In an apartment, a figure buzzed around the room, packing things into her bags and making sure nothing was left behind.

The person was Lauren. She was dressed in casual wear with her hair tied in a low bun, and she had an expressionless face as if this place wasn't somewhere she had called her home for years. 

Suddenly, her eyes paused on the frame she had placed on the bedside table and finally, the emotions she had kept hidden showed on her face. Her face turned pale and her lips trembled, but she still swallowed hard and picked up her courage to walk to the frame. She picked it up with her trembling fingers and her eyes deepened with emotion seeing the three people with a joyful smile.

The picture was of Lauren, Celine and Julian. This picture was taken on their graduation and the smiles on their faces were happiness and carefreeness. 

Her fingers caressed their faces and her lips gradually curled up in a small sneer. 

"How could I be so stupid as not to know something was going on between you both? You both are really good pretenders!" she chuckled but it was one of self-mockery. 

She felt sorry for herself. Now that she thought about it, she wondered how someone like herself had agreed to give up everything for Julian? Was he that good? 

He had told her his family doesn't like the limelight and like a fool, she had given up everything and even began to work behind the scenes just for his company to grow. And the dumbest thing she had done was that she never once asked him for anything. She didn't care about what he did with her designs or whether he gave her profits. All she had ever wanted was sincerity, but it seems, she had looked too desperate for him and like a fool, she allowed herself to be played by them. 

She would agree that this was her fault. But, still... 

Lauren paused, then her fingers that had traced the faces suddenly clenched on the frame and with a "bang!" she threw the frame on the floor. 

She watched the glass that secured the picture break into pieces and as she bent to pick up the photo from the ground, she felt tense. 

With one hard pull, the photo in her hand was torn but she didn't stop, and continued to tear it into shreds, then she walked to the washroom that was in the room and flushed it. 

Lauren will not allow herself to be sentimental towards people who have treated her wrong. She would give an eye for an eye! 

Besides, since she was married now, she would remain loyal to Alex. 

At the thought of that powerful man, her heart which was still surging calmed down and her face returned to being indifferent.

Though she couldn't give him her heart, she would make sure her loyalty lies with him. 

After resolving the conflict in her heart, she calmed down and finally finished parking her bags. Lauren pulled the bag up, then looked around the room she had stayed in, and then turned around to leave without any sentiment.

Though she and Julian lived together in the same apartment, they never slept in the same bed. And for the past few months, he hadn't even been coming home with excuses that he was busy, but now she understood that all had been lies. 

Lauren opened the door and walked out, but she was shocked when she got to the sitting room and saw someone she wasn't expecting. 

She frowned and her hand on her bag tightened. 

How come she hadn't heard the sound of someone coming in? 

"Lauren-" 

Lauren snapped out of her daze and looked up to see Julian looking at her bag with a frown on his face. 

"What are you doing?!" Julian asked with his eyes returning to Lauren. 

He had rushed back home after he was done settling things at the company with the thought of coming home to coax Lauren. He knew she would be angry at him for not adhering to the promise he had made to her, but he also knew that with some promises and sweet words, Lauren would forgive him.

Besides, it's not like they couldn't get married anytime. 

But, he didn't expect to meet her with her bag as soon as he got home and this confused him. 

"Where are you going with a bag, Lauren?" He asked again, this time with a serious tone that showed his dissatisfaction. 

Lauren looked at the man who questioned her and she couldn't help but find it funny. She couldn't help but be amused by the fact that he was able to act nonchalantly. 

She sneered, "Leaving. Can't you see?" She responded casually. 

"What?!" Julian was truly stunned this time. His eyes widened as he looked at her, but then he calmed down after thinking about it. 

He could understand that she was angry with him for not turning up at the wedding. 

He sighed, then loosened his tie in frustration, then he walked towards Lauren to hug her but she pulled back immediately with a frown. 

Julian stiffened, then smiled helplessly and those who don't know would think he was a man who loves indulging his troublesome girlfriend. 

"Lauren, I'm sorry for not turning up like I had promised. But," He sighed again like he was exhausted, then he looked at her with those eyes she was familiar with. 

Those eyes that had always enchanted her and made her soften every single time. He always used this on her every time she was about to flip out and like a fool, she would always fall for this, but now that she knew what was happening, she felt so angry! 

Those loves she once saw in those eyes were now so clear! She had been stupid that she couldn't see the pride, arrogance and indifference. 

How stupid had she been?

Then Julian, who didn't know his cover had been broken, continued with his act, "You didn't even ask me why I didn't come. We just found out that some information leaked from the company so I had no other options but to take care of it. You wouldn't want our hard work to go down the drain, right?" He asked softly, then began to walk towards Lauren with a face filled with disappointment. 

