Alara
I paced the tiny kitchen of our apartment, the phone tucked between my cheek and shoulder as I stirred instant noodles on the stove. My sister's laughter filtered in from the other room—some old sitcom rerun, too loud and too bright. But my heart hadn't stopped pounding since I left Wolfe Tower.
"Tell me everything again," Clarke said on the other end. "Slowly this time. Without skipping the part where you signed a contract marriage with Ace freaking Wolfe."
I sighed, keeping my voice low. "It's not what you think."
"You literally just signed up to be the wife of the most eligible billionaire in the country."
"Temporarily."
"Still counts."
I leaned against the counter, voice barely a whisper. "It's for my mom, Clarke. She needs treatment. Ace offered a solution and I—I took it."
There was a pause.
"You okay?" she asked, voice gentler now.
"I don't know," I admitted. "It doesn't feel real yet."
"Well, it's about to."
BANG.
The front door swung open. Percy strode in, hair in a messy ponytail, tote bag slung over her shoulder like a weapon. Her eyes immediately landed on the sleek black card I'd left on the counter beside the keys.
She froze. "Um. Excuse me?"
I blinked. "Hi to you too."
She dropped her bag and pointed dramatically. "Is that a—no, it can't be—is that a Wolfe Unlimited Black?"
"Percy—"
"Where the hell did you get a card like that?" Her eyes widened. "Wait. Did you sleep with him?!"
"What?! No!"
She grinned, voice dripping with mock drama. "Alara Grey, did you seduce a billionaire in your off-hours?"
"I didn't seduce anyone, and stop saying it like I begged for it."
She leaned on the counter, smirking. "You're telling me you accidentally walked into a billionaire's office and walked out with a limitless card?"
"Not what happened."
"Sounds like you skipped the latte and went straight to the sugar daddy upgrade."
I glared. "You're being annoying."
"Annoyingly impressed," she shot back. "Do I need to curtsy the next time I see you?"
Before I could reply, a knock echoed through the apartment.
I exchanged a glance with Percy.
She raised a brow. "If this is another diamond ring delivery, I'm gonna faint."
I opened the door.
It was a delivery man in a black suit. Silent. Efficient. He handed me a velvet box with a gold seal and disappeared down the hallway like a ghost.
I closed the door slowly.
Percy hovered behind me like a cat about to pounce. "Open it. Open it now."
I flipped the box open.
Inside, nestled on black silk, was a golden key—ornate and heavy, clearly real. And definitely not for anything average.
It gleamed like something from a movie. Or a fairy tale. Or a trap.
"What the hell," Percy breathed. "That's… that's not for your mailbox, is it?"
I didn't answer. My heart was already racing.
I grabbed my phone and dialed his number before I could think twice.
He answered on the second ring.
"Yes?"
"What is this?" I asked, holding the key in my hand like it might burn me.
"A key," Ace said flatly. "To your new residence."
"Excuse me?"
"For you and your sister," he said, unfazed. "The penthouse is in your name until the contract ends."
My mouth went dry. "Why?"
"Because you're about to be seen. Scrutinized. You can't keep living in a place where the wallpaper peels and the neighbors shout through the vents. You need to be… untouchable."
"I didn't ask for this."
"You signed for more than a marriage," he replied coolly. "You signed for a role. Play it well."
My fingers curled tightly around the edge of the phone. "You don't need to control everything."
"I'm not controlling," he said. "I'm protecting my investment. My driver will be downstairs in an hour. Pack light. You'll find everything else waiting."
He hung up before I could respond.
Percy was still staring at me, mouth slightly open. "Please tell me you're being punked by a reality show."
I stared at the key in my hand.
"No," I whispered. "This is real."