His Mistress, His Bride

CH 4 Why me...?

Arianna woke to silence. Golden lights spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the room in warm shades of amber.

For a brief moment, she forgot where she was. The ceiling was white and unfamiliar.

Then the memory returned. The auction of women. The contract. Han Ryan....

Arianna rose too fast. The room spun, forcing her to grip the edges of the bed until the dizziness settled. Her left arm was strangely cold beneath the oversized shirt draped over her body.

Her bare feet touched the marble floor. It was cold. Far colder than the house she left behind.

The bedroom door remained shut. No footsteps echoed outside. Or so she thought.

A tray rested neatly on the bedside table. Lifting the silver cover, she found two plates of untouched meals. A cold dinner from last night. A beside it, a fresh breakfast of buttered toast, fried eggs, fruits and steaming coffee.

Someone had entered while she slept. She hadn't heard a thing.

Arianna slowly closed the lid, exhaustion pressing against her chest. A gentle knock interrupted her thoughts.

“Who is it?” the door opened before the last word left her mouth.

A woman steps inside, clad in the finest silk. Looking as though she walked out of a painting. The silk hugged her elegant figure. Dark chestnut hair cascaded down her back to her waist, gleaming beneath the morning light. Her crimson lips curved effortlessly in a smile that made the entire room feel warmer.

“Hi” she greeted softly. “May I come in?"

Arianna blinked “Y-yes"

The woman crossed the room and sat on the bed with surprising familiarity.

“My name is Yana, Ryan’s younger sister"

Arianna lowered her eyes immediately. Looking at her for too long felt too... intimidating.

"I wanted to see you before I leave"

Silence settled between them. And then Yana smiled.

“You are beautiful”

Arianna almost laughed. Sitting beside Yana, she felt like an unfinished sketch beside a masterpiece.

“Thank you” she murmured.

"This house can be overwhelming at first” Yana's voice remained gentle "Don't be afraid to ask Lady Tanya for anything. May brother may be frightening..." she chuckled "...but he isn't impossible"

Arianna wasn't convinced. Still, she said “Okay”

Yana rose gracefully, "Take care of yourself, Arianna"

For a moment, Arianna wondered how she already knew her name. Before she could ask, Yana was gone. Leaving behind the faint smell of jasmine behind.

She stared at the door for a few seconds before walking to the bathroom.

The bathroom was so big. Bigger than her room back at her father’s house. She wouldn’t say home because it was never one. The floor was clean, too clean it hurt her eyes. Her fingers trailed the tub. White porcelain. Big enough to carry two people. Warm water running. She noticed her toiletries where already kept.

Arianna took off the shirt and slid into the tub. The warm water welcomed her. Relaxing every fibre in her body, but it wasn't able to relax the pain in her chest.

She soaked herself in the water, staring blankly at the ceiling, before coming out. She dried her body and took the shirt, bringing it towards her nose. It smelled like Chamomile and cinnamon. So strong her blood rushed towards her cheeks. She put on the shirt, the sleeves covering her knuckles.

The bathroom door creaked open.

Arianna stepped out, drying the last drop of water from her hair. Just two steps away from the door, Arianna froze.

Someone was standing beside the window. His hands buried deep inside the pockets of tailored black trousers as he looked through window.

The morning light spilled across his broad shoulders, outlining his tall frame.

As though sensing her stare, he turned, her breath caught. No mask.

For the first time she saw the face of someone the whole country had spent years trying to glimpse.

Han Ryan. The obscure CEO of Han Empire, a billion dollar company. A business tycoon known around the continent.

A man whose public appearances never came without a black mask covering the upper half of his face.

Newspapers called him arrogant. Business magazines called him a genius. The internet called him a mystery. None of that prepared her for the man standing before her without that mask that defined him.

He was striking, just because he didn't smile. Every sharp line of his face carried an unnerving calm. His dark eyes were void, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

He walked forward in slow, measured steps. Stopping a respectful distance away. Neither of them spoke.

Arianna blinked, lowering her gaze first with a polite nod.

“Good morning, Mr. Han”

“Morning..." his voice was low and even "...mistress" The single word landed heavy on her heart. Not affection or mockingly. Just possessive. She bit her lips, tugging on the hem of the shirt.

“Did you sleep well?” Ryan asked.

She hesitated “The bed is soft” she said. Because saying yes would be a lie.

“Did you eat?”

She glanced towards the untouched tray “Not yet”

“Join me. Let’s eat together” It didn’t sound like an order. It wasn’t a request either. Just something that is expected to happen.

“I’ll be waiting downstairs. Don’t be late” he turned towards the door.

“May I ask why you made me your mistress?” She asked and Ryan stopped. “There were other beautiful ladies there. All sexy... confident and willing"

Her voice grew quieter "Why me...?”

Ryan turned and faced her fully. He didn’t speak, only staring at her face for several seconds.

She continued "I'm not in your class. I'm certainly not your type. I'm not beautiful..."

"You are beautiful"

Arianna blinked. Her head jolted up to search his face.

"But beauty isn't why I chose you" Ryan said.

"Then why....?"

"They all wanted something from me. You're the only one who wanted to leave"

“So you…you don’t want to….” His head tilted to the side, watching her stutter. “You’re not going to…”

“Going to... what?”

“You’re not…. going to touch me….?"

Silence reigned. Ryan's gaze grew deep, he studied her. "Is that what you're afraid of?"

Arianna didn't speak. But he already knew the answer.

"Not until you ask me to" he said.