The Contract on Our Wedding Night.

‎The wedding hall was full of lights.

‎Flowers covered every corner. Cameras flashed. People smiled and clapped.

‎But Ava Miller felt cold inside her white wedding dress.

‎Across the room stood her husband.

‎Adrian Cole.

‎The richest man in the city.

‎Tall. Calm. Untouchable.

‎His black suit fit him perfectly. His face showed no emotion. His dark eyes looked distant, as if he was somewhere else.

‎Not here.

‎Not with her.

‎When the priest said, “You may kiss the bride,” Adrian leaned closer.

‎For one second, Ava thought maybe he would be gentle.

‎Maybe he would surprise her.

‎Maybe he would smile.

‎Instead, his lips barely touched her forehead.

‎A polite kiss.

‎Nothing more.

‎The guests cheered loudly.

‎But Ava felt something crack inside her chest.

‎Two hours later, the wedding party ended.

‎The long black car stopped in front of the Cole mansion. The building was huge, cold, and silent. It did not feel like a home.

‎It felt like a palace.

‎Or a cage.

‎Ava stepped out of the car carefully. Her heels made soft sounds on the stone floor.

‎Adrian walked ahead without looking back.

‎She followed him inside.

‎The doors closed behind them.

‎Silence.

‎No music.

‎No guests.

‎No cameras.

‎Just the two of them.

‎Ava held her hands together to stop them from shaking.

‎This was her wedding night.

‎The night every girl dreams about.

‎But Adrian did not lead her to a bedroom.

‎He led her to his office.

‎The room was large and dark. A single lamp was on. Papers were neatly arranged on the desk.

‎Adrian removed his suit jacket slowly and sat down.

‎“Ava,” he said calmly, “sit.”

‎His voice was deep. Cold. Controlled.

‎She sat across from him.

‎He opened a drawer and pulled out a thin stack of papers.

‎He placed them on the table between them.

‎Her heart skipped.

‎“What is this?” she asked softly.

‎“A contract,” he replied.

‎The word felt heavy.

‎“A contract?” she repeated.

‎“Yes.”

‎He folded his hands together.

‎“Our marriage is not based on love. You understand that, right?”

‎Ava swallowed.

‎She knew this was a business marriage.

‎She knew he did not love her.

‎But hearing him say it still hurt.

‎“Yes,” she whispered.

‎He continued.

‎“This marriage will last one year.”

‎“One year?” Her fingers tightened on her dress.

‎“Yes. One year. After that, we will divorce peacefully.”

‎Her chest felt tight.

‎Divorce.

‎Already planned.

‎Before their first night even began.

‎Adrian’s eyes remained calm.

‎“You will live here. You will attend family events. You will act like my wife in public.”

‎He paused.

‎“But in private, we live separate lives.”

‎Separate lives.

‎The words echoed in her mind.

‎“No emotional attachment,” he added.

‎“No jealousy.”

‎“No interference in my work.”

‎He turned the last page toward her.

‎“And most importantly… no pregnancy.”

‎The air in the room felt heavy.

‎Ava stared at the paper.

‎“No pregnancy?” she repeated quietly.

‎“Yes.”

‎His voice did not change.

‎“A child would complicate things. I do not want complications.”

‎Her heart trembled.

‎This was her wedding night.

‎And instead of holding her hand, he was giving her rules.

‎She looked at him carefully.

‎“Why me?” she asked softly.

‎His eyes darkened slightly.

‎“You know why.”

‎Her father’s company was close to bankruptcy.

‎Adrian had offered to save it.

‎In return, she would marry him.

‎It was simple.

‎Cold.

‎Business.

‎“I will transfer money to your father’s company tomorrow,” Adrian continued. “The problem will disappear.”

‎Disappear.

‎As if her family’s pain was just a small issue.

‎He pushed a pen toward her.

‎“Sign it.”

‎Ava stared at the pen.

‎This was not what she imagined when she pictured marriage.

‎No flowers.

‎No laughter.

‎No warm touch.

‎Just paper.

‎Rules.

‎And distance.

‎“Adrian,” she said gently, “do you hate me?”

‎He looked surprised for a second.

‎Then his face became calm again.

‎“No.”

‎“Then why does it feel like you do?”

‎He stood up slowly.

‎“I do not hate you, Ava. But I do not love you either.”

‎The truth landed like a stone.

‎He walked to the window and looked outside.

‎“Do not expect things I cannot give.”

‎Her eyes filled with tears, but she forced them back.

‎She would not cry.

‎Not in front of him.

‎Not on the first night.

‎“I understand,” she whispered.

‎She picked up the pen.

‎Her hands trembled slightly.

‎One year.

‎She could survive one year.

‎She signed her name.

‎Ava Miller.

‎Adrian turned around.

‎“Good.”

‎He collected the papers and placed them back in the drawer.

‎“There is a guest room down the hall. It will be yours.”

‎Guest room.

‎Not their room.

‎She nodded.

‎As she stood up, her dress felt heavier than before.

‎“Good night, Mr. Cole,” she said quietly.

‎For a moment, something flashed in his eyes.

‎But it disappeared quickly.

‎“Good night.”

‎Ava walked down the long hallway alone.

‎The mansion felt colder than before.

‎She entered the guest room.

‎It was beautiful.

‎Large bed.

‎Soft lights.

‎Expensive furniture.

‎But it felt empty.

‎She sat on the edge of the bed and finally let the tears fall.

‎She had loved Adrian silently for two years.

‎From the first time she saw him at a business dinner.

‎From the first time he spoke with calm confidence.

‎She knew he was distant.

‎She knew he was hard to reach.

‎But she believed marriage might change something.

‎Even a little.

‎She was wrong.

‎He did not want love.

‎He wanted control.

‎She wiped her tears.

‎“It’s only one year,” she told herself.

‎“One year.”

‎She lay down and stared at the ceiling.

‎But sleep did not come.

‎Across the hallway, Adrian stood alone in his dark bedroom.

‎He loosened his tie and closed his eyes.

‎For a moment, he saw Ava’s face when she signed the contract.

‎Her eyes were soft.

‎Too soft.

‎He opened his eyes again quickly.

‎He could not afford softness.

‎Not after the past.

‎Not after betrayal.

‎Marriage was a shield.

‎Nothing more.

‎He told himself that.

‎He walked to his desk and looked at his phone.

‎A message appeared.

‎From an unknown number.

‎“I’m back in the city. We need to talk.”

‎His jaw tightened.

‎The past was returning.

‎And it would not stay quiet.

‎He locked the phone and looked toward the hallway where Ava’s room was.

‎“This changes nothing,” he muttered.

‎Nothing.

‎But neither of them knew…

‎The rule written clearly in the contract —

‎No pregnancy.

‎Would soon be the one rule broken.

‎And when that happened…

‎Nothing would ever stay simple again.

‎ 

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