..."He is a cold person."...

..."Don't worry, Mom. I love cold aloof guys."...

..."But not normally cold type. Dangerously Cold."...

The words of Sophia's soon-to-be mother-in-law, during their previous conversation echoed in her head while she was sitting in front of Lorenzo, her fiance.

Mother wasn't wrong. He is really cold. It's been an hour since the both met and have been sitting here like statues but he didn't even bother to look up at her let alone greet her.

I guess, I should be the first one to start. Sophia thought as she fake coughed so that she could gain Lorenzo's attention but to her surprise, he was not even a little bit distracted and continued to stare at his laptop while his fingers roamed around the keyboard.

~Uhm uhm~ she again fake coughed but this time a little louder. Lorenzo finally looked at her and passed her a glass of water and then continued his work with laptop as his gaze shifted back to it. Since Sophia was nervous, she quickly gulped the water in one go and mentally got ready to speak.

"Hello." she greeted and Lorenzo nodded his head only.

"Hi?" She again greeted but this time Lorenzo again nodded his head.

"Ehi!" she said with a strong italian accent, her voice clearly expressing annoyance. This time, Lorenzo looked at her with a raised brow and respond with a hmm.

"So...um..as mo- I mean, your mom, I mean, Mrs. Romano told you, our marriage is a week later and...we will be living together from...today." Sophia, somehow said with her shaky, nervous voice. "For me to be comfortable around you and adapt to your lifestyle."

"So..um.. don't you think we should make ourselves..comfortable around each other?" She said, fidgeting with her fingers and Lorenzo nodded his head with another hmm.

"So.. today is a house welcoming party too because we are gonna start living together."

"So, it will be better if you complete your work quickly and join there with me.." Sophia said carefully with a low voice as Lorenzo nodded his head.

An awkward silence fell for sometime as two people sat on two sides of the table. One's eyes had been on his laptop since he came and one's was on the other who was immersed in his work. Sophia moved uncomfortably, clearly feeling awkward as hell.

"Um..so as you're my fiance, what should I call you? Well, let me guess...tesoro?" [ An Italian nickname given by couples to their partners. It means, Sweetheart.]

Sophia immediately regretted that word as she clicked her tongue in cringe. Even Lorenzo was shocked and started coughing. Sophia passed him the water with a concerned face.

"Oh god, are you okay?" She asked as Lorenzo nodded his head. Lorenzo cleared his throat before looking at Sophia. He took a deep breath, still recovering from the coughing fit he just had.

"No, please don't call me that." He said with no expression but from his tone, it could be easily understood that pet names wasn't his kind.

Lorenzo resumed checking his emails. With his wife-to-be right in front of him, he was having a difficult time concentrating on his work. It did not help that he found it annoying every time Sophia spoke in that sweet, almost naive-like voice.

"Let me guess something else..." After continuing to think hard, Sophia decided.

"Um.. I'll call you Romano then! It will be perfect!" Hearing that, Lorenzo raised his eyebrows again. Feeling his intense gaze in hers, Sophia scratched her head.

"Eh..nevermind, that's too professional. I think Amore Mio will be good." [ An Italian nickname given by couples to their partners. It means, My Love. ]

Hearing that, Lorenzo again choked and started coughing. He drank the water that was previously passed onto him by Sophia, then rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair, eyeing Sophia with annoyance.

"No, don't call me that either." He said sternly, making it clear to her that he had no interest in pet names.

For a moment, he studied her expression. She had a look that could only be described as innocence and naivety, a trait that he found particularly bothersome. Lorenzo took a deep breath and shook his head.

"You need to stop reading those cheesy romance novels." He said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Seems like you didn't like that either. But wait. I'll call you just Loren. Let's keep it simple and casual." Sophia said showing two fingers and pointing cutely.

I swear, I am gonna choke again if she continues like this. Lorenzo thought to himself and passed the menu towards her so that she would stop talking and get busy with choosing something.

Lorenzo had a brief moment of hesitation when he heard her. The name 'Loren' sounded weird when other people called him with that but hearing it from Sophia made his heart skip a beat, something he wasn't used to. However, he quickly composed himself and gave her a small nod.

"You can call me that if you want." He said in a neutral tone, trying to keep his cool. He, then gestured towards the menu. "You should take a look at that. You're the guest here, pick anything you want."

