Married to him

As Mara stepped out of the car, her heart pounded with nervous anticipation. Rows of maids bowed before her, their uniformed presence a stark reminder of the grandeur of the Lewis Family Mansion. With each bow, Mara felt the weight of her impending marriage pressing down on her.

Dressed in a flowing white gown, adorned with delicate beads in her hair, Mara tried to exude confidence, her posture straight and proud. But as she crossed the threshold into the mansion, a wave of doubt and insecurity washed over her, shattering the facade of her egomaniacal spirit.

The grandeur of the mansion, with its towering ceilings and opulent decor, only served to magnify Mara's feelings of inadequacy. Surrounded by servants and the looming presence of her unknown groom, Mara couldn't help but feel like a small, insignificant figure in this vast, imposing world.

As Mara stood in the dimly lit room, her mind raced with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. The opulent surroundings and the prospect of spending her wedding night with a complete stranger only added to her unease.

Voicing her thoughts aloud, Mara couldn't help but wonder aloud about the absurdity of the situation. "Are we really going to have our wedding night without even knowing each other?" she mused, her words hanging in the air unanswered.

Remembering Evelyn and Lucian's advice about divorcing him as soon as possible, Mara felt a fleeting sense of reassurance amidst her anxiety. But as the door burst open with a loud thud and a wheelchair was wheeled into the room, her heart sank once more.

A cold, commanding voice pierced the silence, sending shivers down Mara's spine. "You can go now, Gordon. I don't want anybody to disturb me," the voice commanded, leaving Mara alone with the mysterious figure in the wheelchair.

As the hefty man bowed and left the room, Mara's heart raced with trepidation. She could barely see the figure in the wheelchair through the dim lights, but the icy tone of his voice hinted at a formidable presence.

Gathering her courage, Mara braced herself for the unknown, her fists clenched at her sides in determination. "I am Mara! I'll knock him out with my punches if he tries anything stupid," she vowed silently to herself, her heart pounding in her chest as the wheelchair rolled closer. Uncertain of what awaited her, Mara stood her ground, steeling herself for whatever was to come.

Mara's mind raced with a flurry of thoughts and emotions as she grappled with the reality of her situation. The revelation that the Lewis Family had orchestrated her arrival with such immediacy only added to her mounting apprehension.

"It would have been better to marry Alex, the nerd, than this imbecile," she thought bitterly, her mind reeling with regret and frustration.

Lost in her thoughts, Mara barely registered the wheelchair rolling closer to her side. But when the figure suddenly stood up, towering over her, Mara's heart leaped into her throat, and she stumbled backward, her feet tangling in the layers of her wedding gown.

With a startled cry, Mara tumbled onto the bed, sending a cascade of rose petals flying through the air. As she lay sprawled on the soft bedding, she felt a chill run down her spine as the tall figure loomed over her, casting a shadow that engulfed her entirely.

Panic surged through Mara as she realized she was trapped, her mind racing with frantic thoughts and desperate plans for escape. "What is he doing? What does he want from me?" she screamed internally, her thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of fear and anger.

In the grip of terror, Mara's thoughts turned to vengeance, her mind consumed with thoughts of retribution against Maya and her scheming mother. But as the figure drew nearer, Mara knew that escape was impossible, and she braced herself for whatever fate awaited her in the dimly lit room of the Lewis Family Mansion.

As Mara curled into a protective ball, bracing herself for whatever ordeal lay ahead, she felt a strange sense of unease when nothing happened. Slowly, cautiously, she opened her eyes, only to find him peering deeply into her own, his gaze intense and penetrating.

Frantically searching for a way to diffuse the tension, Mara stammered out a plea for civility. "Hey... I... I think we should try to talk this out calmly, don't you?" she stuttered, her voice trembling with fear. "What's wrong with you, Mara? You said you'd knock him out," she scolded herself silently.

He rose from the bed, his movements deliberate and controlled. Mara followed suit, sitting up on the edge of the bed, her heart pounding in her chest.

Sensing an opportunity to break the ice, Mara suggested turning on the lights. "Don't you think we should turn on the lights, so we can at least see each other?" she proposed tentatively.

But his response was cold and dismissive. "I have no interest in getting to know you. I have something important to say, though," he declared, his tone dripping with arrogance. "My family thought I was an imbecile, so I went along with it to avoid certain things and gain others. So, learn to keep your mouth shut."

Mara's heart sank as she realized the gravity of her situation. She was trapped, entangled in a web of deception and manipulation. But despite her fear, she refused to back down. With a steely resolve, she rose from the bed, determined to take control of the situation.

As she fumbled around the room in search of the light switch, he watched her with a mix of amusement and irritation. "The switch is beside the door, on the right," he instructed tersely, his voice cutting through the tense silence like a knife. Undeterred, Mara found the switch and flicked on the lights, illuminating the room and revealing the true face of her mysterious husband-to-be.

As Mara obediently followed his instructions and illuminated the room, her eyes widened in disbelief as she beheld the sight before her. The man standing before her was nothing like the imbecile she had imagined him to be. With his striking features and commanding presence, he seemed more like a demi-god than the invalid she had anticipated.

Shaking herself out of her daze, Mara scolded herself inwardly for letting her imagination run wild. "Snap out of it, Mara. Don't let your imagination get the best of you. How could the man in the wheelchair earlier, with that cold voice, possibly be this?" she chided herself silently.

His voice snapped her back to reality, reminding her of the task at hand. "Are you done inspecting?" he asked, his tone cutting through the silence.

Stumbling over her words, Mara tried to compose herself. "Uh, yes, I heard you. So, you're saying I shouldn't let your family know about your condition? But why reveal your true self to me? Couldn't you have continued the charade?" she asked, still standing by the door, her mind reeling with confusion.

"I didn't tell you because you're important or because I have nothing better to do. I'm just telling you because we'll be living together for a while, and secondly..." he began, only to be interrupted by Mara's incredulous interjection.

"Wait, did you just say we'll be living together? Alone? Not here?" she exclaimed, her disbelief evident in her voice.

Ethan nodded, extending his hand for a handshake. "Yes, we'll be leaving this house soon. Until then, I need you to cooperate and keep my condition a secret. By the way, I'm Ethan Lewis."

Mara stood rooted to the spot, her mind whirling with confusion and uncertainty. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Despite agreeing to the contract marriage orchestrated by her stepmother, she never imagined it would lead to this. Ignoring his outstretched hand, Mara hesitated before speaking, her voice trembling with apprehension. "Alright, I agree with you. I'm Mara Lopez. But can I ask you something? Do you really need this marriage?" she inquired, her eyes searching his for answers.

Ethan's voice dripped with impatience as he bluntly laid out the reason for their forced union. "This marriage is crucial for me to achieve my aim, alright? Once I get what I want from my father, we can call it quits. And yeah, I'll pay you for your time," he stated brusquely, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Mara recoiled at his curt manner, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Pay me? For what?" she snapped, ignoring his extended hand.

"For your time, obviously," Ethan retorted sharply, his irritation palpable. "I know you're not thrilled about this marriage, and neither am I. But it's a necessary charade for my dear mother's sake. Unless, of course, you're too good for the money?"

Mara's jaw clenched at his dismissive tone, but a flicker of satisfaction danced in her eyes. So, he was just as eager to see the end of this farce as she was. Maybe this twisted arrangement wasn't all bad.

"Tonight I'll sleep on the couch, you take the bed and tommorow morning you'll be facing the whole family so prepare your mind" He said taking a pillow on the bed and arranging the couch.

Mara was overwhelmed.