Marina's POV
I stood in front of the massive mansion, my breath hitching slightly at the sheer size of it. It was even bigger than my father's estate—bigger than anything I had seen in LA, even among the elites. It sat high on the hill, its grandeur overwhelming. How had I missed the signs? How had I chosen a man who clearly wasn't poor?
I turned to Aiden, still trying to process it all. "You live here?"
"Yes," he said simply.
"This is my home. I live alone—well, mostly. The servants come in during the day, but they stay in their own quarters. My grandfather visits sometimes to bother me, but don't worry, you'll like him," Aiden added, gesturing toward a separate set of houses.
I studied him again, my curiosity growing. There was something mysterious about him, something unreadable. Why did I feel like I knew so little about the man I had just married?
Before I could voice my thoughts, an elderly voice cut through the air.
"Aiden, what are you doing here?"
I turned, startled, as an older man—his grandfather, I assumed—sat at the dining table, looking both curious and suspicious. Aiden tensed beside me, his expression shifting into something unreadable. He moved toward me, taking a seat beside the older man.
"I hope he hasn't been questioning you too much," Aiden asked me quietly.
I smiled, deciding to play along. "Not at all. We're having a great time, as you can see." I threw a wink at him, silently telling him to go with it.
Aiden exhaled and leaned back slightly. "Oh, Grandpa, don't stress yourself. It's nothing, right?" His voice was light, but I could feel the tension underneath.
The older man hummed in response. "You don't need to worry at all. I'm getting along with the new bride," he said with an amused grin.
I stood up, stretching slightly. "Why don't I prepare something to eat? You both should relax."
As I walked toward the kitchen, I heard his grandfather's voice turn sharp.
"Son, I need you to start talking."
I paused slightly, my hand hovering over the kitchen counter.
"Where did you meet her?" His voice was demanding.
"Why all of a sudden?"
"I'm so surprised," he continued, his fork clattering against the plate.
Aiden sighed, the weight of the conversation evident in his tone. "Grandfather, I had to save her from humiliation."
Silence.
Then the older man scoffed, his voice laced with disbelief. "You married her out of pity?"
I clenched my fists at his words, a bitter taste filling my mouth. Was that what this was? Pity? I pressed my lips together, schooling my expression before turning back to continue with the meal.
If that's how he saw it, then I'd have to make sure he realized just how wrong he was.
I barely had a moment to process Aiden's grandfather's harsh words before the door opened, and a familiar voice filled the room.
"Not even that? You didn't inform us. Is that how it's done?" he bellowed, clearly furious. A figure stormed into the room, her presence unmistakable.
"Yes, brother, who could you hide from us?" Summer's voice rang out, sharp and unyielding as she folded her arms and walked towards the table. She wasn't pleased.
Aiden's posture stiffened as he turned toward her. "Why didn't you call to inform me you were coming?" His voice was laced with frustration, his earlier composure slipping.
Summer scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, I need to inform you before coming over to your place, or what?" she hissed, each step she took almost as if she were punctuating her words with the click of her heels on the floor.
Aiden's grandfather was still visibly upset, muttering to himself before Summer's voice cut through the air again. "Grandfather, no more discussion. I need to find that girl who got rejected by her fiancé and got married to my brother the same day."
I stood in the kitchen doorway, my hand on the counter, as Summer's words registered in my mind. My heart skipped a beat at the mention of my former fiancé.
"Wait, you mean she was supposed to be married to someone?" Mr. Wellington's voice came out, puzzled.
Summer unfolded her arms, quickly tapping away at her phone. "Oh, grandfather, didn't you check the media?" She handed the phone to him, her expression now more serious.
I could feel my pulse racing as I watched the interaction. Aiden's grandfather scrolled through the phone, his expression turning darker by the second.
A frown appeared on his forehead, and his lips tightened as he read through the article about my breakup with Jayden and my sudden marriage to Aiden. His anger was palpable as he slammed the phone onto the dining table.
"Now tell me, you're just some random boy?" His voice was harsh, incredulous, as if the situation had somehow become even more absurd in his eyes.
Aiden sighed deeply. "Yes, grandfather. Ask him more questions, while he'll marry a stranger." His voice was laced with bitterness now, too, as he glanced at me.
I stood frozen, my hand still gripping the plate of food as I tried to control the whirlwind of emotions inside me.
Summer, seemingly fed up with the conversation, muttered something under her breath before snapping, "I hope she's not who I think she is." She quickly scanned the room with narrowed eyes, her gaze landing on me as I set the tray of food on the table.
Her eyes widened slightly, and a storm of emotions flashed across her face. "Wait, don't tell me you are…?" she stuttered, her head spinning, processing the realization.
A cold shiver ran through me. Summer was staring at me, and I knew what she had just put together. She recognized me. I could almost feel the hatred rolling off her in waves.
She quickly shifted, composing herself as best as she could. "Hi, sister-in-law," she greeted with a smile that was as fake as her tone.
"Summar, stop glaring at her, she's my wife so face it. Grandfather, we need to talk." Aiden suddenly said, his voice a hint of anger and frustration.