Chapter 23

Livia stepped into Adrian’s bedroom.

Her steps halted right at the doorway.

For the first time in her life, she saw a room this large—spacious, elegant, and strangely unfamiliar. The ceiling was high, a chandelier cast a soft glow, and every corner of the room looked flawless… as if it had never been touched by chaos.

Livia simply stood there.

Silent.

Her eyes moved slowly, tracing every detail.

Frozen in place.

“Madam, this is Mr. Adrian’s room. And from now on, you will be sleeping here.”

The maid’s voice was soft and respectful.

Livia turned her head, then gave a small smile.

“Thank you,” she said gently. “And from now on… you don’t have to be too formal with me. Our status is the same.”

Her tone was light.

Too light for someone who had just married the owner of this house.

The maid paused for a moment, looking at her—almost as if trying to understand the meaning behind those words.

But in the end, she only nodded politely and left the room.

The door closed.

Silence.

Livia was alone again.

She did not move.

Still standing in the same spot.

As if she was afraid to take a step further.

As if even the smallest mistake… could bring trouble.

A few moments later—

The door opened again.

Adrian entered.

His cold aura immediately filled the room.

Livia remained still.

But her heart began to beat faster.

The memory of that night resurfaced.

Clear.

Vivid.

And enough to make her breathing slightly uneven.

“Are you going to stand there like a statue?”

Adrian’s voice broke the silence.

Flat.

Emotionless.

Livia turned to him, then gave a faint smile.

“Sorry… I don’t know what I’m supposed to do yet.”

The answer sounded simple.

But behind it—there was a strategy.

She had to be careful.

Very careful.

Adrian stared at her for a few seconds.

His gaze was sharp.

“You have to do whatever I tell you.”

His tone changed.

Lower.

More pressing.

Not like a husband.

More like someone giving orders to a subordinate.

Livia looked at him for a moment.

Then nodded.

Without arguing.

Without expression.

That obedience… made Adrian frown slightly.

He observed her longer.

This woman…

was too obedient.

Not like what he had imagined.

In his mind, Livia was a cunning woman who dared to trap him.

Stubborn. Defiant.

But the woman standing before him now…

looked like someone who didn’t even know what to do.

“Get my clothes.”

The command came just like that.

Livia fell silent.

The words lingered in the air.

“Get… your clothes?”

she repeated softly, almost like a whisper.

Her eyes moved around the room.

Empty.

She found nothing.

She didn’t see any wardrobe.

Didn’t see any place to store clothes.

She truly didn’t know where to go.

“Why are you just standing there?”

Adrian’s tone began to grow impatient.

“Or did you forget the purpose of marrying me? You’re not my wife… you’re just my servant.”

The words were sharp.

Piercing.

But Livia didn’t react.

She only stood there.

Remembering something.

The contract.

The one she signed… without truly understanding its contents.

“Did you forget what you signed?”

Adrian asked again, this time with more pressure.

Livia took a slow breath.

“I didn’t have the chance to read it properly,” she answered honestly. “So… I don’t really know what’s in it.”

That answer made Adrian’s jaw tighten slightly.

Annoyed.

“So you expect me to explain everything again?”

Livia paused for a moment.

Then nodded slowly.

“Wasn’t I forced to sign it without reading it first?”

Her tone was calm.

But it was enough to shift the atmosphere.

Adrian looked at her coldly.

“You signed it. That means you agreed to everything in it.”

There was no room for argument.

No further explanation.

“I don’t have time to repeat it.”

Livia didn’t want to prolong the argument.

She simply nodded.

“Alright… then where are your clothes?”

She looked around again.

Confused.

Genuinely.

Adrian narrowed his eyes.

Observing her more closely.

Was this woman… really clueless?

“Or are you pretending to be stupid?” he muttered.

“Isn’t that the wardrobe?”

He pointed to one side of the wall.

Livia followed his gesture.

She stared at the wall.

For a long moment.

Then gave an awkward smile.

“Which one?”

Adrian let out a long breath.

His patience was thinning.

He walked toward the wall and pressed a small, nearly invisible panel.

Click.

Slowly—

The wall opened.

Revealing a large wardrobe filled with neatly arranged, luxurious clothing.

Livia froze.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Her lips parted without realizing it.

“Oh…”

She nodded slowly.

“Rich people really are something… even their wardrobes don’t have handles.”

Her words were innocent.

Too innocent.

And for the first time—

Adrian fell silent.

He stared at Livia longer than before.

Something didn’t make sense.

This woman came from Robert’s family.

A wealthy family.

She should have been used to all of this.

But her reaction…

was truly like someone seeing luxury for the very first time.