CHAPTER 6
Kate sat up on the bed, arms folded, eyes fixed on the closed door, herheart doing things she didn't understand.
Morning came fast, light slipping through the curtains, but the cold she felt wasn't because of the room.
It was because of him, William Dray.
The man she married but didn't know.
He came back, but not to her, not even to acknowledge her existence,he just walked in with another woman and disappeared like she wasn't there at all.
A knock came from the door, sharp and impatient.
She stood up slowly, already knowing who it was. The door opened before she reached it, William stood there, his face calm, his suit perfect, not a single emotion played in his eyes.
"Come downstairs," he said, his voice flat. He didn't even wish her good morning, not anything.
Kate didn't move, she just stared at him.
"I wasn't aware I needed permission to sleep," she said, her voice was quiet but edged.
He looked at her, still like a statue, "I don't care where you sleep, just remember this house has rules, my rules, and I expect you to follow them".
She blinked, "What rules".
He stepped into the room, shut the door behind him, walked to the window, pulled the curtain open like he owned the sunlight too.
"No public appearances unless I say so, no questions about my business, no questions about my life, and definitely no trying to play wife when this is just a contract," he said.
Kate's fists clenched, "Then what am I supposed to do here, sit around and smile while you parade women through the house".
His jaw tightened for a split second, then loosened again.
"You'll live your life quietly, in peace, in comfort, nothing more is expected of you".
"And if I don't want this life".
"Then find another way to pay your family's debts," he said coldly.
Her throat dried, her voice trembled, "You're heartless".
He turned to her, his eyes glistening like a winter, "No Kate, I'm just not pretending".
Downstairs was even colder than the bedroom, marble floors that made no sound, servants that walked like ghosts.
William sat at the end of the long dining table, his phone in one hand, and newspaper in the other, and was doing his thing like she wasn't even there.
Kate sat across from him, untouched food before her, heart untouched too.
She leaned forward, staring at him, "Why did you marry me, William".
He didn't even look up, "Because it made business sense".
She swallowed, "What happens after the contract ends".
"That depends on whether you behave," he replied, cutting a piece of toast without looking at her.
She shook her head, "This isn't marriage, it's prison".
"Then get used to it," he said simply.
Later that day, she found herself in the library, not reading, just sitting, and just breathing.
Mr Stewart came in quietly, and placed an envelope on the table beside her.
"Mr Dray's assistant left this for you," he said before walking out.
Kate opened it, Inside was another set of instructions,
Dress codes for events she might attend. A list of acceptable behaviors, Who she could talk to, What she could say and What not to say.
Her name wasn't even hers anymore, it was just Mrs Dray, a name they needed to stabilize a crumbling company.
She threw the paper to the floor, stood up, kicked the chair aside, paced like a caged animal. This wasn't the life her parents wanted for her
Hours passed before William returned again. She waited in the hallway this time.
He barely paused as he passed her, and headed straight for his study.
She followed him in without knocking.
He stopped, turned slowly, "Do you understand the meaning of privacy".
"I don't care, you can't keep treating me like a shadow," she snapped.
"I'm not treating you like anything, Kate, I'm keeping things clear, we're not husband and wife, we're two people in an arrangement".
She walked closer, her eyes burning, "But you had another woman here last night, how is that part of the arrangement".
He tilted his head, with no shame in his eyes, "She's someone who understands the rules, you don't".
"Why marry me then, why not her".
He walked to his desk, and sat down, but ignored her.
She stood there breathing hard, waiting, and hoping for something.
Then finally, without looking up, he said, "You're here because of convenience, that's all, don't look for love where there's none, don't search for meaning in a contract signed in desperation".
Kate's heart twisted.
"Is that how you live, William, cold and empty".
He looked up slowly, "It's the only way I survive".
And in that moment, she saw something in his eyes, "pain."
Deep and buried, like a scar he didn't want anyone to touch
She opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off.