"Lauren I'm disappointed with you!" He spat.

Lauren who stood quietly watching his play felt her lips twitch. She felt speechless as she watched him try to fool her. 

She lowered her head, and mockery filled her eyes, "Disappointed in me? I should be the one who is disappointed, right?" she asked.

Julian paused as he was surprised by her question. Why wouldn't he be surprised? He had thought as usual, she would turn pale and beg him not to be disappointed anymore. But, then, he thought about it and felt it was normal that she was still angry so he didn't think too much, but instead continued.

"We promised to be together forever but just because of something this little, you want to leave?! Must we get married today? There is tomorrow! Next tomorrow and every day, so why pack your things to leave just because of this?! Why are you so childish?!" 

Lauren's body stiffened. Her hand which held her bag tightened and her blood surged with anger. 

"Childish? He called me childish?!"

Well, since he said it like this, then... 

Lauren suddenly smiled and looked at Julian who was still yapping away.

"Then, go with me to get married now!"

"Then, go with me to get married now!" 

"Huh?!"  Julian was shocked. He was only trying to make her feel guilty when he heard her words. 

He stood there like he had lost his mind, the words of Lauren kept on repeating in his head and suddenly, he panicked.

He didn't want to get married to her. He was just trying to coax her and then keep delaying things until they got everything they needed from her, but who knew Lauren would be so desperate to get married? 

Get married? To Lauren? Hell no! 

He would never get married to a fool like Lauren. She couldn't dress seductively for him, she was too uptight and all she knew was to listen to orders. He had never liked that kind of woman. 

Truly, he had liked Lauren at first when he was still pursuing her. She had been young, fresh and innocent then and she had this high-class aura that made one want to worship her. She was cold but gentle, intelligent but not arrogant, and her aura brought out her beauty to the top, but, after she became obsessed with him, listening to his words like a puppet, she had lost her shine in his eyes and his woman, Celine, was much better. 

Celine was soft, gentle and would throw a tantrum once in a while which made him feel like a real man, and when she was in bed... 

Just thinking about Celine made him even more disgusted with Lauren and the thought of getting married to her made him want to puke, but he knew he couldn't show it, so he hid his true emotions and showed a helpless look on his face, but what he didn't know was that Lauren could see the disdain in his eyes and aside from anger and some pain and regret, she felt nothing more. 

"Why?" Lauren raised an eyebrow, "You can't do it? I thought you were ready to marry me?" She asked in a strained voice that shocked Julian back to his senses. 

He looked at her, then immediately kept his thoughts and rushed towards her. 

"Who said so?! Why wouldn't I want to marry you, Lauren? Don't you know how much I love you? We have been together for years and you should know how loyal I am to you. I didn't even touch you just so our wedding night would be special. Hold on! Lauren," He suddenly furrowed his brow as if he was hurt, "...You don't trust me?" he asked with a choked voice.

Lauren stood speechless. If she didn't have to put up with the acting, she would have been clapping her hands for his performance. She wondered how a man could spit out nonsense and make it make sense. 

As she recalled his words, she couldn't help but finally snap. 

"You love me?" She asked, then laughed aloud. She looked at Julian with eyes filled with so much anger, "We have been together for years and not once did you propose to me! You keep promising me, making lousy excuses and now you tell me you love me?!" She yelled, then shook her head while looking at him incredulously. 

"You know what, Julian?!" She asked sharply and Julian suddenly had a bad feeling. 

He moved towards her with a frown but Lauren moved back. 

"Enough Lauren! Don't cause a scene!" He finally snapped. He felt so pissed off at this moment.

He had had enough of her tantrums and was too tired to deal with this nonsense. If she thought he would relent and agree to marry her now, then she must be joking! 

He sneered at his thought, and the eyes he looked at her became colder and the aura surrounding him turned sharper as he stared at her. 

Lauren who noticed the dark look in his eyes and his aura felt disdainful. 

He knew he couldn't sway her and now he wanted to suppress her and make her listen like she had always done, but jokes on him this time! 

She looked at him pointedly, "Julian, let's give each other a break and think about what we truly want!" She spat out, and without waiting for a response from him, she turned around and dragged her bag with her. 

"Lauren! If you walk out of that door, then don't bother coming back!"

Lauren paused, her hand on her bag tightened and her eyes that stared ahead grew colder and ruthless. 

If not because she still had to keep acting like things were still alright, she would have torn his face and made him know that Lauren wasn't to be offended. 

But... 

