The Marriage Clause

lessons with a stern woman named Mrs. Worthington, and media training sessions that drilled the fabricated details of

und Emma huddled in a corner of the libra

iece?" he asked, a hint

rotectively. "Just some ideas. This whole.

"But try to see it as a performance. Thin

ween performance art and pretending to

"Do we need to be in love, Ms. Brooks? Our contract sti

truth of it. They were in this together, a bus

"Let's practice our Shakespearean-less rom

to Mrs. Worthington, they attend charity

ty galas sound bearab

akin to a challenge in his eyes. "We could spend an afternoon

escaping the gilded cage of the penthouse and returning

was located above a noisy bodega, a contrast to the sterile luxury of Lucas's world. The air hun

ompleted, others works in progress, leaned against the walls. Sculptures,

thoughtful expression. "It's.

t's how I'd descri

shed canvas that dominated one wall. A swirling mass of colo

e asked, pointi

out the physical buildings, but the energy that pulsate

tically unguarded. Emma could almost see the gears turning in

eyes. She'd snuck in behind them, her pink hair

she announced, grabbing

This was a far cry from the controlled en

a shrugged, feeling

initially hesitant, found himself loosening up, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. The whol

th Lucas's stoicism lay a sharp wit and a surprising willingness to step outside his comfort z

wild, abstract depiction, a far cry from a traditional engagement photo. But somehow, it captured

ing with a mix of surprise and satisfa

n the canvas. "It's... different," he ad

palpable. "See? I told you I could cap

chuckled, ruffling Lily's

oon had brought her closer to Lucas in a way she hadn't anticipated. The rig

to Emma, his expression serious. "Than

ng a beat. "It was fun. I haven't h

e could do it again sometime. Witho

ned at the suggesti

rsations with reporters eager for a glimpse into their supposed love story. Emma navigated it a

as and Emma found themselves on the terrace of his pen

his gaze searching hers. "You've been do

of amusement in her eyes. "Is t

it high praise from someone who d

lence for a moment, the nigh

low, "I never expected this arrange

nd something else flickering in

n serious. "I expected it to be purely

that," Emma finished, her v

s gaze unwaverin

heart pounding in her chest. She took a step to

d by the sound of Lily's laughter from inside the penthouse.

he asked innocently, though he

exasperation in his voic

orry to break up the moment, but Mother

ily's timing had likely saved them bot

here was a fondness in his eyes. "A

anticipation mingled with uncertainty. The line between their fabricated