MIA'S POV

The reception was being held at Jonathan's estate, everything about today was prepared and designed to establish Jonathan as the center of the marriage, the price.

I was just a side character.

The estate itself was bigger than ours, with a mansion that could probably house fifty people comfortably. Jonathan had built his empire from nothing, turning a small tech startup into a billion-dollar company losing who he was in the process.

"Your belongings were moved to the left sude of the house yesterday," Jonathan said, his eyes narrowing as we finally entered the gates after several long minutes. The first words he'd spoken to me since we met at the church. His tone was wasn't even conversational, it was like he was talking to his employee. "You'll have your own suite, your own office space if you need it. I travel frequently for work, when I'm home, we'll maintain appearances for necessary social functions. Beyond that, I expect you to stay out of my way."

How charming. "Of course, I wouldn't want to inconvenience you with my presence in your home."

His gaze cut through me, fierce and sharp, his voice slightly raised and authoritative. "Let's be clear about what this is, Mia. Your father offered me access to international markets and investors that I need and I offered him legal business channels. You're just a part of that transaction so I don't expect us to pretend this is anything more than it is."

Transaction, there was that word again, as if I was a commodity, not a person.

"How romantic," I said sweetly, a smile tugging at my lips. "Now can i be on my merry way to our bedroom?"

"You won't be in my bedroom." His voice was carried the tone that suggested there was no room for argument. "The left side of the house is yours, I'll live on the right, we have separate spaces and separate lives, we will only mingle when it's necessary."

"Understood," I said with a cold tone, matching his."I'll be sure to schedule any necessary wife activities through your assistant."

"See that you do." The car stopped in front of the main entrance and Jonathan got out without waiting for me, his long legs carrying him toward the house where guests were already gathering.

Asshole. I grabbed my dress and followed him wearing an unnecessary large smile that made me feel like my face was about to crack.

The reception area was filled with people I didn't know and didn't want to know, the numbers were more than that of the church wedding, but the same carefully curated mix of business associates and family members who all looked like they were attending a funeral instead of a wedding. My father smoking pot close to the bar, looking pleased and full of himself, with Elena and my stepsisters surrounding him with mischievous smiles on their faces.

I caught Collins watching me with the corner of my eyes, with an expression i couldn't quite read.

"Mia." My father approached me, placing his heavy on my shoulder which was surprising, since he hasn't exactly wanted to be in close proximity with me for ages. "Come, there are people you need to meet."

I followed him because that's what good daughters did, even when their fathers were self serving pieces of shit.

The next hour was filled with introductions to different people and their half assed congratulations. Men with suspiciously vague business descriptions but expensive suits, and women dripping in diamonds that seemed too extravagant for their husbands' supposed import/export businesses.

Jonathan played his part perfectly like he had spent time rehearsing how to pretend. He introduced me as "my wife, Mia" his hand occasionally touching my back just for appearances.

"Your wife is lovely," one man said to Jonathan, his smile too wide for the words he was saying. "Such a beneficial arrangement, I'm sure your partnership with her father will prove very...profitable."

"I certainly hope so." Jonathan's smiled, his gaze intensely focused on the man. "Vittorio has promised access to several international investment opportunities, I'm looking forward to exploring those options." He took a quick glance at his watch like he was expected somewhere. "If you'll excuse us," Jonathan said abruptly, his grip on my elbow firm as he controlled me away. Once we were out of hearing range, he released me immediately like holding me was burning him. "Try to look less miserable, people are starting to notice."

"Maybe I wouldn't look so miserable if my husband could manage to fake basic civility." I shot back at him.

"I'm being perfectly civil." He responded, his eyebrows raising slightly. "I'm standing next to you, introducing you to people, fulfilling my obligations as agreed, what more do you want?"

To not feel like I'm being paraded around like livestock."it's cool." I heard the words stumble out of my mouth before I could stop it.

"Good." He checked his watch again and i noticed that it was a sleek piece that probably cost more than a car. "I have to take a call, don't forget to mingle and be charming."

Then he walked away, leaving me standing alone in a room full of strangers.

I found my way to the gardens, desperate for air and space.

"You look like you need this." Clara came to me holding out a glass of champagne. "Rough night?"

