Unexpected

Prologue

Sky adjusted his cufflinks, glancing in the mirror at his crisp suit. The reflection showed a face that seemed younger than he felt – soft, with wide, innocent eyes that made people think he was gentler than he actually was. But tonight, it wasn’t his looks he was concerned about. He was getting married – not to someone who loved him or even liked him, but to a man who had every reason to despise him.

He let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair, already dreading the venom that awaited him at the altar. But he didn’t have a choice. Neither of them did.

At that moment, his best friend Jett burst through the door, grinning. “So, how does it feel to be about to marry someone who can’t stand you?”

Sky rolled his eyes. “Exactly like it sounds,” he muttered, buttoning up his jacket. “But I’ll make it work. Somehow.”

“Oh, Sky, ever the optimist. What are you planning to do, charm him into loving you?”

Sky’s expression softened, a hint of vulnerability slipping through his confident exterior. “Is it so wrong to hope he’ll see the real me?”

Jett’s grin faded. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”

Sky nodded, glancing away. “I know he hates me now… but I’ll make him see I’m not the enemy.”

**Elsewhere, across the vast family estate**

Nani sat in front of the vanity, staring at his own sharp features, highlighted by his tailored suit and combed-back hair. His expression was distant, his gaze like steel. He’d heard his mother say he looked like a cat – poised, sharp, and more than capable of hiding his true feelings. But tonight, the mask was starting to crack.

His fingers tightened on the edge of the vanity as he forced his thoughts away from Dew. The man he loved, the man he’d promised himself to. And now, he was being thrown into an arranged marriage with someone he barely knew – Sky.

A knock on the door broke his thoughts. His sister, Liya, slipped in, looking at him with sympathy. “Are you okay?”

“Would you be okay if you were marrying a stranger?” His tone was cold, dismissive.

Liya gave him a sad smile, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Maybe he’s not as bad as you think, Nani. Maybe you’ll… find something in him.”

Nani scoffed. “He’s nothing but a name and wealth, like everyone else in these circles. I know exactly what he wants from me, Liya. Control.”

“Maybe he’s not just like everyone else,” Liya murmured softly, but Nani was already turning back to his own thoughts.

---

**Later, at the wedding**

The ceremony was filled with a quiet tension. Sky’s gaze followed Nani as he walked down the aisle, his features sharp and guarded. In that moment, Sky was certain he’d never seen anyone more striking – or more distant. The way Nani’s eyes barely met his felt like a wound Sky couldn’t help but feel responsible for, even if he knew he hadn’t created it.

The priest asked them to exchange vows, and Sky’s voice was steady, though his hands betrayed his nerves as he gently slipped the ring onto Nani’s finger. “I promise to be there for you,” he said quietly, searching Nani’s eyes. “To be patient… to show you that this doesn’t have to be the life you fear.”

Nani’s jaw tightened, his gaze unyielding. “I don’t need promises, Sky. I need freedom,” he replied, slipping Sky’s ring on with a stiff hand. “So don’t pretend you’re doing this for me.”

A murmur spread through the small crowd, and Sky felt the sting of Nani’s words. But he refused to back down. Instead, he leaned in slightly, keeping his voice low. “I won’t stop trying, Nani. Whether you hate me or not, I’ll prove to you that I’m more than the image you have of me.”

Nani looked away, his expression unreadable. “Do what you want, Sky. It won’t change how I feel.”

The ceremony ended, and they were ushered into the reception hall, where guests were eager to congratulate them. Sky tried to stay close to Nani, hoping to make even the smallest connection. But Nani was quick to keep his distance, every glance filled with an unspoken challenge that made it clear he wasn’t interested in playing the part of a loving husband.

After an exhausting few hours, Sky finally found a moment to speak to him alone. They stepped onto a balcony overlooking the estate, the quiet finally allowing them to speak freely.

“Nani…” Sky began, his voice soft. “I know you didn’t choose this. But neither did I. And I’m not your enemy. Maybe, if we give each other a chance, we could—”

Nani cut him off with a bitter laugh. “A chance? You think I’ll just fall in love with you if you try hard enough?” He shook his head. “I’m not interested in playing house with someone who forced me into this.”

Sky’s chest tightened, but he kept his tone even. “I didn’t force you into anything, Nani. This was as much your family’s decision as it was mine.”

“And that makes it better?” Nani shot back, his eyes flashing. “Do you even know what it feels like to be bound to someone who you don't know?”

Sky swallowed, nodding slowly. “No, I don’t. But I know what it feels like to want to prove yourself to someone who’s already decided to hate you.”

Nani paused, his face softening just slightly before the mask fell back into place. “Then stop trying so hard, Sky. The sooner you accept this as just another arrangement, the easier it’ll be.”

But as Nani turned to leave, Sky’s voice stopped him.

“That’s not what I want, Nani. And whether you believe me or not, I’ll be here. For you. I’ll be here until you see that this marriage… it could be more than a contract.”

Nani didn’t reply, but for a fleeting moment, his expression softened.