Chapter 3: The World Beyond the Contract

After departing from the old house, Selena took a cab back to her apartment.

The drive passed in silence.

Streetlights blurred beyond the rain-speckled window as she rested her head lightly against the cool glass. Outside, Ashbourne continued moving normally despite the storm lingering over the city. Cars drifted through glowing intersections while crowds disappeared beneath umbrellas along crowded sidewalks.

Meanwhile, Selena felt strangely disconnected from all of it.

Getting married.

The thought still felt unreal somehow.

Less than twenty-four hours ago, her biggest concern had been figuring out how to pay her mother’s medical bills. Now she was engaged to Adrian Kingston, heir to one of the most powerful families in Corvenna.

The absurdity of it all left her exhausted.

By the time she reached her apartment building, it was nearly midnight. Outside the quiet hallway, the soft clinking of her keychain charms echoed faintly as she tapped her key against the electronic lock. The door clicked open.

Stepping inside, Selena was immediately greeted by familiarity. A narrow entryway crowded with shoes and unopened delivery boxes. A worn gray sofa resting beneath soft yellow lighting. Stacks of unopened mail scattered across the dining table beside a half-dead succulent she kept forgetting to water.

For a long moment, she simply stood there quietly.

The cozy blankets folded across the couch.

The potted plants lining the balcony doors.

The handmade artwork hanging unevenly across the walls.

Every piece of furniture had been carefully chosen over the years. Every decoration placed exactly where she wanted it. This apartment was far from luxurious. But it was hers.

It was home.

A faint ache settled quietly inside her chest. According to the agreement, she would eventually leave all of this behind. The thought felt strangely heavier than she expected.

That night, Selena lay awake staring at the ceiling long after the city outside had fallen quiet. Nothing about the day made sense, the contract, the marriage, and Adrian Kingston. Everything still felt surreal.

Yet beneath all the confusion, one truth remained painfully clear. Her mother would finally receive the treatment she needed. At the end of the day, that was all that mattered.

Eventually, exhaustion pulled her into a restless sleep.

The alarm sounded far too early the next morning. Soft sunlight filtered through the bedroom curtains as Selena groaned quietly beneath the blankets before reaching toward the nightstand to silence the clock.

Six-thirty.

For several seconds, she remained motionless, hoping a few extra moments in bed would somehow make her feel less exhausted.

It didn’t.

With a reluctant sigh, she finally pushed herself upright and forced herself through the beginning of another workday. A cream blouse, black slacks, and comfortable flats. Practical clothes for a practical life.

She tied her hair into a neat low bun before grabbing a cup of coffee from the kitchen counter and checking the schedule waiting on her phone.

As a senior financial analyst at Hartwell Financial Consulting, most of her days disappeared beneath spreadsheets, budget forecasts, and client reports. Stable work and respectable pay. Unfortunately, respectable was nowhere near enough to save someone’s life.

Just as she reached for her purse, her phone rang.

Unknown Number.

Selena hesitated briefly before answering.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, Ms. Reed.”

The male voice was calm and professional.

“This is Nathan Cole, executive assistant to Mr. Kingston. My apologies for the short notice, but Mr. Kingston would like to meet with you regarding the upcoming engagement.”

Selena tightened her grip slightly around the phone.

“I see… when?”

“This Friday at seven in the evening at the Kingston Global building. Transportation will be arranged from your office afterward.”

Her brows pulled together slightly. How did they know where she worked? Then again, this was the Kingston family, people with that kind of influence probably had access to information ordinary people never even thought about.

“No,” she said quietly. “That time works.”

“Perfect. The vehicle information and additional details will be sent to your inbox shortly. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me directly.”

The call ended. Silence settled across the apartment once again. Selena lowered the phone slowly. Everything was moving frighteningly fast now.

Friday arrived sooner than she expected.

As Selena stepped through the sliding doors outside her office building, she immediately noticed the black Viremont sedan waiting near the curb.

Even surrounded by evening traffic, the luxury vehicle stood out effortlessly beneath the city lights. Several pedestrians slowed noticeably while passing by, their eyes lingering curiously on the expensive car before continuing onward.

The driver stepped out the moment he noticed her approaching.

“Ms. Reed?”

A man in his forties dressed in a black suit greeted her with a polite smile.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Charles, and I’ll be driving you this evening.”

He opened the rear passenger door for her.

Selena froze briefly.

As much as she had tried preparing herself mentally for all of this, moments like these still felt surreal. A personal driver, a luxury sedan waiting specifically for her, it felt less like reality and more like something pulled from television.

“Oh….um… thank you.”

She carefully stepped inside. 

The moment the door closed behind her, the noise of the city faded almost completely. Soft leather seats, cool air conditioning, and a bottle of sparkling water waiting beside her. Even the ride itself felt different, smooth, quiet, and effortless.

Traffic lights and crowded sidewalks drifted past the tinted windows while the sedan moved seamlessly through the city streets beneath the fading glow of evening.

Selena finally understood why people chased this kind of wealth so desperately. It wasn’t only about money. It was about comfort and convenience. Never worrying about ordinary problems ever again.

Who wouldn’t be tempted by a life like that?

Twenty minutes later, the car finally slowed in front of a towering glass skyscraper. Selena found herself instinctively looking upward as she stepped out onto the curb.

Kingston Global.

The building rose high above the city skyline like a monument built entirely from power and money. Hundreds of glowing office windows illuminated the structure against the darkening evening sky while employees still moved across distant floors far overhead.

The entire building felt less like a corporate headquarters and more like a declaration. Nothing stood taller than Kingston Global. Nothing overshadowed it.

As Selena stared upward quietly, she finally understood why people referred to the Kingstons as untouchable. Taking a steadying breath, she stepped inside.

The lobby was enormous. Polished marble stretched across the floors while crystal chandeliers reflected warm light from every surface. Employees dressed in tailored suits moved briskly throughout the building, their conversations low and purposeful. Everything about the place radiated wealth and influence.

“Ms. Reed?”

Selena turned toward the voice.

A tall man dressed in a charcoal suit approached from across the lobby carrying an electronic tablet beneath one arm. Thin-framed glasses rested neatly against sharp features while a silver watch gleamed subtly beneath the cuff of his sleeve.

“Nathan Cole,” he introduced politely.

Selena offered a small smile.

“Nice to meet you, Nathan. I’m Selena.”

“Likewise, Ms. Reed.”

Not Selena.

Ms. Reed.

The formality still felt unfamiliar somehow, especially coming from people older and far more experienced than her who carried themselves with such effortless professionalism.

Nathan gestured toward a nearby set of elevators.

“This way.”

As Selena followed him across the lobby, she gradually became aware of the glances trailing after them. Some employees looked curious. Others quickly looked away the moment she noticed them staring. 

By the time the elevator reached the executive floors, the sounds of the lower building had disappeared entirely. The hallway outside felt almost unnaturally quiet.

Nathan eventually stopped outside a pair of black double doors.

“Mr. Kingston is waiting for you inside,” he said politely.

Then he stepped away, leaving Selena alone. Silence settled heavily around her. Her heartbeat suddenly felt much louder than before.

Adrian Kingston.

In only a few seconds, she would finally meet the man she had agreed to marry. The thought tightened something nervously inside her chest. Taking one final steadying breath, Selena slowly raised her hand and knocked against the cool black surface.

“Come in.”