Bella felt a shiver run down her spine as she gazed up at the beautiful building. She had never seen anything like it before.
Ethan led her inside, where a team of staff waited to cater to their every need. Bella felt like she had entered a different world, one of luxury and opulence.
As they stepped into the spacious living room, Bella's eyes landed on a stunning view of the city skyline. "It's beautiful," she whispered.
Ethan's hand brushed against hers, sending a spark of electricity through her body. "I'm glad you like it," he said, his voice close to her ear.
Bella turned to him, her heart racing. She felt like she was drowning in the depths of his eyes.
Just then, a soft voice interrupted the moment. "Mr. Black, lunch is ready whenever you are."
Ethan's gaze lingered on Bella's face before he turned to the staff member. "Thank you, Jenkins. We'll be right there."
As they sat down for lunch, Bella couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The opulent table setting, the impeccable service — it all felt so far removed from her simple life.
Ethan, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease, sipping his wine with a confident air.
As they began to eat, Bella tried to focus on her food, but her mind kept wandering back to her brother and the reason she had married Ethan in the first place.
"Mr. Black, can I ask you something?" she said, trying to sound casual.
"Of course, and just call me Ethan. Otherwise, no one will believe this if you keep on with Mr. Black," he replied, his eyes locked on hers, and she nodded.
"What exactly do you plan to do to help my brother?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan's expression turned serious, and he set his glass down. "I've already made arrangements for him to receive the best medical care available. He'll be transferred to a top-notch facility, and I'll cover all the expenses."
Bella felt a wave of relief wash over her, but it was quickly replaced by a new concern. "And what about us?"
Ethan's eyes seemed to bore into her soul, as if searching for something. "We'll get to know each other, Bella, and I want you to meet my grandfather. We have to convince him we're in love, no matter what."
"Oh, alright," she said, poking at her food. Her mind kept wandering to her brother. She added, "Is it okay if I go and see my brother?"
Ethan nodded at her, his eyes piercing as if looking through her soul. "My driver will take you."
With that, Bella stood up and walked out, leaving Ethan staring at her back.
At the hospital, Bella made her way to her brother's room, her mind racing with thoughts of Ethan. When she arrived at his door, she found a man guarding it. Knowing it was Ethan's guy keeping her brother safe, she entered the room, and her brother smiled weakly at her.
"Hey, sis, how's it going?"
Bella forced a smile. "It's good. Sorry I had to run out early. Have you eaten?"
"Yeah, the best meal," her brother nodded with a smile. He added, his smile slowly fading, "Why am I in a VIP room, Bella? Everyone is taking such good care of me, and who's the man outside my door? Where did you get the money for all this?"
Bella moved closer to her baby brother, holding his hand. She knew she had to tell him, so she said, "Well, I got married today."
Her brother looked on in shock, whispering, "Bella, what have you done? Who's the guy?"
"Ethan Black. We've been dating," she responded.
"What? You've never had a boyfriend before, Bella, so don't lie about it. Just tell me the truth."
"Well, I met him today."
"Bella, you don't even know the guy," Ken shouted in anger, feeling like he hadn't protected his sister. In this world, only these two siblings had each other and looked out for each other.
"I know, but I had to do it, Ken. He's paying for your treatment, and I couldn't turn that down."
"What's the catch, Bella? There's always one," he asked.
Bella hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "It's just a contract marriage, Ken. We're married only on paper. It's not a real relationship."
Her brother's expression turned skeptical. "And you believed him? You think he's just going to help us out of the goodness of his heart?"
Bella's heart filled with doubt. Had she made a mistake? Was Ethan's offer too good to be true?