Chapter 23: A New Reality

Sophia stepped into Julian’s house, her breath catching in her throat. Calling it a house felt like an understatement—it was more like a palace.

The high ceilings stretched endlessly, adorned with intricate chandeliers that bathed the grand foyer in a soft golden glow.

Marble floors gleamed under her feet, reflecting the elegance of the carefully curated interior. Every detail screamed wealth, power, and exclusivity.

She shifted her gaze to Julian, who casually removed his jacket and handed it to a housekeeper.

His expression remained unreadable, as if this level of luxury meant nothing to him.

Sophia exhaled slowly, taking hesitant steps forward. "This place… it’s like heaven."

Julian glanced at her, a faint smirk appearing at the corner of his lips. "It’s home."

She turned to face him fully. "You live here alone?"

"Yes, with my staff," he said simply, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Sophia's brows knitted together. A man with his wealth and power, living in a mansion this grand, yet completely alone? It was strange. "No family visits? No friends dropping by?"

Julian's expression darkened slightly, but he shrugged. "I prefer my space."

Something about his tone made her stop asking. She looked around again, feeling the weight of the reality she had just stepped into. This was her life now, at least for a year.

Sophia was still taking in the breathtaking surroundings when Julian’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“Emma,” he called, his tone firm but calm.

A woman in a neatly pressed uniform stepped forward instantly. “Yes, sir?”

“Take her bags to the guest room and make sure she’s comfortable,” Julian instructed before turning to Sophia. “If you need anything, just ask.”

Emma nodded and reached for Sophia’s bags.

Sophia blinked, snapping out of her daze. “Wait… guest room?” she asked, glancing at Julian.

He met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “Yes. Did you think I’d make you sleep in my room?”

Sophia folded her arms, watching as Emma picked up her bags. “I don’t want to sleep in your room either,” she muttered. “Just saying.”

Julian smirked, glancing at her with amusement. “Good. Then we have no problem.”

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I was just clarifying.”

Julian chuckled, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Noted.”

Emma hesitated, glancing between them before gesturing toward the hallway. “Miss Sophia, I’ll show you to your room.”

Sophia nodded and followed her, but not before throwing one last glance at Julian, who was still watching her with that unreadable expression.

Julian’s voice cut through the moment, calm yet firm. “For the record, Sophia is now Mrs. St. Clair. From now on, refer to her as that to avoid any suspicions.”

Emma, the housekeeper, straightened instantly and nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Sophia blinked, feeling an odd weight settle over her at those words. Mrs. St. Clair. It sounded foreign, unreal. She had signed the contract, knowing exactly what she was getting into, yet hearing it spoken aloud made it all too real.

Her fingers curled slightly as she glanced at Julian, who stood there effortlessly composed, as if he had simply stated a fact. Her heartbeat quickened—not out of excitement, but out of the sheer magnitude of what she had just stepped into.

“Wait,” she found herself saying, her voice coming out quieter than she intended. “So that’s it? I just wake up one day and suddenly I’m Mrs. St. Clair?”

Julian turned to her, his lips twitching slightly as if he was amused. “Isn’t that what you agreed to?”

She exhaled, shaking her head. “I just didn’t think I’d hear it so soon.”

“You’ll have to get used to it,” he replied smoothly, shoving one hand in his pocket. “We have an image to maintain. No room for hesitation.”

Sophia’s jaw clenched slightly. He made it sound so easy, like flipping a switch. Like she hadn’t just tied herself to a man she barely knew, all because of a deal.

Emma cleared her throat softly, sensing the weight in the air. “I’ll have your room prepared, Mrs. St. Clair.”

Sophia flinched slightly at the title but nodded. “Thank you.”

Julian raised a brow at her silence. “Something wrong, Mrs. St. Clair?”

Her lips parted, then closed again. A dozen thoughts swirled in her mind, but she wasn’t about to voice them in front of the staff. Instead, she exhaled sharply and muttered, “Nothing. Just… unexpected.”

Julian’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he smirked. “You’ll adjust.”

She wanted to scoff at how easily he said it, but she held back. Instead, she followed Emma as the woman gestured for her to come along. As she walked past Julian, she could still feel the weight of his gaze on her back.