Chapter 25
Standing outside the city clerk’s office, Emma stared at the marriage certificate in her hand as the weight of reality finally settled in. Even if their marriage was only on paper, the certificate was genuine and legally binding.
Her gaze fell on a photo they had taken together, where they stood close together. Though her smile was a bit stiff, her delicate features were still photographed well.
Gabriel, of course, was effortlessly photogenic. With his sharp, chiseled features and deep, enigmatic eyes, he had an undeniable presence. Everything about him radiated a cold, aristocratic allure that commanded attention.
Gabriel Castro.
She pursed her lips. The name tugged at her memory, but she couldn’t recall who it was.
Emma stared blankly at the marriage certificate. She had already decided to let Frank go, but after all these years…. could feelings be cast aside so easily?
A faint ache spread through her chest, and the corner of her lips curled into a wry, mocking smile.
By now, Frank was probably in the countryside with Lea, living out his happily ever after. His long–lost first love had finally returned. She was the one he had always held dear. He cherished her too much to ever picture a life without her.
Fragments of the past cut through Emma’s mind, each one grating against her nerves.
She let out a weary sigh. She had promised herself to move on and knew there was no turning back now. After all, people survived without each other all the time.
At the very least, the man before her had once given her a fleeting sense of peace and security.
When Gabriel’s gaze landed on her, Emma looked up and accidentally met his eyes.
Her body tensed, her lashes dropped, and her fingers curled into her palm as sweat dampened her skin. She was afraid he’d notice something was off.
His deep–set eyes shifted slightly, and a faint smile curled his lips. “When are you coming home with me to meet my parents and deal with their nagging about marriage?”
The warmth in his voice eased the tension coiling inside her. Just moments ago, she had felt lost and on edge, but now, a strange sense of relief washed over her.
Even though they had a marriage certificate, it was just a formality. There was no need to dwell on it.
She hesitated, then looked at him. “Gabriel… Castro.”
Her voice was soft as each syllable slipped into his ears like a quiet melody.
He lowered his gaze slightly. “What’s wrong?”
“Since this is a fake marriage, why don’t we set some ground rules?” she suggested.
A flicker of something unreadable passed through his gaze as he absently ran his thumb over their marriage certificate. “Go on. I’m listening.”
Emma chose her words carefully. “For the next three years, we’ll play the part of a married couple to keep our families off our backs. But when the time’s up, if either of us finds someone else, then we go our separate ways.”
At the mention of separation, Gabriel’s eyes darkened, but his expression remained unreadable. He gave a noncommittal hum and gestured for her to continue.
She swallowed. “And during those three years, we’ll keep our marriage private to protect each other’s reputations.”
Then, she met his gaze. “What do you think?”
For some reason, being around Gabriel made her mind sluggish and her body tense, as if she had no control over herself.
He studied her, finding her as unreadable as ever. She was already planning their parting, yet they had only just gotten married. Who could predict the future? What Gabriel wanted… was Emma.
He nodded, and his voice was calm but firm. “Alright. But for these three years, we’ll fulfill our marital duties as normal.”
Marital… duties?
Heat rushed to Emma’s face. Flashes of last night–tangled sheets, fevered kisses–flooded her mind. Her legs still felt weak at the memory, and her heartbeat pounded like a war drum in her chest.
Why wasn’t she rejecting the idea?
