Immediately after the dramatic events at the wedding, the tension still hung in the air as they left the hall.
Richard and his grandfather, Elder Floyd, shared one car, while Rachel and her parents rode in another.
The drive to the Floyd mansion was filled with silent contemplation, each passenger lost in their own thoughts about the shocking turn of events.
Upon arriving at the Floyd mansion, the usual courtesies were exchanged as they stepped into the grand entryway.
"Welcome, everyone," Elder Floyd said, his voice warm and inviting.
"Thank you, sir," Rachel's father replied, his tone polite but distant.
"We'll talk soon, won't we, Elder Floyd?" Rachel's mother added, her eyes searching for reassurance.
"Of course, my dear," Elder Floyd responded, his smile gentle. "We'll have plenty of time to discuss everything. But for now, let's focus on getting you both settled."
Rachel's parents nodded, still looking a bit dazed from the day's events.
"We'll be fine, thank you," her father said, his voice a little stronger now.
"Good, good," Elder Floyd said, nodding. "I'll have someone show you to your rooms. Rachel, you stay here for a moment, okay?"
Elder Floyd, despite his stern exterior, approached Rachel with a surprisingly gentle demeanor.
"Rachel, my dear," he began, his voice softening. "I know today has been incredibly difficult for you. But know this: you are now part of our family, and we will protect you. You've shown great strength."
Rachel nodded, feeling a mix of exhaustion and relief. "Thank you, Grandpa," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Elder Floyd placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Now, go to Richard. He's waiting for you in his room. There are things you both need to discuss."
Rachel felt a pang of anxiety but also a flicker of hope. She was grateful she married Richard instead.
She made her way through the opulent halls of the mansion, her footsteps echoing off the marble floors. She stopped in front of Richard's door, taking a deep breath before knocking softly.
"Come in," Richard's voice called from inside.
Rachel pushed the door open and stepped into the room. Richard stood by the window, looking out over the sprawling estate.
The room was a sprawling sanctuary, adorned with opulent furnishings and lavish decor.
The walls were painted a rich, dark gray, and the floors were covered in a plush, cream-colored carpet that silenced every step. The air was thick with the scent of old books and leather, and the flickering light of the crystal chandelier cast a warm, golden glow over everything.
Rachel's eyes wandered over the space, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of a room she had only entered twice before. It was a forbidden sanctuary, a no-go area for almost everyone in the Floyd household.
Only Richard, his grandfather, Elder Floyd and anyone related to business, were allowed to enter this sacred space, and Rachel had only been permitted to cross the threshold on two rare occasions.
"If you like the room then you can have it, I'd be moving out anyway." Richard's voice was cold and detached, his words spoken with a sense of finality.
Rachel felt a shiver run down her spine as she gazed at him, his eyes gleaming with a hardness she had never seen before.
"Moving out?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why Richard? What's going on?"
Rachel's eyes widened in shock at the next words Richard said which hung in the air, his tone dripping with disdain. "Who are you calling Richard? It's 'senior' to you!" he spat, his voice cold and commanding.
Rachel felt a stinging sensation in her chest, as if she had been slapped. She couldn't believe the harshness in his tone, the condescension in his words.
"I... I meant no disrespect," she stuttered, taking a step back as if trying to escape the venom in his words.
Richard's expression remained unyielding, his eyes flashing with a hint of anger. "You will address me as 'senior' from now on," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Do you understand?"
Rachel's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with memories of the past. "Senior?" she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief and a hint of anger.
She took a step closer, her eyes flashing with emotion. "Do you remember that day in the rain, when you begged me to call you Richard, not 'senior'? When you said it made you feel like a stranger to me?"
Richard's expression faltered for a moment, before he regained his composure. "What do you mean by that?" he asked gruffly. "When have I ever told you such?"
Rachel's laughter was bitter. "Oh, you don't remember now? You've changed. You're not the same person I used to know."
"What are you talking about, Rachel?" Richard's voice was laced with genuine curiosity, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her face.
Rachel's eyes widened in horror as she realized her mistake. She had revealed too much, said too much. This was a different life, a different time, and Richard had no idea what she was talking about.
She felt a wave of panic wash over her as she tried to backtrack, to cover her tracks.
"Oh, I...I mean...nothing, Richard. Just forget I said anything," she stammered, trying to laugh it off. "I'm just being silly, that's all."
"Hmph," he sighed. Then all of a Sudden, Richard's expression turned cold and detached, his eyes gleaming with a hint of disdain.
"You and I are just a facade couple, in front of the public and on paper, aside from that, avoid me," he said bluntly, his voice devoid of emotion.
Rachel felt crushed. He was dismissing their entire relationship, reducing it to a mere charade. A relationship she had begun to yearn for? Just like that?
"Fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "If that's how you want it, then so be it."
This was definitely not her Richard! This is an entirely different Richard.
She turned to leave, but Richard's voice stopped her. "And Rachel?"
She turned back to him, her eyes searching for a glimmer of the man she thought she knew. "Yes?"
"Remember, we're strangers to each other. Don't forget it."