POV: Adriana
"Adriana, it's time to wake up!"
My mother's voice called so loudly, I could have sworn I heard her in my dream.
"You've been in your room all morning, dear."
I turned under the covers but didn't sit up, my eyes blinking slowly as the morning light shone through the closed curtains. My room still smelled like pencil shavings — the scent of yesterday — but something in the air felt heavier. Final. I held the blanket tighter.
Please let all of it be a dream.
The door opened. I didn't need to look up to know it was her. Her footsteps were soft, but sure.
"Good morning, Mom," I greeted, my voice still rough with sleep.
She walked over to my bedside and gently brushed a strand of hair from my face.
"Good morning, baby." Her eyes were kind, but tired. "I hope you had a peaceful night?"
I hesitated, then shook my head slowly. "Not really."
She exhaled, eyes scanning my face. "I can see that. You look like hell."
That earned a weak laugh from me. I rubbed at my eyes, trying to rub the remaining sleep away, if that was possible.
"Come on, you need to get up," she said, her voice firmer now. "Take a bath and get dressed. Caleb called earlier—the guy who came with Mr. Wolfe yesterday. He's coming over with the contract."
My fingers stilled against the edge of the blanket.
"The contract?" I asked.
She nodded, her gaze steady. "He said you need to sign it today. So I want you ready before he arrives."
I sat up slowly, still covered with the blanket, staring at her like I didn't fully understand her words. My chest felt too tight. My heart ached like it had been wrung out in the night.
I looked at her, my voice sounding light. "So it's really happening? I'm going to get married… to Darius Wolfe?"
Mom's eyes softened just a little. "Yes."
Tears pushed against my lashes. I blinked them back furiously.
She reached down and squeezed my shoulder. "Now get up. And stop wallowing in self-pity. It won't change anything."
She turned and walked toward the door.
"I want you down in thirty minutes!" she yelled over her shoulder as she left the room.
Her footsteps faded, and silence filled the room back.
I sat still for a long moment, looking at the wall like it had the answers I was looking for. My fingers held the blanket tightly.
Thirty minutes. To get ready for the life I never chose.
I swallowed hard, then whispered to myself, "Well… this is my life now."
I pushed off the covers and stood. The floor felt cold against my feet.
***
The bathroom mirror didn't lie.
Puffy eyes. Pale skin. A girl who looked like she'd been crying in her sleep — because she had.
But I washed my face, brushed my hair into a neat bun, and pulled on a purple hoodie and clean jeans. I kept it simple. Familiar. Everything else was changing too fast
As I walked down the stairs, I could hear my heart beating. Not fast. Just… heavy.
I heard voices from the living room. Mom's, warm but guarded. A man's—confident. And a woman's—light and crisp.
I stepped into the room.
Three heads turned to me.
Mom stood first, her lips tugging into a small smile. "Oh, here she is. Adriana, you remember Caleb? He was here with Mr. Wolfe yesterday."
"Yes, Mom. I remember." I replied, while nodding at him.
Caleb looked more casual today — black shirt tucked into dark jeans, sleeves rolled up, looking like a man who always had everything under control.
"Its good to see you again, Adriana," he said with a nod. "This here is Adira Williams."
I turned to the woman next to him. She stood with graceful confidence, her sleek ponytail and beige pantsuit making her look like she belonged in some luxury magazine. She extended her hand to me.
"She'll be your personal assistant," Caleb added.
My brows shot up in shock. My what now?
"P-Personal assistant? I— I don't think I really need a personal assistant," I answered still shocked.
Adira gave me a soft smile. Caleb, on the other hand, looked unbothered.
"Darius' orders," he said as if that explained anything.
But I understood.
I sighed and nodded in quiet defeat. "Of course."
Adira finally spoke. "It's nice to meet you, Adriana. I hope we get along."
She sounded calm, professional, but there was a gentleness to it.
I looked at her properly, then smiled weakly. "It's nice to meet you too. I… I hope we get along as well."
Caleb reached into his folder and pulled out a white envelope, setting it on the center table.
"This is the contract," he said. "Your father already signed his part. All that's left is yours."
I sat down slowly, hands clenching around each other.
"And when do I have to sign it?"
"Immediately."
He was about to say something else, but I beat him to it.
"Darius' orders."
Caleb raised a brow and smirked. "Exactly."
I picked up the envelope and slid the pages out. The paper was thick, expensive. My eyes scanned the words as my heart pounded in my ears.
"Party B agrees to fulfill the terms of the marital arrangement proposed by Party A, Mr. Darius Wolfe…"
My eyes hovered over the words.
I was Party B.
Not Adriana. Not a person. Just… B.
I picked up the pen.
My fingers shaking throughout.
I signed.
Then handed the document back to Caleb, sealing my fate in one clean motion.
"So… what now?" I asked quietly.
"Your schedule's with Adira now. She'll walk you through what you need." He stood, tucking the folder back under his arm. "Darius has asked that you join him for dinner tomorrow night. He wants to talk."
"Dinner?" I asked, stunned.
"Yeah." He gave me one last look. "I'll leave you to it. Good luck."
And just like that, he walked out the door, leaving us seated in silence.
Then I turned to Adira, unsure of what came next.
"So… what are we supposed to do now?"
Adira smiled brightly, a very wide grin, seems she was excited about this. "Now? We go shopping."
I blinked, barely hiding my horror.
"Shopping." I repeated the word like it was a foreign concept.
I hate shopping.