Episode 3: A Scandal Begins
997 Words
The next morning, Elena was awakened by the sound of knocking.
"Mrs. King?"
She groaned and pulled the blanket over her head.
"Five more minutes..."
"I'm afraid Mr. King doesn't allow anyone to be late."
She sighed dramatically before sitting up.
"I married a billionaire, not a military commander."
After getting dressed, she headed downstairs.
Arthur was already seated at the dining table, dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal-gray suit. A tablet rested beside his breakfast while he scanned through the day's business reports.
Without looking up, he said, "You're three minutes late."
Elena folded her arms.
"Do you always count people's minutes?"
"Yes."
"That sounds exhausting."
"It isn't."
She slid into the chair opposite him.
The housekeeper served breakfast in silence, clearly trying not to smile at their daily exchanges.
Just as Elena reached for a croissant, Arthur pushed another folder toward her.
She stared at it suspiciously.
"What now?"
"Today's schedule."
She opened it.
9:00 a.m. – Charity Foundation Meeting.
11:30 a.m. – Lunch with Board Members.
2:00 p.m. – Press Conference.
7:00 p.m. – Charity Gala.
She looked up in disbelief.
"You're serious?"
"You are Mrs. King."
"I'm also a human being."
"You'll adjust."
She muttered under her breath, "Or I'll lose my mind."
Arthur almost smiled.
Almost.
---
An hour later, a team of stylists arrived at the mansion.
Hairdressers.
Makeup artists.
Fashion consultants.
Elena's eyes widened.
"All this... for one event?"
"The media will be there," Arthur replied.
"They'll survive if my hair isn't perfect."
"They won't."
She groaned.
"I miss my old life already."
The stylists worked quickly, curling her hair into soft waves and applying elegant makeup that enhanced her natural beauty.
When she finally stood before the mirror, she barely recognized herself.
The emerald-green dress Arthur had chosen hugged her figure perfectly.
She looked graceful.
Confident.
Beautiful.
Arthur walked into the room.
For a brief second, he forgot why he had come.
His usually unreadable expression softened.
"It suits you."
Elena blinked.
"Was... was that a compliment?"
"I stated a fact."
She smiled.
"I'll take it."
---
Outside the King mansion, dozens of reporters had gathered.
Camera flashes lit up the entrance.
The moment Arthur and Elena stepped outside together, microphones were thrust toward them.
"Mr. King!"
"When did you get married?"
"Who is your wife?"
"Is she pregnant?"
"Is this a business alliance?"
Arthur ignored every question.
He calmly opened the car door for Elena.
She looked at him, surprised.
"For appearances," he said quietly.
She nodded before getting inside.
The luxury car drove away.
The reporters immediately uploaded the photos.
Within an hour, social media exploded.
Who Is Mrs. Arthur King?
The Mystery Wife Finally Appears!
Billionaire CEO Secret Wedding Revealed!
Millions of people began searching for Elena's identity.
---
At the charity foundation, wealthy businessmen and influential politicians greeted Arthur respectfully.
But every pair of eyes soon turned toward Elena.
"She's prettier than the photos."
"I heard she's from an ordinary family."
"How did she marry Arthur King?"
"I wonder how long she'll last."
Elena pretended not to hear the whispers.
Arthur noticed.
Quietly, he stepped closer to her.
Without warning, he held her hand.
She froze.
"What are you doing?" she whispered.
"They're watching."
"So?"
"A happy married couple doesn't stand a meter apart."
She looked around.
Everyone was indeed staring.
She sighed.
"Fine."
She squeezed his hand just enough to surprise him.
Arthur glanced sideways.
She smiled innocently.
"You started it."
---
Across the hall, a woman in a red designer gown watched everything with narrowed eyes.
Sophia Hart.
Arthur's former fiancée.
Her nails dug into her handbag.
"So it's true..."
She walked confidently toward them.
"Arthur."
He turned calmly.
"Sophia."
Elena immediately sensed the tension.
Sophia's eyes moved to Elena.
"So this is your wife."
There was no warmth in her voice.
Only disbelief.
"I expected someone... different."
Elena smiled politely.
"I'm Elena."
Sophia ignored the introduction.
Instead, she looked directly at Arthur.
"You replaced me quickly."
Arthur's expression remained unchanged.
"Our engagement ended two years ago."
"Yet you never wanted to marry."
"I changed my mind."
Sophia laughed bitterly.
"No."
"You wanted revenge."
The surrounding guests pretended not to listen while secretly listening to every word.
Elena felt awkward.
She was standing in the middle of someone else's unfinished story.
Sophia finally turned toward her.
"Do you know why Arthur refused every woman for years?"
Elena shook her head.
"No."
"He doesn't know how to love."
Silence.
Sophia smiled sadly.
"He only knows how to control."
She walked away before anyone could stop her.
Arthur's face hardened.
"Let's go."
Neither of them spoke during the drive home.
---
That evening, the internet became even more chaotic.
Photos of Arthur holding Elena's hand spread everywhere.
Some people admired them.
Others accused Elena of marrying for money.
Thousands of hateful comments flooded social media.
Gold digger.
Opportunist.
Attention seeker.
Elena stared silently at her phone.
She hadn't expected strangers to judge her so harshly.
Arthur noticed.
"Stop reading them."
"It's not easy."
"It never is."
She looked at him.
"Doesn't it bother you?"
"It used to."
"And now?"
"I stopped caring."
She smiled faintly.
"I wish I could do that."
Arthur hesitated before speaking.
"You'll learn."
For the first time since their contract marriage began, his voice carried something unexpected.
Concern.
Just as Elena was about to respond, Arthur's phone rang.
His assistant sounded panicked.
"Sir... we have a serious problem."
Arthur stood immediately.
"What happened?"
"The media has discovered information about Mrs. King's family..."
His expression darkened.
"Clear my schedule."
"Find out who leaked it."
As he ended the call, Elena's heart pounded.
"What is it?"
Arthur looked at her.
"The real battle starts now."
Outside the mansion, a black car sat hidden beneath the shadows.
Inside, Victor King smiled as he watched the lights in the mansion.
"The first move has been made."
He slipped his phone into his pocket.
"Now let's see if this marriage survives the storm."
To be continued!!!
- Writer