She took a deep breath to calm her raging blood, "Calm down, Lauren. Let them continue to jump around for now, and they wouldn't know what hit them when you get started." 

After the prep talk, she didn't bother with Julian again and walked out with her head raised high. 

Meanwhile, Julian stood in the middle of the large sitting area in shock. He couldn't believe that the woman who had always listened to him like a robot dared to disobey him. 

He had thought he had successfully threatened her when she stopped, but- 

How did it become this way? Just because of the marriage? 

Julian frowned then immediately brought out his phone and called a familiar number. 

"Julian~"

A sticky-sweet voice sounded from the other end of the phone but this time, Julian couldn't feel it as he was worried about something.

"Celine, Lauren left. Go find out from her what the hell is happening!"

The other person on the phone was stunned, then her loud shrill voice sounded, "What?! How could that wretch leave?! That's impossible!" 

Julian frowned. That was also what he had thought too, but since it had happened, he knew he needed to do something. Lauren still had something they wanted and they weren't done using her yet. 

Besides, the design competition was around the corner. 

***

Meanwhile, Lauren didn't know those two were planning for her but even if she knew, she would only sneer and still continue with whatever she was doing. 

Here, Lauren was surprised to see the assistant of Alex and she quickened her steps to meet him. 

Her eyes flashed with surprise as she looked at the car he was resting on. 

"Madam!" The assistant greeted her and immediately walked towards her to pick up the box in her hand. 

Lauren stood there in surprise, she narrowed her eyes, "You-" 

Suddenly, the car window sliding down interrupted her words and when she saw the handsome face that appeared in her presence, shock was an understatement of what she felt. 

Her eyebrow raised, and she looked at him perplexedly, "You... I thought you said you'd be leaving for a business deal?" She asked. 

Alex who she was talking to looked at her from her head to her toes, then he silently heaved a sigh of relief. 

After ascertaining that she was alright, he relaxed on the seat, then threw her a one-sided look, "Aren't you coming in? Or did you want to go back in?" 

Lauren was stunned, then she flashed him an embarrassed smile. 

"Coming! Coming!" She responded, then immediately hopped into the car and sat next to him. 

As the car drove away, Lauren couldn't help but turn to look at the house that was gradually becoming smaller. 

Her fist secretly clenched, and her eyes became dull. 

And as if Alexander noticed her mood, he stretched out his hand to pat hers. 

"You're only allowed to be gloomy now. But the moment the car stops, you have to forget that place because where we are heading to right now is your home, Mrs Ashford."

The car slowed down as it approached a mountain area, and when Lauren saw where they were, she became shocked.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, but she continued to remain calm while observing the situation. When the car entered the large security gate which was kept safe by some military men, and she saw the real mountain area, her heart finally couldn't stay calm anymore.

Though she didn't react exaggeratedly, that still didn't stop her from showing her disbelief. 

She really wanted to ask the man who sat quietly next to her but when she looked at the laptop he was working on, she swallowed back the question she had, but who knew when she turned back to continue looking out of the window, the man whom she thought hadn't been paying attention to her would close his laptop and throw her a glance.

"If you have a question, you should go ahead and ask. You don't need to be reserved when it comes to me." 

Lauren was startled by the calm voice that sounded in the car, and when his words registered in her brain, her face flushed red in embarrassment. 

"How did he know I had some questions?" She mumbled to herself, but since the man had given her permission, she had no reason to be pretentious. 

She turned around and met the calm face of Alexander. 

"Well, I'm surprised and a bit curious. Is this the "City mountain villa?" She asked curiously. 

Alexander, who had thought there was something serious which she wanted to ask, was a bit taken aback by her question, but then, he didn't find it strange. 

He looked at her and seriously began to explain. This was going to be her home and he needed to make her understand things clearly.

"Yes." He responded to her question and when he saw Lauren's shock, he chuckled, then leaned back in his seat comfortably and continued, "This place has long been acquired by my company, and since it has secrecy and is very easy to defend against outsiders, I decided to live here." He said, then looked into Lauren's eyes seriously, "I have other houses but this is my main house and also a place I chose for it to be our home. So, you can be at peace because you're the mistress of City Mountain Villa now." 

Lauren was stunned. Who doesn't know this mountain?! This was one of the most secretive and most powerful areas in the country. Only the most powerful and wealthiest can live here. So one could understand her shock, right? 

"Oh..." Lauren responded, then immediately returned her attention to the window to continue looking at the view, but the truth was that she was trying to hide her face which had become red from shyness. 

No one had ever talked to her this way before and even when she and Julian had rented that house as the beginning of his career, he had never told her, "This is your home." 

