I stare dumbfounded around me. Unable to process what was happening. It was almost like I'd been expected.

My heart lurched in my chest. I wasn't used to this kind of greeting. I didn't even know what to say back.

"Just call me Brianna," I managed to say.

They stare at me in disbelief, yet said nothing.

O..Kay. That went well.

The man from earlier-the one who helped with my boxes and drove me here, whom I now know as Barrett-stepped in to rescue me.

"You may head inside now, miss," he said, gesturing for me to go in.

The inside was even more beautiful than the outside. It strangely felt warm.

So warm that it took me off guard. The lighting was soft, the décor tasteful-nothing overwhelming, nothing trying too hard.

It looked like something I would have chosen myself, if I ever had a place of my own. I was beyond amazed. It all felt so surreal.

I couldn't help but think, This was what Emily ran away from, what I now have and where my reality was now fixed.

And still, as I looked around, there was no sign of Adrian-the man I was supposed to be marrying.

I walked quietly into the living area, my eyes wide as I took in every detail of the strangely contradictory house.

"Mr. Maserati will be here soon," Barrett informed me.

He looked older than I was. Handsome too, I had noticed earlier. He wasn't the glaring type of handsome though, not the one that knocked your heart off or swept you off your feet.

He was the quiet type, the type that slowly caught up to you in a moment of sudden realization. And you wondered how you never saw it, how you never noticed sooner.

I must have been staring at him for long, because he suddenly cleared his throat.

"Ahem."

Oh my God.

I must have looked like a creep.

"Oh. Yes... yes," I finally replied. "I'll be waiting here for his return."

"Good, I shall now take my leave."

I nod as he turned to leave. And now I was left alone in the house, Adrian's house and I'm left to wonder who my soon to be husband is.

All I could hope for was that he won't be a terror. If he was half as handsome as Barrett was, I'd make do.

I sighed as I adjust to sit more comfortably on the sofa. I was beyond exhausted and if I wasn't careful, I'd probably doze off before he even arrived.

But I can't. That would be bad manners, and I'd die before I did anything to embarrass father or the family.

A yawn escapes me, as a lone tear drop from the corner of my right eye.

My eyes closed for a bit before the sound of heavy footsteps pierced through the air.

I jerked upright instantly, sitting stiff and alert.

I better hope there are no cameras here as there are back at home.

The man that appeared before me was gorgeous, in undeniable, unsubtle way. That was my first thought as I peered up at his frame sauntering towards me.

He was loudly handsome, he was the kind that swept you off your feet. The one that made your heart stutter.

The faint scar at the side of his eye did nothing to lessen the intensity of his appeal. If anything, it made him more striking.

His posture was straight and upright with a muscular but lean build.

There was something about his face-rugged yet soft-that seemed to shift with every emotion that touched it.

His ghostly grey eyes locked onto mine, piercing straight through me, a hint of warmth flickering within them as they creased slightly.

The tilt in his lips spreads wider as he drew closer, flashing his perfectly straight teeth at me, "Oh Mi Amor, you're finally here."

I froze the moment he stepped closer. Mi amor? Mi amor?

Was I in the wrong house? Why is he looking at me like a dog looks at a chew toy? Is this Adrian or his alter ego.

My face must depict the look of utter confusion and shock. I could be a mood chart.

My body refused to move, as if the air around me had thickened and pinned me in place. Before I could even make sense of it, he was already in front of me-pulling me into a hug.

It felt...weird. But warm, affectionate and loving. My heart thundered loudly in my chest, mirroring his that thudded for reasons I couldn't understand, I didn't hug him back.

I couldn't.

My arms stayed locked at my sides while my mind scrambled for something-anything-that explained what was happening. My thoughts felt distant, my mind cluttered like clothes in the boxes I brought here.

But I relished in that moment, I'd never been hugged. Not once in my whole life. I'd been orphaned since my last glimpse of consciousness. My adopted parents were...not exactly an affectionate bunch. So I couldn't really explain why his hug felt warm.

This... this isn't right.

He held me like he knew me. Like I belonged here.

Like I was expected.

But I didn't know what I had expected. I didn't know who I had expected to meet-but it wasn't him. Not this warmth. Not this familiarity.

Maybe this was a dream, I was still back at the Stewart home. Dreaming of an alternate universe where Adrian was the perfect man. Except it's not, the warmth in his embrace feels real, very real, same as my beating heart and my swiftly reddening ears.

When he finally pulled back, his hands stayed on my shoulders. His gaze searched my face like he was trying to read something I wasn't giving him.

I could only stare at him in bewilderment.

"Are you okay?" he asked quickly. His eyes wide as he observed my conflicted face, "Why are you so quiet? Were you treated badly? Were you not welcomed here?"

I said nothing.

My eyes dropped on instinct. My head followed after, bowing slightly the way it always did when I didn't know how to exist in a space without being noticed. Silence was safer. Silence didn't get me questioned. I'd never been asked this many questions at once before. Not even when I was in college.

