The large mansion loomed over me, its structure promising a new life I wasn't sure I wanted. I didn't know if this contract marriage would become my biggest mistake, but whenever I remembered how much pain my son was in, my resolve hardened.
There was no going back, not when my son couldn't afford to wait any longer. If selling my dignity was the only way to get the money for his operation, then I was ready to lose it. Besides, it wasn't as if I had any other option left. Even if I sold myself, I still wouldn't be able to afford the full cost of his surgery.
"This way," Nathan said, gesturing toward the front door and urging me forward.
Nodding, I stepped ahead and followed him, my heart thumping as we moved deeper inside. There was something about the mansion, an odd aura I couldn't quite explain. Ever since we arrived in this city, everything had felt foreign and mysterious, as though there was more to this city than met the eye.
"My mother can be a bit extra," Nathan said, glancing at me. "But I promise it will get better."
I smiled and nodded. When it came to dealing with difficult women, I was an expert. I had grown up with a mother who used her children as stepping stones out of poverty. If anyone knew how to survive women like that, it was me.
Nathan stopped in front of a door and turned to face me, guilt flickering across his features. I knew he was worried, but there was no reassurance I could give him except words. I am not exactly that good at assuring people.
"My brother, the head of the house might not be very friendly," Nathan began.
"It's alright," I said gently, cutting him off. "I have already signed the contract. There's no turning back now."
A half-hearted smile touched his lips.
Seeing his concern made me wonder just how difficult his family must be. All my life, I had believed mine was the worst but Nathan made me reconsider.
"Alright. Let's go."
He offered his elbow, and I slipped my hand through his.
Together, we stepped into the room, and my heart skipped, not from fear, but from awe.
My gaze fell on the people seated inside, clearly awaiting us. Their luxurious appearances made me feel suddenly small. Everyone was richly dressed, as though they were trying to impress someone. I swept my eyes across the hall, swallowing hard at the sight. A chandelier adorned with delicate petals hung from the ceiling, its light bathing the entire room in a cold, opulent glow.
I dropped my gaze to the wolf heads hanging in every corner of the room, a frown settling on my face. Who still decorated their home with animal trophies in this age? Blood-drawn symbols adorned the walls, giving the room a gory, unsettling feel. What made it even worse was how real the wolves looked, as though they had been freshly beheaded from their bodies.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't realize we had already reached the table.
"Has our wife suddenly gone mute?"
The voice jolted me out of my daze, and my gaze snapped to its owner.
"Mother," Nathan called cautiously.
I appreciated the gesture and was relieved he wasn't a mummy's boy, unlike what I had assumed. Dealing with a difficult mother-in-law was enough, I couldn't imagine enduring one alongside a spineless husband.
"Mother, pardon my rudeness," I said calmly. "I am Jane Carter, your daughter-in-law."
I noticed the way her eyes lit up, as though my boldness had caught her off guard. She scoffed, her brows knitting challengingly. "We haven't even had a proper wedding, and yet you dare call yourself my daughter-in-law."
She was clearly trying to put me in my place, but unfortunately for her, I was determined to play the perfect bride. At least for the next three months.
Undeterred, I smiled. "We have registered our marriage in court. What other marriage do we need before you acknowledge me, Mother?" I added the last word deliberately, savoring the way it tightened her expression.
"Humans are always trying to impose their ways on us," she muttered.
I stared at her, confused. The way she said 'humans,' made it sound as though she wasn't human herself.
I parted my lips to respond, but before I could, Nathan cut in. "Jane, this is my brother, the head of the family. Lucas Turner."
My heart skipped violently.
The name echoed in my head, and for a moment, I wondered if I had heard him wrong.
I followed Nathan's line of sight, and my legs nearly gave out beneath me. What I was seeing felt unreal, like a cruel dream I hadn't woken from. I tried to convince myself it was only his doppelgänger but even after all these years, my heart recognized that intense gaze. The same one I had fallen for the first time we met.
For a fleeting second, a rush of thrill surged through me. Then the memories flooded in, and resentment replaced it. What unsettled me most was the fact that his eyes held the same bitterness mine held.
I looked away briefly, then forced myself to meet his gaze again, my heartbeat spiraling as the truth sank in. It was really him. His strikingly handsome face had only grown sharper with time. Goosebumps rose across my skin as I shamelessly stared, still unable to comprehend it.
How was he here? What were the odds of marrying your ex's brother?
"Jane!" Nathan shrieked, gripping my arm and pulling me back to reality.
"I know my brother is handsome," he joked lightly, "but you have a husband now, honey."
I smiled weakly, unable to process the humor, and looked away, forcing myself to breathe.
"Or perhaps our wife is simply shocked to see me," Lucas said.
His voice was cold, sending a chill down my spine. The hatred laced in his tone was unmistakable, and it left one question burning in my chest.
Why?