This is not your husband

The morning light filtered through the curtains, Alysha slowly opened her eyes, her body still nestled against her new husband's chest. His arm held her securely, his breathing deep and steady, lost in the depths of sleep. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest beneath her, the warmth of his body surrounding her like a protective cocoon.

Carefully, she shifted to look up at him, taking in his features for the first time in the soft morning glow. Her heart swelled with unexpected happiness. She had never anticipated her husband would be this handsome. His strong jawline, the soft waves of his hair, and the faint lines that etched his face gave him an air of mystery and maturity that she hadn’t expected. 

Alysha smiled, feeling a strange warmth blossom in her chest. But as her eyes lingered on him, a thought nagged at the back of her mind. He looked much older than she had imagined. She was only 18, and her husband, Armin Rodriguez, was supposed to be just five years older than her, which would make him 23. Yet, lying there beside him, he looked like a man in his thirties—older, experienced, and far more worldly than she had expected.

Still, the thought did nothing to dampen her spirits. If anything, the age difference only added to the allure of the man she now called her husband. She felt a thrill of excitement ripple through her as she studied his face, a mix of wonder and admiration filling her heart. Despite the mystery surrounding him, she felt safe, content in his arms, as though she had already fallen for him without even realizing it.

Alysha’s fingers traced the outline of his chest lightly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She didn’t know what lay ahead for them, but in that moment, she felt as though everything had fallen into place, and her heart quietly whispered that this was only the beginning of something beautiful.

Alysha’s heart raced as she heard the sudden knock at the door. 

Then, a sharp knock broke through her thoughts, pulling her abruptly back to the present. Alysha’s heart leapt, the sudden sound jolting her senses as a mix of anxiety and curiosity rushed through her. Who could be at her door this early? Her mind ran through possibilities—someone from the Suegra family, a message, or perhaps…

With her body still sore from the previous night, she rose carefully from the bed, wincing slightly with each step.

Alysha wrapped herself in a silk robe, her fingers trembling slightly as she crossed the room. She unlocked the door and opened it, revealing the stern face of Neil Holland, the security chief who had brought her here from her village. His presence exuded authority, his stance rigid and his gaze focused. She noticed the tight set of his jaw, and for a brief second, a flicker of concern shot through her.

"Mr. Holland... you?" she greeted, seeing Neil Holland, the security in charge. His appearance was unexpected, and Alysha tried to remain composed despite the awkwardness of the moment.

“Ms. Jarl,” he said, his tone low, all business. "I apologize for the early hour."

Alysha straightened, her pulse racing as she studied his expression, trying to read the reason behind his sudden visit.

“Is everything all right?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Neil said nothing. His face was stern, his eyes dark and unreadable as he walked straight past her, heading into the room without a word. Alysha blinked, taken aback by his abrupt behavior. Her heart fluttered with unease as she followed him, wondering what had possessed him to act so strangely. She watched Neil come to a stop, his eyes fixed on the man lying asleep on the bed.

Suddenly, Neil froze, his expression shifting from unreadable to one of sheer horror. His eyes widened, his face pale as though he had just seen a ghost. Alysha, confused and concerned, hurried to his side, her pulse quickening. She couldn't understand why he was reacting this way.

"What’s going on, Mr. Holland?" Alysha asked, her voice shaking slightly as she looked between Neil and her sleeping husband, who lay completely unaware of the tension building in the room.

Neil didn’t answer right away. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes stayed glued to the man on the bed. His mouth opened, but no words came out for several long seconds. Alysha’s chest tightened, a sudden sense of dread creeping over her as the silence stretched on.

Finally, Neil tore his gaze from the bed and looked at Alysha, his eyes filled with horror and disbelief. He seemed to struggle with the words, his voice low and trembling when he finally spoke. "This… this is not your husband, Alysha."

Alysha's breath hitched, her entire body freezing as the words sunk in. "What?" she whispered, her mind refusing to process what she had just heard. She looked at Neil, waiting for him to explain, but the truth lingered in the air, too shocking to comprehend.