"Caffè is fine."

Saying this, Sophia took a sip of her caffè and looked at the man, who was sitting in front of her, again working on his laptop.

He had exceptionally really sharp features that were screaming his straightforward, workaholic personality. Double eyelids with eyes of grape shape, a jawline sharper than her butter knife, his hair combed in an upwards manner. He was wearing a grey suit which was an icing on top of the cake. His tie was loosened which just added more to him. All in all, with no doubt, he is a man every girl would die for.

Lorenzo Romano, the well known bachelor of the country was the chairman of the Romano empire. He was awarded as the youngest most successful Chief executive officer twice. He is one of the largest shareholders in Italy. He achieved so much in such a young age in a very short span of time.

Sophia was awestruck by his beauty since he looked as if he were directly from heaven. She was pretty sure, she never saw anyone as beautiful as him. His hazel brown eyes were emotionless, yet they held so much intensity that she should avert her eyes away from him. His this lips were so soft and they shined due to the light coming from outside. They were pinkish and she could bet they would feel delicious against one. His jaw was sharp like one of a knife and it fit his face perfectly, his button like nose looked sexy on him like cherry on top.

Overall he was too good to be true.

With his eyes glued to the screen, Lorenzo could feel Sophia's gaze on him. It was as if she was trying to analyze every detail on his face. He could see from the corner of his eye that she was staring intently at him. Lorenzo continued typing away on his laptop, pretending to be oblivious to her gaze.

There was something about her that caught his attention. Perhaps it was her sweet and innocent appearance or the way she tried to hide her nerves by talking incessantly.

He found himself stealing glances at her as well, admiring her features.

Lorenzo called for someone while his gaze was still fixated on the laptop. With that, two men in black suits came and bowed. One took Sophia's bag, jacket and the other checked the security before making Sophia get up. Sophia was taken aback by the actions of those men but she braced herself quickly. The more quick she gets used to these actions, the better for her. After all, she is not marrying just any random man.

Lorenzo also got up and another guard came and took his laptop and other things. Finally both of them got out of the restaurant.

With the two guards following them, Lorenzo and Sophia walked out of the restaurant. The evening air was crisp and cool, a refreshing change from the warmth of the indoors. The city lights were beginning to twinkle, adding a touch of magic to the surroundings.

Lorenzo casually took her hand in his, his grip firm and unwavering. He led her towards a nearby car, a sleek black limousine that was waiting for them. He nodded at the guard who had just placed their belongings in the trunk and his secretary opened the door for Sophia to get in. The secretary spoke while holding the door open for Sophia,

"Ma'am, you can go home now. Your things have been already transferred. Sir, still has some meetings so he'll be returning to the office." Sophia nodded before saying bye to Lorenzo. However the next action he did, made Sophia's breath hitch.

He held her hand and placed a soft kiss on her forehead and then looked at the driver.

"Be careful." he said as the driver nodded. Lorenzo took a last glance at Sophia and then went over to his car. Lorenzo's simple action of placing a soft kiss on her forehead caught Sophia off guard. She stood there, a little breathless and feeling a flutter in her heart. Was this man with the aloof and cold personality capable of such sweetness and affection?

As she watched him walk towards his car, she couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion. Just a moment ago, he was completely immersed in his work, and now he was sending her off with such a gentle gesture. It was certainly not what she had expected. Sophia also got into her car, her heart still thumbing loudly.

As she sat in the limousine, Sophia couldn't help but replay the scene over in her head. The touch of his lips on her forehead, the firmness of his grip on her hand, the way he looked at her before walking away. All of these things left an indelible impression on her.

The ride home was peaceful. The driver was silent, allowing Sophia to be lost in her thoughts. It was then that she realized that this man, her to-be husband, was full of contradictions, her thoughts were fixated on the unexpected display of affection from Lorenzo.

If a single kiss on the forehead can make me feel this way, I can't imagine how I'll react when we actually have children to consider.

She couldn't help but clutch at her dress in anticipation as her mind wandered through the different scenarios of their future life together.

As the limousine continued it's journey, Sophia tried to gather her thoughts. The image of Lorenzo's stoic face flashed through her mind and she was once again reminded of the stark contrast between his cold exterior and his brief moments of affection.

