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Chapter 1
Serenity stood still for a moment, the weight of Zachary’s words hanging in the air. She could sense his reluctance, his hesitation, even if his words were more of a polite dismissal than an offer of genuine concern. She had no delusions about what this marriage would be. It was simply a solution to a problem she was eager to leave behind, and in truth, she didn’t mind Zachary’s indifference. She didn’t expect love, only a way out of her current living situation. Still, his question caught her off guard.
“I’m sure about this,” Serenity replied, her voice steady, betraying none of the nerves that fluttered in her chest. “I don’t mind going through with it. I just need a way out.”
Zachary’s eyes softened for the briefest of moments, almost imperceptibly, as he studied her. There was something in her gaze—something honest, raw, and unpolished—that made him pause. He was used to the polished world of business deals and structured contracts, where everything was meticulously planned. But here was a woman who seemed like she was making a decision on the fly, without the security net of a carefully constructed plan. In that moment, Zachary wasn’t sure if it was courage or desperation he saw in her eyes.
“Alright then,” he said, his voice low and practical. “Let’s get it done.”
They walked toward the counter where the paperwork was ready. The process was brief, the forms were filled out, and the registrar exchanged their signatures. Serenity tried to keep her mind from wandering, from overthinking the ramifications of what she was doing. But it was hard not to imagine the life she was about to step into. A life with a man she barely knew, in a house she wasn’t sure would ever feel like her own.
Once the paperwork was finalized, Zachary handed her the marriage certificate. “There,” he said, his voice distant, as if he was already mentally moving on. “We’re done here.”
Serenity nodded, taking the certificate from his hands. The document felt heavier than it should have, laden with uncertainty, with the weight of a new chapter she hadn’t anticipated.
As they left City Hall, the late autumn sun cast long shadows on the pavement. Serenity’s heart beat a little faster, unsure of what to expect now that the legalities were out of the way. She glanced at Zachary, who seemed completely unaffected by the whole ordeal.
He wasn’t even looking at her as he started to drive. It was clear this wasn’t a romantic gesture for him. He had no emotional investment in this marriage, and she wasn’t expecting him to. She didn’t even know if she wanted it herself. But the awkward silence between them seemed to stretch for an eternity.
When they reached the house, Serenity didn’t feel like a wife, but more like a guest. Zachary showed her to a room that had been prepared for her—simple, functional, but impersonal. It felt like a place for someone who would never truly belong.
“Make yourself at home,” Zachary said, his voice as cold as ever, before turning to leave.
Serenity stood there for a moment, taking in the room. She wanted to feel something—comfort, relief, perhaps even excitement—but all she felt was a deep emptiness.
She sat on the bed, holding the marriage certificate in her hands, wondering what the future would hold. She wasn’t sure if Zachary would ever change, if he would ever soften or warm to her in any way. But for now, she would have to make do with the strange arrangement they had—two strangers bound by paperwork, not love.
As night fell, Serenity couldn’t help but wonder if she had made the right decision. Would she ever find happiness in this cold, unfamiliar place? Or was she simply trading one set of problems for another?
There was no answer, only silence.