"What do you want, Clara?" I asked my eyeballs rolling backwards.

"Just checking on my sister." She sipped her own drink, her eyes sparkling with malicious amusement. "Jonathan seems... intense, not quite the loving husband material, is he?" She shuddered dramatically. "Must be hard, being treated like that by a man you used to-"

"Finish that sentence and I'll push you into the fountain," I said with a forced smile tugging at my lips.

She laughed out loud, without caring whether or not people could hear her. "There's the Mia I know. For a second, I thought marriage had broken your spirit already."

"Get away from me, Clara." I shot at her, my voice raising slightly.

She set down her empty glass, taking a final glance at me. "Oh, and one more thing? Collins has been asking about you, he wanted to know if you were settling in alright. I told him you seemed perfectly happy with your new husband."

"You talked to Collins?"

She walked out on me for the second time today, without answering me, leaving me shaking with fury.

I stayed in the gardens until the reception calmed down and the last guests went home and the staff began cleaning up. When I finally made my way back inside, the house was quiet, and I could finally observe how beautiful it was.

A member of staff-middle-aged woman with kind eyes-approached me. "Mrs. Mysterio? I'm Lydia, the head housekeeper, I'll show you to your rooms."

I followed her through several corridors until we finally stopped at a set of double doors

"Here we are." Lydia said, opening the double doors. "Mr. Mysterio had everything prepared according to your father's specifications, If you need anything, just ring the bell beside tbe bed."

The suite was extremely beautiful, my clothes were already unpacked and my belongings arranged properly, even more than i could myself.

"Thank you, Lydia." I mustered a little smile despite how tired and exhausted I was.

"Of course." She hesitated at the door, scanning my face. "If I may speak, Mrs. Mysterio...it gets easier. Mr. Mysterio can be difficult, but he's not cruel."

She left without another word and i finally let myself collapse onto the bed, still wearing my wedding dress, staring at the ceiling of my new prison.

Somewhere in this massive house, Jonathan was probably working, completely unbothered by the fact that he'd just married someone and I was here, alone, bound to a man who looked at me with disgust waiting for the order to destroy him.

My phone buzzed with a single text from an unsaved number, probably Collins using an untraceable line. "First task, locate his office and report back in 48 hours. "

I removed my wedding dress and changed into something else, something more comfortable and i hung it in the closet, my mind trying to figure out how I was going to spy on a man who'd already made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me.

Welcome to married life, Mia.

Mia's pov

Morning came quickly, almost too fast and it felt like the sun rose first on this part of the world. I freshened up, slid into a sundress and stepped out of the room.

"Good morning Mrs. Mysterio.." each staff member I walked past greeted, their heads hanging low.

For the first time in my life, I was respected. Even though the respect was still tied to Jonathan. The sweet smell of food grazed my nostrils and I found my way to the dining area.

Breakfast was already served and I pulled a chair out for myself. I didn't bother to ask whether Jonathan would be joining because I knew if he wanted to, he would have been here before me.

So I served myself and ate alone... in silence. A part of me slowed down, maybe he'll have a change of heart and come down for breakfast. But even after I spent almost an hour on scrambled egg and toast, he didn't show up.

The meal was simple and yet sumptuous. I ate to my fill and left the dining area in silence. My phone buzzed again and the same unsaved number dropped another message.

"Don't forget, 48 hours" the text read simply. I stared at it blankly, my face bland and expressionless. I hadn't even gotten used to being married and Collins was already bombarding me with tasks like I was some newly launched killer robot.

The morning was slow and quiet. Nothing like the noisy mansion I was used to. No sound of Elena's screeching voice barking orders at everyone, or my father throwing vases across the room because someone didn't do their work well.

This place was different. Everyone moved in silence, maids talked in hushed tones. Even the birds in the sky seemed to know that there was a volume limit to their chirping.

I walked through the halls slowly, mastering every turn, every door, every corridor. Until I slid through the back and walked through the hallway on the right side. Jonathan's side of the house.

He forbade me from coming here, but I have a mission and the earlier I get this done, the faster I leave this place.

I walked deeper into the hallway, mastering every door I walked past. Until something caught my attention... a flickering light above me. Surveillance cameras!

