Love In Crimson

Chapter Six- Natalia's new reality (1)

Scott pulled up in front of a majestic mansion making his way into the garage.

Ace and Natalia alighted from the car together. Scott drove out of the mansion leaving Ace and Natalia by themselves.Natalia trailed behind a fast paced Ace ,who had not spoken a word to her since, obviously making his way into the mansion.

The duo were greeted by a set of workers in the mansion who were preparing to leave. They were contract workers who come to the mansion thrice a week for cleaning and other house maintenance activities.

After they left, the door closed with a quiet finality that felt louder than any slam to Natalia.

Natalia stood in the middle of the unfamiliar living room, her fingers still wrapped around the small handle of her suitcase,if it could be classified as one.

The house was elegant, too elegant, almost cold in its perfection. Everything had its place. Everything in the house screamed brown. From the furnitures, down to the arts .

Even hours after her wedding, it still didn't feel like it. No music. No laughter. No witnesses.

Just signatures, silence, and a car ride to this house.

In front of her, Ace loosened his tie with a slow, irritated motion. He didn’t look at her. Not once since they stepped inside.

Ace stopped at the bar counter and poured himself a drink. The sound of ice hitting glass echoed through the room.

“I don’t like noise,” he said without turning. “I don’t like questions. And I definitely don’t like drama.”

Natalia swallowed. “I understand.”

“No,” he replied, finally glancing at her over his shoulder. His gaze was sharp, assessing, almost annoyed by her presence. “You don’t. But you will.”

There was something in his tone that made her chest tighten. She had known this wouldn’t be easy. An arranged marriage never was. But she had expected… indifference, maybe. Distance. Not this immediate hostility.

“Your room is upstairs,” he added, nodding vaguely toward the staircase. “Second door on the left.”

“And don't have wild imaginations that we're married. On paper, yes. That doesn’t mean anything changes for me.” Ace said.

The words landed heavier than they should have on Natalia.

She nodded slowly. “Okay.”

“Good,” he said, turning away again. “At least you can follow instructions.”

Natalia picked up her suitcase and walked toward the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. The house was too quiet. Too empty. Like it was waiting for something… or hiding something.

Her room was immaculate. Large bed. Neatly arranged pillows.

Everything about it screamed control.

A knock came at the door sharp and impatient.

“Open it.”

Natalia hurried to comply.

Ace stood there, his drink still in hand, his expression unchanged.

“There are rules,” he said.

She stiffened slightly. “Rules?”

“If you’re going to stay here, and you are, you follow them.”

Natalia nodded. “Alright.”

“First,” he said, stepping inside without invitation, “this marriage is not public. No friends. No family visits. No social media nonsense. As far as anyone is concerned, you don’t exist in my life.”

Her throat tightened. “So… I’m hidden?”

“Oh,yes,” he said coldly. “Let’s not make it more than it is.”

The words stung more than she expected.

“Second,” he continued, walking around the room like he was inspecting it, inspecting her, “you don’t go anywhere without informing me. I don’t like surprises.”

“I won’t cause any trouble,” she said softly.

“You being here is already trouble,” he replied like he was exhausted.

“Third,” he added, “Don’t touch my things, don’t enter my space. Don’t try to act like a wife.”

Natalia looked down at her hands. “Then… what am I here for?”

Ace paused.

For a brief moment, something flickered in his expression, something unreadable, but it vanished just as quickly.

“That’s not your concern,” he said.

His tone was colder now. Sharper.

“And Natalia?” he added, his voice dropping slightly.

She looked up.

“Don’t test my patience.”

Days passed, but they didn’t feel like days.

They felt like pauses. Like something was always about to happen, but never quite did.

Ace was rarely home, but his presence lingered everywhere. In the rules. In the silence. In the way Natalia found herself moving carefully, quietly, as if the walls themselves were watching.

When he was home, the air changed.

Tense. Heavy.

One evening, Natalia made dinner.

It wasn’t part of any rule, but it felt… necessary. Something to fill the silence. Something to make the house feel less like a cage because she had always dreamed that this new life will be a compensation for her ordeals at her uncle's house.

Ace walked in just as she was setting the table.He stopped. “What is this?”

“Dinner,” she said cautiously. “I thought….”

“I didn’t ask for this.”

“I know, but I just”

“I don’t eat random things,” he cut in, his voice rising slightly. “Do you even know what I like?”

Natalia hesitated. “No, but I can learn”

“I don’t need you to learn,” he snapped.

The words hit harder than the volume of his voice.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly while her hands shivered.

Ace stepped closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming.

“I told you not to act like a wife,” he said, his tone low but sharp enough to cut. “Are you trying to be difficult?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I just wanted to….”

“What? Impress me?” he scoffed. “This isn’t a game, Natalia.”

Her hands trembled slightly at her sides. “I understand.”

“Clearly, you don’t.”

He reached past her, grabbed a plate, and looked at it briefly before dropping it back onto the table with enough force to make the utensils clatter.

“Clean this up,” he said. “And don’t do it again. Since you're so desperate to act like a wife, let me break it to you now that those contract workers won't be coming here anymore. You will fill in for all their roles”

He walked away without another glance.

Natalia stood there, staring at the untouched food while thinking about the horrible predicament she just got herself into. At least her uncle's house , which was even smaller in comparison to Ace's mansion had workers, but working here,all alone. That thought shattered her.

Did she just really escape from the hands of a monster into another?

Later that night, Natalia retired into her room . At least,she now has the right to a decent sleep and comfort. Natalia decided not to overthink the ordeals of the day.

With a joyful leap like that of a toddler, Natalia jumped into the bed, bracing herself for the images of the night to disturb her sleep.

Knock,knock,knock. Natalia jolted from her sleep. The knocks were loud and harsh. Who else could it be in the middle of the night, Ace, right?

Natalia stood up from the bed and made her way to the door.

Her fingers trembled as she turned the door knob slightly….and she froze.

Ace stood there. Not speaking. Just watching.

Something about his gaze made her step back. Something about him was… off.

His tie was gone. His shirt slightly undone. His expression unreadable, shadowed by the dim hallway light.

“Sir Ace…?” she breathed.

He didn’t answer.

He simply pushed the door open and stepped inside wobbly.

The door shut behind him with a quiet click and suddenly, the room felt too small for Natalia.