Chapter 1 Episode one

Monalisa

The warm water rushed over my shoulders and slid down my back, pooling at my feet before disappearing down the drain. I stood there under the shower longer than necessary, letting it run as if the water could wash away everything that had happened today.

It couldn’t.

I had been hiding in the bathroom for almost an hour.

For a bride on her wedding night, that was embarrassing. Suspicious, even. Most brides would have been blushing, nervous, maybe excited.

But me?

I was hiding.

I pressed my palm against the tiled wall and shut my eyes, breathing in the steam.

I, Monalisa Lucas, had just gotten married.

To a billionaire.

A billionaire.

The word alone made my stomach twist.

Was I supposed to feel lucky? Grateful? Overjoyed?

Yeah… right.

My new husband belonged to one of the most powerful families in America. The Lucas family was wealthy, influential, practically untouchable. And Alexander Lucas, the heir to the entire empire, was now my husband.

My husband.

Even thinking the word felt strange in my head, like it belonged to someone else’s life.

None of this felt real.

This had to be a nightmare. A terrible, suffocating nightmare I would wake up from at any moment. If I didn’t wake up soon, I was certain I would lose my mind.

The water streamed down my face as memories crept in. Once upon a time, I had imagined standing at the altar beside him.

But not like this.

Back then, my dreams had been simple and embarrassingly ordinary. I imagined cooking for him corn dogs and hot chili, his favorites. I imagined waiting for him to come home from work, rubbing the tension out of his shoulders while he complained about his long day. I imagined falling asleep beside him, wrapped in warmth and laughter.

I had imagined love.

But those dreams had burned to ashes the moment I signed that contract. Because the man I married today wasn’t the man from those dreams. He was my worst enemy.

Now here I was, a twenty-two year-old woman trapped in a two-year marriage of convenience with an arrogant billionaire who treated marriage like a business deal and emotions like a joke.

Even thinking about it sounded ridiculous.

The water continued to fall, but it didn’t help.

It didn’t wash away the anger clawing inside my chest.

I clenched my hands.

I was angry at life for cornering me like this. Angry at fate for playing such a cruel game. But most of all, I was angry at myself.

If I had been able to pay my mother’s hospital bills, If I had found the money the doctor demanded, I wouldn’t have signed that stupid contract with Alexander Lucas.

My thoughts shattered when a loud bang echoed against the bathroom door.

“Hey! What are you doing in there?” Alexander’s deep, impatient voice came through the wood.

I rolled my eyes instantly.

“Playing football,” I snapped back.

What kind of question was that?

“That’s not what I meant,” he said, irritation creeping into his voice. “You’ve been in there forever.”

I glanced at the fogged mirror. He wasn’t wrong.

“Can you get the hell out,” he added, “or I’ll be forced to break the door open.”

Pervert.

Thank goodness I had locked it earlier. I didn’t trust him not even a little.

“You don’t have to threaten me,” I shot back. “I’m coming out already.”

I turned off the shower and quickly wrapped a towel around my chest before stepping out. After drying off slightly, I unlocked the door to behold Alexander.

I didn’t spare him a glance as I walked past him, heading straight to the dressing table.

Behind me, the bathroom door slammed shut with a loud bang that made me flinch.

Seriously, what was his problem?

I stared at the cluttered surface of the dressing table. It was covered with bottles of lotion, perfumes, jewelry boxes.

I sighed softly.

I’d organize it tomorrow. Right now, I barely had the strength to stand.

After rubbing lotion over my skin, I slipped into my nightwear and climbed onto the bed.

And immediately froze.

The mattress sank softly beneath me, embracing my body like a cloud.

My eyes widened.

This bed was enormous, easily three times the size of mine back home. The mattress was thick and luxurious, lifting me several feet above the ground.

All my life I had slept on a thin, stubborn mattress that barely softened the wooden frame beneath it. Most mornings I woke up with aching shoulders and a stiff back.

But this…

This felt like heaven.

Before I knew it, I was rolling across the bed, giggling quietly to myself and enjoying the ridiculous comfort of it.

I didn’t even notice when Alexander came out of the bathroom.

“What are you doing?” he suddenly barked. “Get off my bed!”

I jumped in shock, nearly falling off.

My head snapped up to see him standing there in black pants and a white singlet, his hair slightly damp.

Did he change in the bathroom?

“Hey!” I glared at him. “Don’t yell at me like that. You almost scared me!”

He stared at me like I had personally offended him.

“Get off my bed,” he repeated, calmer but colder.

I folded my arms. “No.”

His eyebrows shot up.

“What do you mean no? This is my bed, and I don’t plan on sharing it with anyone. Not even you.”

I scoffed.

As if I wanted to sleep with him.

“Your bed?” I said. “Looks like you’re forgetting something. We’re married now. Whatever belongs to you also belongs to me.”

His lips curved slowly into a dangerous smile.

“Really?” he murmured as he stepped closer. “Does that include your body too?”

My heart skipped.

I immediately crawled backward as he climbed onto the bed.

“Don’t you dare come closer,” I warned.

He didn’t stop.

Within seconds he had me pinned against the headboard. My breath caught in my throat. My heart started racing so fast it felt like it would burst out of my chest.

Was he serious right now?

“What are you doing?” I stammered. “Don’t you dare lay your filthy hands on me!”

He leaned closer, his voice low near my ear.

“But darling, you said whatever belongs to me belongs to you too.”

A shiver ran down my spine.

“So I’m just following your rules.”

Before he could move any closer, I pinched his arm as hard as I could.

“Ow!” he yelped, instantly letting go. “Have you lost your mind?!”

I glared at him. “It suits you.”

Grabbing one of the pillows beside me, I started whacking him repeatedly.

“Next time,” I said between hits, “you’ll think twice before touching me!”.

He blocked one swing, then grabbed another pillow.

“Oh really?”

WHACK.

The pillow slammed into my head.“Ouch!”

I hit him back.

He retaliated.

Soon the room filled with muffled thuds and flying feathers as we attacked each other like two ridiculous wrestlers.

Neither of us was willing to surrender.

Another swing.

Another hit.

All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door. We froze instantly as our eyes met in horror. Without saying a word, we both dove under the duvet at the same time.

The door creaked open.

Alexander’s mother, Anita, stepped inside.

We sat up slowly, still under the blanket and breathing heavily.

Her eyes widened as she looked around the room.

“Sweet Jesus,” she gasped.

Confused, Alexander and I followed her gaze.

The floor was covered with white cotton stuffing, scattered everywhere like snow.

The pillows had practically exploded during our fight.

Alexander cleared his throat awkwardly.

“What are you doing here, Mom?”

She hesitated. “I came to check on you two. I was worried that...”

“Worried about what?” he interrupted.

She waved a hand dismissively, her lips curling into a teasing smile. “Oh, never mind. I’m actually very happy with what I’m seeing.”

My eyes widened.

“You two should continue whatever you were doing before I came in,” she added with a chuckle before closing the door behind her.

I immediately shoved the duvet off me and sucked in a deep breath.

Was she serious right now?

I slowly turned to Alexander, he was already staring at me.

If madness ran in this family, I was beginning to think I had married straight into it.