He exhaled, frustrated now. His head tilting, curious.

"Are you angry at me?"

Then his voice softened again, as if he remembered something important.

"Oh-right. I arrived late, didn't I?" he exclaimed. " I got caught up trying to get our wedding bands. See?"

My breath caught faintly.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small blue ring box. He opened it.

And the world narrowed down to that single point of light.

The ring inside was beautiful, almost too beautiful. A diamond that caught every piece of light in the room. My eyes flickered at the sheer radiance of it.

I just stared at it. It was impossible not to.

It was a silver band encased with diamonds around the it. A stunning heart shaped diamond stone say on the middle like it was made for it. It was absolutely beautiful.

"Do you like it?" he asked. I peered over at him, finally dragging my eyes away from the ring. He looked unsure, boyish in an adorable way, like he needed assurance that he did a good job.

I was marveled, it was absolutely beautiful and I love it. But one thing say lodged in my throat, preventing me from speaking. Was this really meant for me? Or did he do all this expecting to give it to Emily?

Another issue was, why was he so nice and hospitable? I came here thinking I would be thrown into another basement or attic and treated similarly or maybe even worse than I'd been treated back at the house. But this was not expected.

I half expected dungeons, cellars, a gloomy house with even gloomier workers. But I'd been met with the exact opposite, the atmosphere was welcoming -so welcoming that it almost felt like a trap.

I couldn't place this behavior. Was it an elaborate trap to make me comfortable before breaking me? Was I on the set of another family reality show, to show how harmonious the family is? I'd done that one before at the Stewart house.

Regardless, I needed to confirm something first. Who was this? Like really?

I stepped backward, away from his firm hold on my shoulders. I will myself to look him in the eyes. "Who are you?"

Adrian's POV

"Who am I?" My brow furrows as I asked, in utter confusion.

I was finally meeting my fiancee for the first, officially. And she was asking who I was. This wasn't how I envisioned this to be.

She looks up at me with those adorable doe eyes that gets me weak in the knees and I melt internally. "Baby, I'm your husband," I replied her as she stands, still confused.

Was I missing something here? Did I not for the description?

"I'm Adrian Maserati, the man you'd be getting married to tomorrow," I explained, "Is something wrong my love?"

"Stop, wait.. sorry.. No. You.." she points at me, " You are Adrian Maserati. Really?"

If not for the genuine confusion and shock on her face, I'd actually take offense. Was I bad looking? I'd never had this reaction before.

It's usually fear-for those who had heard of me, terror-for those who have crossed me, a little pant pissing for fuckers whose life I'm about to ruin but not this. Not this adorable confused face my wife is wearing right now.

Something clicked then. "Oh," I exclaimed, stepping back with my fists on my mouth, "You've heard of me haven't you."

That was likely why she stood in shock. I'd never been this animated in front of anyone. I only reserved this much emotions for few people. My wife here being the newest addition.

I fully understood now why she was confused, she must have thought she had the wrong man, the attitude didn't really fit the description.

And like I had speculated, she shook her head. "Uhm, yeah. I have." Her face bending downwards to her feet like she found something more interesting down there.

Oh my wife was a shy girl. How adorable.

Missing the look of her face already, I move closer to her, tilting her head upwards to face mine. "My love, please never mind the rumors you've heard. This is me in the flesh. I hope you can trust the one you see in front of you."

Her lips part as she processed my words, eyes widened like an innocent deer in headlights. "O..Kay." She finally responded, pulling her chin from my hands slightly.

My eyes zero in on her pouted lips, she doesn't seem to talk much. That was alright, I'd do the talking for the both of us.

Her face had rapidly become my favorite sight in the world ever since the first day I set my eyes on her at the Royale auction, three months, four days and a few hours ago.

And yes I kept track of the time.

That's why, when I had the chance at a business dealing with the Stewart family two weeks ago - one that they desperately needed for their company expansion-I took it with gratitude. The major clause I had: a marriage agreement with the youngest daughter of the Stewart family.

My wife, Brianna Stewart.

I'd signed every document they presented, not even caring to review it with my lawyers. I was certain they wouldn't dare pull any shady deals, given my reputation and MO.

My eyes were on the price. My price. My wife. Brianna Stewart.

I'd spent the past months since the first time I saw her, bidding my time for when I could finally get the chance at proposing a marriage.

I mean, I could have met with her organically and dated her. But she was such a home body, never going out much, always home.

She barely left her house, and I couldn't exactly invite her for a date from her bedroom window.

I also could have manipulated and cheated my way into an agreement with her father, Max Stewart but for my wife's sake, I didn't want the trouble. So I was beyond grateful when the offer appeared on my table.

But, I wouldn't deny any shady works on my end to have gotten my end results.

There are so many things I needed to do but first, my wife.

We have a wedding to prepare for and I especially cannot wait for tomorrow.