Chapter 5

Surrounded by couples coming and going, I followed James down the steps in a daze. When we reached the curb, I glanced down at the document in my hand, my mind blank.

Did I really just get married?

Something that once felt impossible had turned out to be so simple. All it took was choosing someone else.

James' voice pulled me back. He opened the passenger door for me. "Get in, sweetheart."

That word made me feel a bit awkward.

But I had no reason to object or correct him. Just remembering that James was my boss made me so nervous that I could barely speak. "Hey, James, I can just grab a cab to work," I said.

James kept his eyes on the road. "You don't have to go to work today."

"But it's Wednesday, a weekday," I said.

James' lips curved slightly, the smile growing until he didn't even bother to hide it anymore. There was a hint of excitement in his voice.

"Today calls for a proper celebration. What are you in the mood for? Steak, something rich, or something lighter?"

He'd just named all my usual picks.

I thought for a moment. "Steak, maybe. If we're celebrating, we might as well do it right."

James drove us to an upscale restaurant tucked inside a restored townhouse.

Places like this were the kind I usually only glanced at from outside before walking past. But today, with him picking up the tab, I walked in without hesitation.

The place was exactly what you'd expect for the price. Everything was polished, from the menus to the table settings.

James handed me the menu. "Order whatever you want."

"You said that," I replied.

I had a rough idea of how much money he made, so I didn't hold back.

"I'll take the dry-aged ribeye, medium rare. And maybe the lobster tail... oh, and the truffle pasta. Let's add a burrata to start, and a bottle of red."

I kept going, ordering things I'd usually skip without even considering.

Then I paused, glancing down at the list. "Okay, that might be too much. We won't finish all this. I should probably cut a few things."

"No need." James took the menu from me and handed it straight to the server. "We'll take everything she ordered."

Before I could react, he added calmly, "If you're going to celebrate, you might as well do it properly. What's the point otherwise?"

I couldn't argue with that. So I let myself enjoy it.

James and I weren't exactly close, but around him, I didn't feel the need to hold back. I could just focus on the food and the moment.

Before long, the rich flavors started getting to me.

James, on the other hand, seemed perfectly composed, cutting into his steak with unhurried precision. Every now and then, he'd slide something onto my plate without making a big deal out of it.

At one point, he looked up and said to the server, "Could we get her something to balance this out? Maybe some warm milk."

"Wait—" I cut in quickly. "I'll take an iced Coke. That'll fix it faster."

James didn't even blink. "You shouldn't have anything cold right now."

My face heated instantly, and I didn't argue.

The server returned with the drink and then quietly stepped away, giving us space.

I took a sip and felt the tension ease a little. Then I lowered my voice. "How did you even know? Don't tell me that's something your astrologer figured out, too."

This time, James didn't deflect. He walked me through his reasoning.

"You usually go for coffee at work," he said. "But there are a few days every month when you switch to something else. You also seem a bit more irritable. It's not hard to notice."

As he spoke, he casually finished cutting a piece of lobster and placed it on my plate.

I took a bite. The flavor was incredible.

We took our time with the meal.

James stayed quiet for the most part, only speaking once he was sure I was done. "Any plans for this afternoon?"

I shook my head. "Nope."

I was about to suggest we go our separate ways, but he spoke first, "Let's go meet your family."

"I hesitated. "Right now?"

James didn't seem to think anything was off. "We're already legally married, and the ceremony's in two days. It only makes sense to meet them beforehand."

He was surprisingly traditional about things like this.

I had no choice but to be honest. "My parents and my brother don't even know we got married yet. Let's go tomorrow. At least give them some time to process it."

Acting on impulse always came with a price. Now I had to deal with the fallout.

James considered that for a moment. "The ceremony needs prep. I've already booked the venue and catering, so tomorrow will be tied up with setup and rehearsal. Today really is the best option."

Everything he said made sense. There was no easy way to argue with it.

By the time we left the restaurant, the distance between us had quietly faded.

James glanced at his watch. "I need to take care of a few things. Why don't you grab a coffee across the street and take a break? I won't be long."

The café was just across the street.

I actually wanted some time alone anyway, to sort through everything. I didn't ask where he was going. I ordered a hot drink and scrolled through my phone.

That was when I finally noticed Alex's messages.

Alex: [Where are you? Don't you know we have rehearsal today?]

Even through the screen, I could hear that familiar mix of impatience and entitlement.

Without changing my expression, I tapped to the next unread message, which was also from him.

Alex: [You were the one who insisted on getting married. What is this? Disappearing at the last minute? If you don't show up, I'm calling it off.]

Alex: [Olivia, stop throwing a tantrum. This isn't a game.]

Alex: [Fine. If you're not coming, don't expect me to forgive you.]

He still acted like I'd bend over backward for him.

I didn't even bother opening the thread properly. I just swiped and deleted it.

After that, I mindlessly scrolled through Instagram. That was when I saw his post.

He didn't look like he had failed to get through to me at all. Instead, he'd already posted a photo of Emily with the caption "My girl."

If this had happened before, it would've crushed me. But now, I felt nothing.

I left a like, added a quick comment, "Wish you two the best," and closed the app.

The tabletop in the café was smooth and polished. The envelope holding our marriage documents sat in front of me. I took a photo of it and posted it with the caption, "Just got married. On to the next chapter."

My notifications exploded almost instantly. Messages poured in faster than I could read them.