Chapter 9 The Mansion
920 Words
As soon as Damien left, Raine felt an immediate sense of relief, like she could finally breathe again.
She inhaled deeply, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
She couldn't understand why Damien had been so angry.
Was it the incident at the store? Or was it because she hadn't been entirely honest with him?
'This is just a business arrangement,' she told herself. 'Even if I do have a boyfriend, as long as it doesn't interfere with the contract, it shouldn't matter. If he told me he had a girlfriend, I wouldn't care.'
With a heavy sigh, Raine shook her head.
Damien was an enigma—his moods shifted unpredictably, and his thoughts were impossible to read.
Still, she knew better than to provoke him further. For now, she'd have to find a way to coexist peacefully and protect herself while she was in his world.
When she stepped out of the car, however, the sight before her took her breath away.
Damien's mansion wasn't just a house—it was an estate.
The sprawling grounds and grandeur were straight out of a movie. Raine had only ever seen places like this on television.
"This way, miss."
Raine turned to see the same kind-faced maid from earlier standing at the entrance, waiting for her."
She nodded and followed the maid into the house, her awe growing with every step.
The interior was even more magnificent than the exterior.
The enormous living room featured vaulted ceilings and a dazzling chandelier that shimmered like falling stars. Every piece of furniture was a masterpiece—sleek, understated, yet undeniably luxurious.
Floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the room in warm sunlight, and a subtle, exquisite fragrance of rare woods and high-end cologne lingered in the air.
Every detail spoke of Damien's wealth, power, and impeccable taste.
"This way, please," the maid prompted gently, pulling Raine from her thoughts. She smiled sheepishly and nodded.
From the moment she was born, Raine had only ever known cramped, modest rooms with a bed and a small desk.
Compared to those memories, this mansion was otherworldly.
'So this is what it's like to live in the world of the rich,' she thought, her gaze wandering across the opulent decor.
"This is your room," the maid said, stopping in front of a large door.
Raine peeked inside to find a spacious, elegant room outfitted with everything she could ever need."
She turned to the maid with a grateful smile. "Thank you... What's your name?"
"Susan," the maid replied with a warm smile.
"Thank you, Susan."
"If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask," Susan said.
She added, "Mr. Voss asked me to let you know you should take some time to rest."
Raine's expression tightened at the mention of Damien. "Where is he now?"
Susan shook her head. "Mr. Voss' schedule is always packed. One moment he's here, the next he's gone. But if you need to see him, his room is at the end of the hallway."
Raine hesitated but eventually shook her head. "That won't be necessary."
Before leaving, Susan added one last detail. "Oh, and Mr. Voss said the wedding will be in two weeks."
Raine blinked in shock. "What?"
A wedding?
She had assumed their arrangement only required her to stick around for a year, fulfilling the contract. She hadn't realized it involved an actual wedding.
Noticing Susan's curious gaze, Raine quickly composed herself and forced a nod. "Okay... thank you."
After Susan left, Raine sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the bags from her earlier shopping trip.
Her thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind.
First, she'd been sold off by Victor to pay off a debt, enduring three days of hell with Malcolm. Then, she'd been thrown into a tangled mess involving a mafia boss and accusations of being a spy.
Now, she was being forced into a sham marriage with a man she barely knew.
Marriage. The word carried so much weight, and for Raine, it had always symbolized something special.
Yet here she was, planning a wedding that meant absolutely nothing.
'This life of mine... it's ridiculous. It's like something out of a bad novel,' she thought bitterly.
Her fists clenched as her mind wandered back to Victor. 'He's the reason for all of this. One day, I'll make sure he and his family pay.'
She rolled onto her side, her gaze drifting toward the balcony.
The view was beautiful, but Raine felt like a bird trapped in a gilded cage.
There was no phone, no way to contact the outside world. She didn't know if Damien was paranoid about privacy or simply preferred it this way, but the absence of technology only added to her isolation.
She missed Joey Hayes.
He had been her only light in the darkest days of her life.
'What's he doing now?' she wondered. 'Does he even know I'm gone?'
A faint knock pulled her from her thoughts.
The room was so quiet that even the soft sound reached her ears. Sitting up cautiously, she glanced at the door.
Another knock.
Assuming it was Susan or Damien, Raine relaxed slightly and went to open the door. But when she swung it open, no one was there.
She frowned, muttering to herself, "Strange... am I hearing things?"
As she turned to close the door, a hand shot out from behind her and clamped over her mouth.
The sharp scent of chemicals filled her nostrils, and before she could even see her assailant, the world went dark.
- Writer
