Alyssa stood frozen at the entrance, her neck craning upward as she tried to take in the full scale of the building before her.
This wasn’t a house.
This was a modern castle.
Towering white walls stretched across the property, punctuated by floor-to-ceiling windows that caught the afternoon light.
The architecture was sleek, sharp, and impossibly grand.
It looked like something from a billionaire’s dream or a movie set.
A few men in dark suits stood nearby, eyeing her with quiet curiosity.
She clutched the handle of her luggage, feeling suddenly very small.
Eric had helped her bring her bags down from the apartment.
She had expected to see Butler Lucas when they descended the stairs, but the old man was nowhere in sight.
Eric had simply loaded her things into the car, driven her through these massive iron gates, dropped her off at the entrance, and sped away like he was fleeing a crime scene.
So this is where Mr.
Alexander lives.
She looked down at her two suitcases.
Eric had laughed when he saw them.
“You won’t be needing those,” he had said.
She was beginning to understand why.
The front door opened, and an elderly woman stepped out.
Her silver hair was pinned neatly, and her kind face crinkled into a warm smile.
“Oh, my dear! I didn’t know you were standing out here,” she said, hurrying forward.
She reached for one of Alyssa’s bags with surprising strength.
“No one told me you had arrived. They must have been surprised to see you standing there.”
Alyssa blinked.
“I—”
“You’re the second woman to come here, you know. Other than her and Madam.” The woman’s voice softened at the last word, a hint of something unspoken lingering in the air.
Before Alyssa could ask what she meant, the woman straightened up and patted her arm.
“Oh, where are my manners? I’m Emily. You can call me Granny Emily. Come inside, dear. You must be exhausted.”
Alyssa watched in amazement as the elderly woman hoisted one of her suitcases and carried it inside like it weighed nothing.
How is she so strong?
And what did she mean by ‘her’?
She grabbed her other bag and followed Emily inside.
The living room opened up before her like a palace hall.
White, grey, and black dominated the space—clean lines, modern furniture, and an elegance that felt almost cold.
The ceilings were impossibly high.
A crystal chandelier hung like a frozen waterfall.
She followed Emily up a sweeping staircase, her footsteps echoing in the vast silence.
They stopped in front of a door on the second floor.
Emily turned to her with a gentle smile.
“Young madam, this is your room.”
“Thank you, Granny Emily.” Alyssa hesitated.
“I didn’t introduce myself earlier. I’m Alyssa. Thank you for helping with my bag. I’ll take it from here.”
“Of course, madam.” Emily gave a small nod and disappeared down the hallway.
Alyssa pushed the door open and dragged her two suitcases inside.
The room was enormous.
Bigger than her entire apartment.
And it was beautiful.
Soft pink tones dominated the space, not childish, but elegant.
Feminine.
A plush king-sized bed sat against the far wall, draped in silken sheets.
A vanity table stood near the window, and the evening light poured in, casting a warm glow across the floor.
Her eyes landed on a large, closed wardrobe.
She walked over, her curiosity getting the better of her, and pulled the doors open.
Her breath caught.
Inside hung rows upon rows of clothes.
Designer dresses.
Blouses.
Skirts.
Jackets.
Below them, shelves of handbags and shoes, all from brands she recognized but could never afford.
She checked the tags.
All her size. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Eric was right.
I shouldn’t have brought my luggage.
She let out a long sigh, dropped her handbag on the floor, and collapsed onto the bed.
The mattress was impossibly soft, cradling her tired body.
She stared up at the ceiling, her mind spinning.
In less than twenty-four hours, she had married a strange man and became a millionaire.
She had been signed by the biggest entertainment company in the country.
She had been kissed within an inch of her life.
And she had moved into a castle.
Tomorrow is going to be a long day.
She closed her eyes, letting the exhaustion wash over her.
I’ll just rest a little.
Within minutes, her breathing evened out, and sleep claimed her.
~☆~
The heavy front door clicked shut behind Alexander as he stepped into the foyer.
The house was silent.
Too silent.
He scanned the living room.
Empty.
No sign of Alyssa.
No sign of Eric.
It was already late.
Emily had gone home hours ago.
A frown settled on his face as he climbed the stairs, his long legs eating up the distance.
He knew exactly which room she was in.
He had chosen it for her himself.
He stopped outside the door and knocked gently.
No response.
He waited a beat, then turned the handle and pushed the door open.
The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the room.
And there she was.
Alyssa lay sprawled across the bed, one arm wrapped around a pillow, her face buried in it.
Her gown had ridden up, revealing her pale, slender legs.
She looked peaceful.
Vulnerable.
Nothing like the fierce woman who had talked back to him without an ounce of fear this morning.
Alexander stood at the edge of the bed, watching her.
Something stirred in his chest, something unfamiliar.
He sat down beside her.
His hand moved almost on its own, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.
Her skin was warm beneath his fingertips.
He gently lifted one of her legs and tucked it under the duvet.
Then he tried to ease the pillow from her grip.
She held tighter.
Her brow furrowed in her sleep.
He tried again, pulling gently.
She frowned, clutching it closer.
Alexander’s patience ran thin.
He yanked the pillow free.
Alyssa’s eyes flew open.
She blinked, disoriented, her gaze slowly focusing on the man sitting beside her.
“Mr. Alexander?”
Her voice was soft, sleepy.
He smelled expensive.
Clean.
Masculine.
His cologne wrapped around her like a subtle embrace.
He smells incredible, she thought, her eyes tracing the sharp lines of his jaw.
Her hair was a mess, wild and tangled from sleep.
Alexander looked at her.
Her hair was sticking up in every direction.
There was a faint crease on her cheek from the pillow.
She looked exhausted.
He wanted to laugh.
He held it back.
“Have you eaten?”
“No, I haven’t.”
It was true.
She hadn’t eaten since morning.
She was used to it.
Skipping meals had become a habit.
“Wash up and get dressed. We’re going out.”
Alyssa blinked.
“To where?”
“My family house.”
She stared at him.
“I just got here. Now I’m going to your family house?”
Annoyance crept into her voice.
Alexander turned, his gaze landing on her like ice.
Cold.
Sharp.
Warning.
He didn’t say a word.
He simply turned and walked out of the room.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Alyssa fell back onto the bed with a groan.
What the hell have I done?
She pressed her palms to her face.
I let my emotions take over again.
Stupid.
Stupid.
She grabbed the pillow and threw it across the room.
With a frustrated sigh, she dragged herself out of bed and into the bathroom.
The bathroom was immaculate.
Marble countertops.
Soft lighting.
And there, laid out neatly, were toiletries and skincare products, all for women.
All prepared for her.
She took a long shower, letting the hot water wash away her irritation.
When she stepped out, she was naked and dripping.
She walked to her luggage and rummaged through it.
Nothing suitable.
She sighed and opened the wardrobe.
Her eyes landed on a cream-colored long gown.
A shirt dress.
Elegant.
Simple.
She pulled it on.
It fit perfectly.
She added minimal jewelry, a delicate necklace, small earrings.
Then she sat at the pink vanity chair and studied herself in the mirror.
She applied her makeup.
Light and natural.
She selected a pair of pointed heels and a white Chanel bag with a chain strap.
They matched the dress perfectly.
She took one last look at herself in the mirror.
Ready.
She walked downstairs, her heels clicking against the marble floor, her head held high.