The BILLIONAIRE CEO CONTRACTUAL BRIDE

Chapter three:Meet Again

We're here miss, " her driver turned at her as he spoke. Then the Adrian opened the door for her. She gets off the car like a young pure princess in white.

She looked around and was amazed by how beautiful the place was. It basically looks like it was a gray mansion in a large garden. Though one thing was strange, she sees no flowering plant around. Everything was so green and fresh but still, something seems off.

Elare turned her head and skimmed through the whole place once again and she frowned the moment she found what was wrong.

Her brows furrowed for the fact that there were just dull colors around, dark green and dark gray. Elare was mystified but she saw an honorable looking old man in his seventies approaching her, with a maid so she focused her attention to them.

Miss, please allow me to introduce myself I'm house's butler. Mr. Gool you can ask me whatever you needed. "

Er, so he's a butler? Elare wasn't sure how to react so she introduced herself.

Hello, I'm Elare.

I will be in your care from now on, please take me.

No, no. Please don't do that Miss. You the wife of our young master so it's our duty to care for you .

The old man looks so shocked, Elera didn't know if she was supposed to laugh or cry.

"By the way Miss, let us take your things inside . " Mr Gool told her,then he asked the maid to tour her around the mansion while he will tell the kitchen to prepare for dinner.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss.”

You too.

"What is your name?."

Anne.

How long have you been working with valerius family,I asked.

For Seven years,ma'am.

I nodded.

Come on miss I will show you around .

Okay.

I followed her inside.

This is the first floor, said Anne.

The first floor seemed endless.

We passed several sitting rooms, each more beautiful than the last. There were expensive paintings on the walls, antique furniture, enormous vases filled with fresh flowers, and decorative pieces that looked as though they belonged in a museum.

“This is the main living room,” Anne explained.

I stepped inside.

The room was enormous, with gray color sofas arranged around a large glass table. A fireplace occupied the far wall, surrounded by dark stone.

I walked slowly toward the windows.

The view outside took my breath away.

A perfectly maintained garden stretched across the property. There were rows of flowers, tall trees, fountains, and a stone pathway leading toward what looked like a private swimming pool.

“You have to be kidding me,” I whispered.

Anne chuckled.

“There is also a tennis court behind the garden.”

I turned around.

“A tennis court?”

“And a small gym.”

I stared at her.

“What else is there?”

She smiled.

“You'll see.”

We continued.

The dining room could easily have hosted thirty people. A long mahogany table sat beneath another magnificent chandelier.

I ran my fingers lightly over the back of one of the chairs.

Then she opened another door.

“This is the library.”

My eyes widened.

Shelves covered almost every wall, filled with books from the floor to the ceiling. A rolling ladder stood against one of the shelves.

I stepped inside without thinking.

I loved books.

For the first time since arriving at the mansion, I felt completely comfortable.

“You like reading?” Anne asked.

“A lot.”

“You don't look like someone likes reading reading .”

I looked at her.

“Really?”

“Of course.”

I smiled.

“Thank you.”

She nodded before leading me upstairs.

The second floor was quieter.

“This floor contains the bedrooms,” Anne explained.

She showed me several guest rooms first.

Each one was larger than the small apartment I had grown up in.

Then she stopped in front of a set of double doors.

“This is your room.”

"really?."

I pushed the doors open.

I froze.

The bedroom was beautiful.

A large bed stood in the center, covered with white and silver bedding. There was a sitting area near the windows, a private balcony, a walk-in closet, and a bathroom that looked like something from a luxury hotel.

I walked inside slowly.

“This is where I will be staying?.

Yes,with Mr Valerius

I looked at Anne with shock.

I walked toward the balcony and opened the glass doors.

Cool air brushed against my face.

From there, I could see almost the entire estate.

Ma'am, Anne called.

"Yes"

I leave you to freshing up then I will call you for dinner

Okay....

After dinner, I returned to my room and stood quietly in front of the large windows, staring at the lights scattered across the estate.

Everything still felt unreal.

The mansion. The servants. The enormous bedroom that was now supposed to be mine.

And most of all, the marriage.

I had agreed to marry Kaelen Valerius, a man I barely knew, because I had run out of options. Yet knowing that didn't make the situation any less overwhelming.

I changed into a simple nightdress and sat on the edge of the bed, brushing my hair slowly.

Just as I was about to lie down, there was a knock on the door.

Before I could answer, the door opened.

Kaelen stepped inside.

His expression was calm, almost unreadable, as he closed the door behind him.

Good evening,

Good evening, he replied.

