Chapter 2: Sprawling

Lucy stepped into her new home—a sprawling mansion that screamed wealth and power. The marble floors gleamed under soft lighting, and the walls were adorned with priceless art that she couldn’t even begin to appreciate. As impressive as it all was, the house felt cold and unwelcoming, much like the man she had just married.

William Ashcroft rolled his wheelchair toward her, his sharp gaze following her every move as though she were an intruder in his private domain.

“I assume your room will be adequate,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth as he nodded toward the grand staircase that spiraled up to the second floor.

Lucy forced a polite smile. “I’m sure it will be fine.”

William turned his attention to his assistant, Brad, who stood nearby with an unreadable expression. “Brad will handle the details of your daily routine. Anything you need, go through him.”

Brad gave a small nod, though his eyes didn’t quite meet Lucy’s. There was something guarded about him, something that made her uneasy.

“Thank you,” Lucy replied softly, feeling out of place in the vast mansion.

As William wheeled himself away, Brad stepped forward, finally offering her a brief glance. “If you’d like, I can show you around the house,” he offered.

Lucy appreciated the gesture but wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. “I think I’ll explore on my own. Thank you, Brad.”

Brad hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Very well. If you need anything, I’ll be in the study.”

Lucy watched him leave, feeling more isolated than ever. This was her life now—a marriage bound by necessity, surrounded by strangers, living in a house that didn’t feel like home.

---

The mansion was even larger than it seemed from the outside. Lucy wandered through the hallways, peeking into rooms that looked more like they belonged in a museum than in a home. Everything was polished and pristine, but there was no life here, no warmth. Even the silence felt oppressive.

As she walked down a long corridor, she noticed a room at the far end with the door slightly ajar. Curiosity got the better of her, and she pushed the door open gently.

Inside was a library, its shelves lined with books from floor to ceiling. A massive desk sat in the center of the room, cluttered with papers and documents. This must be William’s private office.

Before she could step inside, a voice behind her made her jump.

“What are you doing?”

Lucy turned to see William’s best friend, Bradley Cooper, standing in the doorway. His eyes were narrowed in suspicion, his usual calm demeanor replaced by something more guarded.

“I was just... exploring,” Lucy said quickly, stepping back from the door.

Bradley’s expression softened, but only slightly. “This is William’s personal space. I wouldn’t go in there without his permission.”

“I wasn’t going to touch anything,” Lucy assured him, feeling a bit defensive. “I was just curious.”

Bradley relaxed a little, but there was still an edge to his voice. “I’m sure you were. But William values his privacy.”

Lucy nodded, understanding that she had overstepped. “Of course. I’ll be more careful.”

Bradley gave her a long look before turning and walking away, leaving Lucy alone in the corridor once again.

---

Later that evening, Lucy found herself seated at a long dining table, across from William. The table was so large that they might as well have been in separate rooms. The silence between them was unbearable.

A servant placed a plate of food in front of her, but Lucy barely touched it. She wasn’t hungry. The tension in the air was too thick to ignore, and the weight of her new reality pressed down on her.

William, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. He ate in silence, his expression unreadable, as though Lucy wasn’t even there.

Finally, unable to stand the silence any longer, Lucy spoke. “Is this how it’s going to be?”

William didn’t look up. “What do you mean?”

“This... distance between us,” she said quietly. “I know this marriage is an arrangement, but we’re still going to be living together. It doesn’t have to be like this.”

William’s fork paused mid-air, and for a moment, Lucy thought he might actually respond with something meaningful. But then he continued eating, his face as cold as ever.

“This is how it’s going to be,” he said simply, his tone final.

Lucy bit her lip, frustration rising inside her. She had known that this marriage wouldn’t be easy, but she hadn’t expected William to shut her out completely.

“Why did you agree to marry me?” Lucy asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

William’s eyes flicked toward her, but his expression didn’t change. “It’s none of your concern.”

