Chapter 1; Loveless marriage

Page sighed,  “Just drop them upstairs,” she said, instructing the driver to move her and Rowan’s things into the new house. 

She glanced over to Rowan who was being unhelpful as he leaned on the edge of the car calling someone. 

She sighed. This morning was their wedding, She had just married this guy, yet he seemed so absent already. then again, she knew nothing about him.

This entire marriage was set up by his grandfather who provided This house as well.

Rowan finally ended his call., looking distinctly unhappy, “I can do this myself.” He said to the driver as he took one of his bags and dragged it inside.

Page followed Roran inside, annoyed. "Fine, this is a marriage of convenience, and I know your grandfather forced you, but why do you have to act like this?."

Rowan stopped in his tracks, his jaw tightening. "I'm already annoyed enough as it is. I don’t know why my Grandfather feels like he has to control every inch of my life.

If not for his threat to remove me from the company…” he glared at Page “I wouldn’t be here with you. Just leave me alone, Page," he said coldly.

Ignoring his dismissal, Page pressed on. "You can't just sulk around and expect everything to magically get better. I also got roped into all this, we are married now, We need to at least try to make this work."

Rowan turned to face her, his eyes cold. "Anything I do is none of your business. This marriage is nothing more than a contract. There will be no love and affection between us."

Page stood there, shocked by his bluntness. She stared at him, speechless, as he stormed upstairs, leaving her alone.

Rowan scuffed as he got to the top of the stairs, surprised at her reaction, it was calmer than he expected. He knew nothing about Page but he had concluded that any girl his grandfather picks will be nothing more than another one of his subordinates. 

“She probably texts him every day to update him on my actions,” he thought to himself. “All she has to gain here is money, and seeing as how she has successfully married into my family, she will. But that is all I will give her.”

Page sat by herself at the dining table, sipping some wine. The house was quiet, the only sound was the faint clock ticking on the wall. 

Even though she barely knew Rowan, she had at least expected an effort to make the piece, she sighed, worried that her life would be war in her own home from now on. 

“I also had no choice in this marriage,” she said out loud “So why do I have to receive all your anger”

She had hoped for something more from the man she was now married to, even if it was just a semblance of companionship. Instead, she was left with the emptiness of a large, cold house and the weight of Rowan's words still hanging in the air.

Was it too much to hope for a connection, a small spark, kindness? The wine did little to soothe her.

Page’s eyelids grew heavy. The wine, combined with the emotional exhaustion of the day, began to take its toll. Before she realized it, she had fallen asleep at the table, her head resting on her folded arms.

The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains and splashed on her, waking her. Page stirred, lifting her head slowly. She blinked, disoriented, as the events of the previous day came rushing back to her. It was morning already. Her wedding night has passed.

She felt a crick in her neck from the awkward sleeping position and rubbed it absentmindedly.

Page turned to look up as she heard someone coming down the stairs, she turned to see Rowan, fully dressed in a suit,  her breath catching in her throat. 

There was Rowan, walking down the stairs with an effortless grace that made her heart skip a beat. 

Dressed in a sharp, tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and lean frame, Rowan looked every bit the part of a powerful, confident man. His dark hair was neatly combed back.

His eyes were still cold and distant but they were Captivating still, just like how he was the first day she met him. She would be lying if she didn’t say she wasn’t attracted to Rowan at first sight.

unable to look away Page stared at him till he reached the bottom of the stairs.

 Rowan paused, briefly meeting her gaze. There was a fleeting softness in his eyes, a hint of something more beneath. Page’s heart fluttered.

But as quickly as the moment came, it passed. Rowan looked away, his expression returning to its usual detachment. Page sat up.

“Rowan,” she called out, her voice still thick with sleep. He didn’t respond, didn’t even glance in her direction. “Rowan, good morning,” she tried again, a bit louder this time, hoping to catch his attention.

But Rowan remained silent, his expression unreadable as he picked up his briefcase and keys. He didn’t acknowledge her presence, didn’t say hello. He was already halfway out the door before she could muster the energy to stand up.

“Have a good day at work,” she said with a sigh.

She waited, holding her breath for any sign of recognition, any small gesture that he had heard her.

Rowan paused briefly at the door, but instead of turning to her, he simply adjusted his tie and stepped outside. The door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving Page standing in the middle of the dining room, the silence once again enveloping her.

Page sank back into the chair, her mind racing. The house was already beginning to feel more like a prison than a home.