Natalie's POV
The text from V was still on my phone when I woke up.
You were very convincing at the courthouse today. Almost made me believe it was real.
Someone had watched us get married. Someone who signed their messages V.
I showed Adrian over breakfast—our first morning as husband and wife, eating in awkward silence at opposite ends of his dining table.
Vanessa, he said, jaw clenching. My ex-fiancée.
The one you didn't mention until your brother brought her up at dinner?
It ended six months ago. It's not relevant.
She's stalking us, Adrian. That seems pretty relevant.
He set down his coffee. Vanessa and I were engaged for two years. My grandmother pushed the match—old family connections, proper breeding, all that nonsense. I broke it off when I realized we'd make each other miserable.
And she's not over you.
Apparently not. He pulled out his phone. I'll have Daniel send a cease-and-desist letter.
Will that stop her?
Probably not. But it's a start. He stood. I have meetings all day. Make yourself at home. The penthouse is yours now too.
When do I tell my parents?
He paused. About what?
That I got married yesterday to a man they've never met?
Adrian's expression flickered—guilt, maybe. This weekend. We'll drive to Queens, meet them properly. Can you keep it quiet until then?
Another lie to add to the pile. Sure. What's a few more days of deception?
He left without answering.
I spent the morning unpacking, turning the sterile guest room into something that felt slightly like mine. My books on the shelves. My photos on the dresser—Mom and Dad at the restaurant, Sophie and me at college graduation.
My phone rang. Sophie.
Where have you been? she demanded. You've been dodging my calls for days. What's going on?
I closed my bedroom door. I need to tell you something. But you have to promise not to freak out.
That's never a good start.
I got married yesterday.
Silence. Then: I'm sorry, WHAT?
To Adrian Blackwell. The CEO. We
Natalie Chen, did you just say you married a billionaire I've never heard you mention before?
It's complicated
Complicated? It's insane! Who is this guy? When did you even meet him? Why wasn't I at the wedding? Her voice rose with each question.
Sophie, listen
No, YOU listen. You've been my best friend since college. We built our business together. And you got married without even telling me? She sounded hurt now, not just angry. What's really going on?
I wanted to tell her everything. About the contract, the debt, the loan sharks. But the confidentiality clause was clear: tell anyone and I'd owe a million dollars in damages.
I met him at the Blackwell charity gala. We fell in love quickly. It happened fast. The lies tasted like ash. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.
Love. Sophie didn't sound convinced. Natalie, you don't do 'fast.' You plan everything. You're the most careful person I know. And now you're telling me you married someone you've known for three weeks?
People do crazy things when they're in love.
Or when they're desperate. Her voice softened. Nat, are you okay? Really?
No. I was drowning in lies, trapped in a fake marriage, hated by my husband's family, and stalked by his ex-fiancée.
I'm fine, I lied. Really. I'll explain everything soon. I promise.
You better. Because this is weird, Nat. Really weird.
After we hung up, I sat on my bed feeling more alone than ever.
My best friend didn't believe me. My family didn't know. And the only person who knew the truth was a man who saw me as a business transaction.
That evening, Adrian came home at eight with Chinese takeout.
Thought you might be hungry, he said, setting containers on the dining table.
You brought Chinese food? I stared at him.
You mentioned your parents' restaurant makes the best dumplings in Queens. This isn't as good, but... He shrugged. I tried.
It was such an unexpected gesture that I didn't know what to say.
We ate in silence for a while. Then Adrian spoke.
My grandmother called today.
My stomach dropped. What did she want?
To invite us to the annual Blackwell Foundation gala next month. It's the biggest charity event of the year—five hundred guests, major donors, press coverage. She expects us to attend as the happy newlyweds.
More performing.
It's important, Natalie. The gala raises millions for children's hospitals. And it's where I'll officially introduce you to New York society as my wife.
Your fake wife.
My legal wife, he corrected. The arrangement might be contractual, but the marriage is real. People need to believe that.
Your grandmother doesn't believe it.
Eleanor doesn't believe in anything except power and control. He set down his chopsticks. But she can't prove the marriage is fake unless we give her ammunition. So we need to be convincing.
We need to lie better, you mean.
Yes. At least he was honest about it.
My phone buzzed. I glanced at it and my blood froze.
Your cousin Lily tried to reach you today. She knows about your marriage. Interesting that you didn't tell your own family. What else are you hiding, Mrs. Blackwell? – V
Vanessa was watching everything. Tracking my calls. Knowing things she shouldn't know.
Adrian saw my expression. What is it?
I showed him the text.
His face turned dangerous. She's escalating.
She knows about Lily. About my family. Adrian, how much does she know?
I don't know. But I'm finding out. He pulled out his phone, dialed. Daniel, I need you to investigate Vanessa Ashford. Everything. Who she's talking to, where she's been, what she knows. I want a full report by tomorrow.
He listened for a moment. I don't care if it's invasive. She's stalking my wife. Handle it.
He hung up, jaw clenched. She won't stop until she gets what she wants.
What does she want?
Me. Or revenge. Maybe both. He ran a hand through his hair. Vanessa doesn't handle rejection well. When I broke our engagement, she told everyone I'd ruined her life. That I'd promised her everything and then destroyed it.
