Chapter 3. Consequences

The contract was just a piece of paper. But its impact... like an iron noose around my neck.

I still remember Lucian turning toward his car yesterday—cold, powerful. And now, this morning, I have to face the consequences.

A loud knock on the door of my tiny apartment startled me.

"Miss Cole," a man's voice, formal. "I'm from Blackwood's legal team. We're here for the official signing."

My heart sank. So fast.

I took a deep breath, then opened the door. Two men in neat suits stood there, one of them carrying a black folder—just like the one Lucian had pushed at me yesterday.

At the table in my living room, I signed the papers with trembling hands. A small camera on the table turned on, recording. "As legal proof," said the cold lawyer.

It was done. In a matter of minutes, I was no longer just Selene Cole. I was Lucian Blackwood's "wife"—at least on paper.

And it didn't take long for the news to leak.

This afternoon, I had just dropped my suitcase in the apartment lobby when whispers began to emerge. The screens of the residents' and staff's cell phones flashed, photos of my face alongside the headline:

'Heir of Blackwood Corporation Marries Ex-Intern Controversy'

My hands clenched at my sides. I wanted to scream, but I just lowered my head, letting the whispers slap my ears.

"She's the one who was involved in that scandal, right?"

"Why would Lucian—?"

"Maybe there's some dirty secret."

I pretended not to hear, even though every word stung.

A long black car stopped in front of the building. The driver opened the door. And inside, I found him.

Lucian Blackwood.

Dark gray suit, sunglasses, a gaze that even from a distance made me want to run away.

"Get in," he said briefly.

I stepped inside, my suitcase immediately taken by the staff. The door closed. The car sped off.

Silence.

Only the sound of the engine and my heartbeat, which was too loud.

Lucian finally spoke. "Tomorrow you will officially move to the Blackwood residence. From now on, you will not live alone."

"I don't need a guard," I replied curtly.

Lucian turned, his gaze piercing. "You need more than that. You're already a target, Selene. And now... my target too."

His words made the air even thinner. I stared out the window, pretending not to care, even though my body was frozen.

***

I stood in front of the magnificent Blackwood Estate. High walls, cameras in every corner, guards in black uniforms. This world felt foreign, glittering but full of traps.

The household staff greeted me, some bowing, some just staring coldly. Their gazes were the same as those in the office: cynical, full of whispers.

I took a deep breath. This wasn't a home—it was an arena.

The first night in the house hadn't even passed when I was tidying up the room provided for me, and then a rapid knock on the door made me turn around.

Lucian entered without waiting for permission.

He placed a file on the table. "There's a data leak. You're going to help me."

I looked at him, wide-eyed. "Now? I've only just—"

"Now." His voice was sharp, leaving no room for argument.

A challenge. Or maybe another trap. But I couldn't back down.

I sighed, then opened the old laptop I always carried with me. My fingers danced across the keyboard, opening log files, tracing digital footprints.

I recognized a strange pattern—someone had deliberately infiltrated the parking system, leaving a faint trail. At first glance, it looked like ordinary spam, but I knew this was the work of a pro.

Lucian stood behind me, watching with a sharp gaze. The pressure felt like a knife at my neck.

"This isn't a normal internal leak," I muttered. "They deliberately baited you out."

I followed the code trail, unraveling its path. My heart pounded harder as a string of numbers appeared—an IP address that felt… familiar.

I froze. It was identical to the log from six years ago.

"No way…" I whispered.

Lucian lowered his head slightly, his voice calculated. "Did you find something?"

I quickly closed the laptop, hiding my trembling. "Yes. You could say that."

In my heart, I knew one thing: they didn't just want to trap me. Their real target was Lucian. Six years ago, I was just a tool for them.

Lucian once said that I knew 'them'. Perhaps, the enemy we were facing was the same person.

I looked at Lucian. He was still as cold as ever, but I could see another glint in his eyes—interest, perhaps curiosity.

"Don't think you can play games, Selene," he said softly. "I want results."

Of course. I wasn't surprised he had enemies with such a temperament. But why were they targeting me too? Wasn't my task completed six years ago? Why were they still terrorizing me? Was I missing something?

I lifted my chin. "You'll get it. But don't forget my condition. As long as my family is safe, I'll be your digital shield."

He smirked, an expression that made my hair stand on end.

"In that case," his voice sounded like a verdict, "the war has begun."

My fingers danced faithfully on the keyboard until I managed to capture the signature—the distinctive trace I had suspected before.

Suddenly, the screen flickered. A message appeared.

'You haven't learned, Selene. Six years ago was only the beginning. This time, it won't just be you who falls. Your mother. Your little brother. Everyone.'

My blood froze.

I covered my mouth, trying to stifle a scream. Lucian immediately grabbed my shoulder, leaning down to look at the screen with me.

"What is it?" His voice was cold, but his eyes were sharp, as if reading the panic on my face.

"My family..."

I almost fell off my chair. But Lucian, with one swift movement, caught my arm.

His eyes stared straight into mine. Cold. Intense. Too close.

"Listen to me, Selene." His voice was low, but this time it wasn't a threat—more like an order that pierced me to the bone. "As long as you're by my side, no one will touch your family."

I held my breath, my heart pounding uncontrollably.

But I couldn't fully trust him. I still remembered his gaze six years ago—a gaze that had knocked me down without mercy.

Now, that same gaze was only inches from my face.

For some reason, even though I hated him, my body trembled not only from fear. There was something behind his coldness—something that made me feel like I was standing on the edge of a cliff.

Lucian finally released my arm. "Tomorrow, we'll make this marriage official in the eyes of everyone. You're no longer a shadow, Selene. You're Mrs. Blackwood now."

I swallowed hard, turning my face away. The message on the screen was still lit up, the threat burning in my mind.

They won't stop. And now, I'm not only fighting them... but also trying to survive by the side of the man who once brought me down.

The man who now calls me: his wife.