The following afternoon, Sky parked his car in front of the Wongravee Mansion.
Nani sat quietly in the passenger seat, his hands resting on Noah’s pet carrier.
The mansion looked more like a luxury hotel than a home.
Its tall iron gates, perfectly trimmed gardens, and grand marble entrance made Nani feel even more nervous.
“So… this is where you grew up,” Nani murmured.
Sky nodded.
“Yes.”
After a brief silence, he turned to Nani.
“If Father says anything hurtful…”
“You don’t have to answer.”
“I’ll handle it.”
Nani smiled reassuringly.
“We’re partners now, aren’t we?”
The simple sentence caught Sky by surprise.
Partners.
He gave a small nod.
“We are.”
Inside the mansion, the head butler greeted them politely.
“Welcome home, Young Master.”
His eyes shifted to Nani before widening slightly.
“And this is…?”
“My husband.”
Sky answered without hesitation.
The butler was stunned but quickly regained his composure.
“Welcome to the Wongravee Mansion, Young Master Nani.”
Nani bowed politely.
“Thank you.”
Before they could take another step, a familiar voice echoed through the hall.
“So…”
“You finally came.”
Wongravee slowly descended the grand staircase, his sharp eyes fixed on the two young men.
His gaze settled on their joined hands.
Then on the simple wedding bands they had purchased that morning.
“So this is your husband?”
Sky stepped slightly in front of Nani.
“Yes.”
Wongravee walked closer.
His eyes carefully studied Nani from head to toe.
“Nani Hirunkit, sir.”
“Architecture student.”
“Second year.”
Wongravee gave a slow nod.
“Middle-class family.”
“Parents deceased.”
“Raised by an older brother.”
Nani’s eyes widened.
Sky immediately understood.
His father had already investigated everything.
“I see you’ve done your research,” Sky said coldly.
“I always do.”
The chairman looked at Nani again.
“Tell me.”
“How much did my son pay you?”
Nani frowned.
“He didn’t pay me anything.”
“I married him because I chose to.”
A faint smile appeared on Wongravee’s face.
“A convincing answer.”
“But I’m not easily convinced.”
He turned toward the servants.
“Prepare the east wing.”
Sky interrupted.
“No.”
Wongravee looked at him.
“If we’re married…”
“We’ll stay in the same room.”
For the first time, Nani looked genuinely shocked.
Sky met his eyes for only a second before giving an almost invisible nod.
He understood.
They had to make the act believable.
Wongravee watched the silent exchange between them.
“…Very well.”
“We’ll see how long this performance lasts.”
Sky opened the bedroom door.
The room was spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline.
There was one king-sized bed.
Nani stared at it.
“…There’s only one.”
Sky sighed softly.
“I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“No.”
Nani shook his head.
“We’re both tall.”
“The sofa is too small.”
Sky looked around before opening a closet.
Inside was a neatly folded spare mattress.
“I forgot this was here.”
He placed it on the floor beside the bed.
“I’ll sleep here.”
Nani smiled apologetically.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“This situation isn’t your fault.”
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
The silence was no longer awkward.
It felt…
peaceful.
Noah happily jumped onto the large bed, stretched out across the pillows, and claimed the center as his own.
Nani laughed.
“I think Noah chose the bed before either of us.”
Even Sky chuckled quietly.
“I guess we’re sleeping wherever he’ll allow us.”
It was the first genuine laugh they had shared together.
Outside the bedroom door, Wongravee’s trusted assistant stood silently.
He had been instructed to observe every movement.
Every conversation.
Every mistake.
Because Wongravee was convinced that the marriage was nothing more than a carefully planned lie.
Inside the room, however, Sky and Nani were too busy figuring out how to live together as strangers.
Neither of them realized that the hardest part of their fake marriage…
Was only just beginning.