The drive to the Sebastien estate is chokingly silent.
Roxanne sits in the back of the luxury car stiffly, her hands curled into her lap. Across from her, her new husband reclines with effortless grace, his suit well tailored, and his gaze distant.
He has not spoken a word to her since they left the wedding venue, not even a whisper of reassurance, no comments…. Just nothing.
It was as if the whole drama at the wedding had been nothing more than a formality to him.
The reality of it starts to settle on her like a huge weight.
She is now Roxanne Sebastien.
Not by her choice, not by love, but her circumstance.
When the car finally pulls over at the estate, Roxanne felt herself gasping.
The Sebastien estate is something out of a dream, it was a kingdom. It has towering iron gates that stretches beyond what her eyes can fully take in at once.
The mansion itself was ahead, a grand architectural work of glass, marbles and carefully curated history. It has manicured gardens from the entrance, and warm golden lights it from the windows like something out of a fairytale.
She suddenly felt small.
She had thought she was prepared for this, but she was not.
The car doors opens, and a long line of staff stands at attention, their uniforms crisp, their expression unreadable.
The Sebastien family name carries a lot of power, but it is Ciel's presence that dominates at the moment. The way the staff's eyes subtly look at him, waiting, measuring, and very respecting.
Ciel steps out of the car first, adjusting his cuffs with some casual disinterest before turning slightly, and extends his hand towards her.
It feels like a silent command.
Roxanne hesitates for a second before she place her fingers in his. He has a steady grip, firm, but not cold. She straightens her spine as he leads her into the big estate, ignoring the subtle glances the staff exchanged among themselves.
This is her home now.
Inside the house, everything is polished to perfection. Marbles floors, chandeliers that gleam like captured stars, walls lined with artwork that probably cost more than her entire generation.
Yet, despite everything, the mansion felt empty.
As if the beauty is just a well structured illusion.
“Welcome home, Mr. sebastien. Mrs. Sebastien.”
The staff bowed slightly with their head. Ciel barely acknowledges their greetings.
He acted the perfect husband in front of them, by resting his hand lightly on Roxanne's lower back, guiding her up the stairs as if he is truly a loving husband.
But the moment the staff left their sight into their designated roles, everything stops. The warmth in his touch fades.
The unreadable expression was back in place.
By the time they got to the master bedroom, Ciel let the door shut ehind them and walks past Roxanne with looking at her. He undoes the first two buttons of his dress shirt and loosens his tie with ease.
As if the whole day has been nothing more than a business day to him.
Roxanne watches him, not sure what she had been expecting from him.
He does not try to touch her.
He does not demand his rights as a husband, does not leer at her, does not even make a comment about consummating the marriage.
Instead, he walks to the bar cart in the corner of the room and poured hismelf a drink. “I assume you are tired.”
His tone is neutral.
Roxanne blinks, completely thrown off by his casual talk.
“I…”
“You are free to use any of the rooms here,” he said as he swirled the liquid in his glass before taking a sip. “No one will force you into anything.”
She grips the fabric of her dress. “What?”
“I won't touch you unless you ask me to,” Ciel simply said, as he settled his glass down. “And even then…. I might make you beg.”
Roxanne was surprised.
Ciel's leans against the counter, watching her with quiet amusement.
“You think I am cruel, don't you?”
Roxanne narrows her eyes. “Are you not?”
“Perhaps.” He tilts his head, studying her. “But I do believe in fair things. So I will offer you a deal.”
“What deal?”
“One year”
She frowns.
“If you don't want this marriage, you can leave after a year.” He says with a steady and measured voice. “But until then, you will play your role.”
Roxanne watches him closely. Why? Why would he give her a way out?
There is something she is missing, something he is not saying.
“And what happens after a year?” She asks.
Ciel's smirks. “We will see.”
Roxanne clenches her jaw. “And what if I do not agree? What I want more?”
The amusement got back into his eyes.
“Then, We will see who gives in first.”
He takes a step towards her. Not close enough to touch, but enough to invade her space.
She refuses to step back.
His voice drops, low and teasing. “Are you scared of playing with me, Mrs. Sebastien?”
The way he says her new name made her shiver.
But she meets his gaze, not giving in.
“Are you scared that I will win?”
“I think I am going to enjoy this marriage after all.” His smirk deepens.
Meanwhile, back at the Renwick Manor, Evelyn sits in the dimly lit lounge, swirling wine in her glass as Reina paces around furiously.
