MARRIAGE OF INCONVENIENCE

The sun cast golden rays through the windows, brightening every corner of the mansion.

Outside the chirping of birds filled the air with the sound of the gentle breeze on the leaves.

The aroma of food filled the atmosphere, making my stomach flutter with excitement.

My heart was racing and I felt like it was going to pop out of my chest. My husband, who I hadn't seen since my wedding day, was returning today.

I could hear the clock ticking, triggering my anxiety as every minute passed.

My marriage to Mason has been transactional, we entered into it for mutual benefits. I had managed to revive my father's company, and my mother's surgery was a success. I was grateful for the resources that Mason's connection provided.

Mason's family and my family had been business partners before my father passed away, so I had the chance to see him occasionally. I had always loved him, ever since the first moment my eyes met his, but he never seemed to notice me in that way. He has a lover, someone who captured his attention, while I remained in the shadows.

His parents arranged my marriage with Mason just to help me and I couldn't refuse the offer.

To the outside world, I was his wife, a title that carries weight to the Media, but behind closed doors, our marriage is just a marriage of inconvenience.

My heart aches as I anticipate his return that our marriage was more transactional than genuine and he will never love me the way I do love him

All the staff walked outside, and nervousness filled the air. I'm a few minutes, a sleek white Lamborghini drove in. I felt a wave of sweat trickle down my back. I managed to stay calm as I stood on the veranda of the house, trying to steady my racing Heart as the staff lined up at the entrance.

I glanced towards the car.

Some men rushed to open the door for Mason, their movements quick and practiced. As he stepped out of the car, the sunlight seemed to catch his face just right, brightening his features and making his handsome face glow.

My heart skipped at the sight of him, he surveyed the environment.

He walked to the other side of the car and opened the door, and I was shocked to see Brittany, his lover, emerge. Mason held her hand gently, and she stepped out confidently.

My heart skipped a beat. I was hurt. Seeing Mason and Brittany, the realization hit me that I was delusional, hoping Mason and I could have a chance to connect but seeing them together shattered that hope.

As they shared a laugh, my mind raced with questions. How had I allowed myself to believe that our marriage might mean something more? Standing there on the veranda, I felt invisible, Would I ever be more than just a name to him?

I envied their little laugh, the way he looked at her like she was his universe.

I questioned my worth, wondering why I had never been able to capture his attention. Was I not enough? Does our marriage mean little or nothing to him that he could easily share his life with someone else?

I stood there feeling like a ghost in my own life. Overshadowed by someone who has everything I have longed for.

They walked past me after glazing at me without saying a word It felt like a knife had been pierced through my chest.

The staff began mumbling to themselves. I just wished the ground would open up and swallow me. I took a deep breath and walked into the house.

I'm not giving up on Mason, Not yet.

"Home sweet home!" I heard Brittany exclaim with excitement, her voice bright and full of joy.

I watched, my heart sinking, as they leaned in and kissed right in front of me.

The staff began carrying big boxes upstairs; I couldn't help but roll my eyes, a mix of bitterness and disbelief written over me. "Is she staying here forever?" I mumbled to myself.

Mason didn't even glance at me, he turned to Brittany, casually saying, "I'll go take a shower. I'll be right back for lunch." He kissed her cheek, and she hummed in response, the sound of his footsteps fading as he ascended the stairs.

Brittany's eyes landed on me, and she walked closer with confidence. "Oh, the latest bride in town," she said, her tone filled with sarcasm.

Here she was, standing in my home, taunting me as if I were the intruder. I didn't respond to her, choosing to remain silent.

"Oh, poor little thing," she chuckled, she voiced with mock sympathy. "I see you want what I have."

Her confidence was infuriating. "You can have the title as his wife," she continued, leaning in slightly, "but you can never have the key to his heart. He belongs with me."

Every word she said sounded like a challenge

I forced a smile and said, "Welcome to the mansion," trying to walk away. But she grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin, making me wince in pain.

"As long as I'm here, you will do exactly what I command," she said, her voice echoing with authority. I felt the weight of her words.

She was the daughter of a multimillionaire, and I was just the daughter of nobody.

"Understood?" she asked, her tone commanding. I replied with a hesitant, "Yes," and she finally let go of my arms.

As she released her grip, I could still see the imprint of her nails on my skin, a painful reminder of her authority. I rubbed my arms lightly, trying to shake off the pain. She walked upstairs, her confidence with every step as she made her way to Mason's room. I watched her, a mix of frustration.

I couldn't stand the sight of Brittany and Mason, so I decided to visit my mom. The thought of her comfort and support felt like a lifeline. As I turned to leave, I reminded myself that I had a purpose beyond this agitation...

