Chapter 5: First Morning Together

Aria barely slept a wink that night. Every subtle creak of the floorboards and every rustle of the wind against the grand mansion's windows made her heart leap into her throat. She spent the entire night curled up on the massive king-sized bed, wearing a modest satin nightgown she had found in the walk-in closet, constantly staring at the heavy mahogany doors.

​Alexander never returned to the bedroom.

​When the soft morning light finally spilled through the sheer floor-to-ceiling curtains, Aria slowly sat up, rubbing her tired eyes. Her body ached from the sheer emotional exhaustion of the previous day.

​Before she could fully gather her thoughts, a soft knock echoed through the room, and the door swung open. A middle-aged woman in a crisp maid’s uniform stepped inside, pushing a silver rolling cart laden with fresh coffee, pastries, and a warm breakfast spread.

​"Good morning, Mrs. Vance," the maid said with a polite bow. "I am Mrs. Gable, the head housekeeper. Mr. Vance requested that breakfast be served in your room this morning."

​"Thank you, Mrs. Gable," Aria replied softly, giving her a gentle, polite smile. "You really didn't have to go through all this trouble."

​Mrs. Gable paused, her hands freezing mid-air as she set down a cup of hot porcelain coffee. She looked at Aria with a flicker of genuine surprise in her eyes. In all the times Brianna had visited the estate prior to the wedding, she had never once thanked the staff, let alone offered a warm smile.

​"It is no trouble at all, ma'am," Mrs. Gable said quickly, recovering her composure and adjusting her apron. "Mr. Vance is currently in the dining room down the hall reviewing his morning brief. He expects you to join him for a formal sit-down breakfast in twenty minutes."

​"Oh... of course," Aria said, her pulse quickening again.

​Once the housekeeper left, Aria rushed into the lavish marble bathroom to wash her face and change into a simple, elegant beige dress from the closet. She kept her makeup minimal, pulling her soft brown hair back into a loose, sophisticated bun.

​She took a deep breath to steady her nerves before stepping out into the long hallway. Guided by the faint clinking of silverware, she found her way to the formal dining room.

​The dining room was massive, featuring a long polished oak table. At the far end sat Alexander, looking effortlessly handsome in a crisp gray suit, his dark hair neatly styled. He was reading a financial newspaper while sipping black coffee, radiating a quiet power that filled the entire room.

​Hearing her soft footsteps, Alexander folded his newspaper and set it down on the table. His sharp obsidian eyes locked onto her, scanning her simple attire and fresh, makeup-free face.

​"Good morning, Alexander," Aria said quietly, taking a seat two chairs away from him to maintain a safe distance.

​Alexander raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Good morning. You look... unusually refreshed for someone who spent the entire night staring at the bedroom door."

​Aria froze, her fork hovering mid-air. "You... you knew?"

​"I have security cameras in the hallway, my dear," Alexander said smoothly, taking a slow sip of his coffee. "I know everything that happens in my house."

​He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the polished table, his heavy gaze fixing entirely on her trembling form. "And I certainly know when my new wife is acting entirely out of character."

Aria felt a cold sweat break out across her neck. "I'm just tired, Alexander. There's nothing more to it."

​Alexander stood up slowly, the chair scraping softly against the polished floorboards. He walked around the long table until he was standing directly behind her chair. Leaning down, he placed both hands on the armrests, effectively trapping her in place. His faint, expensive cologne filled her senses.

​"Is that so?" Alexander murmured, his warm breath fanning against her ear. "Then why do you shrink away every time I step closer? The Brianna I know would have demanded a black card or threatened to throw a glass by now."

​Aria gripped her napkin tightly under the table, forcing herself to look up into his piercing dark eyes. "Maybe I realized that throwing tantrums doesn't work on you."

​A slow, dangerous smirk touched the corner of Alexander’s lips. "Smart girl. But remember, Aria—or whoever you are trying to be—you are in my world now. In this house, you answer to me."

​He straightened up, buttoned his suit jacket, and checked his luxury watch. "I have a board meeting to attend. A driver will take you to the Vance Financial headquarters at three o'clock for our official public announcement."

​Before she could object, Alexander turned and walked out of the dining room, his heavy footsteps echoing down the grand hallway.