6

The man who emerged looked flawless, even with drowsy eyes and disheveled hair.

"Young Lady, please come closer," the servant urged.

"Me?" Livia blinked, pointing to herself.

She hesitated, then stepped forward, just standing there in silence.

"You came to greet me?" Damian's hand tilted her chin upward, making her look into his eyes-before he looked away just as quickly.

"Yes... Sir," she murmured.

Without another word, she trailed behind Damian and Brown as they returned to the bedroom.

"Miss, can you change the Young Master's clothes?" the maid asked gently.

Livia froze, halfway through removing Damian's shoes. Excuse me?!

Damian, seated silently on the sofa, didn't react.

"Uh-I'll get his clothes, but Assistant Brown can... take care of it," she replied, nearly choking on the words.

In the end, it was Brown who dressed Damian.

Livia took his suit, clutching it to her chest and turning away, her head bowed.

Once Damian had changed, he walked straight to bed and collapsed without a word.

"Good night, Miss. Please rest," said Brown.

"Thank you... for your hard work."

Brown paused at the door. "Have you read the household rules I gave you?"

"Y-yes, of course."

"Good. Good night, Miss."

Livia stood for a while, still hugging Damian's suit. She finally placed it in the laundry basket and passed by his slumbering figure on the bed.

She stared at him quietly.

This man. Her husband. The man she would grow to hate.

The man who owned her, body and soul-until he was bored of her and threw her away.

'Please get bored quickly,' she prayed silently.

"Turn off the lights," Damian muttered.

"Huh? Oh-okay. Good night."

She scrambled to shut off the lights, then curled up on the sofa with a blanket, wishing at least her dreams would be kind.

...

Livia was stunned by the sheer size of the house the morning after her wedding.

In the kitchen, only the staff were bustling about, preparing breakfast. In the corners, maids quietly dusted and cleaned.

"It feels like a small army lives here," Livia mumbled as she stepped inside.

"Good morning, Young Lady. I am the butler. Just call me Matt," the man in a crisp uniform greeted her politely.

"Oh. Good morning, Mr. Matt. Is there anything I can help with in the kitchen?"

The butler blinked, clearly surprised. Help? From the new mistress of the house?

"Pfft, what do you want to do in the kitchen? We have professional chefs for that," a sharp voice cut in.

Livia turned and saw three elegantly dressed women entering-her mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law. They looked ready for a red carpet, despite the early hour.

'Do they always dress like this in the morning?' she thought in amazement.

"Good morning, Mom. Good morning, sisters-in-law," Livia greeted politely, pretending not to notice the disdain on their faces.

But her calmness only seemed to provoke them more.

"You stupid girl, do you really think you're something just because you married my brother? He left you on your wedding night, didn't he?" Jenny, the eldest sister-in-law, sneered. "Pathetic. A lowly woman like you doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as my brother."

"I still don't understand why Damian chose someone like this," Mrs. Alexander sighed, clearly disappointed.

"You should know your place," Sophia, the younger sister-in-law, chimed in. "You don't belong in this family."

Hell had a name, and it was this house. But Livia just smiled through the insults.

"Thank you for the attention, Mom. Sisters-in-law. I hope you'll guide me in the future."

"What?! Shameless!" her mother-in-law spat, while the two women flanking her whispered more venom in elegant tones.

Just then, the phone on the kitchen wall lit up. Line one was blinking.

Matt quickly picked up the call.

"Yes, Young Master." His reply was brief. He turned to Livia. "The Young Master has asked you to return to your room."

"Me? Did something happen, Mr. Matt?"

"He's waiting for you. Please go."

Livia lowered her head. "Excuse me, Mom. Sisters-in-law." She turned to leave, ignoring the cackles and curses still echoing behind her.

'It's barely morning and they're already this energetic? Wow...'

...

Back in the room, Livia found Damian sitting on the bed, running his fingers through his hair.

'Damn. Why does he look even more attractive when he just wakes up?' she cursed internally.

Before she could say anything, he spoke.

"Water."

Livia blinked.

'Water? It's literally right next to you...'

"Water," Damian repeated, this time with a trace of impatience.

"Okay." Livia quickly poured a glass and handed it to him.

But instead of placing the empty glass down afterward, Damian handed it directly to her.

She took it in silence, placing it back beside the bed.

He rotated his neck slowly, groaning slightly.

Livia was about to step away, thinking he wanted to sleep again, when he spoke again.

"What time is it?"

'There's literally a wall clock right there. Are you blind too?' she thought.

"It's eight o'clock."

Silence.

"I want to take a shower," he added.

Livia's brow twitched. 'And I'm supposed to care why?'

"Are you deaf? I said I want to take a shower."

Now she got it.

"Prepare the water."

Without another word, Livia entered the bathroom and turned on the tap. She added soap and a few drops of aromatherapy oil.

She nearly screamed when she turned and found Damian already behind her-completely naked. His pajamas lay crumpled on the floor.

'WHAT THE-?! I'm still a virgin! Why do I have to see this now?!'

Her whole body tensed. She started backing away to escape this nightmare.

"Where are you going? Wash my hair."

"...Okay."

She sat behind him by the tub and gently began to lather his hair. She couldn't help but notice his broad shoulders and flawless white skin.

'Why is his skin smoother than mine?'

As she worked, she couldn't help but recall the scent on his clothes last night-at least three different perfumes. All female.

'So he really was with other women right after our wedding?'

No one spoke. Damian remained silent, and Livia's thoughts spiraled.

Then, without warning, he stood and walked to the shower, rinsing himself off.

Livia turned away, eyes down, and drained the tub. Only after she was sure he'd left did she slump down on the floor, defeated.

'Why must I suffer like this just to save my father's company? Dad, you should've sold me off as a maid instead. At least then I wouldn't feel this humiliated.'