Celine smiled, her heart was joyful as Amelia's small arms wrapped around her. "I've missed you so much, Amelia," Celine whispered, kneeling to hold her tighter. The scent of her mother's house, familiar and comforting, made the moment even more special. Amelia pulled away just a bit, grinning from ear to ear.

"Me too! Guess what, I learned how to make cookies all by myself!" Amelia announced proudly, her eyes sparkling.

Celine chuckled, ruffling her sister's hair. "You're going to have to show me. I can't wait to taste them."

From behind Amelia, their cat, Whiskers, meowed loudly, rubbing against Celine's legs. Celine bent down to scoop the cat into her arms. "And I missed you, too, little furball," she murmured, scratching behind Whiskers' ears.

Amelia giggled. "Whiskers missed you more than I did."

Celine laughed, feeling at home again. "I don't know about that. But I miss home.

Celine's stomach growled as the delicious scent of food reached her nose. It was that familiar, comforting smell-something her mother had always been so good at creating, especially when she wanted to make everything feel okay.

Amelia bounced excitedly in front of her. "Mom's making your favorite! I think it's spaghetti tonight."

Celine asked. "Spaghetti? Amelia nodded with a smile. She glanced around the room, letting the warmth of her mother's house wash over her before her thoughts drifted back to the chaos she'd just left behind. Mason and Brittany. She hadn't even had the chance to eat the meal the staff prepared.

Amelia noticed her sister's expression change, just for a second. "Are you okay, Celine?"

Celine forced a smile and nodded, ruffling her sister's hair again. "I'm good. Just... hungry, I guess." She took a glance at the kitchen door, where the sounds of her mother doing her magic were coming from. "But once that food's ready, everything will be better."

Amelia grinned. "Come on, I'll help you set the table!"

With a final glance at Whiskers, Celine followed her sister to the dining room. Despite everything, there was a sense of peace here-a sense of home.

Her mind drifted to her late father and she wished he was here with them. Memories of her loving father filled her memory. It was just what she needed right now.

Celine's mother came out of the kitchen and saw Celine setting the table with Amelia. When Celine saw her mom, her eyes lit up, and she rushed into her arms. Her mother embraced her warmly, though Celine held back tears.

Her mom, smiling, said, "I'm so happy to see you, my baby." Amelia jokingly interrupted, saying, "Mom, I thought I was your baby, Celine's all grown up now." The moment ended with laughter, and their mom affectionately responded, "You both are my babies."

After enjoying the delicious spaghetti her mom prepared, Amelia quickly ran off to play, while Celine stayed behind to help her mom in the kitchen.

As they were doing the dishes, her mom asked, "Aren't you supposed to be home? You told me Mason was returning today, and you sounded happy about it when we were on the phone." Celine's mood shifted as she replied, "I was happy at first, thinking I was marrying the man I love, but Mason doesn't seem to love me." She said this as she dropped a plate into the basket, her tone filled with uncertainty.

Her mom gave a soft, understanding hum. "I know it's hard, but you deserve to be with someone who makes you feel valued, someone who's fully there with you, not just physically, but emotionally. I feel this is all my fault if only I hadn't fallen sick, this wouldn't have happened."Her mom's eyes filled with sorrow.

Her mom, though tired, looked at her with a faint, concerned smile. "You're a good woman, Celine. You deserve someone who sees how special you are.

Celine's heart tightened as she held her mom's hands, squeezing them gently. "Mom, please don't blame yourself. You've done more for me than anyone could ask for. I'll always be here for you, no matter what. We're a family, and we'll get through this together." Her voice wavered slightly, but she forced herself to stay strong.

After their long conversation, Celine glanced at the clock-it was already 6 PM. She knew it was time to go. Standing up, she gave her mom a final hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Bye, Mom," she said softly.

Her mom smiled, waving her off. "Take care, sweetheart. Love you."

"I love you too," Celine replied, feeling both the weight of the day and the comfort of family.

As she moved toward the door, Amelia, her younger sister, appeared from the living room, her face lighting up when she saw Celine. "Bye, Celine!" she said with a grin, giving her sister a quick hug around the waist. "Come back soon!"

Celine smiled and bent down to kiss Amelia on the forehead. "I will, sis. You take care of Whiskers for me, alright?"

Amelia nodded, holding up the family whisker in her arms. "I will! Whiskers say bye too!" she giggled, making the cat wave in Celine's direction with a little shake of its paw.

Celine laughed softly, feeling a surge of warmth. "Tell Whiskers I'll miss him too." She winked at the cat, giving it a playful wave.

With one last hug for Amelia and a final wave to her mom, Celine stepped out the door, a little lighter. She got into her car, ignited the engine, and drove away.

I got home at exactly 7:35 PM. The mansion, usually alive with activity, was unusually silent. It felt as though the house had been abandoned, with not a soul in it. No servants moving about, no murmur of conversation from the staff. I dismissed the thought waving it off my shoulders.

