TWO

KATE POV:

I stood frozen in the marble foyer long after Nikolai disappeared up the stairs, the crushed bouquet still clutched in my hand.

I wonder why I still have this with me, I could have tossed it away after the wedding.

The scent of gardenias were faint now, overtaken by the sterile cold of polished stones, high ceilings, and gilded silence.

This place didn't feel like a home.

No place felt like home for me.

It felt like a prison in disguise.

After what felt like an eternity, one of the hand maids, young, sharp eyed, wearing a crisp black dress and white apron, emerged from the shadows.

She didn't meet my gaze. Her head lowered to the ground. She needs to know that I'm more of a prisoner than her boss.

"Ma'am," she said softly, "I'll show you to your room." I followed her through the stairs, down a long hallway lined with portraits of men who looked like they'd never smiled a day in their lives.

And then, there was Nikolai's portrait hanging at the fair end of the wall, excluded from the rest. Our eyes made a strange connection, like he was actually watching me.

It sent a shiver down my spine.

The air smelled like expensive cologne and old money.

The heels of my shoes echoed against the floors, too loud in the silence.

At the end of the corridor, the main opened s door and stepped aside. "This will be yours, Ma'am."

I stepped in, and looked around.

It was indeed really beautiful. Lavishly furnished in muted greys and golds, with high arches windows and velvet curtains.

There was a king sized bed at the center of the room, layered with crisp sheets, and a sitting area by the window.

And empty shelf that I felt was for books. A fireplace crackled softly in the corner.

They were two doors inside the room, one leading to the restroom and the other to the closet. I opened one door and it led me to the restroom.

The restroom right in front of me was two times bigger than mine back home, a glass see through shower, a large hot tub fitting two people, a water closet and a bidet. And shelfs that were all empty.

I went out of the restroom and took the next door that led to the closet, I walked into it and I was speechless.

The closet was so spacious. A glass box kind of cupboard was centered in the middle, for jewelries and watches, cloth racks, shoe racks, and lockers for a particular kind of cloth with labels.

But they were all empty.

I had nothing with me other than the wedding dress I was wearing.

I had no night clothes for tonight, nothing to bath with. Just me and my wedding dress.

Everything about the room screamed wealth and emptiness.

"Thank you," I whispered, unsure if she'd even heard me. But she did, she nodded once, then quietly disappeared. Leaving me in the empty room with just me and my thoughts.

I sat at the edge of the bed and finally let myself breathe. It felt like I had been holding that for a very long time.

I had done it.

I had married a man who hated me. A man who promised me he'll instead of butterflies on the day of our wedding.

A man who wanted my sister.

A man who picked the wedding dress, jewelries, shoes and everything for my sister. A man who didn't even notice me up until today.

I had taken my sister's place. Lied to hundreds of people and fooled the entire media. Smiled for cameras, said vows I barely remembered. Said my sister's name instead of mine.

And now, I was all alone. In a stranger's mansion. A stranger who was now my very own husband.

The whole world has heard and seen me say the word "I do."

A soft knock came at the door, distracting me from my thoughts.

I stiffened.

"Come in?" I said, my voice smaller than I intended for it to be. The door cracked open. It wasn't Nikolai. Part of my heart wished it was, this entire mansion was new to me, I only knew his face here and no one else.

It was an older woman, elegant and poised, her silver hair pulled into a chignon. She carried a tray with tea and biscuits and set it down gently on the table near the bed.

"You'll want something warm before going to bed," she said, her tone chipped but not unkind. "I'm Della. Head of the house staff. I've been here right from the very beginning. If you need anything, let me know. I don't sleep much. And I'll have someone drop something off for you to change into."

"Thank you," I said, suddenly grateful for someone who didn't look at me with disgust or suspicion or out of fear. She turned to leave but paused at the door.

"You seem like a sweet girl, child. But know this, You've stepped into a burning fire, dear. Best learn how not to get burned." she said.

And with that, she was gone.

I barely touched the tea.

Instead, I took the biscuits and walked to the window and looked out.

The sky looked so beautiful. The view from the window was so beautiful. The stars shined so brightly.

The mansion ground stretched for acres, wrapped in tall hedges and iron gates. The city lights sparkled in the distance, but they felt like stars, beautiful and unreachable.

After what felt like ten minutes staring out through the window, I had finished all the biscuits Della had brought, but the tea was still left untouched.

A knock came in.

"Come in," I said, the door opened, and the maid who had shown me my room came with two pieces of night wears and different bathing products, a sponge, bath scrub, face scrub, shower gel and so many others.

"Ma'am. I was asked to bring this in for you." she said, her head still bowed to the floor.

