Chapter 1

The civil registry office was quiet that morning, filled only with the sound of footsteps echoing against the cold marble floor and the occasional murmur of officials speaking in a formal tone. The air smelled of paper, ink, and aged wood, mixed with faint traces of perfume from those who had come to settle important matters of their lives.

The registrar, a middle-aged man with thick glasses, opened his official record book. He looked at the couple before him with a professional smile, seemingly oblivious to the tension between them.

“Mr. Harry and Miss Arabella, before we proceed, I will explain the steps we will take together. This ceremony is brief, but its meaning is profound,” he spoke calmly but firmly.

Arabella swallowed hard, her hands clasped tightly together. She stole a quick glance at Harry, who remained staring straight ahead, his jaw clenched.

“First, I will read the legal articles regarding marriage. It is important that you both understand your rights and responsibilities as husband and wife,” the registrar continued, shuffling through a stack of documents on the table.

Harry gave a slight nod, uninterested in saying much. Meanwhile, Arabella took a deep breath, trying to come to terms with the reality that, in just a few minutes, her life would change forever. She would become the wife of the man beside her. A man she barely knew.

“After that, I will ask you to recite your vows. This is not just a formality—it is a symbol of the commitment and responsibilities you will share,” the registrar explained before pausing, allowing them time to absorb his words.

Harry finally spoke, his voice deep and steady. “And after that?”

“Then, you will sign the official marriage documents, witnessed by the witnesses you have chosen. With your signatures, your marriage will be legally binding. Finally, I will validate your marriage and issue an official document as proof of your union.”

The registrar explained efficiently, his gaze shifting between Arabella and Harry.

Arabella felt like she was trapped in an unending nightmare. But she knew there was no turning back. Circumstances had led her here, and the only thing she could do was move forward. Escape was not an option.

The registrar closed his book momentarily. “Before we begin, do either of you have any questions?”

Silence. Neither of them spoke.

After a long pause, Arabella finally inhaled deeply and said, “No. Let’s begin.”

Harry gave a small nod. They had no choice but to go through with this.

The wedding ceremony proceeded. And just like that, Arabella and Harry were now legally husband and wife.

Once the documents were finalized, Harry took Arabella straight to his house.

Inside the car, Harry Anderson sat beside her in silence. He wore a black mask that concealed almost his entire face, leaving only his sharp, unreadable eyes visible. A truly mysterious man.

The drive to Harry’s mansion felt unbearably long. Arabella watched the raindrops trickling down the car window, her mind drifting back to the betrayal of her lover and half-sister. How foolish she had been to trust them. How foolish she was to be bound in a marriage she never wanted.

Harry remained quiet. He showed no interest in her, as if he was merely fulfilling an obligation.

A marriage like this? Arabella struggled to calm the storm of emotions within her.

“Get out.”

Harry’s cold voice snapped Arabella out of her thoughts.

They had arrived at his mansion. A wave of unease crept into Arabella’s heart.

She recalled the chain of events that had led her to this moment. How, in her lowest state, she had agreed to marry a man she didn’t know. How she had stood in front of a mirror just hours ago, wearing a simple dress with a shattered heart. How her wedding had taken place without the presence of her family.

Just a day ago, Arabella had been drowning in emotions after uncovering Mike and Helena’s betrayal.

“So this is what you’ve been doing behind my back?” Arabella’s voice trembled with a mix of rage and unbearable pain.

“Arabella, I can explain—” Mike stepped closer, but she took a step back, refusing to let him touch her. She would never allow a coward like him to lay a hand on her again.

“Explain what? That you cheated on me with my own sister?!” Her eyes blazed, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to breathe through the pain.

Helena stood frozen, her face pale. “Bella, I don’t know what to say.”

Arabella let out a bitter laugh. “Of course. Betrayers never have the right words to justify their sins.”

Mike ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I never meant to hurt you, Bella.”

Arabella had gone to see Mike that day to talk about the arranged marriage her father had forced upon her. She had planned to confide in him, to seek his comfort.

Her father, Edwin, was drowning in financial troubles. The coffee business he managed was on the brink of collapse, and he was deep in debt to banks and loan sharks. Without her consent, he had arranged for her to marry a man named Harry Anderson—a ruthless, paralyzed millionaire who had agreed to clear his debts in exchange for her hand in marriage.

As if her father’s betrayal wasn’t enough, the man she had loved and trusted had also stabbed her in the back—with her own sister, no less.

And now, here she was. Standing in front of the massive mansion that would be her new home. Beside a man who didn’t even want her there.

“Stop standing there.”

Arabella snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Harry. He had already entered the house without waiting for her—his newly wedded wife.

She let out a quiet sigh, watching as his wheelchair rolled further inside.

Her steps were heavy, but she had no home to return to.

This mansion marked the beginning of her new life.

Whether it would bring her happiness or more suffering remained unknown.