THE BILLIONAIRE'S UNEXPECTED BRIDE

CHAPTER 4- THE RULES OF THE MANSION

Living with Adrian was not as Amelia expected. Although she imagined a few uneventful, tense silences, she did not expect total silence to settle permanently at the mansion. Adrian, who always dressed in a tailored suit and woke up at dawn, made piles of papers disappear before she even dragged her feet out of bed. Until midnight, he was focused on the documents, rarely smiling and somehow transforming every dinner into a serious business meeting. It was like living with a stranger – and Amelia did not know what hidden details remained from the past.

However, one morning, she saw a new side of him. Not inside the study or the dining room, but in the kitchen. Dressed in loose clothes, Adrian sipped dark coffee and calmly studied the woman who just opened the refrigerator door. “You cook?” he asked with a surprised smile. “Sometimes,” she replied, shrugging. His face tightened. “What does it mean?” Amelia raised an eyebrow. “That I can afford to pay for this place sometimes,” she said, also smiling. He let out a short laugh. “That is quite an unusual response.”

“Not the first time someone asks me that question. My chef said ‘some days’ once.”

Adrian carefully put the cup back on the saucer. “You don’t have chefs in the house.” “My father has,” she replied, finally closing the door. The man turned around and faced her. “He has the house now.” Amelia raised her eyebrows and slowly nodded. “That is where he lives now. And you know what?” “What?” He sighed. “You do not choose a place to live here. You choose the people.” The woman smirked. “Are you saying that the most important part of our marriage is the mansion?”

Never,” he said firmly and studied her eyes. Amelia giggled. “You seem to have many concerns regarding your future wife.” “Not a concern,” he replied. “An issue that can now be resolved.” She turned back to the fridge. “How so?” The man looked away.

“My father wants you, his son, and his daughter-in-law to attend dinner tonight.” “Why?” Amelia asked, turning around. “All eyes will be on us, so we need to act accordingly.” The woman crossed her arms. “So this means the marriage has its first useful purpose?” “You will see,” he replied, his voice low. “It does have its uses.” Suddenly, the billionaire’s face changed to a serious expression. “Victoria will be there.” The name seemed to affect Adrian more painfully than the news itself: his fists clenched tighter, and his mouth became stiffer. “Are you warning me?” Amelia asked, tilting her head. “I am notifying you,” he replied, narrowing his eyes.

“She does not forget, no matter where we are or who we face.” Amelia looked into his eyes. “Neither do I.” He took a step closer. “I know.”

The phrase accompanied her throughout the remainder of the day. Thus, by the time the ball was supposed to begin, she could not decide if curiosity as to Victoria’s true intentions was burning or poisoning her from within.

Big crystals hanging from the ceiling glowed like hundreds of light bulbs. Everyone turned around as the wealthy host and his stunning wife arrived.

Amelia smiled and bowed her head until she locked eyes with a familiar pair. Victoria was there, more beautiful than ever, looking through hundreds of guests like trash. Her eyes fixed on Amelia, searching her up and down with a silent judgment, calculating whether this woman had a reasonable reason to trespass into her empire. After a hundred fake conversations during endless dinner courses, Amelia escaped and hid on the balcony. There was no one to talk to, but the cool air was a comfortable embrace.

You are worrying again,” the man said when he appeared beside her. “I observe things, that is all.” “And what have you observed?” Amelia turned to look at him in surprise. “Your world,” she whispered. “It is not as complicated as it can appear to me at first. I know,” said Adrian and glanced at her.

Soon enough, the evening was nearly over, and the guests left. Only Victoria stood in the doorway, politely refusing to give up the hunt. “Adrian,” she said, “may I have a word with you?” The answer was simple and final. “Not now.”

“It can’t wait.”

Amelia stepped to the side. “I will give you privacy,” she said. “Don’t worry, I will take really good care of him,” Victoria said, patting her shoulder. Something in her voice made Amelia turn around.

Victoria was already close enough to Adrián. He heard her and stopped to whisper something into Adrián’s ear. Her face showed incredible fury as the man suddenly changed expression in response to his wife’s words. It was not until that brief second, when Victoria’s eyes narrowed violently, that Amelia realized what could have caused such anger. What exactly Adrian said in his ear made Victoria turn around, and Amelia followed her. Forcing herself to walk away from the ballroom, she finally turned around in horror. It was not the words or actions, but pure, raw anger that burned from Victoria’s eyes. It was not jealousy, but a terrible hatred – directed not against the man, but against the woman right next to him.