Every woman dreams of her wedding night being magical, especially those who've waited their whole lives for it. Olivia was no different. As a little girl, she imagined marrying her prince charming, just like Cinderella. But reality had other plans.
She knew her husband belonged to the powerful Bradford family, the wealthiest not just in Country Z, but in all of Asia and America. Yet despite their grand reputation, she didn't even know her husband's real name. All she knew was that she had married "the Second Bradford."
The Second Bradford was a ghost of the family, talked about but never seen. Some said he was a disgrace, a mentally unstable embarrassment the Bradfords kept hidden away under house arrest to protect their image. Others weren't even sure he existed. At family events, no one ever mentioned him; it was as though the Second Bradford was nothing more than a myth. A myth the Bradford family formulated just to keep people interested in their family.
Olivia couldn't help but wonder how she had ended up like this. Of course, she knew. It was her stepfather who arranged the marriage, desperate to curry favor with the Bradfords. And what choice did she have?
Ever since her mother passed away from cancer, she had been at her stepfather's mercy. She was just grateful he hadn't thrown her out onto the street to fend for herself.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft creak of the small living room door unlocking. Her heart jumped. Could it be… him? Sitting up straight, her fingers clutched the bedsheet in anticipation. She had never seen her husband, not even at the marriage registration. Only the Bradford family's housekeeper had been present.
Footsteps approached, growing louder.
Then, a voice, a smooth, honeyed voice that seemed to captivate her very soul,drifted into the room.
"Well, well… So this is Olivia who got married for her family's benefits," the man said.
She looked up, startled.
A tall, fair-skinned man stood before her, his long hair tied neatly into a ponytail. His striking blue eyes sparkled with mischief and intelligence, his sharp nose perfectly balanced his elegant features, and his lips, full and pink like a woman's,seemed sculpted with care. He was stunning. Not "handsome," Olivia thought pretty was the better word. The Bradfords were known for their beauty; the women were lovely, the men captivating. Their unique blue eyes were a legacy of their mixed royal lineage.
And then she realized, she recognized that voice. It sounded just like… Matthew Bradford.
"Olivia, hmm?" he said, staring down at her with thinly veiled arrogance.
Panic surged through her. She scrambled to her feet. This wasn't the man she had married today. This was Matthew Bradford, the esteemed First Bradford;not the mysterious Second Bradford.
"Well, aren't you lucky?" Matthew said, his eyes gleaming with pride and disdain. "This Bradford has taken a liking to you. And since that imbecile isn't here, you'll be mine now."