As they continued their journey, the black Mercedes purred smoothly along the winding road, its tires crunching on the gravel beneath. Ivory's nerves were on edge; her senses heightened with every passing moment. She had been feeling anxious since they left the church, but this was different. This was a growing sense of trepidation, a feeling that she was being led into the unknown.
After about 15 more minutes of walking, the car finally came to a stop in front of a grand and luxurious mansion. The imposing structure loomed before them, its towering spires and turrets reaching towards the sky like giant's fists. Ivory's heart skipped a beat as she gazed up at the mansion's facade, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay within.
As she hesitated, Lucien's voice cut through the silence, his words low and soothing. "Is there any problem, my lady?" he asked, his tone gentle but laced with a hint of amusement.
Ivory jumped up at the sound of his voice, her nerves on edge. She turned to face him, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and uncertainty. Lucien raised his hand, his palm facing her, and said, "I have no bad intentions!" His smile was reassuring, but Ivory couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach.
She nodded nervously, her throat constricting as she tried to speak. She didn't want to get down from the car; she didn't want to enter the mansion and face whatever lay within. But when Lucien opened the door and extended his hand, she had no other option. She lifted her gown a little, the silk rustling softly as she moved, and got down carefully, her eyes fixed on Lucien's face.
As her feet touched the ground, Ivory felt a sense of resignation wash over her. She was here now, and she would have to face whatever lay ahead. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come, and placed her hand in Lucien's, letting him lead her towards the mansion's imposing entrance.
As Lucien placed his hand lightly on her waist, Ivory's heart skipped a beat. She got startled, her body tensing up at the sudden touch. She hadn't expected it, and her nerves were already on edge. Seeing her reaction, Lucien's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, his voice low and husky. "My lady, you are my wife," he reminded her, his words dripping with intimacy. "If you are scared even after this, then what will happen next?" he teased, his tone playful but laced with a hint of challenge.
Ivory looked at him in confusion, her mind racing to understand what he meant. She was his wife, yes, but that didn't mean she had to be comfortable with everything he did. She felt a flutter in her chest as he started smiling, his eyes glinting with amusement. And then, suddenly, she saw it again - the same hunger in Lucien's eyes that she had seen at the time of their marriage. It was a look that made her skin prickle with unease, a look that seemed to strip her bare and leave her vulnerable.
Lucien's voice was tight with tension as he said, "Come!!" He didn't wait for her response, simply tugging her forward as he moved towards the mansion. Ivory followed him, her eyes scanning the surroundings as they walked. She looked around and found that this mansion was surrounded by dense forest, the trees towering above them like sentinels. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that they were completely isolated, cut off from the rest of the world.
As they walked, Ivory felt as if someone was watching her from these forests, the trees seeming to loom over her like predators. She quickened her pace, her heart beating faster in her chest. Lucien's voice suddenly startled her, his words low and warning. "There is nothing there," he said, his eyes glinting in the fading light. "Still, I would suggest that you never go there after sunset. It can be dangerous." His voice was low and serious, his words dripping with a hidden warning.
Ivory listened, her mind racing to understand the implications. This entire area was a part of the estate, but due to a lack of planning, sometimes dangerous and man-eating animals came here. There were guards, but no one could stop accidents. If you lose caution, an accident happens. The words hung in the air, a veiled threat that Ivory couldn't ignore. She understood well the hidden warning in his words, the unspoken message that she needed to be careful, to toe the line. And at the same time, she also understood that there was still a lot that she needed to know, especially the rules followed in this house.
As they reached the grand entrance of the mansion, Lucien's family was standing there to welcome them, their faces beaming with smiles. Lucien's mother, Cathrine, stood at the forefront, her eyes warm and inviting. She was flanked by her twin daughters, Vanessa and Manesa, who looked identical in their matching gowns. Lucien's father, Nicholas, stood tall and proud, his eyes twinkling with warmth. And then there was Dylan, Lucien's brother, who looked every bit as charming as Lucien himself.
Ivory greeted everyone, trying to hide her nervousness. Cathrine smiled and said, "Welcome home, Ivory!!" Her voice was warm and sincere, putting Ivory at ease. When Ivory came inside, another girl came forward, looking a little quiet and scared. She had a fragile beauty to her, with big brown eyes and long, curly hair. Dylan came forward and put his hand around the girl's waist, pulling her close. He kissed her passionately on the lips, his eyes gleaming with possessiveness. "Ivory, this is my wife Sophia," he said, his voice low and husky.
Ivory could feel that Sophia was not comfortable with this public display of affection, but she was not protesting either. It was as if she had resigned herself to Dylan's behavior, and Ivory couldn't help but wonder why. Did he have to do all this? she thought to herself. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach.
Just then, Lucien clapped his hands and said, "I am very hungry. Mom, should we have dinner?" Cathrine nodded, and everyone began to move towards the dining table. The room was filled with the delicious aroma of roasted meat and fresh vegetables, and Ivory's stomach growled in anticipation. Preparations had been made for everyone there, and the table was laden with an assortment of dishes. Ivory took her seat next to Lucien, trying to make sense of the complex web of relationships within his family.
Ivory sat to the right of Lucien, who was seated at the head of the table. She found this seating arrangement strange, as she wasn't used to eating with everyone in such a formal setting. Before starting to eat, Ivory prayed, a habit she had developed over the years. Everyone's eyes turned to her, and she could sense their surprise. Lucien, too, seemed taken aback, and Ivory felt a sense of unease. She didn't like to attract attention, and wondered if she had become too used to her solitary life.
An unbearable silence followed, until Manesa broke the ease. "There are some rules in the House that everyone has to follow, and there should be no exceptions to them!" she announced, her voice firm. Ivory bowed her head and nodded, acknowledging the rules.
Vanesa took over, her voice crisp. "Rule number 1: Women will not go out of the house after 7 p.m. If they have to go, then someone from the house will accompany them, and no one will go anywhere without informing. Rule number 2: Wake up at whatever time in the morning but meet together for breakfast, and this is the rule for every meal. Rule number 3: Do not say anything unless asked, especially when an outsider is involved. Rule number 4: Whatever happens, Lucien's decision will always be paramount. You will not refuse him anything. Rule number 5: You will not do any job. You will have to give advice on what to do or what activities you will spend your time in."
Ivory nodded again, feeling a sense of trepidation. The rules seemed suffocating, but she knew she had to follow them. Everyone toasted to her, and soon the meal was over. As they headed to their rooms, Ivory couldn't shake off the feeling that there was some secret lurking in the walls of the mansion, something that was watching her every move.
The decor of the mansion was opulent, with golden and black colors dominating the landscape. Lucien led her to their room, and when the servants opened the door, Ivory's eyes widened in awe. The room was grand, with a massive bed and ornate furnishings. Lucien closed the door behind them, and Ivory felt a sense of trepidation.
Lucien came close to her, a light smile playing on his lips. "Do you know my lady? What is today?" he asked, his voice low. Ivory was taken aback, unsure of what to say. And then Lucien dropped the bombshell. "Today is our first night. Tonight I will make you mine, but I want your consent in this!"
Ivory was shocked, her mind racing with the implications. She knew she couldn't refuse him, not after what Vanesa had said. Without waiting for her response, Lucien changed his clothes in front of her and lay down on the bed. Ivory was stunned, unsure of what to do. She changed her clothes in a hurry and lay down beside him, her mind racing with thoughts of the future. As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change forever.