Chapter 5

At 9:00 AM the next morning, I stood outside City Hall.

Dominic's sleek black Maybach was already waiting by the curb.

He stepped out, dressed in all black with dark sunglasses, his expression unreadable.

The process was incredibly fast.

We filled out the paperwork, took the photo, and got the license stamped.

Holding the marriage certificate, I felt a rush of vertigo.

From deciding to marry him yesterday to becoming his legal wife today, it had only been forty-eight hours.

As we walked out of City Hall, Dominic took off his sunglasses and looked at me.

"Regretting it?"

"No," I replied, shaking my head. "It just feels surreal."

His lips twitched. "It'll feel real soon enough."

He opened the passenger door. "Get in. I'm taking you somewhere."

I didn't know where we were going, but I got in anyway.

The car sped through the city and stopped in front of a high-end luxury jewelry boutique.

"Time to pick out your ring, Mrs. Blackwood," he said simply.

I froze.

"Is that necessary? We're just a contract marriage."

As if reading my mind, he said coldly, "If we're putting on a show, we do it right. I don't want my wife being looked down upon because she doesn't have a ring."

The store manager was already waiting. Seeing Dominic, he greeted him with a wide smile.

"Mr. Blackwood, everything is prepared."

Several exquisite diamond rings were displayed in front of us, each costing a fortune.

But my eyes were drawn to a simple, elegant platinum band.

Dominic followed my gaze and raised an eyebrow. "Good taste."

He had the clerk take it out, grabbed my hand, and slid it onto my ring finger.

A perfect fit.

Just then, the door chime rang.

Carter and Chloe walked in, arm in arm.

Our eyes met, and the air instantly froze.