"Shit!"

I quickly turned around and strutted back to where I was coming from. I didn't need Jonathan to notice I was lurking around and I certainly didn't want to raise any suspicions.

When I got to my door, I pushed it open and slammed it shut behind me, leaning on it until I could steady my breath.

"For goodness' sake, how did I not think of surveillance cameras?" I whined as I tossed my phone on the bed and pulled my hair up.

I paced back and forth in my room, trying to convince myself that Jonathan won't be checking those footages anytime soon and even if he does, I'll just tell him I was curious and wanted to know what the entire mansion looked like.

My mind steadied and I picked my phone back up, adjusted my dress and left the room again. This time, I strolled out of the house and into the garden. The flowers caught my attention when I got closer and as I stood in front of the fountain, I noticed there were more flowers I was allergic to.

Jonathan knows I'm allergic to these flowers... actually he knows that Sophia is allergic to them so why does he have them in abundance? Was he trying to repel me if I ever wanted to pay him a visit?

A chortle escaped my lips and I shook my head as I walked away from them.

"Too bad you won't see what's coming.." I muttered and continued my stroll around the house. I noted some blind spots in my head and some corners that led to other rooms in the house.

The back was heavily guarded, but the corners of the house were left unprotected. In a normal setting, those were the best spots to infiltrate. But knowing who Jonathan is and the way he thinks, that's the first place he'd check if something didn't sit right with him.

I literally spent the entire day getting familiar with the guards on duty and mastering their off hours. I knew how many cameras were in the living room, in the corridors, in the hallways and in front of Jonathan's room. But there was none by his study.

Minutes stretched into hours and my stomach grumbled for food. I walked back into the house for lunch but my shoulders grazed someone.

"I'm sorry.." I muttered but he didn't look back. He just kept walking like I didn't even exist. Something in me twisted.. for a moment, I felt pain I didn't know still lived inside me.

Does this mean that the love he had for me wasn't strong enough for him to recognize me underneath this mask? Was I so irrelevant to him?

Most importantly, why do I still feel something for him? I watched his back until he got into his car and drove off. Not a single word said to me, but his action was like adding salt to an injury my father had reopened.

I took a deep breath, swallowed my emotions and walked straight to my room. I didn't even feel hungry anymore. Now that he wasn't home, an idea crossed my mind. This might be my only chance to get into his study and see if there was anything useful I could get.

So I changed into a black dress and folded my hair into a bun. I grabbed my phone and walked stealthily through the hall, making little to no noise with my steps until I got to his study.

I wasted no time in front of the door and just pushed it open, sliding in through the little opening to avoid making any creaking noise.

The study was dark, the only source of light being the little crack in the ceiling. I turned my phone on and scanned through the room, the smell of burned cigarette and alcohol filled the air.

Since when does Jonathan smoke? I thought to myself as I stared at the stubs smoked halfway and dumped in the ashtray.

"This isn't why I'm here.." I warned myself as I leaned over his desk and pulled compartments out. A few folders stared at me, unnamed. I flipped through the pages, all I could see were staff names, salaries paid and salaries owed.

I grunted in disappointment as I tossed the folder back into the drawer. I honestly didn't expect things to be easy for me, so I kept looking until I saw his laptop laying on the sofa.

I picked it up and flipped it open, my hands rested on the keyboard as I tried to guess the password. I tried old codes... like our anniversary, his birthday, mine, a combination of the two..

Nothing worked. I sighed and closed my eyes to think of something else, but the sound of a car pulling over interrupted me.

I quickly put the laptop back where I saw it and darted out of the room, moving through the back until I came out to the left side of the house. But then something hit me...

Why was it so easy for me to open his study?

Mia's pov

Jonathan had already walked into the house by the time I returned and he paused as he saw me. For a split second, it just felt as if he recognized me but then his hoarse voice pulled my head out of that thought.

"What are you doing?" He snarled, looking around me for any hint of mischief.

"Nothing. Just getting familiar with the house.." I said and he stared at me for a few more seconds before walking away.

I returned to my room, my heart pressing against the walls of my chest. What if he walked in on me rummaging through his study? He'd have me killed even before I got the chance to end him myself.

