Ah, there she is. My future wife.

I was never interested in marriage—or love, for that matter. Yet ever since we were kids, it had been understood that this was inevitable. That we would end up here.

It was all business.

She, however, didn’t seem particularly thrilled about it.

As for me? I didn’t care. She was beautiful, and the advantages that came with her family only strengthened my position. Power recognizes power.

A win-win situation, really.

Another Saturday night at her place. My family had come over for dinner, just like always. Routine. Polite smiles. Silent expectations.

I smirked as I watched her push food around her plate, clearly distracted.

“Something wrong?” I asked, my tone laced with quiet teasing.