Married by Mistake, Loved by Fate

Chapter10

“Lucy…”

Lucy slid into the driver’s seat of her car. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel to steady her racing heart. Austin had told her to drive straight to the mansion to stay safe from the Phantom. Now, the car hummed to life. With every turn of the wheels, the massive DiMarco mansion loomed closer. It was a palace that would soon be her new reality. She caught her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were wide with nerves, her lips slightly open, and her chest tight with worry.

This is it, Lucy, she whispered to herself. No turning back now. You are stepping into their world, their name, their powerful family.

The thought made her heart pound wildly. She was not just driving to a mansion. She was driving straight into a life that would test her in ways she could not yet imagine.

The heavy iron gates groaned open like the arms of a giant empire. Lucy’s breath caught. Across the long marble path, seven servants stood in a perfect line. Their postures were straight and their uniforms were clean and crisp. Each servant held a polished silver tray with a delicate note catching the sunlight.

One by one, they stepped forward.

The first servant lowered into a deep bow. His eyes shone with respect as he placed a note before her. Its golden letters shone in the morning light: “A queen has arrived.”

The second approached with a gentle nod. Her movements were graceful, almost floating. Her note read: “Your light completes our house.”

The third came with serious elegance, his hands completely steady. “Grace in your steps, power in your name.”

The fourth servant, tall and disciplined, moved like a soldier. Yet, his gaze softened as he lowered his note. “The walls of DiMarco grow stronger with your presence.”

The fifth, her cheeks turning a nervous pink, bowed just enough for Lucy to catch the note. “Your smile is the crown we have been waiting for.”

The sixth, calm and collected, laid his note down with perfect manners. “You are not just welcomed, you are cherished.”

And the seventh, the youngest servant, dropped to one knee. His hands shook slightly, but his motion was exact. “To serve you is to serve the DiMarco family itself.”

Seven notes. Seven silent tributes. Every bow, every step, and every careful movement spoke volumes without a single spoken word. Lucy’s heart raced. She realized the full weight of what she was stepping into. This powerful world was already honoring her before she had even spoken.

Then, a rich voice cut through the crisp morning air.

“Welcome home, my darling wife.”

Austin DiMarco appeared at the top of the marble steps. He was tall, commanding, and his dark tuxedo shone in the sun. But it was not just his presence that stole the moment. It was the way he looked at her. He looked at her like she was the only person who mattered in the world.

He walked down the steps slowly, each step echoing against the hard marble. His eyes never left hers. Whispers rippled through the gathered relatives, business partners, and allies. But when Austin reached her side, the murmurs vanished into complete silence.

He lifted her hand, gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, and pressed a slow, respectful kiss to her knuckles. Lucy’s breath hitched. Then, without hesitation, he pulled her close, wrapping her in a tight embrace. His lips brushed her cheek, and then he found her lips in a sudden, hungry kiss that completely stole her balance and her thoughts.

Gasps echoed from the crowd. Scattered applause broke out.

“They are deeply in love,” someone whispered.

“Have you ever seen passion like that?” another guest murmured.

“Look at them… they are perfect together.”

Lucy’s knees felt weak. For a split second, she almost believed the lie herself. She almost forgot that this marriage was just a contract on a piece of paper, nothing more.

But as Austin drew back, his lips still hovering near hers, his eyes became sharp and cold. He bent close and whispered directly into her ear:

“Play along, Lucy. The enemies are watching us right now. We must look like fire to them. Nothing less.”

She nodded, her heart pounding. She felt both the thrill of his touch and the heavy weight of the fake show they had to perform.

Then, from the corner of her eye, she noticed a sharp look. A woman was seated near the grand staircase. It was Austin’s mother. Her hazel eyes were calculating, elegant, and completely unreadable. Her cold gaze lingered on Lucy long enough to make Lucy's stomach tighten into a knot.

As the room began to buzz with quiet talk, Austin's mom rose from her seat. Her movements were smooth and deliberate. Every single head in the room turned as she approached. Her quiet authority demanded absolute attention. She stopped right in front of Lucy, her hazel eyes locking onto hers.

“Lucy,” she said. Her voice was smooth and commanding, but it was threaded with a cold curiosity. “I do not believe we have formally met. I am your mother-in-law, Victoria DiMarco.”

Lucy forced a soft, polite smile. Oh yes, she thought, who does not know the beautiful, elegant, and lethal Victoria DiMarco?

Victoria leaned in slightly closer, her smile not reaching her icy eyes as she whispered a low message that only Lucy could hear:

“Austin thinks a fake marriage can protect you from the Phantom, my dear. But in this house, secrets do not stay buried. Let us see how long you survive before y

our little lie burns you alive.”