Chapter 4 The Mask Of Protection

The car ride to the gala felt endless. Emily sat in the backseat, clutching her small clutch bag as the leather cooled her palms. Outside, neon city lights blurred into a parade of colors, painting fleeting patterns on the windows. Next to her, Ethan sat motionless, his face expressionless and his eyes fixed on some invisible point beyond the tinted glass. He hadn’t spoken since they left the penthouse, and the silence between them felt heavy. The oppressive quiet was more than just uncomfortable,it was suffocating. Here she was, married to a man she hardly knew, forced to play a role she wasn’t ready for. They weren’t even pretending to be happy. It was just a facade.A carefully crafted illusion for the outside world. And the worst part? Emily wasn’t sure she even believed in her performance anymore. When the car finally stopped outside the glittering hotel, her heart thudded in her chest. The venue was one of the city’s grandest a towering marble structure draped in sparkling lights. As she stepped out of the car, her heels clicked sharply on the polished stone, a small sound swallowed by the night’s grandeur. Ethan didn’t wait for her to adjust. He was already moving ahead, extending his arm with practiced precision. His grip was cool and steady a stark contrast to the flutter of unease twisting in Emily’s stomach. “Remember,” he whispered, his voice low and sharp, “this is for the cameras. Smile. Be perfect.” Perfect. The word wrapped around her throat like a noose as they ascended the marble stairs. She wasn’t there to be herself. She wasn’t even there for protection anymore. She was there to be a mirror of Ethan’s world shiny, flawless, and empty. Inside, the ballroom was a spectacle of wealth. Chandeliers cast a golden glow over crystal glasses and flowing silk gowns, while laughter and the clinking of glasses filled the air. Emily’s stomach twisted as she tried to match Ethan’s composed stride. Everything felt out of place. She felt like an automaton, a piece of foreign machinery in a world she didn’t belong to. Ethan, ever the center of attention, maneuvered through the crowd with ease, nodding at familiar faces and exchanging words like a seasoned performer. Emily followed, her movements stiff, her smile a little too tight. She hated how easily she slipped into the background a shadow forced to mirror his every action. Approaching a group of well-dressed guests, a woman with perfectly manicured nails greeted them. “Ethan, Emily, so good to see you both! How’s the marriage going?” Her words dripped with saccharine sweetness that contrasted with the calculating look in her eyes. Emily’s pulse quickened, but Ethan remained unfazed. “Everything is fine,” he replied smoothly. “Emily and I are working on some business matters behind the scenes. All is going according to plan.” Forcing a polite smile, Emily murmured, “Thank you,” though her voice was nearly drowned out by the ballroom’s noise. Ethan’s hand stayed firmly at her back, a possessive reminder that she couldn’t slip from the carefully constructed façade. She had to be perfect; she had to stay in character. The night dragged on in a monotonous cycle of smiles, handshakes, and empty conversations. The flashes of cameras, the meaningless chatter, and forced pleasantries all felt like a dream she couldn’t wake up from. Each time she thought she might finally breathe, the pressure mounted again. Around midnight, Ethan suggested they step out to the balcony. A sharp, cool breeze greeted them as they left the ballroom, the noise and heat fading behind. Emily leaned against the railing, letting the distant hum of the city provide a quiet contrast to the chaos inside. For a brief moment, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the fresh night air, almost forgetting the role she was forced to play. Ethan stood beside her, his profile etched sharply against the moonlit sky. His dark eyes glinted, but they were distant, lost in the city lights. She longed to ask him something to break the silence that weighed so heavily between them but the words died in her throat. “You’ve been quiet tonight,” he finally said, his voice low, almost contemplative. “You didn’t enjoy the party?” Emily shook her head, her voice thick with frustration. “It wasn’t exactly my scene.” He didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he studied her as if weighing his next words. Then, as if the weight of his decision had already been made, he turned toward her, his expression unreadable. “You’ll get used to it. The longer you’re here, the less it will matter.” Emily’s fingers tightened around the cold railing. “Maybe,” she replied bitterly, surprised by the raw edge in her tone. “But I’m not here to get used to it, Ethan. I’m here because I don’t have a choice.” His gaze hardened at her words. For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes anger, perhaps, or recognition. But it was gone before she could be sure. The tension in the air thickened, a storm brewing on the horizon. Ethan stepped closer, his voice cold and sharp: “Just keep your end of the deal, Emily. And we’ll both survive this.” Then he turned and walked toward the door leading back into the ballroom. As she watched him disappear into the night’s shadows, a cold wave of dread crept over her. Survival alone would never be enough. She had to find a way out. Before it was too late. Just as she took a step to follow him, a voice she hadn’t heard in months echoed across the balcony. “Emily.” The single word sent a shiver down her spine. She spun around her heart racing, her pulse quickening. There, in the shadows near the railing, stood someone she never expected to see again someone from her past, someone who could destroy everything she’d worked so hard to build. In that instant, Emily knew her life was about to change in ways she couldn’t possibly predict.