Chapter 7- RULES OF THE HOUSE

I avoided everyone for the rest of the day. It wasn’t hard.

Nobody came looking for me anyway.

The mansion was too large, too cold, filled with people who work as maids. Every hallway felt unfamiliar. Every room reminded me that this wasn’t my home.

I spent most of the afternoon sitting near the window in my room, staring outside while rain tapped softly against the glass.

At some point, there was a knock at the door. I looked up slowly. “Come in.”

One of the maids stepped inside carefully. She looked nervous around me, like she wasn’t sure how to behave.

“Mrs. Laurent,” she said politely, “Madam Laurent asked me to bring this.”

She placed several shopping bags on the bed.

I frowned slightly. “What is it?”

“Clothes.”

I stared at the bags in confusion after she left. For a second, I thought maybe Adrian’s mother was trying to be kind. That thought disappeared quickly when I opened them.

Every outfit inside was plain. Long sleeves, high necklines and dull colors.

Nothing soft or elegant like the clothes Lia wore.

At the bottom of one bag was a small note. Dress appropriately. You represent this family now.

I let out a quiet laugh. Not because it was funny.

Because somehow even what I wear is being controlled now.

Dinner that evening was worse.

Lia was already seated beside Adrian when I entered the dining room. She looked comfortable there, smiling softly while speaking to his mother.

I got confused at some point because I didn't know if she was already living with us or something, but I acted like it didn't bother me.

Nobody acknowledged me at first. I quietly took the empty seat farther down the table.

Adrian didn’t look at me once.

“You should come shopping with me tomorrow,” Lia said sweetly to his mother. “There’s a charity event next week and I still need a dress.”

His mother smiled lightly. “Of course.”

Then her eyes moved toward me briefly.

“You should stay home,” she added coldly. “Too much public attention right now would create unnecessary gossip.”

I lowered my eyes. “Okay.” I couldn't believe even my younger sister would refer to me this way.

Lia glanced at me carefully before speaking again. “She’s still adjusting,” she said softly, pretending to defend me.

Adrian finally spoke then. “Enough.”

The table went quiet instantly.

Lia blinked at him. “I was only trying to help.”

“I said enough.” His tone wasn’t harsh, but final.

For the first time all evening, his eyes lifted toward me briefly.

Just briefly. But something unreadable passed through his expression before he looked away again. That tiny moment unsettled me more than it should have.

Later that night, I sat on the edge of the bed in the dim glow of the bedside lamp, still wearing the plain long-sleeved nightdress his mother had sent. The fabric felt stiff and restrictive against my skin.

A sudden knock interrupted my thoughts. Before I could answer, the door opened. Adrian stepped inside.

I stiffened immediately as he closed the door behind him with a quiet click. He loosened his tie in one smooth motion, his eyes already fixed on me. The air in the room thickened.

Neither of us spoke at first.

His gaze moved slowly over my body, lingering on the way the nightdress clung to my breasts and hips. Something darker flickered in his expression. “You didn’t eat,” he said, voice low.

“I wasn’t hungry.”

He stepped closer, stopping just in front of me. The scent of his cologne, dark, expensive, and faintly woody, wrapped around me.

“You barely touched breakfast either.”

I looked up at him. “Why do you care?”

His jaw tightened. Instead of answering with words, he reached down and caught my chin, tilting my face up. His thumb brushed over my lower lip, pressing lightly until my mouth parted.

“I don’t,” he murmured. “But right now, I want you.”

My breath caught.

Before I could respond, he leaned down and kissed me, hard, demanding, nothing like the cold man from earlier. His tongue pushed past my lips, tasting me with raw hunger. I gasped into his mouth as heat flooded my body.

Adrian didn’t wait for permission. He pushed me back onto the bed, his body covering mine. One large hand slid under the hem of my nightdress, shoving the stiff fabric up my thighs. His fingers found the edge of my panties and tugged them down roughly.

I moaned softly when his hand cupped me, two fingers stroking through my already slick folds.

“Wet already,” he growled against my neck, biting down just hard enough to make me arch. “Even when you hate me.”

I didn’t deny it. I couldn’t. My hips rolled against his hand as he pushed two fingers inside me, curling them deep. The stretch made me whimper.

He pulled back just long enough to unbuckle his belt and free himself. His cock was hard, thick, and flushed dark at the tip. Without another word, he hooked my legs around his waist and thrust into me in one powerful stroke.

I cried out, nails digging into his shoulders as he filled me completely. The sudden fullness burned in the most delicious way.

Adrian set a brutal pace, hips snapping against mine. Each deep thrust pushed me higher up the bed. The sound of skin slapping skin and my broken moans filled the room.

“Look at me,” he ordered, voice rough.

I met his eyes. They were dark with lust, but still guarded. He fucked me harder, one hand gripping my thigh so tightly I knew it would bruise. His other hand slipped between us, thumb pressing firm circles over my clit.

“Cum,” he demanded.

The orgasm hit me violently. I clenched around him, crying out his name as waves of pleasure tore through me. A few thrusts later, Adrian buried himself deep and came with a low groan, pulsing inside me as he spilled hot and thick.

For a few moments, the only sound was our ragged breathing.

He stayed buried inside me, forehead pressed against mine. Then, slowly, the cold mask returned.

He pulled out and stood, fixing his clothes without looking at me again.

“You should understand something,” he said quietly as he re-buckled his belt. “This situation changes nothing between Lia and me.”

The words hit harder after what we’d just done.

I pulled the nightdress down over my trembling thighs, throat tight.

I didn't say a word.

“She’s still important to me,” he added.

I swallowed. “You don’t need to explain.”

“Good.” His voice was cold again. “I don’t want misunderstandings later.”

He walked toward the door, then paused.

“As long as you stay out of trouble, this arrangement will remain… peaceful.”

He left without another word.

I stayed on the bed, body still buzzing from his touch, his release slowly leaking down my thighs. The worst part wasn’t the coldness that followed.

It was how desperately my body still wanted more of him. Even when my heart knew there was nothing for me in return