WELCOME TO BLACKWOOD MANOR
1055 Words
The black Rolls-Royce glided silently through the massive iron gates of Blackwood Manor.
Sophia lowered the window slightly and stared outside.
Her breath caught.
The estate looked nothing like a home.
It looked like a palace.
Beautiful fountains decorated the front lawn.
Rows of colorful flowers stretched as far as the eye could see.
Tall oak trees lined the long driveway, leading to a magnificent mansion built from white stone.
Sophia had never imagined a place like this actually existed.
She looked down at her hands.
They suddenly felt out of place.
“So…”
She murmured.
“This is where billionaires live.”
Damian glanced at her.
“You’ll get used to it.”
She looked at him as though he had just told the world’s funniest joke.
“I highly doubt that.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
The car finally stopped.
Before Sophia could open the door, two security guards hurried forward.
A butler in his late sixties bowed respectfully.
“Welcome home, Young Master.”
Damian stepped out first.
Then he turned toward Sophia.
For a brief second…
He held out his hand.
Sophia stared at it.
“What’s this?”
“My grandfather is watching.”
She frowned.
“What?”
He nodded toward one of the upstairs windows.
She looked up.
An elderly man stood behind the curtains, pretending not to watch them.
Sophia sighed dramatically.
“So the acting begins already?”
Damian’s expression remained calm.
“It began the moment you signed.”
Rolling her eyes, she reluctantly placed her hand in his.
The butler smiled warmly.
“Welcome home, Young Madam.”
Sophia almost choked.
Young Madam?
She wasn’t sure she would ever get used to hearing that.
As they walked inside, every servant in the mansion lined up neatly.
“Welcome home, Young Master.”
“Welcome home, Young Madam.”
Sophia froze.
There had to be at least thirty people.
She leaned closer to Damian.
“Do all these people really work here?”
“They do.”
She whispered under her breath,
“My entire neighborhood could fit inside this house.”
Damian heard her.
For the first time that day…
He laughed.
It wasn’t loud.
It wasn’t dramatic.
But it was real.
The servants exchanged surprised glances.
The butler blinked twice.
Had the young master…
Just laughed?
Before anyone could recover from the shock, a cheerful voice echoed from the staircase.
“So this is the mysterious wife!”
A beautiful elderly woman hurried downstairs much faster than anyone her age should have.
She ignored Damian completely.
Instead…
She walked straight to Sophia.
“Oh, my goodness!”
She cupped Sophia’s face with both hands.
“You’re even prettier than I imagined.”
Sophia blinked.
“I…”
The woman pulled her into a warm hug.
“My dear child…”
“I’ve been praying for this day for years.”
Damian cleared his throat.
“Grandmother.”
She waved him away without even looking at him.
“Be quiet.”
“I’m talking to my granddaughter.”
Sophia couldn’t help smiling.
This woman was nothing like she had expected.
“My name is Evelyn Blackwood.”
“But you may call me Grandma.”
Sophia hesitated.
“Grandma?”
Evelyn smiled brightly.
“Of course.”
“If you’ve married my grandson…”
“Then you’re family.”
Before Sophia could answer, another voice interrupted.
“Family?”
The atmosphere instantly changed.
A tall man in an expensive navy suit walked into the living room.
His sharp eyes moved slowly from Damian…
To Sophia.
Then back again.
“So the rumors were true.”
Damian’s expression immediately became unreadable.
“Cousin.”
The man smirked.
“I leave for a business trip…”
“And you somehow return with a wife.”
“Interesting timing.”
Sophia could already tell…
He didn’t like her.
Not even a little.
He extended his hand.
“I’m Lucas Blackwood.”
She politely shook it.
“Nice to meet you.”
His smile never reached his eyes.
“I’m afraid I can’t say the same.”
The room fell silent.
Grandma Evelyn frowned immediately.
“Lucas.”
“What?”
“You’ve barely met the girl.”
“I’m simply being honest.”
His eyes settled on Sophia again.
“So…”
“Which wealthy family are you from?”
Sophia answered honestly.
“I’m not.”
Lucas chuckled.
“I figured.”
He slowly walked around her, studying her like she was an object on display.
“So…”
“A scholarship student?”
“No.”
“A model?”
“No.”
“The daughter of a politician?”
Again…
“No.”
Lucas laughed softly.
Then looked directly at Damian.
“You expect us to believe you married…”
“…her?”
The insult hung heavily in the air.
Sophia lowered her eyes.
She had expected this.
People like Lucas would never see beyond her simple clothes.
Before she could respond…
Damian stepped forward.
His voice was calm.
But colder than ice.
“Careful.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
“I’m only asking questions.”
“No.”
Damian replied.
“You’re insulting my wife.”
The room became completely silent.
Even Sophia looked up in surprise.
For the first time…
Damian had called her his wife without hesitation.
Lucas laughed awkwardly.
“I didn’t realize you were already playing the protective husband.”
Damian didn’t smile.
“I don’t repeat myself.”
Lucas held Damian’s gaze for several seconds.
Then shrugged.
“Fine.”
He slipped his hands into his pockets and walked away.
But just before climbing the stairs…
He glanced back at Sophia.
There was something dangerous in his smile.
Something that made her uncomfortable.
The moment he disappeared upstairs, Grandma Evelyn wrapped an arm around Sophia’s shoulders.
“Ignore him.”
“Lucas has always been jealous of Damian.”
Sophia frowned.
“Jealous?”
Grandma sighed.
“My dear…”
“In this family…”
“Not everyone is happy to see you here.”
Sophia looked toward the grand staircase where Lucas had disappeared.
For the first time since signing the contract…
She realized something.
Marrying Damian wasn’t going to be the hardest part.
Surviving the Blackwood family…
Might be.
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