Married to a billionaire's son: the switch

Chapter 2

A Life On My Own?

As we approached the gates of the mansion, I couldn't help but be stunned. This was where I was going to live? This heavenly building, towering above me, made the little house I grew up in seem like a distant memory. Just thinking about how I was finally free from my uncle, Gabriel, gave me a small sense of relief. With the contract secured, I was hopeful he'd pay for my sister’s medical bills. She was the only family I had left.

I would lose my mind if anything happened to her. Even though this wasn’t the life I had imagined, I would do anything for her sake.

Lost in my thoughts, the car came to a halt. We had barely taken five minutes to reach the mansion from the gate. I stepped out and took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air. It felt different here—more peaceful, yet oddly isolating.

As I made my way to the front door, two women stood waiting for me. They greeted me warmly.

Mrs. Gloria (Maid 1):

“Good evening, Mrs. Anthony. I’m so happy to have you here, and I’m at your service anytime you need me.”

Kara (Maid 2):

“Good evening, ma’am. I will be your personal maid. You can call on me for anything.”

I offered a small smile and thanked them. A personal maid? I wasn’t used to this kind of luxury. I had always worked hard for everything I had, and the idea of being waited on made me uncomfortable, but I pushed it aside. I had bigger concerns now.

Kara led me to the living room, introducing herself as she went. She was young, light-skinned, with dark short hair. She seemed calm and reserved—someone I could work with. Unlike Mrs. Gloria, whose forced smile suggested she wasn’t too thrilled about her job.

Kara walked me to my room. It was larger than I had expected—spacious, luxurious. Since losing my parents, I hadn't experienced anything this comfortable. The bed was huge, like a princess’s bed, and the closet was in another room. The bathroom was grand, unlike anything I had ever seen before. I felt like I had stepped into an apartment.

But then, reality hit. I just got married.

I looked at the closet, where only my clothes were hanging. Everything was already set up for me, but there was no sign of David's belongings. Was he planning to move in later? I wondered, but before I could think too much about it, Kara appeared behind me.

"Ma’am," she said, her voice soft, "This is your room. Mr. David doesn’t live here."

My heart skipped a beat. What?

I wasn’t sure if I should feel relieved or disappointed. Part of me had hoped he would be here—at least, I could have gotten some clarity on our situation. But then, I remembered the reception. He had left me there, alone.

“I thought we were supposed to be married,” I muttered, but Kara didn’t respond.

After a few moments, I told her I wanted to be alone. I needed to figure out what I wanted now—because this beautiful mansion didn’t feel like home.

Later that evening, after a long, restless day, I was summoned to dinner. I had to find my way to the dining room, with a little help from Mrs. Gloria. As I walked into the room, I noticed everyone was already seated, waiting for me.

Dinner was served in silence. There was Mr. and Mrs. Anthony, Jack (David’s younger brother), and me. The silence was deafening, and I couldn't help but wonder if this was always the case. Were they always this quiet?

Mrs. Anthony broke the silence, as though reading my thoughts.

“Is the food to your liking, dear?” she asked kindly.

I nodded. “It’s perfect.”

She smiled and continued. “This is Jack, David’s younger brother. I’m sure you haven’t been properly introduced.”

Jack looked up from his plate and gave me a small smile. I returned the gesture. He was calm, nothing like his brother, but there was a kindness in his eyes that I appreciated.

We finished the meal in silence, with Mr. Anthony not saying a word. Afterward, the cook offered me dessert, but I declined. I excused myself from the table.

That’s when Mrs. Anthony asked Gloria to show me to Mr. Anthony’s office.

I was sitting in the office, waiting for Mr. Anthony to arrive. He walked in and gave me a warm smile.

Mr. Anthony:

“How are you, my dear?” he asked, settling into his chair.

“I’m fine,” I replied, trying to stay composed.

“I can see you're wondering where David is,” Mr. Anthony continued. “Truth is, he didn’t want this marriage. I made him do it. I know it’s hard, but you’ll have to be patient with him. He’ll come around eventually, and hopefully, you’ll get to live with him.”

I nodded, already knowing that David wasn’t invested in this marriage. How could he be? He left me alone on our wedding night.

But it didn’t matter. As long as Gabriel gets his contract and pays for my sister's medical bills, I’m fine with it.

“I understand,” I said, forcing a smile. “It’s fine.”

After a brief conversation, we said our goodnights, and I headed back to my room.

I cried that night. Not because I regretted the decision to marry David—it wasn’t my choice, after all—but because I had always dreamt of a beautiful, special wedding night. I wanted to be with someone I loved. Yet, here I was, alone, in a mansion that felt like a prison.

At least I didn’t have to wake up at 4 AM to cook and clean for my ungrateful uncle and cousin. That was one small victory.

The next day, I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed. I hadn’t slept this long in years. I didn’t have anyone to boss me around. No more rushing to make breakfast or clean. It felt... freeing.

Kara knocked on my door to let in the sunlight, opening the curtains. The bright sun reminded me that it was already 10:30 AM. I got up, took a bath, got dressed, and headed straight for the kitchen. I wanted to make my own breakfast, but before I could, the cook asked me to sit down.

I was too accustomed to doing everything myself to sit idly by while someone else prepared my meal. But soon, breakfast was ready, and the cook apologized for speaking too informally. I smiled and reassured her it was fine.

As I enjoyed the meal, Jack entered, his presence calming. He greeted me, and I nodded in response.

Jack:

“So, Sophia, what do you like to do for fun? You can't just stay here all day.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I’ve always dreamed of being an independent housewife, taking care of a business and a family. But I’m starting to think that might not happen now.”

Jack:

“That’s great,” he said with a smile. “If you want, I can take you to David’s apartment. You might as well start getting comfortable.”

I smiled faintly. “It’s okay. I’ll wait for him.”

Jack left me to my breakfast, and as I sat there, I thought about my future. What should I do with my life?

It was past 6, I was in my room still thinking about what I could possibly do now that I'm here. Suddenly, I was interrupted by a knock on my door. A tall masculine figure walked in.

David:

“Pack your bags. We’re leaving.”

I stared at him, confused. “What do you mean, leaving?.

He shrugged. “I don’t have time to explain. Pack your things. I’ll wait for you in the car.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You left me at the reception, and now you expect me to follow you without any explanation?”

He didn’t even flinch. “I don’t owe you an explanation. Just pack.”

I began packing, Kara helping me along the way. “How can someone be so good-looking and devilish at the same time?” I muttered to myself.

Kara’s voice broke through. “I don’t have the right to judge, but Mr. David wasn’t always like this. Since your marriage, he’s changed.”

I nodded. This wasn’t the man I had imagined marrying.

After packing, I said

my goodbyes to Mrs. Anthony and got into the car. As we drove away, I wondered: What was I getting myself into?