Chapter 2

And so, under the complicated and unreadable stares from all sides, my marriage to Maximus, the noble man of Seraville, unfolded like an absurd yet inevitable drama.

The whole of Seraville was waiting to see me, the brave soul venturing into the infamous bachelor's trap, make a complete fool of myself.

I lifted the hem of my priceless wedding dress, my heart filled only with dreams of the wonderful days ahead, living side by side with my fairy godmother-in-law.

The wedding was grand and extravagant, every detail dripping with the Drake family's legacy.

I was just a gorgeous marionette, playing my part and following the script to the letter.

At the party, I spent most of my time sticking close to Jessa. I guessed I should start calling her "Mom" now.

"Mom, you have to try this, it's really sweet," I said.

"Mom, are you feeling tired? Let me grab you a shawl," I said.

"Mom, you look absolutely gorgeous today!" I gushed.

I was so sugary with my words that my new mother-in-law couldn't stop smiling, holding my hand and calling me "so thoughtful."

As for my freshly-minted husband, Maximus, I hardly looked his way.

I just remembered how he stood tall, looking sharp in his tailored suit. His face was expressionless, his eyes cold and distant like a lake atop a snowy mountain, sometimes flickering with a kind of detachment, as if he didn't belong to this scene at all.

Well, that was perfect. He was exactly the kind of background prop I needed.

After the wedding, we were led into the Drake villa, a place that looked understated but screamed "I'm loaded" from every corner.

The room was all decked out for the occasion, with a ridiculously huge bed buried under a sea of bright red rose petals. The air was heavy with an intoxicating floral fragrance.

Maximus loosened his collar and carefully slipped off his suit jacket.

He moved with an effortless, aristocratic poise, every motion radiating innate nobility.

With just the two of us left in the room, it was so quiet you could almost hear the rose petals wilting.

It was time to lay my cards on the table and set some boundaries.

I took a deep breath, gave him what I hoped was my most genuine, understanding smile, and looked at my new husband, cool and distant.

"Mr. Drake," I said, my voice clear and bright, "don't worry."

He glanced up at me, silent, waiting for what I'd say next.

"I married you, but I swear I'm not here to mess up your life or disturb your peaceful vibe," I said.

I spoke with all the gravity of a press conference. "I totally understand and respect your feelings for your unattainable love. And I'm fully on board with your quest for inner peace and your whole monk-in-the-mountains vibe!"

I paused, checking his expression. Still nothing. Guess he actually heard me.

Feeling even more relaxed, I grinned wider. "This marriage? It's just a marriage on paper, a win-win deal. You can miss your loved one, and I'll be the perfect daughter-in-law.

"We stay out of each other's way and live in harmony. Honestly, it's ideal! Trust me, I'm a total professional. No crossing the line, ever!"

I thought my super chill, totally understanding speech would at least make him relax a little, thinking he'd married someone who actually gets how to keep things smooth.

But I was wrong.

Maximus's eyes, cold and distant like a mountain lake, slowly narrowed.

He took a step closer, and the cool scent of pine mixed with a hint of alcohol instantly flooded my senses.

"Oh?" he said, his voice dropping lower, suddenly magnetic, brushing past my ears. "Mess up my life? Disturb my peaceful vibe?"

He took another step closer, and I instinctively backed away, my calf bumping into the soft edge of the bed.

"Professionalism?" he echoed, his lips quirking, not quite a smile. "Annabelle, you really do have everything mapped out, don't you?"

My heart did a little flip. Why did the atmosphere suddenly feel so off? Wasn't he supposed to be the ice-cold noble man? But that look in his eyes… it was way more intense than I bargained for.

Before I could even figure out what was going on, he suddenly seized my wrist. His grip wasn't forceful, but there was no escaping his hold.

Suddenly, the world spun around me.

Before I knew it, he pulled me back and I tumbled onto the bed, sinking into a sea of rose petals.

The petals fluttered up, swirling down onto my face and body.

Maximus braced himself above me, one hand planted by my ear. His chillingly gorgeous face, set off by the red petals, suddenly looked almost wickedly alluring.

His eyes were deep and intense, all traces of that detached, monk-like vibe gone. Instead, there was a dark undercurrent swirling in them that made my heart skip a beat.

He leaned in, his warm breath ghosting over my ear, every word bitten out with a sharp edge of resentment.

"So, I'm not as irresistible as my own mother, huh?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

This wasn't what I thought.

Hey, where was his untouchable love? His vow of purity and self-restraint? His whole enlightened retreat plan?