Chapter 5 A House Built on Silence

Julian's mansion was silent in a way that felt deliberate.

Not peaceful.

Not calm.

Controlled.

Aria noticed it the moment she stepped inside.

The doors closed behind her with a soft, final click, and the sound echoed through the vast marble hall like a warning. The space was enormous-high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, polished floors that reflected light without warmth. Everything was perfect. Expensive. Untouched.

And completely unwelcoming.

"Your room is on the third floor," the driver said politely, avoiding her eyes. "Dinner is served at eight. Mr. Blackwood... rarely misses it."

Rarely. Not never.

Aria nodded, clutching the strap of her small bag. This was all she had brought. Everything else-her clothes, her books, the little pieces of herself-had been left behind in the house that no longer felt like home.

As the driver left, a woman stepped forward. Middle-aged, impeccably dressed, her posture straight as iron.

"I'm Mrs. Hargreaves," she said coolly. "I manage the household."

Her gaze swept over Aria from head to toe, lingering just a second too long on her worn shoes, her plain dress.

"This way."

They moved through long corridors lined with abstract paintings Aria didn't recognize. The silence pressed in on her ears.

"Mrs. Blackwood," Mrs. Hargreaves said suddenly.

Aria flinched.

"Yes?"

"You will address Mr. Blackwood formally in public," she continued. "At home, he has not specified."

Of course he hadn't.

"And the staff?" Aria asked carefully.

Mrs. Hargreaves stopped in front of a wide staircase and turned. Her eyes were sharp, assessing.

"The staff is here to serve Mr. Blackwood," she said. "Respect is expected. Familiarity is not."

Aria understood the unspoken message clearly.

You don't belong here.

They reached the third floor. Mrs. Hargreaves opened a door at the far end of the hallway.

"This is your room."

Aria stepped inside-and stopped.

The room was beautiful. Large windows. Soft gray walls. A king-sized bed dressed in pristine white. Everything looked untouched, like a luxury hotel suite prepared for a guest who might never arrive.

"This is... nice," Aria said quietly.

"It is functional," Mrs. Hargreaves replied. "Mr. Blackwood's room is at the opposite wing."

Aria's breath caught for just a moment.

Separate rooms.

Relief mixed with something else-something hollow.

"I'll arrange for your belongings to be delivered tomorrow," Mrs. Hargreaves continued. "If you need anything, ring the bell. Dinner is in two hours."

She turned and left without another word.

The door clicked shut.

Aria stood alone in the center of the room.

This was it.

This was her life now.

She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands. They looked the same, but she felt different-smaller somehow, like she'd been folded into a shape that didn't quite fit.

A soft knock sounded.

She stiffened. "Yes?"

A young maid stepped in, eyes downcast. "I'm Lily. I was told to help you unpack."

"There's nothing to unpack," Aria said gently.

Lily hesitated, then nodded. "If you need anything, Mrs. Blackwood... I mean"

"It's fine," Aria said softly. "Thank you."

When Lily left, the silence returned.

Aria lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

Somewhere in this house was the man she had married.

The man who hated her.

Dinner was exactly on time.

Aria changed into the simplest dress she owned-a pale blue one her mother had once said made her look calm, even when she wasn't. She smoothed her hair, took a deep breath, and followed the directions she'd been given.

The dining room was long and formal. A table that could seat twelve held only two place settings.

Julian stood near the window, his back to her, his phone pressed to his ear.

"No," he said sharply. "I don't care how long it takes. Fix it."

He ended the call and turned.

His gaze landed on her-and paused.

Just for a second.

Something unreadable crossed his face before his expression closed again.

"Sit," he said, pulling out a chair.

Aria obeyed.

Dinner was served in silence. Course after course appeared, untouched by conversation.

She forced herself to eat, even though her stomach churned.

"Your mother's treatment has been arranged," Julian said suddenly, cutting through the quiet.

She looked up. "Thank you."

"It's not charity," he replied. "It's part of the agreement."

"I know," she said quietly. "Still... thank you."

His jaw tightened.

"Don't thank me," Julian said. "It changes nothing."

She nodded.

The words stung more than she expected.

When the plates were cleared, Julian stood. "You'll attend the charity gala with me this weekend."

Aria blinked. "Already?"

"Yes."

"I don't-"

"You'll wear what my stylist provides," he continued coolly. "You'll smile. You'll stand beside me. You'll speak when spoken to."

"And if I make a mistake?" she asked.

His eyes met hers, dark and cold. "You won't."

He turned to leave.

"Julian," Aria said before she could stop herself.

He paused.

She swallowed. "Why did you really choose marriage?"

He looked back at her slowly.

"Because," he said, "prison bars are too easy. I wanted you to live with what your family did."

Her chest tightened. "You don't even know me."

"I know enough," he replied.

Then he left.

That night, sleep refused to come.

The house creaked softly, unfamiliar sounds settling around her like strangers watching from the dark.

At some point, she heard footsteps outside her door.

They paused.

Her heart pounded.

She held her breath.

After a moment, the footsteps moved away.

She exhaled shakily.

The next morning, Aria woke early and wandered into the garden, desperate for air. The grounds were vast, manicured to perfection, every flower placed with intention.

She hugged herself, the chill biting through her thin cardigan.

"You're up early."

She turned.

Julian stood a few feet away, dressed in workout clothes, his expression unreadable.

"I couldn't sleep," she admitted.

"Get used to it," he said.

They stood in silence, the space between them heavy.

"You don't have to hate me so loudly," Aria said quietly.

Julian's gaze snapped to hers.

"You think this is loud?" he asked coldly. "You have no idea."

Her heart clenched, but she held his gaze. "One day, you'll realize you're wrong."

His lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "And one day," he said, "you'll stop pretending you're innocent."

He walked past her, leaving behind words that wrapped around her chest like chains.

Aria stood there long after he was gone, the morning sun rising around her.

She had entered this marriage prepared to endure.

What she hadn't expected-

was how deeply it would hurt to be hated by the man she now belonged to.