"One more thing," he said, voice low, "Stay out of the east wing".
Her eyes widened.
And just like that, he stood up and walked past her, and left the room.
Leaving her with one thought
"What's in the east wing?"
And why was he so afraid she'd find it.
Kate couldn't sleep that night. Her mind kept going back to what William said. "Stay out of the east wing." The way he said it. The look in his eyes. There was something there. Something he didn't want her to see.
Morning came with silence. With No greetings, no warmth. Just the sound of plates clinking downstairs and the cold air inside the mansion.
She stepped into the dining room. William wasn't there. Only Mr Stewart.
He bowed slightly. "You're expected in the garden. Madam Helena Dray is here."
Kate frowned. "Who is Madam Helena?"
He looked up briefly. "Mr William's mother."
Kate's heart skipped. She didn't know what to expect. She straightened her dress and walked outside.
The garden was huge. Flowers are perfectly arranged. Everything is too perfect.
Then she saw her.
A tall woman in a cream dress. Hair packed neatly. Face sharp, her Eyes sharper.
Helena Dray turned slowly, eyes scanning Kate from head to toe like she was some dirty shoe dragged across marble.
"So you're the one," she said.
Kate kept quiet.
Helena's lips curved into something between a smile and a sneer. "You're even plainer than I imagined."
Kate's chest tightened. "Good morning, ma."
"I'm not your mother," Helena snapped. "And don't call me ma. You can call me Mrs Dray."
Kate folded her arms. "Noted."
Helena walked closer. "Let's not pretend, Kate. I know why you're here. I know about the contract. You're nothing but a tool. A placeholder. You're not worthy of my son."
Kate took a deep breath. "Then why am I here?"
"Because business is business," Helena said. "But don't get comfortable. This is not your home. You will never be one of us."
Kate blinked fast. "You don't even know me."
"I don't need to," Helena said. "Your type is easy to read. Poor background. No class. No name. Just a girl trying to climb using marriage."
"I didn't choose this," Kate replied. "I was forced into this like everyone else."
Helena raised a brow. "Forced? Don't play the victim. You signed the papers. You walked down the aisle. You wore the dress."
Kate clenched her fists. "And he brought another woman to the mansion the same night. Do you want to talk about that too?"
Helena paused. Something flickered in her eyes, but it vanished quickly.
She smiled again. It was Cold and Fake. "Don't test your luck, girl. You can be removed as easily as you were added."
Kate laughed. "Then do it."
Helena stepped forward. "You don't know who you're dealing with."
"I don't need to," Kate said. "Because I've already lost everything. My parents, my peace, my voice. What more can you take?"
Helena's expression darkened. "You're bold. I'll give you that. But let me make something clear. If you ever embarrass this family in public, if you ever step out of line, I will personally make sure you regret ever hearing the name Dray."
Kate stood her ground. "Then you better start preparing, because I'm not going to sit quietly and be insulted every day."
Helena gave her one last look, then turned and walked away.
Kate stayed in the garden, her heart racing, and her hands trembling.
She knew what just happened. War had started.
Back inside, William was waiting in the hallway.
"You met her," he said without emotion.
Kate nodded. "Yeah. Lovely woman."
He didn't smile. "She's not your enemy. Stay out of her way."
Kate scoffed. "She just declared war on me and you're telling me to stay out of her way?"
"She's my mother," he said sharply.
"I'm your wife," she snapped back.
"No," he said, his voice cold. "You're my contract."
Kate stared at him. "You're really good at breaking people, William."
He said nothing. Just walked away like he always did.
That night, she didn't eat. She didn't cry either. Something inside her had hardened.
This house wasn't a home.
It was a battlefield.
And if they thought she would break easily, they didn't know her at all.
But just as she reached to turn off the lights, her phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
One message.
"Stay away from the east wing. Some secrets can kill."
Her hand froze. She looked around the dark room.