. That was the Ethan Crowe I've gotten to know: quiet, controlled, and impossible to ignore.

​I slid into the car and gripped my bag, eyes locked strictly ahead. It was a lie I couldn't keep. One glance was all it took to notice the crisp suit and the lethal precision of his hair. Then there was his gaze: stormy, gray, and so heavy it felt like he was reading my secrets right through my skin.

​"I prefer to skip the ceremony," he said as the engine started. "Marriage certificates are enough."

​I nodded in agreement. I also preferred it simple and clean; no pretending to be in love. The silence that followed wasn't awkward; it was heavy and final. Today made everything real. There was no going back.

​The Marriage Council building was bright and sterile, with white walls and glass counters. Staff members kept congratulating us, their voices chirpy and hollow. Ethan made sure the ceremony was nothing more than paperwork and a few photos. When the photographer suggested a wedding dress, he shut the idea down instantly.

​"This is how we want it," he snapped after the staff's repeated insistences.

​No vows. No witnesses pretending to smile. Relief curled faintly in my chest when it was finally over, and I thought I could finally breathe.

​Then I spotted them: Damien and Lila. My heart didn't just skip; it stopped.

​"Oh... what a coincidence," Lila said brightly, clinging to Damien's arm. Their fingers were intertwined and their smiles were flawless. "Getting married today too?"

​The room tilted. Damien leaned into her. He was comfortable, proud, and everything he'd never been with me. The sight burned more than I expected. Of course, it had to be today.

​Ethan looked from me to my sister, silent and unreadable. I felt stripped bare, humiliated that he was finally seeing the mess I called my personal life.

​"Don't worry, Serena," Lila called sweetly. "Damien will take care of me now. I don't know about yours, but I hope he treats you well."

​The words sliced deep. I focused straight ahead. Survive. Just survive.

​Suddenly, Ethan didn't hesitate. He pulled me in, his arm locking around my waist with a grip that left no room for argument. I froze against him. Sensing my shock, he looked down and smiled. The cold man I knew was gone. Right now, he looked so convincing he could've made them believe we were actually in love.

​"She'll be far too well-cared for to spare you all a single thought," he replied, his voice steady. He turned to me, adding a soft, pointed edge: "Isn't that right, sweetheart?"

​The word sent a shock through me. I barely managed a nod, instinct guiding me as I leaned into him to make it real. His grip tightened slightly. Damien stiffened, and Lila's smile cracked.

​She leaned in, lowering her voice. "Aren't you sick?"

​Ethan didn't even look at her. "We're done here," he said coolly, guiding me forward. We walked away with me tucked securely at his side. Outside, the doors closed behind us, and only then did he release me.

​I exhaled shakily. "You didn't have to..."

​"I know," he said quietly. "But I wanted to."

​That stopped me cold. As we got into the car, one thought refused to leave my mind: Maybe Ethan Crowe wasn't the enemy I thought he was. Or maybe he was far more dangerous than I was prepared for.

​Ethan POV

​I noticed it before Serena even reacted. Lila’s smile lingered a second too long. She was sweet on the surface but sharp underneath. Damien stood beside her, watching Serena like this was some kind of victory lap.

​Serena didn't argue. She didn't smile, either. She just stood there, drowning in embarrassment. I felt irritation coil low in my chest, not at Serena, but at them.

​I exhaled slowly and wrapped my arm around her waist. I pulled her against my side in a deliberate and possessive move to send a message. Her body stiffened for a brief second before she adjusted, letting it happen.

​Good for her.

​Lila froze and Damien's expression flickered with a mix of surprise and jealousy. Exactly what I wanted.

​"She'll be far too well-cared for to spare you all a single thought," I said, my voice cutting through their smugness. I turned to Serena. The word sweetheart tasted unfamiliar but strategic as I said it.

​Serena hesitated for a second before nodding, leaning in just enough to sell the lie. Lila recovered first, forcing a brittle laugh. She leaned closer, whispering to Serena, "Aren't you sick?"

​I didn't respond. Doing so would be acknowledging her existence. I guided Serena forward instead. "We're leaving."

​Once the doors clicked into place outside, the spell broke. I released her. She exhaled shakily beside me, the sound sharper than I expected.

​"You didn't have to..." she started.

​"I know," I said quietly. "But I wanted to."

​I didn't look at her as we got into the car. I adjusted my cuff, reassembling the walls I'd let slip. "I'm moving you into my house tomorrow morning. Be ready when I get here."

​Her nod was immediate. No argument, no drama. Distance was restored and control was reclaimed.

​I dropped her off and drove home. By the time I arrived, my irritation had settled into something colder. My parents' car was in the driveway. Inside, my father stood near the window, hands clasped behind his back like he owned the place. My mother sat on the sofa, calm and observant.

​"Go straight to the point," I said, loosening my tie.

​"How is she?" my father asked.

​"Is she beautiful?" my mother added. "Is she fit to carry our name?"

​I exhaled slowly. "However she looks, however she behaves, I'm marrying her. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

​My mother stood and touched my arm. "Your father only did what he thought was best. We were arranged, too. We learned to live together. You should try as well."

​I met my father's gaze, unyielding. I gave a short nod. "I'll fulfill the agreement."

​As they left, it hit me. I’d stepped into a marriage meant to control me. And somehow, without planning to, I’d already chosen a side.