The Billionaire's Arranged Bride

Chapter 3

The Billionaire's Arranged Bride

Chapter 3

Moving In

By Monday morning, Astrid had accepted one unfortunate truth.

She was moving in with Trey Santillan.

Not someday.

Not after the wedding.

Next week.

She stared at the two suitcases sitting on the floor of her bedroom.

She had packed them the night before.

Then unpacked them.

Then packed them again.

Now she was staring at them as if they had personally betrayed her.

"You're being dramatic," she muttered to herself.

One of the suitcases remained stubbornly open.

Astrid looked around her bedroom.

Everything was familiar.

Her books.

Her vanity.

The photographs on her bedside table.

The little things she had collected over the years.

This had always been her room.

Her safe place.

And now she was leaving it.

Not permanently, she reminded herself.

At least, she hoped not.

A knock sounded on the door.

"Come in."

Her grandmother entered.

She took one look at the suitcases and smiled.

"Ready?"

Astrid made a face.

"Do I look ready?"

"No."

"Exactly."

Her grandmother sat beside her.

"You're nervous."

"Very."

"About Trey?"

"About everything."

She looked down.

"What if we don't get along?"

"You already get along."

"We've had lunch twice."

"That is more than enough for some marriages."

Astrid laughed.

"Lola."

Her grandmother squeezed her hand.

"You don't have to become a perfect wife overnight."

"I know."

"You're still Astrid."

She smiled.

"That helps."

Her grandmother stood.

"Then stop staring at your suitcase and finish packing."

Astrid groaned.

"Yes, ma'am."

---

By Wednesday, Astrid had officially moved into the Santillan residence.

The house was enormous.

That was the first thing she noticed.

Then she noticed the second thing.

It was quiet.

Too quiet.

Astrid stood in the foyer with her luggage while Trey spoke with one of the staff members.

She looked around.

The place was beautiful, but it didn't feel like a home.

It felt like a luxury hotel where nobody was allowed to make noise.

Trey approached her.

"Everything okay?"

Astrid nodded.

"Your house is huge."

He glanced around.

"It's not that big."

She stared at him.

"Trey."

"What?"

"I think your definition of big is broken."

He smiled.

"Maybe."

He took one of her bags.

"I'll show you your room."

"My room?"

"Yes."

She followed him upstairs.

He stopped in front of a large bedroom.

Astrid stepped inside.

Her mouth fell open.

The room was beautiful.

Large windows.

A sitting area.

A walk-in closet.

A private bathroom.

And the bed looked big enough to fit an entire family.

Astrid slowly turned toward him.

"This is my room?"

"Yes."

She looked at the bed.

Then at him.

"You're not sleeping here?"

"No."

Relief washed over her so quickly that she almost laughed.

"Good."

Trey raised an eyebrow.

"That obvious?"

"Very."

She smiled.

"I mean, we're not married yet."

"I know."

He placed her luggage near the closet.

"If you need anything, tell the staff."

Astrid nodded.

"Okay."

He turned to leave.

"Trey?"

He looked back.

"Thank you."

He gave her a small nod.

"You're welcome."

He left.

Astrid closed the door.

Then she looked around again.

"This is really happening."

---

That evening, Astrid found Trey in the kitchen.

He was standing at the counter, reading something on his tablet.

She stopped at the doorway.

"Do you eat dinner?"

He looked up.

"Of course."

"I mean, do you actually eat?"

"Yes."

"Because your house is so quiet I thought maybe everyone survived on air."

He laughed.

"You're getting comfortable."

"Maybe."

She walked toward the refrigerator.

"Can I cook?"

Trey looked surprised.

"You cook?"

"Sometimes."

"What do you want to make?"

"Dinner."

"I mean, what?"

She opened the refrigerator.

"Anything."

She stared inside.

Then frowned.

"You don't have food."

"There are groceries."

"This is not groceries."

She held up a container.

"This is one tomato."

Trey looked at it.

"That's enough for something."

"Are you serious?"

He shrugged.

Astrid closed the refrigerator.

"Okay. New rule."

"What?"

"We need real food."

"I'll tell the staff."

"No."

She pointed at him.

"You're coming with me."

"Where?"

"Grocery shopping."

Trey stared at her.

"You want me to go grocery shopping?"

"Yes."

"Now?"

"Yes."

He looked at his watch.

"I have a meeting."

Astrid nodded.

"Fine."

She started walking away.

"Wait."

She turned.

"What?"

"I'll go."

She smiled.

"I knew it."

---

Twenty minutes later, Astrid was sitting in Trey Santillan's car, wondering how a billionaire had somehow agreed to buy vegetables with her.

"You're actually coming," she said.

"You asked."

"You could have said no."

"I could have."

She looked at him.

"Why didn't you?"

He glanced at her.

"Because you looked determined."

Astrid smiled.

"Good answer."

At the grocery store, things became even stranger.

People recognized Trey.

Some stared.

Others whispered.

One woman even took a photo.

Astrid leaned closer.

"Do you always get stared at like that?"

"Yes."

"That must be annoying."

"It is."

She pushed the cart.

"Then why don't you wear a disguise?"

He looked at her.

"A disguise?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

She looked him over.

"Hat. Mask. Sunglasses."

"That would attract more attention."

"True."

They continued through the aisles.

Trey looked completely out of place.

He was used to boardrooms, private meetings, and expensive restaurants.

Now he was standing beside Astrid while she compared two brands of pasta sauce.

"Which one?"

He looked at the bottles.

"I don't know."

"Then why are you here?"

"To keep you company."

Astrid laughed.

"Very useful."

She placed one in the cart.

Then she picked up another item.

"Do you like this?"

"What is it?"

"Cookies."

"Yes."

She put them in.

"What else?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

He looked at her.

"I like chocolate."

She smiled.

"Noted."

She added two boxes.

He watched her.

"You're buying a lot."

"It's your house."

"And?"

"I live here now."

That simple statement made something shift in his expression.

"You do."

Astrid smiled.

"Then you better get used to it."

---

Back at the house, Astrid unpacked the groceries while Trey stood nearby.

"You really bought all of that?"

"Yes."

"You bought six kinds of snacks."

"We need options."

"We're two people."

"Exactly."

He shook his head.

Astrid smiled.

"You'll thank me later."

That evening, they ate dinner together.

Nothing fancy.

Just food Astrid had prepared while Trey helped with the easiest tasks she could find.

For the first time since moving in, the house didn't feel so cold.

There was conversation.

Laughter.

A little chaos.

It felt almost normal.

After dinner, Astrid leaned back in her chair.

"This isn't bad."

Trey looked at her.

"What?"

"Living here."

He nodded.

"Good."

She smiled.

"But don't get too comfortable."

"Why?"

"Because I haven't decided if I like you yet."

Trey's lips curved into a smile.

"You're taking your time."

"I'm careful."

"I noticed."

She stood and started collecting the plates.

Trey immediately stood.

"I'll help."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

Astrid looked at him.

He had said the same thing before.

She smiled.

"Okay."

They walked toward the kitchen together.

Neither of them noticed the way their movements had already started to fall into rhythm.

It was small.

Almost insignificant.

But it was there.

And neither of them knew yet that these ordinary moments would eventually become the memories they treasured most.

Because their marriage hadn't started with love.

It had started with an agreement.

But somewhere between grocery lists, shared dinners, and learning each other's habits, something neither of them had planned was quietly beginning.