Married To A Stranger

Chapter 5

Shaina’s Point of View

The next morning, I woke up in an unfamiliar bed, momentarily forgetting where I was. The silk sheets felt cold against my skin, the grand chandelier above me reminding me that this was no longer my home.

I was married now.

To a stranger.

Reality hit me like a tidal wave. I sat up slowly, glancing around the elegant yet lifeless room. The mansion was eerily silent. There were no sounds of a bustling household, no voices drifting through the halls. It was as if I had stepped into a place frozen in time.

A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts.

"Madam, breakfast is ready," a maid said from outside the door.

I hesitated before answering. "I’ll be there in a moment."

I forced myself out of bed, taking a deep breath before stepping into the unknown.

The dining hall was massive, with high ceilings and long windows that let the morning light spill in. A lavish breakfast was laid out—fresh fruits, golden-brown pastries, and steaming cups of coffee.

And at the head of the table sat Cloud.

He was dressed in a crisp black suit, his expression unreadable as he sipped his coffee. He barely acknowledged my presence as I hesitantly took a seat across from him.

The silence was suffocating.

I cleared my throat. "Good morning."

He glanced up briefly. "Morning."

That was it.

No warmth, no interest—just a hollow exchange of pleasantries.

I shifted uncomfortably before picking up a fork, forcing myself to eat despite the tightness in my stomach.

Cloud, on the other hand, seemed perfectly fine with the silence. He moved with effortless precision, sipping his coffee and flipping through the pages of a newspaper, as if he wasn’t sitting across from his new wife.

I studied him, trying to piece together the man I had married. He was composed, distant, and completely uninterested in making conversation.

The longer I sat there, the more frustration bubbled inside me.

Finally, I set my fork down. "Is this how it's going to be?"

Cloud didn’t look up. "How what’s going to be?"

"This marriage," I said, my voice firmer than I expected. "Are we just going to pretend the other doesn’t exist?"

He finally met my gaze, his dark eyes unreadable. "Would you prefer something else?"

I clenched my jaw. "I don’t know. Maybe basic communication?"

His lips quirked slightly, but it wasn’t a smile. "We married for convenience, not companionship."

His words stung, even though I had expected them.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Right. Of course. A business deal. Nothing more."

Cloud didn’t deny it. He simply returned his attention to his coffee, as if the conversation was already over.

I exhaled sharply, pushing my chair back. "Enjoy your breakfast."

As I turned to leave, a familiar voice interrupted.

"Leaving so soon, sister?"

I froze.

Sofia.

I turned slowly, and there she was—draped in an elegant dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, her lips curled in amusement.

She walked into the room as if she owned it, her heels clicking against the marble floor.

Her eyes flickered to Cloud, admiration dancing in them. "You know, I never believed the rumors about you," she said smoothly. "Everyone made it seem like you were… unpleasant to look at. But I must say, I’m quite impressed."

Cloud didn’t react.

Sofia, however, wasn’t deterred. She slowly walked past me, placing a hand lightly on the back of his chair. "It’s a shame, really," she continued, her voice dripping with false innocence. "Shaina isn’t exactly the best at keeping a man’s interest. But I suppose it’s not too late to change that."

My hands curled into fists. "Sofia, don’t start."

She turned to me, tilting her head. "I’m just making conversation. Something you clearly struggle with when it comes to your husband."

Anger burned in my chest, but Cloud’s next words surprised me.

"You're in my house, not yours," he said coolly. "Learn some respect."

Sofia’s smug expression faltered for a split second before she quickly masked it with a sweet smile. "Of course. My apologies."

But as she turned to leave, she whispered just loud enough for me to hear, "We’ll see how long you last here, dear sister."

I swallowed hard, refusing to let her get to me.

Cloud had already returned to his newspaper, as if nothing had happened.

I hated how unaffected he was.

I hated how easily Sofia walked all over me.

Most of all, I hated the sinking feeling in my gut—because deep down, I knew she wasn’t wrong.

I didn’t belong here.

And if I wasn’t careful, she would make sure I lost everything.