But now, as she heard the big boss who is now her husband say reassuring words again and again as if he wanted her to understand her status and the situation, her heart couldn't help but skip a beat. 

His mature and calm voice drilled into her heart and made her defensive heart crack a bit. 

Alexander looked at Lauren who was looking at the view and his eyes flashed with a smile. He thought she was cute, especially when she tried to hide her feelings, but unknown to her, her pink ears had exposed what she truly felt.

He smiled and decided not to work anymore since they were almost home. He took a look at Lauren again, then sighed, "It seems there is still a long way to go for her to get comfortable and realise our situation." He thought, but wasn't really bothered because he knew he would handle it.

4 minutes later, the car finally stopped in front of a large security gate and two men in military uniform threw a glance at the driver's seat, then nodded before pressing some code on the panel which was on the gate, and the gate also flashed with a red light, before finally moving.

Lauren looked at all this in amazement. She couldn't help but wonder why the security was so tight but as she remembered the identity of the man she married, she swallowed hard, "Truly worthy of his status." 

The car finally drove in and even Lauren who was the heiress of a wealthy family had to gasp in shock. 

The villa in front of her wasn't anything big or exaggerated, but the wealth, unique design and aura it exudes was enough to make one breathless. 

She came down from the car and walked towards Alexander who stood waiting for her, but suddenly she paused which gained his attention.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go in?" Alex said.

"Hmm..?" Lauren made a sound, then furrowed her brows, "My bags..." 

"Leave it for them to bring it in. Let's go in!" He said in a voice that demands obedience and Lauren who heard him immediately followed behind.

Suddenly, Lauren froze and her eyes looked down to see her hand held in Alex's. She was surprised and felt a bit uncomfortable at first, she even tried to remove her hand from his hold but the man held it tight so that she was unable to. 

As they walked, she looked at him awkwardly. She didn't know why he had to hold her hand.

"Get used to my touch, Mrs Ashford." 

His calm voice sounded and startled Lauren who was lost in her thoughts, but then, she found reasoning in his words. They were married now and it was only right that he held her hand, though she couldn't get used to it fast.

"Welcome back, Master! Welcome home, Young mistress!" 

The loud greetings shocked Lauren out of her stupor. 

She looked at the people who stood in a straight line with their heads bowed in respect and she felt speechless. 

Was this really necessary? 

As if he could hear her thoughts, Alexander said, "It's necessary." Then he looked at the workers who remained in their respectful position. His eyes became sharper and the hand which he held Lauren with tightened, "Listen! This is my wife, Lauren Sterling, and as the mistress of the home, she must be given a respect higher than mine! She would be your mistress and would be the one managing the home from today. Am I clear?!" His cold voice filled with authority announced. 

The workers were stunned. No one had expected Alexander to announce Lauren in this manner and from the order and all, the workers immediately began to think straight. They couldn't think of Lauren as just a vase wife. She was their madam!

"Yes, Master!" they all echoed which was to the satisfaction of Alexander, then he turned to look at Lauren and explained in a more gentle tone. 

"This is Butler Luke," He said then pointed at the man who immediately walked forward, "He is in charge of the other maids and things in the household. He would report to you if there is anything." He introduced.

"Hello, Madam." the butler greeted Lauren who was still in a weird state and just nodded with a smile. 

Finally, Alexander took her hand and walked inside the house.

Lauren couldn't deny her amazement and instant love the moment she walked inside the place she would call home from now on. 

The house was different from the outside. It was in a quiet, simple but stylish design and she fell in love with it at first sight, but what Lauren didn't like was the lack of homely feeling the home has.

She had always been one who craved home, and this place was just too cold. 

"If there is anything you find dissatisfying, you can tell the butler or do it yourself. You can also rearrange if you like." Alexander said as he looked at the pretty woman in front of him. 

He had investigated her and knew her love for comfort and home, and he had wanted to ask the butler to rearrange their house, but he thought better and felt it would be nice if she did all this herself. At least, that would make her get used to things fast.

Lauren turned around to look at Alex and her heart felt so relaxed. 

"I-" She began, but became speechless again, then she felt a pat on her head which startled her. She immediately looked at the man with wide eyes. 

Alexander smiled from his eyes and the smile instantly dazzled Lauren.

He looked so handsome when he smiled. 

Alex cleared his throat then returned to his usual expressionless face, he walked to the couch to sit, then he threw her a look, "Go do your thing. The butler would take you to our room." 

Lauren nodded, but suddenly stopped. She immediately turned to Alexander in confusion.

"Ou-Our room?!"