As I walked upstairs, I suddenly heard the familiar sound of Brittany's voice-moaning. It was a sound I never wanted to hear, especially not now, not in this house. The realization of what was happening hit me Mason and Brittany were having sex. I turned quickly, walked into my room, and slammed the door behind me with a force that echoed through the hall. The sound of the door slamming might have interrupted whatever was going on in the other room, but I didn't care. I locked the door and needed space for myself, an escape from the unfair reality around me. Without thinking, I moved straight to the bathroom.

As I lay in the bath, I couldn't help but wish I had never loved him that way. If I hadn't, maybe it wouldn't hurt so much. I got out of the tub, put on my nightie, and crawled into bed. I pulled the duvet over me, feeling a deep exhaustion settle in, and drifted off to sleep, though it wasn't a peaceful rest, I escaped reality.

The rays of the sun hit my face, dragging me out of sleep. I groaned, sitting upright on my bed, the pain in my head making it harder to focus. I tossed my duvet, Slowly, I pushed myself up from the bed, my body feeling heavy. I stumbled to the door, unlocked it, and made my way downstairs, still finding the house quiet. There was no sign of the staff anywhere, as though the mansion had been completely abandoned.

I walked into the kitchen, hoping to find something to distract myself from the chaos in my mind. When I saw Mason standing there, I felt a bit of relief; a small part of me was glad to see his face. He glanced at me briefly but then quickly turned away as if he hadn't even seen me.

"Hey," I said, my voice coming out hoarse from the sleep. He didn't answer, not even a simple acknowledgment. I stood there, silently watching him, mesmerized by the way he moved. His beauty was undeniable, and for a moment, it almost distracted me from everything else.

"Uh, I... I didn't get the chance to say hi yesterday," I stammered, trying to make some kind of conversation, anything to break the tension. He didn't respond right away; he just gulped down his water. I watched, unable to look away, as his Adam's apple went up and down with each swallow. After he finished, he set the glass down and walked out without another word. My gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before the reality of the situation settled back in.

How did I fall for him this much? I questioned myself, I took out a milk from the fridge and gulped it down.

The tension in the air was thick as I walked toward Mason, who was seated, invested in his phone. I hesitated, unsure if I should continue speaking, but I needed answers. "Ummm, I can't find any staff," I stammered, waiting for a response. There was none.

I sighed, feeling the frustration building up. "Mason, I'm talking to you. Will you stop giving me the silent treatment?" I demanded, but he didn't answer still. His eyes, cold and piercing, briefly met mine, sending an uncomfortable chill down my spine. Then, as if I hadn't spoken at all, he returned his gaze to his phone.

"Brittany fired them," he said, his voice emotionless.

I paused, struggling to process what he'd just said. "What? Why would she do such a thing?" I asked, my voice trembling with disbelief.

"Enough!" His voice thundered through the room, sharp and commanding. I flinched, my heart racing.

"Okay," I whispered, not daring to say another word.

---

I was about to head to my room when Brittany walked in wearing jogging pants. "Hey, baby," she said to Mason, planting a kiss on his cheek. He dropped his phone, completely focused on her.

"Really?" I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes. Slowly, I began walking upstairs, straining to hear their conversation.

"That's why I love you," Mason said, his voice full of admiration. "You keep so fit and you're very strong."

They both chuckled.

"Strong, my ass," I muttered, jealousy steaming inside me.

"My friends will be coming over today," Mason added casually.

Really? Shouldn't that time be dedicated to me, as his wife? Whatever. I stormed upstairs, stamping my feet with each step to make sure they heard. They both stared at me, but I refused to look at them. Without a word, I walked straight into my room, slamming the door behind me.

"His friends are coming over, lol, and he's telling Brittany?" I muttered with jealousy, banging the door behind me. The sound echoed through the room.

I walked over to my wardrobe, frustration written all over me. I needed something to make an impression, something that would prove I could still stand out. He thinks Brittany is more beautiful than I am, doesn't he? The thought made me scoff under my breath.

My fingers brushed past various clothes until I found it-a floral gown. I pulled it out, holding it up against myself in the mirror. It was perfect. Feminine, but bold enough to catch attention.

I walked into the bathroom to have a bath, trying to shake off the frustration from thinking about Brittany and Mason. Afterward, I stepped out, wrapped a towel around me, and sat down in front of the mirror. As I applied my cream, I couldn't help but think about Selene my best friend.

As I applied my cream, I thought about Selene, my best friend. It had been days since I last called her. I grabbed my phone and dialed her number. Suddenly, her voice came through, but... she was moaning.

"Selene?!" I screamed into the phone, bursting into laughter.

"I'll call you later," she said, her voice filled with pleasure, before hanging up.

"What a best friend," I muttered to myself, still laughing.