Chapter 2
1353 Words
Lena adjusted the diamond ring on her finger for the hundredth time, the weight of it feeling alien against her skin. The gleaming band, custom-made and ridiculously extravagant, screamed wealth—a glaring reminder of the world she had just agreed to enter.
She glanced at Sebastian, who sat beside her in the backseat of his sleek black car. His focus was on his phone, typing away with swift precision, his face an unreadable mask. The silence between them was deafening.
“Do you always do this?” she asked, unable to stop herself.
Sebastian’s fingers paused, and he raised an eyebrow at her. “Do what?”
“Sit there in silence like...like you’re made of stone.”
His lips twitched, though he didn’t quite smile. “I wasn’t aware my conversational skills were part of the deal.”
Lena crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. “Maybe they should have been. This is supposed to be a marriage, isn’t it? Fake or not, we should probably try to act like we can stand each other.”
He leaned back, studying her as if she were a puzzle he wasn’t quite sure how to solve. “Are you always this outspoken?”
“Only when someone’s being impossible,” she shot back.
Sebastian let out a low chuckle, the sound so unexpected that Lena blinked in surprise. “Fair enough,” he said. “What do you want to talk about, then?”
The question caught her off guard. She hadn’t expected him to play along. “I don’t know. Anything, I guess. Something normal.”
“Normal,” he repeated, as though the word were foreign to him. “You realize that’s a bit of a stretch, considering our situation.”
She sighed, leaning her head back against the seat. “Right. Silly me, expecting normal from a billionaire with a contract wife.”
This time, his smirk was unmistakable. “You’re adjusting faster than I expected.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult,” she muttered.
“Take it however you like.”
Lena rolled her eyes, turning to look out the window as the car pulled up to an elegant mansion. The sprawling estate was lit up like something out of a movie, its grand facade practically glowing under the night sky.
Her stomach twisted as reality set in. This was her life now.
“Ready?” Sebastian asked, his voice pulling her back.
“For what?”
He gestured toward the mansion. “To meet my family.”
Lena froze, her pulse quickening. “Wait, what? Now? You didn’t say anything about this!”
“I didn’t think I needed to,” he replied calmly. “They’re expecting us.”
Panic bubbled in her chest. “Sebastian, I’m not— I can’t—”
“Lena.” His voice was firm, cutting through her anxiety. “You’ll be fine. Just stick to the basics. We’ve been dating for a year, and now we’re engaged. Keep the details vague, and let me handle the rest.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” she muttered.
He leaned closer, his gaze locking onto hers. “Trust me.”
Lena swallowed hard, unsure whether to be comforted or alarmed by the intensity in his eyes.
---
The moment they stepped into the mansion, Lena felt every set of eyes turn toward her. The grand foyer was filled with people dressed in designer outfits, sipping champagne and murmuring in low, sophisticated tones.
Sebastian placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her forward. The gesture was subtle but possessive, as though staking his claim.
“Sebastian,” a cool, feminine voice called out.
Lena turned to see a woman approaching, her movements graceful and deliberate. She was older, elegant, with silver-streaked blonde hair and sharp blue eyes.
“Mother,” Sebastian said, his tone polite but distant. “This is Lena.”
Lena extended her hand, trying to mask her nerves. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Knight.”
Victoria Knight’s gaze swept over Lena, her expression unreadable. “You’re even lovelier than I expected,” she said, though her tone carried a hint of skepticism.
“Thank you,” Lena replied, unsure how to respond.
“Come,” Victoria said, turning toward the crowd. “Everyone’s eager to meet Sebastian’s fiancée.”
Lena’s stomach flipped as they followed her into the main room. The crowd seemed to part like the Red Sea, all eyes fixating on them. She could feel the weight of their judgment, their whispers cutting through the air like knives.
“Smile,” Sebastian murmured under his breath.
Lena forced a smile, though her cheeks ached from the effort.
“Sebastian,” a new voice called out, sharper and more familiar.
Lena turned to see a man approaching, his green eyes glinting with barely concealed disdain. He was shorter than Sebastian but carried himself with the same confidence, his sandy blond hair neatly styled.
“Ethan,” Sebastian said, his tone colder than before.
“Big brother,” Ethan drawled, his gaze flicking to Lena. “And who’s this?”
“Lena,” Sebastian said tightly. “My fiancée.”
Ethan’s smile widened, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Fiancée? My, my. You work fast, don’t you?”
“Ethan,” Victoria said sharply, cutting him off.
“What? I’m just curious.” Ethan’s gaze lingered on Lena, making her skin crawl. “How did you two meet?”
“At an art gala,” Sebastian replied smoothly. “Lena’s an artist.”
Ethan’s eyebrows rose. “An artist? How charming.”
Lena’s jaw clenched, but she forced herself to stay calm.
“Enough, Ethan,” Victoria said, her tone firm. “You’ll have plenty of time to interrogate them later.”
Ethan smirked but didn’t push further. “Of course. Welcome to the family, Lena.”
She nodded, though she couldn’t shake the feeling that his words carried an unspoken threat.
---
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of introductions and polite small talk. Lena felt like a doll on display, every word and movement scrutinized.
Sebastian stayed by her side, his presence both a comfort and a reminder of the role she was playing. He was perfectly composed, effortlessly charming, but there was a tension beneath the surface—a storm brewing just out of reach.
As the night wore on, Lena excused herself to catch her breath. She found a quiet corner of the garden, the cool night air soothing her frayed nerves.
“You handled yourself well,” Sebastian’s voice came from behind her.
She turned to find him leaning against the doorway, his sharp features softened in the moonlight.
“Did I?” she asked, her voice tinged with exhaustion. “Because it felt like I was walking on a minefield.”
“You were,” he said simply.
Lena let out a bitter laugh. “Great. Glad to know it wasn’t just me.”
Sebastian stepped closer, his gaze serious. “You’ll get used to it.”
“I don’t want to get used to it,” she said quietly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of the night hung between them, unspoken but palpable.
“Why is your brother like that?” she asked finally.
Sebastian’s jaw tightened. “Ethan has his...issues.”
“That’s an understatement,” she muttered.
He didn’t respond, and Lena didn’t press further.
“I should get back,” she said, brushing past him.
But as she moved to leave, Sebastian caught her arm, his grip firm but gentle.
“Lena,” he said, his voice low.
She looked up at him, her heart skipping a beat.
“Don’t let them get to you,” he said. “You’re stronger than you think.”
His words lingered in the air as he released her, and Lena found herself wondering if she could believe him.
What was Ethan planning—and how far would he go to tear them apart?
- Writer