Did you?
I promised her marriage. Not love. She knew that going in. His voice turned bitter. But apparently that wasn't enough.
And now she thinks I stole you from her.
Yes.
Great. So your ex-fiancée hates me, your grandmother thinks I'm a gold-digger, and your mother wants to prove I'm unworthy. Anyone else I should worry about?
Marcus.
I looked at him sharply. Your brother? He seemed friendly at dinner.
Marcus is never just friendly. He's calculating. He's been waiting for me to fail so he can take over the company. Your pregnancy—if it happens—would secure my claim to the inheritance. He doesn't want that.
I'm not pregnant, Adrian.
I know. But my family doesn't know that. And if they think there's a chance... He trailed off.
The implication hung between us. If his family thought I might get pregnant, they'd watch us even more closely.
We need to be careful, Adrian said quietly. All of them—Eleanor, Victoria, Marcus, Vanessa—they're all looking for cracks in our story. We can't give them any.
This is exhausting.
I know. For the first time, he sounded tired instead of controlled. I'm sorry you're caught in the middle of my family's games.
I signed the contract. I knew what I was getting into.
Did you? Because I don't think either of us realized how complicated this would get.
He was right. I'd thought it would be simple—pretend for a year, take the money, move on. But nothing about this was simple.
My phone rang. Mom's number.
I should take this, I said.
Adrian nodded and left the room.
Hi, Mom.
Natalie! Lily called today. She said she heard a rumor you got married? I told her that was ridiculous, you would have told us
My heart sank. Mom
It's not true, right? You didn't get married without telling your parents?
I closed my eyes. I did. I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you in person.
Silence. Then: You got married? To who? When?
His name is Adrian Blackwell. We got married yesterday. I was going to
Yesterday? Mom's voice broke. You got married yesterday and you're just telling me now?
I'm sorry, Mom. It happened fast. We wanted something private
Private? Natalie, we're your parents! Your father and I raised you, supported you, gave you everything—and you didn't even invite us to your wedding?
Guilt crashed over me. I know. I'm so sorry. We're coming this weekend to see you. I'll explain everything then.
Explain what? How you married a stranger without telling your family? How you kept this secret from the people who love you most?
He's not a stranger. I love him. The lie felt heavier this time.
You love him. Mom's voice was cold now. You've never mentioned him before, but you love him enough to marry him in secret. What aren't you telling me?
Everything. I wasn't telling her everything.
Nothing, Mom. I promise. We'll talk this weekend. Please don't be angry.
I'm not angry, Natalie. I'm hurt. She hung up.
I sat there holding the phone, tears streaming down my face.
Adrian appeared in the doorway. I heard.
My mother hates me. My cousin knows. Everyone's going to find out, and they're all going to know I'm a liar.
You're not a liar. You're protecting your family.
By lying to them!
By doing what you had to do. He moved closer. Natalie, you saved your parents' restaurant. You protected them from loan sharks. You did what any good daughter would do.
Good daughters don't marry strangers for money.
Good daughters do whatever it takes to protect the people they love. His voice softened. That's exactly what you did.
I looked up at him—this man who was my husband on paper but a stranger in reality. How do you live with all the lies? All the pretending?
I've been doing it my whole life. You learn to separate what's real from what's performance. He paused. But sometimes you forget where the line is.
Is that what happened with Vanessa? You forgot where the line was?
No. With Vanessa, I knew exactly where the line was. I just made the mistake of thinking she knew too. He sat down across from me. I told her from the beginning—our engagement was a business arrangement. Two families joining assets. She agreed. But somewhere along the way, she convinced herself it could be more.
And you never felt anything for her?
I respected her. I thought we could build a functional partnership. His eyes met mine. But I didn't love her. I'm not capable of that.
The words should have been reassuring. Instead, they felt like a warning.
This man couldn't love me even if he wanted to. He'd spent his whole life building walls around his heart.
I should get some sleep, I said, standing. Big day tomorrow of pretending to be happily married.
Natalie—
Goodnight, Adrian.
I went to my room and locked the door.
My phone buzzed with another text from Vanessa.
Sleep well, Mrs. Blackwell. Tomorrow's going to be very interesting. I wonder what your parents will think when they learn the truth about their daughter's marriage. – V
My hands shook as I screenshot the message and sent it to Adrian.
His response came immediately: She's bluffing. She doesn't know anything.
How can you be sure?
Because if she had proof, she'd have used it already. She's fishing. Don't give her anything.
I wanted to believe him. But Vanessa seemed to know everything—about Lily, about my parents, about our marriage.
What if she really did know the truth?
I lay in bed, wedding ring on the nightstand, and tried to remember why I'd thought this was a good idea.
Two million dollars. My family's salvation.
But at what cost?
My phone buzzed one more time. This time it wasn't Vanessa.
It was Lily.
Nat, we need to talk. I heard you got married??? Call me ASAP.
I turned off my phone and pulled the covers over my head.
Tomorrow I'd deal with Lily. And my parents. And Vanessa's threats. And Adrian's family.
Tomorrow I'd wake up and continue performing as Mrs. Adrian Blackwell.
But tonight, I let myself cry for the life I'd traded away and the girl from Queens who'd thought she could survive a year of lies without losing herself completely.