Chapter 004: The Performance Begins
549 Words
I knew something was wrong the moment Damian told me to change.
“Wear something modest,” he said, his tone unreadable. “Grandmother is arriving.”
My heart skipped. This was it. The real test. The reason for the contract. The woman we had to deceive.
I stood in front of the mirror, my hands trembling as I adjusted the dress. I didn’t look like a wife. I looked like a girl pretending to be one. A girl trapped in a lie far bigger than herself.
When I stepped into the living room, Damian was already there. He looked… different. Softer somehow. Less cold. Less terrifying. But the sharpness in his eyes remained.
“Remember,” he said quietly as we walked toward the door, “you are my wife in front of her. Smile. Touch my arm. Do not hesitate.”
I nodded, my throat tight.
The door opened, and an elderly woman stepped inside, supported by a cane. Her eyes were kind but observant, missing nothing. The moment she saw Damian, her face lit up.
“Damian,” she said warmly. “And this must be my granddaughter-in-law.”
Before I could react, Damian’s hand wrapped around my waist, firm and possessive. My breath caught. He pulled me slightly closer, and for a split second, I forgot it was an act.
“This is Amelia,” he said smoothly. “My wife.”
His grandmother studied me, then smiled. “She’s beautiful,” she said. “But beauty fades. What matters is how you treat my grandson.”
I forced a smile. “I’ll take care of him,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t betray me.
Lunch was unbearable.
Damian played his role perfectly. He poured water for me. Adjusted my chair. Touched my hand like it was second nature. Every small gesture felt intimate, dangerous. I could feel his warmth, his presence, his control.
And his grandmother noticed everything.
“You seem close,” she said knowingly.
Damian squeezed my fingers. “We are.”
My heart raced. Was he lying too well? Or was this something else entirely?
After lunch, she excused herself to rest. The moment her door closed, Damian’s expression changed. The warmth vanished. The distance returned.
“Good,” he said coldly. “You didn’t embarrass me.”
I should have felt relieved. Instead, something twisted painfully in my chest.
As I turned to leave, he stopped me. “Do not misunderstand anything you saw today. That was a performance. Nothing more.”
I nodded, though the words hurt more than I expected.
That night, lying on the same bed with a careful distance between us, I stared into the darkness. My body was tense, my thoughts restless.
Then Damian spoke, his voice low. “You almost ruined everything when you hesitated at lunch.”
“I was nervous,” I whispered.
“Nervous will get you exposed,” he replied. “And exposure will destroy us both.”
Silence followed.
Then, softer, almost unreadable, he added, “Sleep. Tomorrow will be harder.”
I closed my eyes, my heart pounding.
Because somewhere between the lies, the touches, and the pretending… I was no longer sure where the act ended.
And that terrified me more than the contract ever did.
- Writer
