The morning silence felt different. Scarlett stood in the kitchen, placing toast and jam onto a plate, realizing that her routine of preparing breakfast for Lila no longer existed. The girl now lived out of town, chasing her dreams. And Scarlett—she was left behind, trapped in a life she never chose. She should've felt relieved. No more fighting every day to pay off debts, no more worries about the future. But the truth was, her heart felt hollow.
The sound of the door opening made Scarlett turn, and to her surprise, Asher appeared in the doorway. He wore a crisp suit and a flawless white shirt, looking every bit like the tireless business model he was. But his eyes carried a hint of fatigue, as if something heavy hid behind his perfect appearance.
"Good morning," he said flatly.
"Good morning," Scarlett replied, startled by his presence. She wasn't used to seeing Asher in the morning, especially since they usually only crossed paths at night after work. They lived a routine: Asher busy with his business world, Scarlett occupied with a life she somehow had to endure.
Asher stepped closer, placing a few documents on the dining table. "We need to go over a few things," he said, beginning the conversation in his usual professional manner.
Scarlett glanced at the documents, then looked back at Asher. "Of course," she replied, her tone neutral.
"Asher, I don't even know where to begin," Scarlett finally confessed, hesitant. "But I don't know what to do with these feelings. Everything feels strange, and I feel trapped in a role that's not really me." The words came out unplanned, like a release from emotions that had been locked away for too long.
Asher stared at her for a moment, clearly taken aback by the honesty he hadn't expected. But he didn't speak right away. Instead, he gave a slow nod, waiting for her to continue.
"I never imagined living like this. Married for business reasons... with no feelings involved. I thought I could handle it if it was just me and my sister. But now you're here, and everything feels harder. I don't even know who I am in this anymore," Scarlett added, her voice trembling.
Asher straightened up, walking toward the large window in the dining room and staring outside. The bright morning did nothing to ease the tension between them. "I know this is hard for you, Scarlett," he finally said. "No one wants a marriage that starts with a contract. I didn't either. But I had no choice, and I know it hasn't been easy for you."
Scarlett looked at him, confused, still feeling like a stranger despite the understanding in his words. "I don't get it," she said, uncertain. "Why can't we be more open? Why can't this be more... human?"
Asher turned toward her, his eyes filled with firmness and sorrow. "I can't give you more than this, Scarlett. I've been hurt too much in the past, and I can't open myself up to someone again. I can't give you the love you're looking for. And I know you just want your freedom."
Those words silenced Scarlett. She felt there was something deep and dark inside Asher, something she couldn't reach. Asher Blackwell was a complex man, full of mysteries and secrets he never intended to reveal.
At that moment, Scarlett felt a little more lost. Her growing feelings for Asher made her feel vulnerable, and she wasn't sure she was ready for that. Deep inside, she wondered if she was just part of this game—a temporary wife who would be discarded when the contract ended.
The days that followed passed in increasing silence. Scarlett spent most of her time in the grand living room that never felt like home. Every corner of the house felt foreign, even after months of living there.
Their contract marriage grew more confusing. Sometimes, Asher showed a softer side he hid from the world. But just when Scarlett's feelings began to bloom, he'd retreat again into that cold, untouchable version of himself. She felt caught between two worlds—one where she was respected and cared for, and another where she was just a possession, kept only to fulfill the needs of the Blackwell family business.
A loveless marriage was never part of her dream. And the longer it lasted, the more Scarlett felt like a character in a story she didn't want to be in. Yet beneath it all, her feelings became harder to ignore. They had taken root slowly, like seeds pushing through hardened soil. Though Asher never revealed what was truly in his heart, something in Scarlett whispered that there was more to this than a mere business arrangement.
Every small gesture of concern from Asher, every quiet moment he spent ensuring she was okay, tugged her heart deeper into a place she didn't want to go. But she knew that if she let herself hope too much, she'd end up hurt. Asher wasn't a man who could offer love. He was a man locked in his own cage.
One night, as Scarlett walked toward her study, she saw Asher standing by the window, gazing out with a vacant expression. Suddenly, an overwhelming urge to understand him hit her. She felt there was more to this man—something deeper than their contract could explain. But before she could step closer, Asher turned and saw her.
"Scarlett," he said, his voice softer than usual. "Are you okay?"
The question, though simple, felt heavy. Scarlett looked at him with sincerity in her eyes, trying to see if there was any space in his heart for something more than this formal marriage.
"Why are you asking?" she replied, her voice barely audible.
Asher paused for a moment, then exhaled. "Because I want you to know… you're not alone here."
Those words stirred something inside her, awakening feelings she had tried to ignore. Without realizing it, she was being drawn into something unexpected—something she would never have chosen, had she known what it would demand of her.