“This can't be happening,” Reina seethes. “She was never supposed to be the one in that position. That should have been me!”
Evelyn echales slowly. “It's now over yet.”
Reina whirls on her mother. “How? He chose her. That arrogant bastard dismissed me like I meant nothing!”
Evelyn set her glass down with a sharp clink.
“Then we make him understand why you should be the one by his side.”
Reina's eyes darken.
“What do you want me to do?”
Evelyn smirks, her mind already working on a plan.
“Whatever it takes.”
She moved carefully the next day down the halls of the mansion. Such estate was literally a world in itself, vast and bigger than one could think, and silent.One could smell power and wealth from every part of the house, from the crystal chandeliers overhead to the windows that looked at the perfectly manicured gardens. The ceilings were dauntingly lofty with elaborate ornate, and the air perfumed with the faintest scent of polished wood and expensive cologne. It had its beauty, but it was distinctively chilling.And she felt it was not meant for her.Not because she was not worthy, no, she refused to believe that.But because this world had been built without her in mind.Heavily weighed down by the Sebastien name, even more so than the heaviest piece of jewelry she had ever worn, she walked along corridors where she could feel the eyes of the staff upon her. Their faces were placid, as far as she could tell; they had little to say to each other, but She wasn't that naive. There
CHAPTER 1“Father.” Roxanne’s voice rang out in the living room as she watched the man supposed to be her father, support her stepmother in her evil decisions.“Don't call me your father if you can't even do such a simple task as this.” Roxanne’s father, Mr. Derek Renwick spat out, sitting beside his wife, Evelyn Renwick.“Father, you want me to get married to a disabled man? To a man rumored to be even more ugly than a dog?” She asked again as tears rolled down her face, staining her face and shirt in the process. All these words coming from Derek were because his wife, Evelyn, suggested that Roxanne get married in place of Reina, her stepsister, To the son of the Sébastien family. The son is rumored to be handicapped and ugly.Everyone knew that the Sébastien family was the richest in the whole of Northpass City. Being the only old-money family to own half of the riches of the Northpass region. The Sébastien family also had three sons, but two were allegedly killed in a plane crash
CHAPTER 2 Roxanna's POVMy whole words crumbled before my very eyes as I watched my supposed fiance and my stepsister.How could Devian break the trust I had in him this much? Didn't he love me? He said he did.But what was all this?“Roxanna, I can explain.” Devian suddenly said as he put on his shorts and climbed off the bed, I saw a smirk form on Reina's face as she sat up on the bed, using the blanket to cover herself up.“Roxanna, it's not what you think” Devian began to say as he came to stand before me, but before he could proceed with his words, I raised my hand to slap him.Devian’s eyes widened as he held onto the side of his face I had struck.“Explain what?! That you're sleeping around with my sister?!” I yelled as tears stung my eyes.Devian always professed love to me each time we were together, we even had our marriage coming up in two weeks.But all this while I was getting overly excited, the man was whoring around with my step sister.Devian's gaze darkened as he g
CHAPTER 3 Roxanna's POVEvelyn pulled me into the mansion, but I kept resisting, trying my best to get her hands off me. I didn't want to get married. Not this way.I would rather sell my body somewhere and make money from a rich old man than get tied to a disabled stranger.My pleas went on deaf ears as Evelyn kept pulling me to my bedroom upstairs.“Let go of me!” I yelled for the umpteenth time, but she ignored me and pulled harder.“You’d better keep your mouth shut and come with me!” She yelled back, but I refused to be pulled like some animal. With the last remaining energy left in me, I bit her arm; the very one that kept pulling me continuously.“Ahhh!! You animal!” Evelyn shrieked and released her hold on me. I saw that as a good opportunity to make a run for the exit.“Stop her! Catch her and don't let her escape!” I heard Evelyn's voice from behind and I ran even faster.Once I got outside the mansion, I ran directly to the roadside to flag down a taxi. Thankfully, I found
CHAPTER 4 Roxanne's POVAfter I returned to Renwick's Manor, I was brought into the bedroom and dressed up in a white wedding dress. Everyone was rude, including the makeup artist herself. She asked me to make sure I never let a tear slip from my eyes or she would deal with me.I was trying so hard not to tear up, especially after the disgusting thing I had to do for money. I felt like a slut, a whore that my father had called my mother.Even though my mother wasn't a whore, I still got irked each time my father called her that. It even made me believe sometimes that my mother could be a whore.Now I had to do this to confirm that even if my mother wasn't a whore, I turned out to be a whore.Just then the room door was pushed open and Derek walked in.He gestured for the makeup artists and everyone else in the room to excuse us. Once everyone had left, I dropped the facade and turned to glare at him.“Where is Finn?!” I asked as my entire body shook, anger and pain filling me again
