Married To A Stranger

Chapter 7

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of forced smiles and empty conversations. Every introduction felt like a test, every handshake a reminder that I was walking through a world I didn’t belong in.

Cloud remained as composed as ever, his presence commanding every room we entered. People spoke to him with a mixture of respect and caution, as if they weren’t sure whether to admire him or fear him.

And then there was me.

The wife no one expected.

The whispers never stopped.

"She’s the Villareal girl, right?"

"I heard she was forced into the marriage."

"Do you think she’s just after his money?"

I tried to ignore them, but their words clung to me like a shadow.

"You’re overthinking again," Cloud muttered beside me, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

I blinked up at him, startled. "Excuse me?"

His gaze remained ahead, indifferent as ever. "You’re letting them get to you."

I scoffed, shifting my weight slightly. "I didn’t realize you were paying attention."

A corner of his lips twitched. "You make it obvious."

I bit the inside of my cheek, unwilling to admit he was right.

Before I could say anything else, the doors to the grand dining hall opened, and waiters guided us to our assigned seats.

To my dismay, I was seated between Cloud and none other than Lillian.

Of course.

"How fortunate," my stepmother said with a saccharine smile as she took her seat beside me. "Now we can have a proper chat, dear."

I didn’t respond, focusing instead on the elegant place setting before me.

Cloud, on the other hand, didn’t even acknowledge her.

As the meal began, conversation flowed across the table, mostly centering around business and politics—two topics I had no interest in.

Lillian, however, had no intention of letting me stay silent.

"You know, Shaina," she mused, her voice dripping with false concern, "I’ve been so worried about you. It all happened so fast, didn’t it?"

I forced a polite smile. "I’m doing fine."

"Are you?" she pressed, tilting her head. "I can only imagine how difficult this adjustment must be for you. A girl like you, suddenly thrown into such a powerful world…" She trailed off with a sympathetic sigh. "I just hope you’re not feeling too overwhelmed."

I knew exactly what she was doing.

She wanted me to feel small, to remind me that I was out of place.

I gripped my fork tightly, refusing to give her the satisfaction. "I appreciate the concern," I said evenly. "But I’m more than capable of handling myself."

Lillian let out a light laugh. "Of course, dear. You always were stubborn."

Cloud finally set down his glass, his voice cutting through the air like ice.

"If she wasn’t capable, she wouldn’t be my wife."

Silence fell over the table.

Lillian blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She quickly recovered, but the flicker of irritation in her eyes didn’t go unnoticed.

Cloud didn’t look at her. He simply returned to his meal, as if the conversation had already ended.

I wasn’t sure if he had defended me… or if he was just shutting her up because she annoyed him.

Either way, I wasn’t complaining.

Lillian, however, was not pleased.

She spent the rest of the dinner making passive-aggressive remarks, each one carefully laced with condescension.

I endured it all in silence, but by the time dessert was served, my patience was wearing thin.

Then she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice so only I could hear.

"You don’t belong here, Shaina," she whispered, her smile never fading. "And sooner or later… everyone will see it."

Something inside me snapped.

I placed my fork down with deliberate calmness and turned to face her fully.

"Funny," I said, matching her tone. "I was just about to say the same thing about you."

Her smile wavered for just a second.

And for the first time that evening, I was the one enjoying myself.

After dinner, Cloud and I exited the dining hall, walking side by side in silence.

The moment we stepped outside, I exhaled, my body finally relaxing after holding in my frustration all night.

"You handled yourself well," Cloud said suddenly.

I turned to him, surprised. "What?"

He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "Lillian. You didn’t let her break you."

I crossed my arms. "I’ve had years of practice."

Cloud hummed in amusement. "Good. You’ll need it."

I frowned. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

He didn’t answer. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "The car is waiting. Let’s go."

I hesitated, watching him closely.

For a brief moment, it felt like there was something unspoken between us.

Like he was starting to see me as more than just the girl forced into his life.

But just as quickly as the moment appeared, it was gone.

Cloud was Cloud.

And I was still just playing my part.

I let out a small sigh before following him into the night.