Chapter six: Dinner with the devil
718 Words
By the time the golden glow of sunset bathed the estate gardens, Zara was already dressed and waiting nervously by her bedroom door. A maid had brought in a fitted evening gown — a shimmering silver dress that hugged her figure and left her shoulders bare. The diamond necklace resting against her collarbone wasn’t hers either, but everything about this life wasn’t.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
She tensed.
Mrs. Collins entered, her face as unreadable as ever. “Mr. King is expecting you in the dining hall.”
Without another word, she turned and led Zara down the grand staircase. The walls were lined with portraits of past Kings — stern, powerful men staring down at her like silent judges.
Zara swallowed the lump rising in her throat.
When they entered the dining room, she nearly gasped.
A long mahogany table stretched across the room, large enough to seat thirty guests. Golden chandeliers hung above, and the table was elegantly set with crystal glasses and silver cutlery. But there were no guests.
Only Adrian sat at the far end of the table, dressed in a tailored black suit, a glass of red wine in hand.
Zara hesitated by the door.
“Sit,” Adrian ordered without looking up.
She crossed the room and took the seat to his right, as indicated by Mrs. Collins. A cold silence settled over them as servants brought in the first course — creamy soup she had no appetite for.
Zara stared down at the delicate china bowl. The silence was suffocating.
Finally, Adrian spoke. “I hope you’re settling in.”
“It’s… beautiful,” she managed, though her voice sounded small in the vast room.
Adrian took a sip of his wine, his sharp gaze finally meeting hers. “You’ll get used to it. Or you won’t. Either way, it doesn’t matter.”
Zara clenched her hands beneath the table. “I called my brother earlier… the line was cut.”
“I know,” Adrian said coldly. “Your personal calls are monitored. Any communication outside my approval is prohibited.”
Her heart sank. “They’re my family, Adrian.”
He smirked slightly. “And you sold yourself to save them. You knew the terms when you signed.”
The words cut deeper than any insult.
A maid poured water into her glass. Zara took a small sip, forcing herself to stay calm.
She wanted to scream. To curse him for the prison he’d built around her.
But she remembered Mrs. Collins’ warning.
Disobedience would cost her everything.
“Is there a reason for this dinner?” she asked quietly.
Adrian leaned back in his chair. “Appearances. The staff needs to see us together. To believe in this marriage.”
He gestured toward the far end of the room where several uniformed workers stood silently by the wall, eyes lowered but ears open.
“We play our parts,” he continued. “In public, you’re my devoted wife. In private, you stay out of my way.”
Zara’s jaw clenched. “And what about you? Do you stay out of my way too?”
Adrian chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t test me, Zara. You won’t win.”
Before she could respond, the dining room door opened.
A tall, stunning woman with waves of dark hair entered, wearing a tight emerald dress. She walked confidently toward Adrian, her eyes briefly flicking to Zara with thinly veiled contempt.
“I wasn’t told you were married already, darling,” the woman purred, placing a hand on Adrian’s shoulder.
Zara’s stomach twisted.
Adrian’s expression darkened. “Leave, Cassandra. Now is not the time.”
Cassandra smirked, her gaze sliding back to Zara. “So this is the replacement? How tragic.”
Zara’s blood boiled.
Before she could open her mouth, Adrian stood abruptly. “Get out, Cassandra, before I have security drag you out.”
The woman’s smile faltered, but she recovered quickly, tossing Zara one last venomous glance before strutting out of the room.
Zara sat frozen, heart pounding.
Adrian finished his wine in one swift motion. “Welcome to your new life, Mrs. King.”
And with that, he left her alone at the table, the weight of her decision heavier than ever.
[To Be Continued…]
- Writer
