# Chapter 3 The Secret Marriage
Two days after signing the contract, Nadira Anindya officially became Arkana Pradipta's wife.
The wedding was a simple affair.
There was no lavish venue. No hundreds of guests. No reporters waiting outside the door.
Only the immediate families of both parties and a few people they truly trusted.
Even the invitations had not been made public.
Nadira sat in a small room prepared for the marriage ceremony, wearing a simple kebaya in a soft color.
Her hands had felt cold since morning. She still found it hard to believe that this was really happening.
Two days ago, she had still been an employee arguing with her boss in the conference room. Now, the man she usually called Mr. Arkana would become her husband.
For only one year.
Nadira tried to remind herself of that.
One year. After that, everything would be over.
There would be no relationship to maintain and no feelings to worry about. At least, that was what they had agreed on.
“Nadira.” Her mother's voice made her turn.
Her mother smiled, though her eyes were glistening with tears.
“If you're not sure, there's still time to call it off.”
Nadira slowly shook her head. “I'm sure, Mom.”
In truth, she wasn't completely sure. But whenever she thought of her father, who was still undergoing treatment, Nadira knew this decision had already been made. She would not back out.
A few minutes later, the ceremony began.
Arkana sat across from the marriage officiant with a calm expression. There was no sign of nervousness on his face. Even as he recited the marriage vows, his voice remained steady.
Nadira could only lower her head.
One sentence. One breath. And now, their lives had changed.
When it was all over, Nadira stared at the ring now circling her finger. Simple. Not too flashy. Exactly like their wedding.
Arkana stood beside her. “Congratulations,” he said briefly.
Nadira turned to him. “For what?”
“Because you're officially my wife now.”
Nadira snorted softly. “Don't get too excited. It's only for one year.”
“I know.”
“Good.” Arkana looked at the ring on Nadira's hand before meeting her eyes again. “Starting today, we have to be careful.”
“I know.”
“No photos can get out.”
“I know.”
“No posts.”
“I know that too.”
Arkana fell silent for a moment. “Are you always like this?”
“Like what?”
“Answering before I finish speaking.”
Nadira gave him a faint smile. “You're the one who chose me because I'm stubborn, sir.”
For a moment, Arkana's expression softened. But their conversation was cut short when Arkana's grandfather approached.
The old man did not immediately congratulate them. Instead, he looked at Nadira for a long moment.
His gaze made Nadira feel as though she were being examined.
“You're Nadira Anindya?”
Nadira nodded. “Yes, Grandpa.”
Arkana's grandfather smiled faintly. “Finally.”
Nadira furrowed her brow. “Finally?”
Arkana immediately cut in. “Grandpa.”
The old man looked at his grandson, then turned back to Nadira. “It's nothing. I mean, Arkana has finally found someone willing to stand up to him.”
A few people chuckled. Nadira smiled along, though something about his words felt strange. As if Arkana's grandfather had known about her longer than he should have. But Nadira chose to ignore it.
Their wedding ended without incident. Then, as they had agreed, not a single piece of information reached the public.
At Astra Group, everyone still considered Nadira an ordinary employee.
No one knew that their CEO had gotten married.
No one knew that the woman who had often argued with him now wore the same ring as the one on Arkana's hand.
That evening, Arkana took Nadira to the Pradipta family's main residence.
Nadira looked at the huge house from inside the car. “Aren't we going home?”
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Grandpa wants us to stay here tonight.”
Nadira sighed. “Isn't this marriage troublesome enough already?”
Arkana turned to her. “If we want the family to believe this marriage is real, we have to live like a real couple.”
Nadira fell silent. The sentence sounded simple enough. Yet for some reason, her heart began beating a little faster.
As soon as they entered, several family members were already waiting. Their gazes immediately turned toward Nadira.
Some smiled. Some looked curious. But others wore displeased expressions.
A middle-aged woman rose from the sofa. Her gaze shifted from Arkana to Nadira. “So this is Nadira?”
Arkana nodded. “My wife.”
The woman was silent for a few moments. Then she gave a faint smile. “Interesting.”
Nadira frowned. “Is there a problem?”
“No.” The woman walked past her without saying anything else.
Nadira looked at Arkana. “Your aunt?”
“Yes.”
“She seems to know a lot about me.”
Arkana was silent for a moment. “Don't think too much about it.”
Nadira sighed. “You say that an awful lot, sir.”
Arkana looked at her. “Because you think too much.”
“And you hide too much.”
This time, Arkana did not deny it. He simply picked up Nadira's suitcase and carried it upstairs.
Nadira followed him. She did not yet know that her first night as Arkana's wife would not only change her life.
The marriage they had thought was nothing more than a one-year agreement would instead draw Nadira closer and closer to a family harboring a massive secret.
A secret connected to her father's past. But for now, Nadira knew nothing.
She knew only one thing. Starting tonight, she would be living under the same roof as the man who annoyed her most.
Her husband, the infuriating boss at her office.