"How are you finding everything so far?" he asked.

"It's... okay."

One corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Just okay?"

I shrugged. "It's more than I'm used to."

He studied me for a moment before nodding.

"Fair enough."

He said, walking towards the bathroom.

"I'm going to freshen up."

"Wait."

He stopped and looked back at me.

I suddenly felt nervous.

There was something I needed to say, and I knew it was better to say it now rather than keep worrying about it.

"Can we talk for a moment?"

He walked towards me and stood near the foot of the bed.

"About what?"

I clasped my hands together.

"About us."

His expression became more serious.

I took a breath.

"I know this marriage isn't exactly normal. And I know we both have our reasons for agreeing to it."

He remained silent, listening.

"But I've never been a wife before," I continued. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do or what you expect from me."

"You don't have to know everything."

"I know, but..." I looked down at my hands. "I don't want to accidentally do something that upsets you. I don't want us to have problems simply because I misunderstood something."

Kaelen leaned against the dresser.

"So what are you asking?"

"I'm asking you to talk to me."

His eyebrows drew together slightly.

"If something bothers you about us, tell me. If I've done something wrong, tell me. Don't expect me to know what's in your head because I can't read minds."

For a few seconds, the room was completely silent.

Then he nodded.

"That's reasonable."

I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

"And I want the same from you," he added.

I looked up.

"If something I do bothers you, tell me. If you have a problem with something, don't keep it to yourself."

"Okay."

"This marriage may have started as an agreement," he said, his voice quieter now, "but that doesn't mean we have to make living together difficult."

I nodded slowly.

"I'd like that."

He looked at me for another moment.

"There will be boundaries, Elara. I'll explain them when necessary. And I expect you to respect them."

"I will."

"And I'll respect yours."

His words surprised me.

Maybe that was the one thing we could both agree on.

Kaelen straightened.

"Get some rest. It's been a long day."

he said as he walked towards the bathroom

The door closed behind him.

I stared at it for several seconds before finally lying back against the pillows.

This marriage was still complicated.

I still didn't know what the future held.

oh crap!

Elara suddenly realized something she had forgotten .

She was going to share a bed with Kaelen.

The thought alone made her heart race.

She sat stiffly on one side of the enormous bed, her hands clasped nervously in her lap. The room was so quiet that she could hear the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.

Then the bathroom door opened.

Kaelen walked back into the room, his dark hair still damp from his shower. A few drops of water rested against his forehead, and the sleeves of his shirt were slightly rolled up.

Elara immediately looked away.

She suddenly felt like a small white mouse trapped in a room with a great dark beast.

Kaelen's presence had always been intimidating, but tonight it felt different. They were no longer simply employers and employees. They were husband and wife now,

She could feel his eyes on her.

It was almost as though he could see through every nervous thought running through her mind.

Kaelen remained silent for a moment before walking toward the bed.

The large room seemed to shrink with every step he took.

He stopped beside the bed and looked at her.

"You're still awake?"

Elara swallowed.

"Yes."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Why ?"

"Scared?"

The questions startled her.

She looked up at him before quickly lowering her gaze again.

"Huh? No. I mean..." She hesitated. "Well... yes."

Her honesty seemed to surprise him.

Kaelen sighed quietly and sat down on the other side of the bed, leaving a noticeable distance between them.

"Regretting your decision?"

Elara shook her head.

"No."

"You want to go back home?"

"No."

He studied her for several seconds.

"You're scared, but you still want to stay?"

Elara nodded slowly.

A faint chuckle escaped him.

"You don't have to look like you're waiting for your execution."

She blinked.

"I'm not."

"You are."

Despite herself, Elara almost smiled.

Kaelen leaned back against the headboard.

"Relax, Elara."

She looked at him cautiously.

His answer was surprisingly calm her.

Elara finally allowed herself to breathe.

Kaelen glanced toward the empty space between them.

"Tonight, nothing is expected of you."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

His voice was firm enough to leave no room for misunderstanding.

"You've had a long day. Get some sleep."

Elara stared at him for a moment, trying to determine whether he was serious.

He was.

For the first time since entering the room, some of the tension in her shoulders disappeared.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Kaelen turned off the bedside lamp.

The room fell into darkness.

Elara carefully pulled the blanket over herself and remained on her side of the bed.

For several minutes, neither of them spoke.

Then Kaelen's voice came quietly through the darkness.

"Good night, Elara."

She smiled faintly.

"Good night, Kaelen."

And for the first time since their unusual marriage had begun, Elara realized that perhaps the man she feared wasn't quite the monster she had imagined.