Billionaire arranged marriage

One Roof, TWo Stranger 1

Ava's POV:

The headline greeted me before my coffee did. ICE KING MELTS? BILLIONAIRE BLACKWOOD CAUGHT STARING AT HIS FIANCÉE!

I nearly choked.

"What?"

Mia burst into laughter from across the breakfast table.

"Oh, this is priceless."

I snatched the newspaper from her hands.

The photograph from the charity gala covered almost half the front page.

Damien was looking at me.

I was looking at him.

The angle made it seem as if we'd forgotten everyone else in the room.

We hadn't.

Not even close.

"This is ridiculous," I muttered.

Mia grinned.

"It does look romantic."

"It was one second."

"One very photogenic second."

I tossed the newspaper onto the table.

"I'm calling him."

The call connected after two rings.

"What?"

No greeting.

Typical Damien.

"Have you seen today's paper?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"It's inaccurate."

"That's all you have to say?"

"What would you like me to say?"

"I'd like you to sound annoyed!"

"I am."

"You don't sound annoyed."

"I don't waste energy on newspapers."

I closed my eyes.

"You're impossible."

"So you've mentioned."

The line went dead.

"He hung up on me!" I exclaimed.

Mia burst out laughing again.

"I officially don't like him."

"I don't think he cares."

"I know."

That somehow made it worse.

Meanwhile...

Damien's POV:

I placed my phone on the desk.

Ethan leaned against the doorway with a knowing smile.

"That was Ava?"

"Yes."

"You hung up."

"Yes."

"You could've let her finish."

"I already knew what she was going to say."

Ethan shook his head.

"One day she's going to throw something at you."

I calmly signed another document.

"I'll deal with that when it happens."

That afternoon...

A long black limousine stopped outside Bennett House.

I frowned.

"What now?"

The chauffeur stepped out.

"Miss Bennett, Mr. Blackwood has requested your presence at Blackwood Manor."

"I wasn't aware I had an appointment."

"He said to tell you it concerns the contract."

I sighed.

"Fine."

Blackwood Manor was even more breathtaking than I'd imagined.

Tall iron gates.

Perfect gardens.

A fountain in the center of the circular driveway.

Everything looked flawless.

Too flawless.

It didn't feel like a home.

It felt like a museum.

The front door opened before I could knock.

An elegant elderly woman smiled warmly.

"You must be Ava."

Her eyes were kind.

"I've been waiting to meet you."

I blinked.

"And you are...?"

She laughed softly.

"I'm Eleanor Blackwood."

Damien's grandmother.

She stepped forward and gently took my hands.

"So this is the young woman who's been arguing with my grandson."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"You... know about that?"

"My dear..."

She smiled knowingly.

"I know everything that happens in this family."

Before I could answer, another voice interrupted.

"Grandmother."

I turned.

Damien was walking toward us.

His expression instantly became serious.

"You shouldn't have come outside."

"And miss meeting my future granddaughter?"

Eleanor patted my hand.

"Absolutely not."

I noticed something.

The moment Damien looked at his grandmother...

His face softened.

Only slightly.

Only for a heartbeat.

Then the cold mask returned.

I frowned.

So...

He could smile.

He just chose not to.

Damien caught me staring.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Good."

"There you go again."

He looked genuinely confused.

"What did I do now?"

"You make 'good' sound like an insult."

His grandmother laughed so hard she had to hold onto my arm.

"Oh, this is going to be entertaining."

Damien sighed.

"I've had enough entertainment for one day."

Eleanor smiled at both of us.

"No, dear."

She looked from him to me.

"I think your story is only just beginning."