Alina lay in her bed, exhausted from the long day. The stress of running her own fashion empire, coupled with the ever-increasing pressures of her marriage, was taking its toll. All she wanted was to rest, to sleep deeply for the first time in days, without the constant buzz of anxiety about the tangled mess of her personal life.

But sleep, it seemed, wasn’t going to come easily. Her mind was too active, too chaotic. Tomorrow was the family dinner—the moment when her family would meet Victor and see them together. She had to act as though they were the perfect couple, as though she was completely in love with him. The thought made her feel uneasy, sick even.

Alina had never been one to entertain romantic notions. Her life had always been focused on her career, her goals, her ambitions. She had never had time for dating, never felt the need for love. Her marriage to Victor had been nothing but a business arrangement, a deal that would allow her to regain control over her life. Yet here she was, about to face a dinner where she would be expected to pretend otherwise.

She had no idea how to pull it off. She wasn’t the affectionate type, nor was she skilled in pretending emotions she didn’t feel. How could she convince her family that her marriage was genuine? That she had somehow fallen in love with a man she barely knew?

The pressure weighed heavily on her chest. Her family had always had high expectations for her, and she knew they wouldn’t buy a false act. They would see through any lies or half-truths. Alina had always been the model daughter, excelling in everything—except love. They would expect her to be perfect in this too.

Her mind raced as she moved to her room, the exhaustion of the day catching up with her. Sleep, escape, that was all she needed. But the burden of tomorrow’s dinner felt too large, too looming. She wasn’t ready.

She collapsed onto her bed, her body heavy with fatigue, and closed her eyes, hoping for the relief of sleep. But her thoughts kept swirling, lingering on Victor’s unreadable expressions, Lion’s challenge, and the weight of her family’s expectations. It was all too much.

But eventually, her mind grew quieter, and sleep finally began to take over. For a brief moment, Alina let go of the worry, the plans, the pressure, and allowed herself to drift into the comfort of slumber.

Meanwhile, just next door...

Victor stood by the window of his room, staring out into the night. His gaze was distant, unfocused, as though his mind were miles away. His expression, as always, was unreadable—impossible to decipher. But the tension in his posture spoke volumes. His hands were clasped behind his back, his shoulders slightly hunched as if the weight of the evening had caught up with him too.

He hadn’t said much since they’d arrived at her family’s house earlier. Victor was always calm, always composed. But tonight, something felt different. His thoughts lingered on Alina—on her sharp words, her cold demeanor, the way she’d distanced herself from him ever since they’d married.

His eyes traced the outline of the city lights in the distance, his mind grappling with the complicated mess of their marriage. He had agreed to this arrangement, knowing the stakes. But somewhere along the way, the lines had blurred. What started as a business transaction had started to feel more personal than he had anticipated.

Victor took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to shake the unsettling feeling. He looked down, his gaze falling on his hands as they rested on the windowsill, fingers tense, as if he were trying to hold something back.

He glanced back at the darkened streets, feeling the weight of the night press down on him. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there was something about Alina that stirred something deep within him—something he wasn’t sure he wanted to explore.

The cold wind outside ruffled the curtains, and Victor looked up once more, his eyes narrowing. He wasn’t sure what the future held for them, for this marriage, for what came after the dinner tomorrow. But one thing was certain: tomorrow, they would have to play their parts.

He let out a quiet sigh, his gaze drifting back to the dark horizon as he waited for sleep that never seemed to come.