Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 26: Registration

[175 Days Left to Live]

Zephany fidgeted with the strap of her bag, standing outside the building where she was about to sign her life away — well, for a year, at least. She still couldn’t believe she was doing this. A marriage. Fake, yes, but still legally binding.

She let out a slow breath, trying to shake off her nerves. She had faced dangerous missions before, but this? This was somehow worse.

A few steps away, Kendrick approached, hands tucked in his pockets. He looked calm, annoyingly so, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers, as if he were heading to a casual business meeting rather than his own wedding.

"Morning," he greeted, offering a polite nod.

"Good morning," Zephany mumbled, shifting her weight awkwardly.

An odd silence stretched between them. She could feel the ridiculousness of the situation settling in, and for a moment, neither of them knew what to say.

"Uh... sleep well?" Kendrick asked, breaking the quiet.

"Not really," she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck. "You?"

"Same."

Before they could continue this riveting conversation, the glass doors swung open, and Sophia Sparkle strode out, her heels clicking against the pavement. She was as put-together as ever, hair in a sleek bun and a navy dress that practically screamed authority.

"Ah, there you are," she said with a satisfied smile. "Right on time. Let’s get this over with, shall we?"

Zephany and Kendrick exchanged a look before following her inside.

---

The registration office was dull. White walls, flickering fluorescent lights, and a middle-aged clerk who looked like he had been doing this job for far too long.

"Marriage registration?" the man asked, barely looking up.

Sophia, ever the professional, nodded. "Yes, they’re here to sign."

The clerk hummed, shuffling through some papers before sliding a thick envelope across the desk. "Read before signing."

Zephany swallowed as she stared at the documents. The words Certificate of Marriage were right there in bold print, as if mocking her.

"Here goes nothing," she muttered under her breath before grabbing the pen.

Kendrick, beside her, gave a slight cough — his version of nervousness, she supposed. He skimmed the document, though he knew there was no backing out now.

One by one, they signed.

"Congratulations," the clerk said in the most bored tone imaginable. He stamped the documents with an unnecessarily loud thud. "You’re officially married."

Zephany blinked. "That’s... it?"

"Efficient," Kendrick murmured, though he sounded just as unsure.

Just as they both attempted to process what had happened, Sophia’s voice rang cheerfully.

"Wait! We can’t let the moment pass without a photo." She grinned, already pulling out her phone.

Zephany’s eyes widened. "A photo?"

"Of course!" Sophia said, positioning them in front of the bland office backdrop. "You know Mr. Varen will want proof."

Before they could protest, Sophia was already gesturing for them to stand closer.

"Come on, just one picture. Make it look... believable."

Kendrick shifted awkwardly before giving Zephany a half-smile. "For the record, I’m blaming her for this."

"Noted," Zephany replied, forcing a grin that felt more like a grimace.

"Perfect! Now, one more." Sophia’s eyes gleamed mischievously. "Hold hands."

Zephany froze. "Wait, what?"

Sophia’s brows lifted. "You are a married couple now."

Kendrick, trying to avoid further delay, extended his hand. Zephany hesitated before reluctantly placing her hand in his. His palm was warm, steady. Too steady.

Sophia snapped the photo with a satisfied smile. "Wonderful! You two are practically glowing."

Zephany resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Yeah. Radiating pure joy."

"Couldn’t be happier," Kendrick deadpanned.

Sophia chuckled, tucking her phone away. "Alright, onto the next step."

Zephany narrowed her eyes. "Next step?"

Sophia grinned. "Your new home, of course! Mr. Varen made sure you’ll be living comfortably for the next year."

Kendrick’s lips parted slightly, clearly processing the words new home. Zephany groaned internally. This just kept getting better.

---

An hour later, they arrived in front of towering iron gates. Beyond them stood a massive estate — white stone, huge windows, and a driveway so clean it probably had a dedicated maintenance team.

Zephany’s jaw tightened. This neighborhood was straight out of a luxury magazine.

"Welcome to one of the Varen properties," Sophia announced, stepping out of the car. "This is where you’ll be living as a married couple."

Zephany glanced at Kendrick, whose expression remained unreadable, though his fingers twitched slightly — a subtle sign of unease.

Inside, the place was just as grand. A huge living room, sleek furniture, and a chandelier that looked expensive enough to pay off her debts twice over. The floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural light, and outside, a small but well-kept garden sat enclosed by high walls.

"Feel free to explore," Sophia said, pleased with herself. "This is your home now. I’ll message you if Mr. Varen needs anything from you two."

Before they could respond, she turned on her heel and left, but not without throwing them a mischievous look. "Enjoy your honeymoon phase."

Zephany stared after her. "I hate that woman sometimes."

Kendrick let out a quiet chuckle. "You’re not alone."

---

Once they were alone, the silence stretched uncomfortably.

"So..." Kendrick started, rubbing the back of his neck. "Should we, uh, look around? Figure out which room we want?"

Zephany nodded quickly. "Yeah. That makes sense."

The apartment had four bedrooms, each with its own distinct style.

Room One: Dark furniture, dim lighting, very spy movie villain.

Room Two: Bright, cozy, decorated in warm cream tones.

Room Three: A study-like room with leather chairs and a serious gentleman’s library vibe.

Room Four: Soft blue walls, a calm atmosphere, and glass doors leading straight to the garden.

Kendrick eyed the options, trying not to look too obvious as he searched for his room. Cassius had promised him a hidden setup — a secret passage to a high-tech system where he could continue his work as Obscura.

Meanwhile, Zephany scanned for the room Cassius had hinted at. She needed a discreet escape route, a passage that would let her move freely as Eclipse without Kendrick ever finding out. Cassius had agreed — probably just for his own amusement — but now she had to figure out which one it was.

After a moment of internal debate, she spotted it. The barely noticeable panel in Room Four that blended too perfectly with the wall. Subtle, just as Cassius had described.

"I’ll take this one," she announced, pointing at Room Four.

Kendrick exhaled discreetly. Thank god.

"That works," he said, forcing a small smile. "I’ll take Room Three, then."

"Great," Zephany replied, though the tension between them remained.

An awkward pause followed.

"So..." Kendrick shifted slightly. "I guess we should unpack?"

"Yeah. Good idea." freēnovelkiss.com

To be honest, they didn’t really have anything to unpack right now. They just want to escape the awkward atmosphere.

And with that, they both retreated to their respective rooms — two strangers bound by a contract, both hiding their true identities.

But for now, the only thing they needed to survive was the delicate art of pretending.