The next morning arrived with a chill in the air, a reminder that the life I had entered into was not just about wealth and luxury. It was about control, and that fact weighed heavily on me as I prepared for the day ahead.
Kieran's command echoed in my mind—play your role. As if it were as simple as wearing a dress and smiling at the right moments. But nothing about this situation felt simple. It was all an illusion, a performance where I was merely a pawn.
I dressed quickly, pulling on a black dress that clung to my body in a way that made me feel exposed. The high heels clicked sharply against the marble floors as I walked down the long hallway, my steps sounding like a countdown to an unknown future.
When I entered the dining room, Kieran was already there, waiting. The same dark eyes, the same unreadable expression, as if the man never had an off switch. He was seated at the head of the table, a cup of coffee in his hand, his gaze lifting as I stepped into the room.
"You're ready." His voice was low, but it carried an unmistakable authority.
I nodded, though every part of me was anything but ready. I wasn't ready for the smile he would want from me. I wasn't ready for the eyes that would scan me like a piece of property.
But I had no choice but to play along.
"Good," he said, setting his coffee down and standing. "Let's go."
The car ride to the event was silent. I kept my gaze out the window, watching the city blur past as my mind raced. What kind of event was this? Would people recognize me as Kieran's wife, or would they see me as an outsider? A stranger in a world of privilege, no matter how much I was forced into it.
The venue was grand, as expected. A towering building, its sleek, modern architecture gleaming in the sunlight. The red carpet stretched out before us, and as we exited the car, cameras flashed, blinding me for a moment.
Kieran didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. His hand was on my back, guiding me forward with the kind of command that made me feel small, even in the sea of people. I followed his lead, my heels clicking against the stone, my heart pounding in my chest.
The event was a business gala, the kind of affair where appearances were everything. The crowd was a mixture of businessmen, politicians, and the wealthy elite, all gathered to network and celebrate their success. Kieran was the star of the show, of course. People flocked to him, eager for a word, a handshake, a photo op.
I stood beside him, a silent shadow. He made introductions, nodding as people greeted us. But his attention was always on the crowd, never on me.
I caught a glimpse of his mother across the room, talking to some influential figure, her expression all sweetness and charm. I wondered if she had any idea of the kind of man Kieran truly was.
"Lauren," Kieran's voice broke through my thoughts, low and commanding. "Smile."
I forced my lips into a smile, though it felt more like a mask than anything real. My eyes flickered to his, and for a split second, I saw a flicker of something in them—something cold, something calculating.
"You'll be fine," he added, his hand settling at the small of my back as we moved through the crowd. His touch was possessive, as though he was marking his territory. But then, just as quickly, his focus shifted to someone else, and I was once again left standing in his shadow.
As the night wore on, I grew more and more uncomfortable. The air in the room was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and the soft hum of business deals being made. But beneath it all, there was an undercurrent of tension—an unspoken competition between the women who eyed Kieran, and the men who sought his approval.
I could feel their eyes on me, assessing, judging. And no matter how much I tried to convince myself that I belonged, I knew deep down that I didn't. I wasn't part of their world. I was just a pawn in their game.
Eventually, Kieran led me to a quiet corner, away from the main crowd. The space was more intimate, lit by soft, golden lights. A few couples stood nearby, engaged in quiet conversation, but there was a sense of isolation here, a sense that no one would disturb us.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Kieran asked, his tone polite, but distant.
I looked up at him, my gaze meeting him for the first time that evening. "It's... fine."
He raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"
I shrugged, unsure of what else to say. It wasn't as though I had much of a choice in the matter. "I'm not here for fun, Kieran," I said, my voice low. "You made that clear."
His expression hardened, the edges of his lips curling into a slight smirk. "You'll learn. You might not enjoy it, but you'll learn to play the part."
I clenched my jaw, biting back the words I wanted to say. This whole life, this whole marriage, it was suffocating. But there was no escaping it. Not now.
Kieran's gaze softened, just a fraction, as if he could sense the tension in me. "You're not as helpless as you think," he said quietly. "You've got more power here than you realize."
I didn't know if that was meant to comfort me or make me more fearful. It certainly didn't make me feel more in control.
Before I could respond, a voice interrupted us.
"Lauren." The voice was smooth, dark, and utterly familiar.
I turned to find Damian standing a few feet away, a glass of champagne in his hand. His gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. There was something unsettling about him, something dangerous.
Kieran's posture stiffened, but Damian ignored him, stepping forward and offering a polite smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You look... stunning," Damian said, his voice a soft, mocking caress.
I didn't answer. I wasn't sure what to say to him, especially when everything about him made me uneasy.
"Damian," Kieran said, his voice cool. "What do you want?"
Damian tilted his head slightly, as if considering Kieran's question. "Just making conversation," he replied, though his eyes never left mine. "Don't mind me."
Kieran's jaw tightened, but he didn't say anything more, choosing instead to ignore Damian and focus on the people around us.
Damian's presence lingered for a moment longer, before he nodded and turned, walking away into the crowd. I didn't know what his interest in me was, but something about the way he looked at me sent a shiver down my spine.
Once Damian was gone, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"Who was that?" I asked quietly, looking up at Kieran.
Kieran didn't look at me, his gaze fixed on the crowd once more. "Damian Shaw," he said, his voice tight. "He's... a complication."
I didn't ask what that meant, but I could tell from the way he spoke that Damian was someone Kieran didn't trust.
As the night drew to a close, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. This world, Kieran's world, was built on lies, power plays, and hidden agendas. And I was just another pawn in it.
But I wasn't ready to give up yet. I would learn how to survive this. How to play the part, even if it meant hiding my true feelings beneath the surface.
After all, Kieran had warned me. If I didn't play by the rules, I would regret it.
And regret wasn't a luxury I could afford.