Chapter 7

Emily's POV

My alarm clock was going off again, blaring its irritating noise. I groaned and pulled my hand out from under the covers to turn it off. I was so not ready to start the day. I just wanted to stay in bed and sleep for a few more hours.

I hated setting alarms. They always woke me up from a deep sleep and made me feel groggy and grumpy. But today, I had to set one so I wouldn’t miss the court wedding. I agreed to sign a proxy marriage for Olivia, but it wasn’t because my mom had asked me to or because I wanted to help Olivia, She had always been rude to me, and I had no desire to help her out. But I had my reasons for doing this.

I got up and took a quick shower, then dressed in a simple but flattering outfit. I took my time doing my hair, making sure it looked just right. As I looked in the mirror, I gave myself a small smile. I looked good, and I felt ready to take on the day. I grabbed my purse and headed out the door, feeling confident and prepared.

As I walked to the cab, I felt a sense of nervous excitement. I had never signed a proxy marriage before, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. As we drove to the courthouse, I tried to calm my nerves. Finally, I arrived at the courthouse. A man in a suit approached me and introduced himself as Carlos.

“I’m here to take you to Mr. Ethan Smith,” he said. “Are you aware that you’ll be signing a proxy marriage with him?”

“Yes, I’m aware.” I took a deep breath and nodded, following Carlos into the courthouse. We went through security and then walked down a long hallway. Finally, we reached a door with a sign that said “Marriage Bureau.”

Carlos knocked on the door and a voice called out, “Come in!”

We walked into the room, and I saw Ethan sitting at a desk, looking over some papers. He looked up at us and said, “You’re late,” his voice stern and his eyes fixed on me. “We were supposed to start thirty seconds ago.”

I felt a shiver run through me at his tone. “I’m so sorry,” I managed to say. “I’m ready to get this done.”

*******************

I sat in the passenger seat, gripping the door handle as the car sped down the road. I could feel Ethan’s eyes on me, but I didn’t dare turn to look at him. The silence was suffocating, and my heart was pounding in my chest. I tried to ignore the nerves, but it was impossible to relax.

"Why are you staring at me?" Ethan finally broke the silence, his deep blue eyes fixed on me.

"I wasn't staring at you," I tried to defend myself.

“I have a lot of rules for you, but we can get to that later. Right now, I want to make sure you know that you are not my wife, you just helped Olivia sign the marriage contract. You are simply just like a maid to me, and nothing more. Do you understand?”

I just nodded, not knowing what to say.

“Are you deaf? Why can’t you answer me with words?

I tried to speak, but the words caught in my throat. I was so nervous that I couldn’t form a coherent thought, let alone a sentence. I could feel my face turning red, and I knew I must look like a fool.

Ethan was still staring at me, a look of frustration on his face. I wanted to explain myself, but the words wouldn’t come. I felt like a complete idiot.

Finally, I found my voice. “I’m sorry,” I said, my voice shaking. “I’m not trying to be difficult. I just… I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry.” He just gave me a disgusted look and looked away.

We soon arrived at his house. The house was enormous, with towering pillars framing the entrance.

The windows were tall and arched, and the roof was covered in copper tiles that glinted in the sunlight.

There were lush gardens all around the house, with winding paths leading to a fountain in the center. I felt like I had entered a different world. The house was like something out of a fairy tale.

I stepped out of the car, my luggage in hand. I had expected someone to help me with my bags, but no one came. I stood there for a moment, feeling awkward and out of place. Then it dawned on me - I was not a guest here, but a maid. The realization hit me like a punch in the gut.

As I struggled to keep up with him, lugging my heavy bags along the path, I realized that I was being left behind. He didn't even look back to see if I was following, and I had to run to catch up with him. His pace was brisk and determined, and it felt like he was trying to get away from me.

As we stepped into the house, I was struck by the silence. I had expected to find maids around, but instead, I found only emptiness. The house seemed cold and unwelcoming.

Ethan's voice was stern and commanding, and he did not want to be questioned. "Stop staring and take your luggage to your room," his tone left no room for argument. "I don't like having people around, and that's why it's so quiet here." His words were final, and there was no mistaking his meaning. I felt like a scolded child.

Feeling overwhelmed, I stammered, "But I don't know where my room is. Can you help me?" Ethan sighed, clearly irritated, and then called one of his bodyguards over. "Show her to her room," he instructed, then turned and walked away. The bodyguard looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to follow.