Chapter 4 The wedding night agreement

Chapter Four: The Wedding Night agreement

The house was awkwardly still upon their return.

Elena emerged from the limousine, the night settling on her shoulders like a shroud. The extravagance of the Vaughn estate stood before her, the soaring columns and boundless gardens intimidating in the light of the outdoor lamps.

They were greeted by a butler with a formal nod, who flung open the grand front doors. Alexander led the way silently into the house, with Elena following uncertainly behind him.

She hardly had time to get a glimpse of the marble floors, the magnificent chandelier, when a wee apparition tore towards her.

"Lena!"

Lily.

She hurled herself into Elena's embrace, giggling.

Elena's heart softened. "Lily! What are you doing staying up?"

"I wanted to wait for you!" The child smiled, her arms wrapped tightly around Elena's waist. "You look like a princess."

Elena smiled, pushing a rebellious curl back from Lily's face. "And you, my dear, must be in bed."

Lily scowled. "I wanted to see if you were really my new mommy."

Elena's breath caught.

Mommy.

She glanced at Alexander, who stood a few feet away, his eyes impossible to read as he watched the drama play out.

Before she had a chance to reply, a woman was upon them-Mrs. Hastings, the family's longtime housekeeper. She nodded kindly at Elena before carefully leading Lily by the hand.

"Come along now, sweetheart. It's late. Get you to bed," Mrs. Hastings entreated.

Lily lingered but finally released Elena, her shining eyes brimming with trusting innocence. "Will you tuck me in tomorrow?"

Elena's heart twisted. "Of course."

Lily smiled, waving before she moved off down the corridor.

When they were by themselves, Elena accosted Alexander. "She thinks I'm-"

"I know," he cut in, his voice abrupt.

Elena folded her arms across her chest. "Did you ever explain to her that this isn't... real?"

Alexander's jaw tightened. "Lily is a child. She doesn't need to know the complexities of our arrangement."

"She deserves the truth."

Alexander's eyes darkened. "She deserves stability. Something Victoria never gave her."

Elena's brow creased, catching the acid tone, but before she could ask him anything, he turned on his heel.

"Come," he ordered. "I'll show you to your room."

-

She expected the master bedroom.

Instead, Alexander led her down another hallway of the mansion, stopping in front of a stunning guest suite.

"This is your room," he stated curtly.

Elena blinked. "Wait. we won't be sharing a room?"

He lifted a brow. "Did you expect otherwise?"

She flushed, heat rising up her throat. "I just thought-since we have to give the appearance of marriage-it would just be simpler to do it. For show."

Alexander regarded her for a moment, then exhaled slowly. "Only Lily is important, and she doesn't care who we sleep beside. And besides, I would never dream of faking in private."

The words stung more than they should.

Elena glanced about the room-it was beautiful, but chilly, like all of this arrangement.

Alexander stood in the doorway. "We have rules to follow, Elena. This is a contract marriage, not a real one. Don't forget it."

Elena swallowed hard, her pride prickling. "Trust me, I won't."

Without a word, he walked out and left her standing in the middle of a life she wasn't certain she could survive.