Chapter 5 5

Mia stood in the sitting room, her heart racing as she gazed out of the massive windows. The sprawling estate below her was both beautiful and suffocating, a symbol of everything she had never wanted but now found herself a part of. It was an unsettling reality, the kind that made her skin feel too tight, her mind too clouded with thoughts she didn't know how to navigate.

She was alone. For the moment, at least. Xavier had left her with nothing more than the sound of her own breath and the silence of a house that felt too large for just one person. She moved to the window, running her fingers along the glass, watching the trees sway gently in the wind. The view was breathtaking, but it did little to soothe the storm swirling inside her.

She wasn't ready for this. Not really. She had signed on to this arrangement out of necessity, but there was something about Xavier's cold, calculating presence that made it hard to tell if he was in control or if she had already lost.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, interrupting her spiraling thoughts. She quickly retrieved it, hoping for a distraction, and saw Kara's name flashing across the screen.

Kara: How's it going? You good?

Mia hesitated before typing her response. It was impossible to explain what she was feeling-what she was to Kara. The reality of her life had shifted overnight, and even she wasn't sure how to make sense of it.

I'm here. It's... a lot.

She hit send, but the reply came quickly.

Kara: Don't do anything stupid. Call me later, okay?

Mia smiled faintly at the message, the protective tone of her friend a brief comfort. It felt good to know that Kara still had her back, despite everything that was happening. But Mia knew she had no one else to lean on. Not really. Not in this world Xavier had thrust her into.

Hours passed in a blur. The evening was approaching, and Xavier had given her little more than a few hours to settle into the estate before their first official appearance the next day. He hadn't spoken much, leaving her to wander through the grand halls of his mansion, occasionally bumping into staff members who offered polite greetings but little else. No one seemed eager to strike up a conversation. Mia had learned quickly that she was more of a visitor here than a part of this world.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Startled, she turned toward the sound, her pulse quickening in response. She hadn't been expecting anyone.

"Come in," she called, her voice more steady than she felt.

The door opened, and a woman stepped inside. She was tall, with long, auburn hair that cascaded in waves around her shoulders. Her expression was cool, a slight smile playing on her lips as she looked Mia up and down.

"You must be Mia," the woman said, her tone warm but calculating. "I'm Vivienne. Xavier's ex-fiancée."

Mia's stomach twisted. Ex-fiancée.

"Vivienne," Mia repeated, trying to keep her voice neutral as she sized up the woman before her. She was gorgeous-obviously used to getting what she wanted. The way Vivienne looked at her felt like a challenge, a reminder that Mia was just a temporary pawn in this game.

Vivienne stepped into the room with confident grace, her eyes lingering on Mia's face. "I've heard a lot about you," she said, a playful glint in her eyes. "I must admit, I didn't expect you to be so... charming."

Mia didn't miss the subtle barb hidden in Vivienne's words. The way she spoke made it clear that she considered herself far superior to Mia, despite the fact that her engagement to Xavier had ended.

"I didn't realize Xavier had told you so much about me," Mia said, keeping her voice calm.

"Oh, Xavier and I are... well, we were quite close," Vivienne said, her smile never faltering. "We still have an understanding, you know. He and I..." She trailed off, the air between them thick with unspoken history.

Mia's mind raced. She hadn't expected an encounter like this, and certainly not so soon. Vivienne's presence was a stark reminder of the kind of world she was stepping into-one where the rules were unclear and everyone seemed to play their own game.

"I just wanted to make sure we got off on the right foot," Vivienne continued, her tone turning softer, though the edge in her voice remained. "After all, you're going to be playing the role of Xavier's wife now. It's important to understand your place in all of this."

Mia forced herself to smile, though it felt brittle. "I'm just here to keep things... professional."

Vivienne's smile widened, but there was something sharp in it now. "That's cute. I'm sure Xavier will be thrilled to know you're all business."

She stepped closer, her gaze lingering on Mia for a moment longer than necessary. "Just remember, darling. You might be married to him, but you'll never replace me."

Mia's heart beat loudly in her chest, the words settling like cold stone in her stomach.

"I'm not trying to replace anyone," Mia said, her voice suddenly fierce. "I'm just trying to get through this, the way you seem to have done."

Vivienne's smile wavered for a moment, and Mia saw the briefest flash of something like uncertainty in her eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it had come.

"Don't worry, sweetie," Vivienne said, her voice almost too sweet. "You'll learn your place soon enough."

With that, she turned on her heel and left the room, the door clicking softly behind her.

Mia stood there for a long moment, her mind reeling from the encounter. She couldn't decide if Vivienne had just tested her or if she was genuinely trying to intimidate her. But either way, one thing was clear: Vivienne wasn't done with Xavier. And Mia was now part of a dangerous game she wasn't entirely prepared for.

Later that night, as Mia lay in the massive bed in her room, her mind continued to race. She had no idea what tomorrow's appearance would bring, but one thing was certain: she couldn't afford to make any missteps. Xavier was watching her every move, and Vivienne, it seemed, was waiting for her to fail.

As the hours passed and the quiet settled around the mansion, Mia's thoughts turned to Xavier. The brief moments she'd shared with him replayed in her mind-his coldness, yes, but also something else. Something deeper. She couldn't quite place it, but there was a connection there. A dangerous one, maybe.

She closed her eyes, her body exhausted but her mind unwilling to rest. The path ahead was unclear, but for the first time since entering Xavier's world, Mia had the nagging feeling that she might be exactly where she was meant to be.

Whether she liked it or not, this was her new life.