Married strangers

his mind, unfamiliar and almost foreign. He had always imagined that if he ever got married, it would be to someone he knew well, someone he had c

ss deal in Japan that would cement his company's place on the global stage. This was the culmination of years of hard work, and he couldn't afford to be distracted by p

easy feeling. He had been clear about his intentions; this marriage was a formality, a favor to their grandmothers, and nothing more. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder

ropel his company to new heights. The Japanese market was notoriously difficult to penetrate, but Aaron's strategic approach and keen business acumen had always given him an edg

nd affection, echoed in his mind, and he found himself wondering how she was faring. Evelyn had always been a pillar of strength, but she was also getti

had even avoided looking up her social media profiles, preferring to keep their relationship as distant and impersonal as possible. But as the days turned into weeks, he be

yline of Tokyo. The city was alive with energy, but he felt strangely detached from it all. His success, the accolades, the wealth-it all seeme

his finger hovering over the call button. What would he say to her? They had agreed to keep their lives separate until he returned, an

e call button. The phone rang once, twice, and

, almost tentative, as if she h

g to keep his tone casual. "I hop

id quickly. "I was just.

and he wondered where she was. "I know we agreed to keep our dis

ain. "I'm doing alright. Adjusting, I guess.

was something in her voice that put him at ease. "I'm glad to

oed, her tone curious

ation we're in. It's not exactly conventional, and I know it's not what either of us planned.

ds. "I think we are," she said finally. "We both knew what we were getting into, and I appreciate th

that, Lily. I know this isn't easy, but I'm committed to making sure that w

aid too much. But then she spoke, her voice softer than befo

, mundane details of their lives. It was a strange sort of intimacy, sharing snippets of their separate worlds without fully cross

marriage was still a complicated puzzle with many pieces yet to be placed, but for the first time since that fateful day a

iny, to shape his life according to his own plans. But this marriage, this unexpected twist of fate, had thrown all his carefully laid plans into disar

n their grandmothers had pushed them into this marriage, but she had agreed out of a sense of duty and respect for her grandmother's wishes. She had

ng that made her want to know more, to understand the man behind the title of "young multimillionaire." She had seen glimpses of v

ed for herself, but perhaps, just perhaps, it could become something more than a mere arrangement. She would have to be patient, to wai

wled into bed, Lily couldn't help but won