But why are there more cameras on this side of the house than any other part of the mansion? Did he already suspect me even before agreeing to the marriage?

All the questions in my head needed answers but I couldn't get any, so I took my shoes off and crawled into my bed. The cold air rushed in through the open window and grazed my shoulders.

I felt my throat burning as memories of Sophia came flooding back. When I used to be in love.. the days when I had dreams. Big dreams of running as far away from my father as possible. Where I'd start a brand new life with the one I loved... Jonathan.

The night after he told me how unworthy and unfit I was to be his wife, was the night Sophia died. My father's forced surgery was just the funeral.

I took a deep breath and sat up on the bed, wiping my face with the back of my hand. Just as my mind kept drifting, an almost inaudible knock sliced through the silence.

"Come in!" I ordered. The hinges creaked softly and the door pushed open, Lydia walked in holding a little tray containing a folded envelope.

"Mr. Mysterio sent this over." She said and I got down from the bed to pick it up.

"Thank you.." I muttered without lifting my head from the envelope. The door slammed shut and I sat in flllront of my dressing mirror, tearing the envelope apart to see the content.

"...heartily invites you to her golden jubilee.." I muttered softly.

What stopped him from giving me this when he saw me earlier?

I smacked my lips and placed the card on the table, dragging my legs back to the bed. Barely five minutes later, another knock came. This time, louder and firmer than Lydia's.

I walked to the door and pulled it open, outside stood a young lady with a stern face.

"Mr. Mysterio has orders for a change of wardrobe.." she started and I rolled my eyes.

"You're mistaken darling, his side of the house is to the right. Mr. Mysterio doesn't stay in this part of the house.." I explained and turned to leave but she held the door.

"The change isn't for the boss... it's for his wife. And I believe you're the one.."

I stared at her for a while and slowly stepped aside.

"If you'd please walk with me to the living room, we need to take your measurements." She requested. I shut my door and followed her into the living room, it was already packed with racks of dresses and women in uniforms folding more clothes into boxes.

Upstairs, Jonathan lurked around the railings, hovering like a hawk.

I stood in the center of the living room as the lady took my measurements.

"Spread your arms.." she ordered softly. This went on for a while and slowly, I eased into it.

When I finally sat and watched the uniformed ladies display the clothes, I couldn't help but admire the uniqueness of the designs.

My phone vibrated on my lap and I stared down at it. I barely got any messages on my phone and when I did, it was usually Collins. I hesitated at first and finally picked it up.

The timeframe he gave me hasn't elapsed so what was he texting me again for? As I stared at the message, the world paused for a second.

Before I could process the text, a call came in from the unsaved number. Collins.

My thumb hovered over the accept button and my heart pounded in my ears. I could guess why he was calling.. probably to confirm the text I just received.

But then I remembered Jonathan was watching, so I declined the call and turned my phone face down on my lap again.

I repeated the message in my head and the clothes didn't interest me anymore.

"Uhhm.. let me leave you all to do your thing... I need some rest." I said to the head and she tipped her head a little to the left.

"But ma'am, we're only getting started. You haven't seen our best designs yet and you still haven't decided which ones you're picking.." she insisted.

I stared at each rack one after the other, trying to come up with something fast.

"Make use of your expertise and do the selection on my behalf. You've seen me, you know what I'd like. The rest is up to you.." I ordered and she nodded reluctantly.

"Or... matter of fact, I don't trust anyone's judgement. You probably know nothing past your uniforms. I'll take it all, thank you.."

I turned and walked back to my room. I looked up and my eyes met with Jonathan's. The way he stared at me made me feel as though he read the text message from all the way up there. But that's near impossible.

He slowly looked away and disappeared from sight while I hastened to mine.

After making sure the door was latched, I opened my phone and dialed the unsaved number again but it didn't connect. I guess I can't call him but he can.

So I tossed the phone on the bed and buried my face in my palms.

"Change of plans. The order to kill will come sooner than you think."

The message was that simple and it made me panic. I only had less than 24 hours left to get the passwords and the files Collins asked me to get, and now I'd have to start worrying about how soon I'd be asked to end him.

"Ughhh!"

I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a soft breath.