Chapter Five

The mansion was cold and quiet… too quiet.

Riley felt it the moment she walked in.

The Hale residence stood tall and intimidating, its marble floors gleaming under the crystal chandeliers, its walls decorated with priceless art pieces and picture perfect family portraits, with smiles that didn't quite reach their eyes. Everything looked Perfect. Untouched. Cold.

It didn't feel like home.

It felt like a museum

She was an exhibit that didn't fit in.

Riley stood in the middle of the room assigned to her, her wedding gown clinging to her heavily like a reminder of everything she went through that day. The room was enormous, bigger than her entire childhood home. The king-sized bed sat in the middle of the room draped with black sheets that was so uninviting.

She missed home.

This was supposed to be her wedding night. She was supposed to be excited, happy, anything apart from what she was feeling right now. The betrayal. The uncertainty. The fear.

The image of Ken holding that woman replayed in her head over and over again, with each time tightening her chest even more. His arms around her waist and his eyes carrying emotions that were never meant for Riley.

Her fingers curled into her dress.

She slowly sat on the edge of the bed, careful and hesitant like she was afraid the room itself might reject her.

Minutes passed.

Then more.

The silence stretched, growing heavier with the tick of the clock.

Her legs ached, her eyes heavy and her head throbbed from all the tears she had shed today.

She doesn't know what she was waiting for. An explanation? An apology? Or a confirmation that this marriage was nothing more than a perfect lie.

She didn't know. She just waited

She jumped as the door creaked open.

Her heart rammed violently against her ribs as she met Ken's eyes.

She stood up immediately.

Ken walked in.

He no longer looked how he looked earlier. The white suit was gone and in its place was a black T-shirt. His eyes were red and his hair was wet as though he had just washed his face.

His eyes was fixed above her head.

He shut the door behind him calmly like it was just another day. Like he hadn't humiliated her, shattered her and married her without a speck of emotion.

Riley's hands trembled.

“Ken?...” her voice called out shakenly.

He paused for a fraction of a second.

Then he turned.

His eyes swept through her, not admiring but assessing. His eyes moved from her gown to her pale face and settled there.

There was no sympathy in his emotion.

Only irritation.

“Why are you still dressed like that?” he asked coldly.

She didn't know what to say. She didn't know why.

“I.. i dont know” she stammered “ i thought maybe you’d want...”

“You thought wrong” he cut her off

Riley’s heart sank deeper.

“This is no marriage” he corrected “ its a deal”

His fingers curled into fists

“I didnt want this” ken continued “i didnt want you”

Each word struck like a blow

“But your grandfather..” she whispered

“My grandfather wanted control" he retorted, finally turning towards her. “And you were used for that cause”

Riley felt lightheaded

“So don't misunderstand your position” he said flatly

Her heart was now ramming wildly against her chest.

“What about us…in public at least” she said faintly

Ken let out a dry laugh

“In public, you will be the perfect wife.you will smile when you need too, speak when you need to and you will never embarrass me”

The room felt colder than it did when Riley first came in

“And in private?” she managed to ask.

“There is no ‘us’ in private”

Silence fell.

“What about tonight?” she asked, her voice trembling regardless of how hard she tried to control it.

“you just don't get it, do you?” his voice rising

“You will sleep here”. He gestured to the bed. “I won't"

Her chest tightened painfully

“Why?” her voice shaky

He stepped closer.

Too close.

“Because i dont sleep with strangers”

Something inside Riley broke..

“I’m your wife,” she said weakly.

Ken leaned down slightly, his face inches from hers.

“You’re my wife on paper,” he said quietly. “Don’t confuse that with something real.”

Her breath shook.

“Then why marry me at all?” she asked, her voice breaking.

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes.

Anger.

Frustration.

Regret.

Then it disappeared.

“Ask my grandfather,” he said coldly.

He turned and walked toward the door.

“I’ll be staying in the guest wing,” he added. “Don’t follow me. Don’t look for me.”

He paused, his hand on the handle.

“And Riley,” he said without turning back, “remember your place in this house.”

The door shut behind him.

Soft.

Final.

Riley stood there, frozen.

Then her legs gave out.

She sank onto the bed slowly, her hands gripping the sheets as silent sobs wracked her body. She pressed her palm to her mouth, biting down to keep herself quiet.

She had given up everything.

Her pride.

Her freedom.

Her future.

And still, she was unwanted.

With trembling hands, she unzipped her wedding gown and let it fall to the floor. The white fabric pooled at her feet.

She changed into a simple nightdress and lay on the very edge of the bed, curling into herself as if trying to disappear.

The room felt too large.

Too empty.

Her tears soaked into the pillow as she stared blankly at the ceiling.

Elsewhere in the mansion, Ken stood alone on the balcony of the guest wing, gripping the railing tightly as the cold night air bit into his skin.

His chest felt tight.

He told himself he had done the right thing.

He had warned her.

He had drawn clear lines.

So why did the image of her small, shaking, trying not to cry refuse to leave his mind?

He shut his eyes tightly.

This marriage was a mistake.

And it had only just begun.