Chapter 2
Just then, the office door swung open, and a tall figure stepped inside.
He wore a perfectly tailored black suit. His looks were striking, and his vibe was ice-cold. He was like a walking iceberg, giving off a vibe that said: stay away.
He was Jayden, Ruby's only son, founder of the country's top AI medical imaging company, a celebrated prodigy.
And he was also the guy who, at least biologically, was supposed to be my perfect match.
When Jayden saw me, he gave a slight nod, not a flicker of emotion in his eyes.
Ruby pointed at me and said to him, "Jayden, this is Yara Green."
Then she turned to me. "And this is my son, Jayden Ludwig."
We were like two products on display, set out for each other to inspect.
Jayden walked up to me. His voice matched his icy demeanor: cold and detached. "Ms. Green, I'm fully aware of what my mother suggested. I'm in.
"This is a business deal. We both get what we want. After the wedding, we'll stay out of each other's way. You can keep working on your research, and I'll keep my mother happy. What do you say?"
I looked at him.
His eyes were deep, like a bottomless well.
In those eyes, I saw the same sense of surrender and exhaustion I carried inside.
Yeah, we were both doomed by fate.
After fighting for so long, I was exhausted.
Maybe being with someone who was as broken as I was would make things a lot easier.
At least I wouldn't have to deal with people nagging me about having children, or feel ashamed and guilty for not being able to.
It was like poison. Dangerous, yet irresistible.
I took a deep breath and nodded. "I do."
I left city hall with a marriage license in my hand. I was Mrs. Ludwig now. Yet inside, I felt more hollow than ever.
*****
Our home was in the most upscale apartment building downtown.
The space was massive, decorated in a minimalist, cold palette. It looked like an expensive model unit, pristine and impersonal. Nothing about it felt like home.
Married life was calm. No, it was colder than that. It was freezing.
Jayden and I were like two rocks shoved together, unable to bring any warmth to each other.
He stayed in the master bedroom, and I took the second bedroom.
He kept brutal hours, gone before I woke and back long after I slept.
I was even worse. I would have lived at the lab twenty-four seven if I could.
Our communication was limited to the occasional sticky note on the fridge, like: [Working late tonight. Don't wait up. I have a business dinner this weekend.]
Two mugs always sat on the living room coffee table, but they never touched.
By the front door, Jayden's leather shoes and my sneakers were always kept at a clear distance.
We were like roommates, the kind who barely exchanged a word.
No passion. No fights. Not even small talk.
But surprisingly, I actually kind of liked this arrangement.
It was so peaceful I could almost forget I was a wife. I could almost forget that painful past.
Then Henry called.
When I saw Henry's name flashing on my screen, I hung up without a second thought.
But he was relentless. He texted me: [Yara, I know I messed up. Can you give me another chance?
[We were together for seven years. I can't forget you. I know you're married now, but he can't make you happy. He's exactly like me. Neither of us can ever make you a mother.]
That last line was like a poisoned needle, stabbing straight into my heart.
I let out a cold laugh and was about to block Henry.
Jayden had somehow ended up behind me without a sound.
He had finished showering. A faint scent of body wash clung to him, and his hair was still dripping.
His gaze landed on my phone screen.
My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively tried to hide my phone.
But Jayden only glanced at it casually, his tone calm. "Ex-boyfriend?"
I nodded.
"Want me to take care of it?" Jayden asked.
I shook my head, and with him watching, I blocked Henry's number without a second thought.
Throughout, Jayden simply watched in silence, his face completely blank.
No curiosity. No jealousy. No anger.
Honestly, that indifference made me feel a bit relieved.
Maybe that was the only real perk of this partnership marriage.
With no love between us, there was nothing to be jealous about, and no one got hurt.