The whole room was in a complete silence as Derek and Devian tried to process what Ciel just said. The expected groom was supposed to be crippled, not this tall and confident man, who is clearly in control of the situation at the moment.Roxanne is also shocked. Not only is Ciel Sebastien not disabled, but he is also the same mysterious “Pretty boy” from the bar the previous night. Her heart raced with conflicting emotions ranging from disbelief, confusion, and embarrassment.Derek’s face turns pale instantly as soon as he realizes his mistake. He had thought the expected groom would be a crippled, powerless man. Now, he is looking at an imposing and powerful man who clearly does not appear like someone to be taken lightly.Ciel moves forward as he addressed Derek coldly.“So, Mr. Renwick, tell me, you were saying something about your Son in law?” His voice is calm, but it unsettles Derek.Derek tried to talk, in a bid to regain control. “There…there must have been some mistake! We we
At the wedding venue, some distance away from the Renwick Manor, ripples of disbelief quickly spread through like wildfire.Although the wedding was supposed to be private, word has a way of quickly traveling, especially when the impossible had just happened before the few selected audience present.“So the Sebastien heir is not crippled?”“Could this be a set up?”“Are Renwick's aware?”“Did they think they could deceive the Sebastiens?Many more started to whisper, and suddenly, it doesn't matter that only a few people were originally invited to grace the wedding ceremony.The weight of the revelation felt too great to be held in. Business associates, family allies, and even the high ranking guests who were in the hall of the event started exchanging funny looks, sending texts and making hushed calls.Within some minutes, everyone in the Sebastien estate and beyond will come to know the truth.Back at the Renwick’s Manor, Derek Renwick stands frozen, with a poorly concealed panicked
She moved carefully the next day down the halls of the mansion. Such estate was literally a world in itself, vast and bigger than one could think, and silent.One could smell power and wealth from every part of the house, from the crystal chandeliers overhead to the windows that looked at the perfectly manicured gardens. The ceilings were dauntingly lofty with elaborate ornate, and the air perfumed with the faintest scent of polished wood and expensive cologne. It had its beauty, but it was distinctively chilling.And she felt it was not meant for her.Not because she was not worthy, no, she refused to believe that.But because this world had been built without her in mind.Heavily weighed down by the Sebastien name, even more so than the heaviest piece of jewelry she had ever worn, she walked along corridors where she could feel the eyes of the staff upon her. Their faces were placid, as far as she could tell; they had little to say to each other, but She wasn't that naive. There
The drive to the Sebastien estate is chokingly silent.Roxanne sits in the back of the luxury car stiffly, her hands curled into her lap. Across from her, her new husband reclines with effortless grace, his suit well tailored, and his gaze distant.He has not spoken a word to her since they left the wedding venue, not even a whisper of reassurance, no comments…. Just nothing.It was as if the whole drama at the wedding had been nothing more than a formality to him.The reality of it starts to settle on her like a huge weight.She is now Roxanne Sebastien.Not by her choice, not by love, but her circumstance.When the car finally pulls over at the estate, Roxanne felt herself gasping.The Sebastien estate is something out of a dream, it was a kingdom. It has towering iron gates that stretches beyond what her eyes can fully take in at once.The mansion itself was ahead, a grand architectural work of glass, marbles and carefully curated history. It has manicured gardens from the entrance
At the wedding venue, some distance away from the Renwick Manor, ripples of disbelief quickly spread through like wildfire.Although the wedding was supposed to be private, word has a way of quickly traveling, especially when the impossible had just happened before the few selected audience present.“So the Sebastien heir is not crippled?”“Could this be a set up?”“Are Renwick's aware?”“Did they think they could deceive the Sebastiens?Many more started to whisper, and suddenly, it doesn't matter that only a few people were originally invited to grace the wedding ceremony.The weight of the revelation felt too great to be held in. Business associates, family allies, and even the high ranking guests who were in the hall of the event started exchanging funny looks, sending texts and making hushed calls.Within some minutes, everyone in the Sebastien estate and beyond will come to know the truth.Back at the Renwick’s Manor, Derek Renwick stands frozen, with a poorly concealed panicked
