Elena woke to the sound of birds outside, but the mansion was too quiet to feel like a home.
She dressed quickly, her hands shaking slightly. Today was the first full day of the "contract marriage."
Vanessa had left strict instructions:
:Be ready for breakfast at 8 a.m.
:Attend every meeting or dinner Adrian required
:Do not ask unnecessary questions.
:Never overstep.
Elena sighed. Her old life felt like a dream she couldn't return to.
Breakfast was in a room with walls of glass and a table long enough to seat ten people.
Adrian sat at the head, reviewing documents, calm as ever.
"Sit," he said without looking up.
Elena slid into the chair across from him.
He glanced at her briefly, then returned to his papers.
Not a word about last night. Not a word about the contract.
It made her stomach twist.
Vanessa hovered nearby, silently pouring coffee and giving Elena a look that could freeze water.
"You will eat fast. We have meetings at 9 a.m. sharp," she said.
Elena nodded.
She picked at her food, every bite tasting strange , too formal, too quiet, too tense.
Then Adrian spoke. His voice low but audible.
"You will not touch my things without permission."
Elena flinched. "I… wouldn't," she said softly.
"Good."
The silence stretched. Her heart hammered, but he didn't say another word.
Every glance, every small movement, carried weight.
Later, Vanessa led her to a room stacked with folders and schedules.
"You'll memorize everything. House rules, events, Mr. Volkov's preferences. One slip and you'll regret it."
Elena swallowed. "I'll do my best."
Vanessa smirked. "Your best might not be enough."
By mid-afternoon, Elena found herself in the living room, adjusting to the mansion's rhythms.
Then she heard it _ a door closing somewhere behind her.
Adrian was there. Standing silently, watching.
"You're exploring," he said, almost amused.
"I… I was just trying to find my room," she said.
"You're learning fast."
The words weren't praise. They were observation. Judgment.
Elena felt heat rush to her cheeks. She wasn't used to being watched so closely especially not by someone who intimidated her this much.
That evening, Adrian called her to his study.
"Sit," he said.
She obeyed, heart thumping.
"I'll say this once," he began. "Do not underestimate this arrangement. It's not a game. Every action has consequences."
"I understand," she said firmly, though a part of her wanted to rebel.
"Good." He paused, eyes narrowing. "And do not mistake my silence for kindness."
Elena nodded, but she realized… she didn't know what to expect. Not from the house, not from Vanessa, and certainly not from Adrian.
One thing was certain: surviving this year would test her more than anything she had faced before.
And deep down, she knew the biggest challenge wasn't the mansion, or the rules, or even Vanessa…
It was Adrian Volkov himself.