Thea was taken to a magnificent three story mansion.
Her eyes went wide the moment she saw it.
She stared without blinking, turning in slow circles just to take in how grand the place was.
“Wow!” The word slipped out on its own.
So Saphira’s husband really was rich beyond anything she’d imagined.
Her friend truly was lucky, and it made sense that someone as privileged as Saphira would end up with a man like that.
But what about her?
A girl from the countryside like her had no business expecting anything more than this.
For the next six months, she would have to play her part well if she wanted to earn her pay.
Honestly, she needed the money badly; she’d fallen behind on her tuition for months, and if she didn’t settle it soon, she’d be forced to withdraw.
She didn’t want her parents to be heartbroken, and she refused to let their sacrifices to put her through school go to waste.
“Welcome, ma’am.” She was greeted by a whole line of staff, and the warmth of their welcome caught her completely off guard.
Thea bowed her head on instinct and gave an awkward smile.
One by one, the staff began collecting the bags she’d brought.
House slippers had already been laid out for her, and a maid stood ready to remove the shoes from her feet.
“What? No, that’s not necessary. Please don’t do that!” She wasn’t used to any of this, and she had no idea what rich people normally did in situations like it.
“Ma’am must wear house slippers indoors. It’s one of the house rules. We’ve been assigned to attend to you, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Oh!” She simply nodded like a fool.
“Wait, but don’t take my bag!” She rushed toward the maid who’d picked it up and snatched it right back.
They all looked a little puzzled; this wasn’t the behavior they’d been led to expect.
They knew Saphira was supposed to be a refined, well mannered woman who’d been raised with proper etiquette since childhood, so why did the woman standing in front of them now seem nothing like that?
“I, um, I just prefer carrying my own things,” Thea offered quickly, noticing the suspicious looks the staff were giving her.
“Of course. From now on, ma’am should get used to letting us take care of things like this. Now, let me show you to your room. Please, come with me.” An older maid, clearly senior among the staff, led Thea further into the house.
Thea followed obediently, though she couldn’t stop stealing glances at the sheer grandeur surrounding her.
She would be living here for the next six months, something she never could have imagined for herself.
In her whole life, she probably would have never lived in a house like this, or even set foot inside one.
If it weren’t for standing in for Saphira, would she ever have had a chance to be here?
She decided she would make the most of this opportunity and savor every precious moment of it.
As long as Saphira’s husband stayed away, her life here would go smoothly.
“Um, does Dashiell come home often?” she asked, working up the courage.
If she was honest, she was worried he might suddenly return.
“The young master rarely comes home, ma’am.”
“So he won’t be coming back at all?” Her heart lifted instantly.
She hoped he’d stay away the entire six months so they wouldn’t have to cross paths until her act was over.
“Usually the master comes home about once every two months, and even then, not for long. He stays one night, and then he’s off again for months at a time.”
“Oh, wonderful,” she said, delighted, and her obvious relief made the maid eye her a little suspiciously.
“There’s no need to worry, ma’am. I imagine he’ll come home more often now that he has a wife.”
“I really hope not!” Thea blurted without thinking.
“Ma’am is quite the joker, but trust me, I believe he’ll be back before long.”
“All right. May I rest now? I’m feeling a little tired, and this wedding dress is anything but comfortable!” In truth, the dress was uncomfortably tight, since her figure and Saphira’s were quite different, but she forced herself to bear it and stay composed.
“Of course. Please, get some rest, and just call for me if you need anything. I’ll go prepare dinner and come get you shortly.”
“Thank you,” Thea said, offering a sweet smile.
The title still felt strange to hear, but she supposed she’d have to get used to it, since she’d be hearing it for the next six months.
The maid left her to rest and instructed another member of staff to prepare dinner.
She then walked to a side table and called Dashiell to let him know his wife had arrived at the house.
“Ma’am has arrived, young master.”
“Hm,” came the clipped reply.
He had no interest in hearing anything more about the woman he’d just married.
“Ma’am asked when you’d be coming back, and she seemed quite pleased when I told her it would be another two months. Are you sure you don’t intend to return sooner, sir?”
“Just keep a close watch on her. Remember, she’s not allowed to bring anyone into the house, especially not for any parties. I won’t tolerate any parties, so keep a close eye on her and report back to me everything she does.” That spoiled woman, he thought.
He wanted to see how she’d react once he had her on a short leash.
“Understood, young master. Will that be all?”
“Yes. Just watch her closely.” Dashiell ended the call and went back to his work, since that mattered far more to him.
But his phone rang again before he could get anything done, and this time it was his grandfather, and he could already guess what the conversation would be about.
“I already got married, just like you wanted, so don’t ask me to do anything else!”
“What else would I ask, Dashiell? I heard you left right after the wedding and abandoned Saphira on her own. Is that true?”
“Grandfather, I have important business to attend to, so I couldn’t spend more time on pleasantries with her. I already did what you asked and married her. What more do you want?”
“You’ve embarrassed me a little, Dashiell. Your wedding should have been a grand celebration, and instead you insisted on marrying her quietly, almost in secret. Do you have any idea how ashamed that makes me feel in front of my best friend?”
“This marriage was never going to work anyway, which is exactly why I didn’t want a big celebration. Besides, you don’t even know what she’s really like. She’s just a spoiled girl, and you have no idea how she actually lives when no one’s watching!”
“That’s nothing but gossip, don’t listen to it. You should go back home and enjoy your wedding night with her properly. Don’t embarrass me any further, and don’t believe every bad rumor you hear about her!”
Dashiell rubbed his temples.
Bad rumors, what bad rumors?
Everyone knew Saphira spent her nights hopping from one nightclub to another, yet his grandfather was foolish enough to dismiss all of it simply because she was his best friend’s granddaughter.
“Go home now and spend your wedding night with your wife!” his grandfather ordered again.
Dashiell threw his phone down, irritation flaring.
Should he really go home and give in to what his grandfather wanted?