The whole room was in a complete silence as Derek and Devian tried to process what Ciel just said. The expected groom was supposed to be crippled, not this tall and confident man, who is clearly in control of the situation at the moment.Roxanne is also shocked. Not only is Ciel Sebastien not disabled, but he is also the same mysterious “Pretty boy” from the bar the previous night. Her heart raced with conflicting emotions ranging from disbelief, confusion, and embarrassment.Derek’s face turns pale instantly as soon as he realizes his mistake. He had thought the expected groom would be a crippled, powerless man. Now, he is looking at an imposing and powerful man who clearly does not appear like someone to be taken lightly.Ciel moves forward as he addressed Derek coldly.“So, Mr. Renwick, tell me, you were saying something about your Son in law?” His voice is calm, but it unsettles Derek.Derek tried to talk, in a bid to regain control. “There…there must have been some mistake! We we
CHAPTER 4 Roxanne's POVAfter I returned to Renwick's Manor, I was brought into the bedroom and dressed up in a white wedding dress. Everyone was rude, including the makeup artist herself. She asked me to make sure I never let a tear slip from my eyes or she would deal with me.I was trying so hard not to tear up, especially after the disgusting thing I had to do for money. I felt like a slut, a whore that my father had called my mother.Even though my mother wasn't a whore, I still got irked each time my father called her that. It even made me believe sometimes that my mother could be a whore.Now I had to do this to confirm that even if my mother wasn't a whore, I turned out to be a whore.Just then the room door was pushed open and Derek walked in.He gestured for the makeup artists and everyone else in the room to excuse us. Once everyone had left, I dropped the facade and turned to glare at him.“Where is Finn?!” I asked as my entire body shook, anger and pain filling me again
CHAPTER 3 Roxanna's POVEvelyn pulled me into the mansion, but I kept resisting, trying my best to get her hands off me. I didn't want to get married. Not this way.I would rather sell my body somewhere and make money from a rich old man than get tied to a disabled stranger.My pleas went on deaf ears as Evelyn kept pulling me to my bedroom upstairs.“Let go of me!” I yelled for the umpteenth time, but she ignored me and pulled harder.“You’d better keep your mouth shut and come with me!” She yelled back, but I refused to be pulled like some animal. With the last remaining energy left in me, I bit her arm; the very one that kept pulling me continuously.“Ahhh!! You animal!” Evelyn shrieked and released her hold on me. I saw that as a good opportunity to make a run for the exit.“Stop her! Catch her and don't let her escape!” I heard Evelyn's voice from behind and I ran even faster.Once I got outside the mansion, I ran directly to the roadside to flag down a taxi. Thankfully, I found
CHAPTER 2 Roxanna's POVMy whole words crumbled before my very eyes as I watched my supposed fiance and my stepsister.How could Devian break the trust I had in him this much? Didn't he love me? He said he did.But what was all this?“Roxanna, I can explain.” Devian suddenly said as he put on his shorts and climbed off the bed, I saw a smirk form on Reina's face as she sat up on the bed, using the blanket to cover herself up.“Roxanna, it's not what you think” Devian began to say as he came to stand before me, but before he could proceed with his words, I raised my hand to slap him.Devian’s eyes widened as he held onto the side of his face I had struck.“Explain what?! That you're sleeping around with my sister?!” I yelled as tears stung my eyes.Devian always professed love to me each time we were together, we even had our marriage coming up in two weeks.But all this while I was getting overly excited, the man was whoring around with my step sister.Devian's gaze darkened as he g
CHAPTER 1“Father.” Roxanne’s voice rang out in the living room as she watched the man supposed to be her father, support her stepmother in her evil decisions.“Don't call me your father if you can't even do such a simple task as this.” Roxanne’s father, Mr. Derek Renwick spat out, sitting beside his wife, Evelyn Renwick.“Father, you want me to get married to a disabled man? To a man rumored to be even more ugly than a dog?” She asked again as tears rolled down her face, staining her face and shirt in the process. All these words coming from Derek were because his wife, Evelyn, suggested that Roxanne get married in place of Reina, her stepsister, To the son of the Sébastien family. The son is rumored to be handicapped and ugly.Everyone knew that the Sébastien family was the richest in the whole of Northpass City. Being the only old-money family to own half of the riches of the Northpass region. The Sébastien family also had three sons, but two were allegedly killed in a plane crash