"Thank you. And you can take the trash with you." I tell her, pointing at the tray with the untouched tea and empty packs of biscuits.

She gave me a small nod, picked up the tray and left. I stared at the night wears and the bathrobe, deciding on which to wear. They were exactly the same kind but different colors.

I picked the black one and the bathrobe, and folded it on one side. And placed the other one into an empty space in the closet.

I really need to go shopping tomorrow for more clothes or go over to Dad's house and pack a few of my stuff. Or maybe everything.

After Rhea laid her sick plan out, it never came to my mind to pack a few stuff because I didn't know the plan would get to this stage.

And if it did, I felt that Nikolai would have kept clothes for Rhea. But it looks like he didn't.

Or maybe he did, and took them all out to torment me after he found out about the whole plan.

I undressed slowly, feeling raw and exposed as I peeled k Rhea's gown. It slid to the floor in a soft whisper. I stood in front of the mirror in my slip, staring at the reflection of a woman I barely recognized.

The corset had left red makes on my back like I had thought. I rubber my hands against it, and it hurts like hell. I stared at myself again at the mirror.

I wasn't her. I wasn't graceful like Rhea, or daring. I didn't know how to play games. I didn't know how to survive men like Nikolai Voss. She had a better chance than me. But I had offered myself to him in a platter of gold.

I had no choice now. No where to run to.

I packed up the bathing stuff the maid had brought and went into the bathroom. I fixed them up on the shelf, used the electric brush to brush my teeth, fixed myself a hot bath and got into it.

I slowly got into the hot tub and the water felt foreign to my skin. But in a matter of minutes, my body got used to it and adjusted.

I laid there for half an hour or more, lost in time. Using my legs to gently tap on the water and making funny creatures and words with the soapy foams.

Anything to get my mind of things. Of my current situation.

Few minutes later, I got out of the hot tub, drained the water and wrapped s towel around my hair and my upper chest.

I dried myself up and wore the nightwear I had picked out earlier on.

I crawled into bed, pulled the heavy covers over me, and stared at the ceiling for hours, sleep evading me like a ghost.

It felt like I couldn't catch a wink of sleep. Like it all vanished from my eyes the moment I laid on the bed.

Sometime after midnight, I heard a door slammed down the hall startling me.

I got up immediately, heart pounding, and I opened my bedroom door quietly. Since I can't sleep, I might as well check it out.

The hallway was dimly lit, bathed in a warm golden glow from antique sconces. I tiptoed barefoot across the cold marble, following the sound.

His office door was cracked opened.

I saw him inside.

Nikolai stood by the liquor cabinet, pouring himself a drink. He wore a black silk robe over matching slacks, his chest bare beneath. His hair was slightly mussed, like he'd run his hand through it one to many times.

He didn't look furious.

He looked, haunted.

But the moment he turned and saw me, the softness disappeared.

"What are you doing out of bed by this time?" he asked coolly.

I hesitated in the doorway. "I couldn't sleep."

"Not my business, nor my problem." He said.

"I heard a nose, and it startled me. I had to check what was going on." I said to him.

He took a long sip of his drink, watching me over the rim of his glass. "Do you think this is going to work?" he asked after a pause."

Did he think I came here to do that?? Oh no, no, no.

"I didn't come here to-"

"You think you can play with and I'll eventually forget what you did? That I'll start touching you like I was meant to touch her? That I'll fall into bed with you because you wear her perfume and her dress? News flash, I hate your entire family, Rhea included."

His words were fire against my skin.

"I didn't ask for this," I said, my voice shaking. "I was trying to protect her."

"By offering yourself to me instead? How's that working out for you?" He chuckled darkly, moving an inch closer to me. "You really don't know what kind of man you married, Katie."

He was right. After I had agreed to Rhea's stupid plan, she didn't full me in on anything about Nikolai.

I swallowed. "Then tell me."

He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat of him. His hands came up, brushing a strand of hair behind my ears, but the touch wast tender.

It was possessive. Testing.

"I don't take betrays lightly, Katie." he murmured. "And I don't forgive easily. But I do punish, Katie. Thoroughly. Do you understand that?"

I tried to hold his gaze. "Then punish me. But leave Rhea and my family out of it."

He stared at me for a long time. His lips twitched, almost amused. "Brave little thing, aren't you? Ready to get sacrificed for someone that would cast you aside in a matter of seconds."

My throat tightened, but I didn't answer.

"Go to bed, Katie." he said finally, stepping back. "You'll need your strength. I haven't even started with you yet. Tonight's is your night of grace. Enjoy it."