“It is my concern,” Lucy insisted. “I’m your wife now, whether you like it or not.”

William’s eyes hardened. “You’re not my wife. You’re my business transaction. Don’t confuse the two.”

The coldness in his words stung, and Lucy fought to keep her composure. She had expected William to be distant, but his cruelty was something she hadn’t been prepared for.

“You don’t even know me,” Lucy said, her voice trembling slightly. “I didn’t ask for this either. I’m just trying to make the best of it.”

William leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. “You’re here because your family needs me. Don’t pretend this is anything more than that.”

Lucy swallowed hard, knowing he was right. This marriage was about survival, not love. But that didn’t make the situation any less painful.

“I’m not Isabel,” Lucy said quietly. “I’m not here for your money.”

William’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “We’ll see about that.”

---

The next morning, Lucy woke up to the sound of a knock on her door. She groggily pulled herself out of bed and opened it to find Brad standing there, looking as polished as ever.

“Good morning,” he said, his voice as smooth as silk. “William has asked me to escort you to a dinner party this evening.”

Lucy blinked in surprise. “A dinner party?”

Brad nodded. “It’s an important business event. You’ll need to be ready by seven.”

“Why didn’t William tell me himself?” Lucy asked, feeling a bit hurt.

Brad gave her a small smile, but there was something guarded in his eyes. “William is a busy man. He doesn’t always have time for... personal matters.”

Lucy’s stomach twisted. It was clear that she was nothing more than an obligation to William—someone to be dealt with through intermediaries like Brad.

“Okay,” Lucy said softly. “I’ll be ready.”

As Brad turned to leave, Lucy called after him. “Brad, do you know why William married me?”

Brad paused for a moment, his back to her. “I’m not sure anyone knows why William does what he does,” he said cryptically before walking away.

Lucy watched him go, feeling more confused than ever.

---

That evening, Lucy found herself in a black evening gown, standing beside William at the entrance to the dinner party. The lights from the ballroom glittered, and the sound of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air.

William, as usual, was stoic, his expression unreadable as they made their way inside. He nodded politely to the other guests, but Lucy could tell that he wasn’t truly engaged. This was all just a show for him.

As they mingled with the other attendees, Lucy couldn’t help but notice the whispers. People were talking about them—about her. She caught snippets of conversation, most of them unkind.

“Isn’t that the new Mrs. Ashcroft? She’s nothing like Isabel...”

“Why would William marry her? She’s so plain.”

Lucy tried to ignore the comments, but they stung nonetheless. She had known that stepping into Isabel’s place wouldn’t be easy, but she hadn’t anticipated just how much scrutiny she would face.

“Don’t let them get to you,” a voice said beside her.

Lucy turned to see Bradley standing there, his eyes scanning the room. “People love to gossip,” he added with a small smirk.

“I’m not worried about them,” Lucy lied, though her stomach knotted from the harsh words.

Brad looked at her for a long moment before nodding. “Good.”

Before Lucy could respond, she felt a cold hand on her shoulder. She turned to find Isabel standing there, a smug smile on her face.

“Well, well, well,” Isabel said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Look at you, Lucy. All dressed up and playing the part of Mrs. Ashcroft.”

Lucy’s stomach churned at the sight of her stepsister. “What are you doing here?”

“I was invited, of course,” Isabel said, batting her eyelashes innocently. “William and I go way back.”

Lucy stiffened, but before she could say anything, William appeared beside her, his hand resting possessively on her lower back.

“Isabel,” he said coolly. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Isabel’s smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. “I couldn’t miss a chance to congratulate you two on your... arrangement.”

William’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t respond.

Lucy could feel the tension in the air, and she wanted nothing more than to escape from Isabel’s presence. But she knew that running would only give her stepsister mo

re ammunition to use against her.

Isabel leaned in closer to Lucy, her voice low. “You don’t belong here, Lucy. You’re not one of us. You’ll never be.”