At dinner, Daniel Voss sat at his usual spot while I sat in mine, observing him carefully. We had just finished eating when he spoke.
"You should know," he said, voice low and even, "I've started arrangements for our marriage." He reached for his glass.
I smiled faintly. "I know. Do you need my opinion on something?"
"Not really." He swirled the last of the wine in his glass, eyes fixed on the dark liquid."I just wanted to make sure you're aware. We'll have a small ceremony. Discreet." He emphasized the words small and discreet.
"That's fine with me. I never wanted a grand wedding anyway. Whatever you choose, I'm okay with it."
The lies came easily now. Pretending flowed as naturally as breathing.
He lifted his glass and drained the last of the wine in a single swallow. I caught myself watching the shift of his throat, the way his Adam's apple rose and fell, before I quickly looked back at my plate.
"Alright, do you have anyone you would like to invite? It'll be at a courthouse." He asked, brows raised. I could tell he was scrutinizing me with those cold eyes of his, obviously surprised by my carefree attitude.
"No, if possible I don't want anyone from my family around. Just us." I shook my head lightly, twisting the napkin in my lap.
"That's impossible. We'll need a few witnesses." He replied flatly, looking at his now empty glass.
"Okay. My family can come if they feel like it," I said softly, twisting the napkin harder, as if wringing water from it. "I don't have anyone else."
His fingers drummed once against the glass before he pushed it aside. "Fine. It'll happen in five days. Blair should have your dress ready before then. Anything else you need?"
Five days. That was all the time I had to plan.
I forced a small laugh. "Jewelry… shoes… never mind. I don't want to bother you."
Even I was startled at how convincing I sounded. Desperation had made me a quick learner; survival demanded nothing less.
His gaze lingered. "We can get those if you need them. It's not a big deal. I'll instruct Larry to take you and Selene tomorrow."
"Thank you." I added a warm smile, faking gratitude.
His expression hardened. "Now to discuss the most important things. After the wedding, our sleeping arrangements remain the same. You are obligated to accompany me to events as my wife. At these events, you'll conduct yourself properly—no unnecessary chatter, no outbursts. You will smile if required, nothing more."
I nodded, though my stomach tightened.
He continued, voice colder. "This house isn't open to just anyone. Don't invite people over without my knowledge."
I forced another nod, folding the napkin tighter between my fingers.
"And one rule above all," he added, his eyes steady on me. "Don't go into my study when I'm not there."
The warning sent a chill through me. He wasn't just setting boundaries, he was reminding me I lived inside his cage.
"The rest of the details are in the contract." He slid the papers across the table. "Read them and sign when you're ready."
There was no way I would sign. Pushing it off as long as possible was the only strategy I had.
"I'll go through it and give it back later."
"Good." He nodded and leaned back.
After dinner, I retreated to my room. I paced the room, wondering if I was fooling myself. What if all this pretending was just wasted effort?
No, my plan seemed solid enough. Act like I'm fine with everything and then disappear without leaving a single trace.
I went into the bathroom, washed up, and slipped into a white silk chemise. Lying in bed, I tried to force my eyes shut, but my mind kept racing. The house felt too large, too silent. My thoughts circled back to the movie room I had stumbled upon earlier. For a moment, I considered going there to distract myself. I decided against it until minutes later, the stillness became unbearable, and I got up anyway.
Maybe it would look like I was adapting. Settling in.
Once I was in the movie room, I settled into one of the recliners and scrolled endlessly until I landed on a romantic comedy that seemed light enough to drown my thoughts. Then I headed to the kitchen for snacks.
On entering, one of the new staff greeted me. "Mrs. Voss, do you need anything?"
The title still startled me. "Yes, please. Could I get some popcorn?"
"I'll get it ready for you," she said with a polite nod.
A few minutes later, she walked up to me in the living room with a large bowl of popcorn. I thanked her and carried it back to the movie room.
Somewhere between one scene and the next, I found myself sinking deeper into the film, almost forgetting where I was. Then a joke landed, ridiculous and unexpected, and laughter burst out of me—too loud, too careless. The bowl slipped from my hands, popcorn scattering across the floor. I bent down to grab it when Daniel's voice cut through.
"What are you doing?" His voice was deep, rasped at the edges, like he'd just woken up.
I froze. Turning, I saw him standing at the doorway. For the first time, he wasn't in a suit. He wore black pajama pants and a white button-down, loose and half-open, the fabric clinging slightly to his chest. His shoulders looked broader, his arms strong and toned.
Focus, I warned myself, dragging my eyes away.
"I was bored, so I decided to watch a movie." I glanced at my phone, it was well past midnight. I hadn't realized I'd been here for over two hours.
His eyes moved from my face, down to my legs, before snapping back up. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant.
"I can turn it off if it's disturbing you. I didn't mean to keep you up." I crouched to gather the scattered popcorn.
"Continue if you want. Just turn the volume down," he said flatly, then stormed off without waiting for an answer.
I stared at the doorway long after he left, the echo of his voice still sharp in my ears. For a moment, the house felt even heavier, as though his presence lingered in the walls.
Gathering the spilled popcorn, I placed the bowl on the table and turned off the screen. The laughter that had come so easily a few minutes ago now felt reckless, dangerous.
Back in my room, I slipped under the covers, the silk of my chemise cool against my skin. Sleep still wouldn't come, but I forced myself to close my eyes.
Tomorrow, Selene and I were supposed to go shopping. Once we get back, I would get to work. Finding weak spots or secret exits.
I let out a slow breath and turned onto my side.
Five days. But midnight had already passed. Four days now to escape this house and an unwanted marriage.