Chapter 6:
Elara Quinn stood in front of the mirror longer than necessary.
The dress fit her perfectly — tailored, elegant, and completely unfamiliar. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her. The reflection looked composed, almost confident, but beneath the polished surface, her hands trembled slightly.
A knock sounded on the door.
"It's time," Adrian Blackwood's voice came from the other side, calm and controlled as ever.
She took a breath before opening it.
Adrian looked every bit the man the world admired — sharp suit, unreadable expression, posture that spoke of authority without effort. His eyes flicked over her briefly, assessing, then lingered just a moment longer than necessary.
"You'll be fine," he said, not unkindly. "Just stay close."
She nodded.
The car ride was quiet. City lights passed by as Elara tried to prepare herself for the weight of what awaited them. This wasn't just an event. It was a performance. A declaration to the world that their marriage was real.
When they arrived, cameras flashed almost instantly.
Adrian's hand found her lower back, firm and guiding. The contact was brief, but it sent a strange warmth through her chest — one that confused her more than comforted her.
"Smile," he murmured, leaning closer as reporters called his name.
She did.
Inside, the room buzzed with conversation and curiosity. Eyes followed them everywhere. Whispers bloomed like wildfire.
"That's his wife?"
"She's younger than I expected."
"Where did she come from?"
Elara kept her expression steady, but every word landed like a quiet blow.
They stopped to greet a group of investors. Adrian spoke with ease, his arm resting lightly around her shoulders. To anyone watching, they looked perfect. Intimate. Untouchable.
But Elara noticed the tension beneath his calm — the way his jaw tightened when certain names were mentioned, the subtle shift in his posture whenever someone looked at her too closely.
A woman approached, smile sharp and eyes curious. "Adrian, you didn't tell us you were married."
"I prefer privacy," he replied smoothly.
Her gaze slid to Elara. "You're very… unexpected."
Elara smiled politely. "So I've been told."
Adrian's grip tightened slightly — a warning, or protection, she couldn't tell.
As the night wore on, exhaustion crept in. Elara felt like she was fading beneath the attention, her smile growing heavier with each passing minute.
When they finally stepped outside, the cool night air felt like relief.
"You did well," Adrian said as they walked toward the car.
She hesitated. "Is it always like this?"
His answer came after a pause. "Worse."
She laughed softly, though there was no humor in it.
Inside the car, her phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown Number: Careful, Mrs. Blackwood. Not everyone approves of you.
Her breath caught.
Before she could react, Adrian reached over, taking the phone from her hand. His expression darkened as he read the message.
"This won't happen again," he said quietly.
The way he said it — calm, certain — sent a chill through her.
Elara turned to look at him, realizing that whatever world she had married into, it was far more dangerous than she had imagined.
And Adrian Blackwood was at the center of it.