THE BILLIONAIRE’S SUBSTITUTE BRIDE 2
476 Words
After the wedding, Sofia arrived at the Sterling mansion and immediately felt overwhelmed. The house looked more like a palace than a normal home. Giant stairs, sparkling chandeliers, and marble floors surrounded her.
“If I fall here, even the ground will judge me,” she whispered.
Behind her, Adrian removed his suit jacket calmly.
“I heard that.”
Sofia jumped. “Wait… you heard me from there?”
“I’m blind, not deaf.”
Several maids quickly welcomed them.
“Welcome home, Young Master.”
“Welcome, Madam.”
The word Madam sounded strange to Sofia.
A maid politely asked, “Should we prepare your room, Madam?”
Before Sofia could answer, Adrian spoke coldly.
“She won’t stay in my room.”
The atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Sofia folded her arms. “Excuse me?”
“You’ll use the guest room.”
“Oh really? Thank you, Your Highness.”
“You’re angry already?”
“I just married a man who talks like a refrigerator.”
One maid accidentally laughed.
Adrian sighed tiredly. “Take her upstairs.”
As Sofia turned to leave, she stopped suddenly.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“For what?”
“My mother’s surgery.”
Adrian’s face changed slightly before becoming cold again.
“That was my mother, not me.”
“Oh.”
Disappointment crossed Sofia’s face.
“Still… thank you anyway.”
Later that night, Sofia sat on the soft bed inside her huge guest room. The room alone was bigger than her entire apartment.
“So this is how rich people sleep,” she whispered.
A knock came at the door.
A maid named Clara entered with food.
“Madam, I brought dinner.”
Sofia stared at the large tray. “This can feed my whole street.”
Clara laughed softly. “You’re different from the women here.”
“How?”
“You smile.”
Before Sofia could answer, Adrian appeared at the doorway.
“You can leave, Clara.”
Now the room felt awkward again.
“So… billionaires normally enter rooms without warning?” Sofia asked.
“This is my house.”
“That’s exactly what kidnappers say.”
To Sofia’s surprise, Adrian laughed quietly.
“I came to explain the rules,” he said.
“You’ll attend public events with me.”
“Fine.”
“You’ll avoid scandals.”
“Okay.”
“You won’t enter my office.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
Sofia rolled her eyes. “There’s the cold billionaire attitude again.”
“And you talk too much.”
“Well, somebody in this marriage needs personality.”
Again, Adrian smiled slightly.
But then his voice became cold.
“Don’t misunderstand this arrangement. This marriage means nothing.”
For some reason, the words hurt Sofia more than they should have.
- Writer
