OOPS I MARRIED A BILLIONAIRE

Chapter Six: I can't do this.

Amara

The silence in the car was suffocating.

For three long hours, I had sat beside Ethan Blackwood — my husband — while he stared out the window like I didn’t exist. Not once had he looked at me. Not once had he spoken. The only sounds were the low hum of the engine and the occasional shift of his expensive watch as he checked the time.

I felt invisible. Small. Unwanted.

My fingers tightened around the fabric of my blue satin gown, twisting it nervously. My throat felt tight, and my chest ached with the weight of everything unsaid. I cleared my throat loudly, hoping for even the smallest acknowledgment. Nothing. The man beside me might as well have been carved from stone.

I glanced desperately at the driver, who gave me a sympathetic look through the rear-view mirror. He nodded slightly, encouraging me to try again. I swallowed hard.

Just say something. Anything.

I cleared my throat again, louder this time, and forced the words out while staring at the passing scenery.

“Wow… what a great day to meet your parents, right?”

My voice sounded painfully awkward in the heavy silence. The driver’s shoulders dropped slightly in disappointment. I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

Before I could shrink back into my seat, Ethan finally spoke, his voice low and cutting.

“Stop trying so hard.”

My head snapped toward him, heart leaping with a pathetic mix of hope and desperation. I turned my entire body toward him without thinking.

“Oh, finally. You’re actually talking to me—” I reached out instinctively, grabbing his hand.

He yanked his hand away as if my touch burned him. The sharp movement sent a cold jolt through me. His eyes — dark and dangerous — pinned me with a look so icy it stole the breath from my lungs.

“I have no intention of getting ‘friendly’ with you, Amara,” he said flatly, turning his gaze back to the road. “This is a business arrangement. Nothing more.”

Something inside my chest cracked.

“Then I don’t think I can do this,” I whispered, my voice trembling. Tears stung the back of my eyes, hot and unwanted. I blinked rapidly, trying to force them down, but one escaped and slid down my cheek.

“You signed the papers,” Ethan replied coldly, without even looking at me. “Foolishly.”

The word landed like a slap.

“You could’ve stopped me,” I shot back, my voice rising as anger and humiliation twisted together in my stomach.

“Why would I?” He finally turned to face me fully, his expression devoid of any warmth. “You were practically giddy while signing documents you didn’t even read. Tell me, Amara — how stupid can one person be?”

The question hung in the air between us. I looked away, biting the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood. I was used to people calling me stupid. Careless. A mess. But hearing it from him — my husband — hurt far more than it should have.

I stared out the window, watching the green landscape blur past. My voice came out small and broken.

“I want a divorce.”

“I can’t grant you that.”

I whipped my head back toward him. “Surely you don’t want me to disgrace you in front of your parents.”

Ethan leaned in suddenly, closing the distance between us so fast I gasped and pressed myself against the car door. His face stopped mere inches from mine. He was devastatingly handsome — sharp jawline, piercing blue eyes, perfect features — but right now, he looked terrifying.

His voice dropped to a quiet, lethal whisper. “You are going to fulfill your role as my wife, Amara. You will smile. You will be polite. You will act like you belong by my side. And after we leave my parents’ house, you can cry and scream all you want. But right now?” His eyes darkened. “You will obey me.”

I flinched as he raised his voice on the last words.

He pulled back slowly, adjusting his suit jacket and running a hand through his perfectly styled hair. His breathing remained calm, controlled. Mine was ragged.

“What the hell…” I whispered, my hands shaking in my lap.

“And one more thing,” he added coldly, “don’t talk about ducks. Or any other ridiculous nonsense. Justin already warned me about your… tendencies.”

My stomach dropped. Justin had told him.

The humiliation burned deep. I turned away, pressing my forehead against the cool window as silent tears finally slipped down my cheeks.

I was trapped.

Stuck in a car with a heartless stranger who now owned my future on paper. A man who saw me as nothing more than a temporary inconvenience.

And there was nothing I could do about it.

The Blackwood mansion didn’t just look like a palace — it was one.

As the Rolls Royce rolled to a stop in front of the sprawling estate, my breath caught in my throat. manicured gardens stretched out endlessly, filled with vibrant flowers, perfectly trimmed hedges, and elegant fountains that sparkled under the late afternoon sun. I pressed my hands against the car window, leaning forward like a child at a toy store.

“Wow…” I whispered, completely mesmerized.

Ethan stepped out of the car without a word. A moment later, he gestured for me to follow. I quickly composed myself and climbed out, my heels clicking against the stone driveway. The cool evening air brushed against my bare shoulders, making me shiver.

“What a beautiful garden,” I said softly as we walked toward the massive entrance. My voice sounded small against the grandeur surrounding us.

Ethan didn’t respond. He simply kept walking, his long strides forcing me to hurry after him like an obedient shadow. Technically, that’s what I am now, I thought bitterly.

The inside of the mansion was even more breathtaking — soaring ceilings, marble floors that gleamed under crystal chandeliers, and artwork that probably cost more than everything I owned combined. Everything felt cold. Expensive. Intimidating.

“This is your parents’ house?” I asked, still trailing behind him.

“No,” he answered curtly, not even sparing me a glance. He raised a hand, and two maids appeared almost instantly, bowing deeply. “Take her to her room and make sure she’s ready for tonight.”

Without another word, he turned and disappeared down a dimly lit corridor, leaving me standing there, abandoned.

Wait… This is his house?

My eyes widened as realization hit me. This wasn’t just his parents’ mansion — this was his home. Which technically made it my home too now.

A tiny, ridiculous squeal escaped my lips before I could stop it. The two maids jumped slightly, startled. “Sorry,” I whispered, embarrassed. They exchanged amused glances and smiled politely.

They led me up a grand staircase and down a long hallway before opening the door to a breathtaking room. White walls, soft gold accents, a massive four-poster bed draped in silk, and a walk-in closet that was already partially filled with clothes. A beautiful vanity sat near the window overlooking the gardens.

I stood in the middle of the room, speechless.

One of the maids pulled out a chair for me. I sat down slowly as she began removing the pins from my hair.

“Is… this really my room?” I asked, voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes, ma’am. It was prepared specially for you,” she replied with a warm smile.

He prepared this for me?

The thought made my chest tighten with confusing emotions. Ethan had been so cold in the car, yet he had arranged all of this?

The maid worked gently through my hair. “Sir might appear cold and distant,” she said softly, “but he’s very intentional about everything he does. When we heard he was getting married, the entire staff was delighted.”

I let out a nervous laugh before I could stop myself.

“Well, technically we are married… hehe. I kind of signed the contract blindly,” I blurted out.

The maid’s hands paused. She gave me a confused look through the mirror.

“Nothing!” I said quickly, waving my hands. “Forget I said that. Damn my mouth.”

She smiled knowingly but didn’t push. “I’m Eunice, ma’am. I’ll be your personal maid.”

“Oh… nice to meet you, Eunice.”

She had a calm, graceful presence — beautiful dark hair, warm brown skin, and kind eyes. I felt instantly more comfortable around her.

“Mr. Justin already briefed me before you arrived,” she continued quietly. “I would advise you to keep certain… details about the marriage away from the other staff.”

So Justin had spoken to her. The realization made my eyes sting with unexpected emotion. Even though I was trapped in this cold, unfamiliar world, Williams and Justin were still looking out for me from afar.

I gave her a small, grateful smile. “So… I can be myself with you?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Eunice replied, returning the smile. “As much as you need.”

For the first time since waking up married, some of the suffocating pressure in my chest eased. I wasn’t completely alone.

Even if my husband was a heartless iceberg who couldn’t stand the sight of me.