His Contract Wife, His Unexpected Love

CHAPTER 5

A woman approached them, dressed neatly, her posture straight and her expression calm. “Miss Carter,” she said politely, giving a small nod. “I’m Maria, the house manager. I’ll be assisting you during your stay here.” Lily nodded back, unsure of what to say, her voice feeling stuck somewhere in her throat. This was all happening too fast.

Maria led her upstairs, explaining things as they walked, but Lily only caught parts of it. Rooms, schedules, staff, everything sounded distant, like noise she couldn’t fully process. They stopped in front of a large door, and Maria opened it gently. “This will be your room,” she said, stepping aside.

Lily walked in slowly, her eyes widening as she took in the space around her. The room was bigger than her entire apartment, with large windows that let in soft sunlight and a bed that looked too perfect to touch. There was a quiet beauty in everything, but it didn’t feel like hers. It felt like she was visiting someone else’s life.

“You’ll find everything you need here,” Maria added, her tone calm and respectful. “Dinner will be served at seven. Mr. Blake usually returns by then.” Lily nodded again, still taking it all in, her thoughts moving slowly now. When Maria left, the door closing softly behind her, the silence returned.

Lily placed her bag down and walked toward the window, her arms wrapping around herself without thinking. The view stretched out to the ocean in the distance, the water calm and endless. It was beautiful, but instead of comfort, it made her feel small. She didn’t belong here, and she knew it.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, her fingers pressing into the soft fabric as she stared at the floor. Everything had changed in less than a day, and she hadn’t had time to catch up with it. She thought about her small apartment, the noise of the street, the simple life she used to complain about. Now, it felt like something she had lost.

A soft knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts, and she looked up quickly. “Come in,” she said, her voice quiet. Maria stepped in again, holding a few shopping bags in her hands. “These are for you,” she said, placing them neatly on the chair nearby.

Lily frowned slightly, confused, as she stood up and walked closer. She opened one of the bags slowly, her eyes widening at the sight of expensive clothes inside. Dresses, shoes, accessories, things she had only seen in stores she could never afford. “Mr. Blake arranged these,” Maria explained, watching her reaction.

“I can’t wear these,” Lily said softly, shaking her head as she touched the fabric gently. It felt too soft, too perfect, like it didn’t belong in her hands. “You will need them,” Maria replied calmly. “For events, meetings, and public appearances.” Lily closed the bag slowly, her chest tightening again.

This wasn’t just a place to stay. It was a role she had to play, a life she had to step into whether she was ready or not. She looked at her reflection in the mirror across the room, seeing herself standing there with doubt written all over her face. She didn’t look like someone who belonged in this world.

Time passed slowly, and before she knew it, the sky outside began to darken, the soft light turning into evening shadows. Lily changed into one of the dresses, her hands moving carefully as if she might damage it. When she looked at herself in the mirror again, she barely recognized the woman staring back at her.