How can he be so aloof and yet so tender at the same time? I wonder if there are any more hidden sides to him that I haven't discovered yet.

Sophia arrived at the Romano residence. She felt like she really was someone even though she already is. The way she was being dressed and dolled up since afternoon, being surrounded by securities and being in the limelight, all of this was completely new for Sophia. A wave of excitement and nervousness washed over her. Being surrounded by such extravagance and attention was something she was not used to.

As she stepped out of the limousine, she couldn't help but take a moment to take in the grandeur of the estate. The large, modern house loomed in front of her, an imposing structure that spoke of the power and wealth of the Romano family.

Actually, Sophia is still a student who studies in medical. Being a medical student, Sophia had been brought up in an environment that valued discipline, humility, and equality. Her father, though a successful businessman himself, had raised her in a way that emphasized humility and avoiding the pitfalls of being a spoiled rich girl.

So, when the powerful and influential Romano family approached her father with an offer to marry into their family, Sophia's father was hesitant at first. However, the Romano family's unwavering interest and request for Sophia specifically eventually convinced her father to agree to the marriage.

Her father never actually intended on marrying her off, that too such a high and influential family but the Romano family specifically came for her and liked her in the first glance and wanted her as the daughter in law of their house and that's how Sophia ended up being Lorenzo's fiancé.

Lorenzo is an extremely cold and introvert person however she doesn't regret her decision to marry him at all. To her, men who don't talk too much are extremely attractive and cool.

Lorenzo's cold and introverted demeanor had a certain appeal to her. She found his ability to remain composed and silent in intense situations fascinating. In her perspective, men who lacked the need to constantly fill the air with idle chatter were attractive and cool.

Sophia's love for the silent type was not limited to just physical attractiveness. She appreciated Lorenzo's confidence and focus in his work, and the way he didn't speak unless necessary. She saw these qualities as a sign of maturity and self-assurance and she found them incredibly charming. To her, a man who didn't waste words was a man who knew what he wanted and how to achieve it.

...But we'll see how she handles Lorenzo....

An excited Sophia sat on the chair, as she looked at herself in her mirror and smiled, nervously. She had roamed around and explored the whole house already. As Sophia explored the luxurious and sophisticated interior of the Romano residence, she couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the grandeur of it all.

However, her excitement for the housewarming party soon took over. She sat in front of the mirror, checking her reflection and taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.

The event was to be attended by most of Lorenzo's family and close associates, with only a few guests from her side. Lorenzo's mother, Mrs. Romano was the woman behind the reigns, and now that her late husband was gone, Lorenzo had stepped into his shoes.

The thought of meeting all those important people made Sophia a bit nervous, but she was also looking forward to the event. She knew that she would have to make a good impression and represent her family well.

Sophia took one last look in the mirror, making sure that her makeup was flawless and her dress was fitting her perfectly. With a determined smile, she got up and headed towards the hallway to join the party.

As Sophia walked down the hallway, she heard a voice behind her and turned to see the matriarch of the Romano family standing there with a warm smile.

"Welcome home, my lovely daughter-in-law." said Mrs. Romano as she hugged Sophia, her voice full of warmth and affection.

Sophia felt a sense of intimidation as she looked at her future mother-in-law. There was no denying the strong and independent aura that emanated from Mrs. Romano, and Sophia couldn't help but feel a bit awed by her presence.

"Thank you, Mother." Sophia smiled warmly. Mrs. Romano's elegance and grace were unmistakable and Sophia couldn't help but wonder if she could ever measure up to the woman who stood before her. She returned the hug awkwardly, feeling a bit self-conscious of her own appearance compared to the flawless composure of her future mother-in-law.

"Well, I must say, you look exceptionally gorgeous tonight even though you always look like that."

Sophia blushed at the honest compliment of Mrs.Romano as her eyes roamed around the crowd, searching for that one face. Mrs. Romano noticed her gaze and smiled as she spoke,

"Loren is on his way. He'll be arriving soon. Come sit with me." She said as she gestured Sophia to sit near her. Sophia sat down and looked at the bunch of women equally looking perfect and graceful of Mrs. Romano's age.

Sophia smiled sheepishly at the compliment. Mrs. Romano's words of praise made her feel both flattered and a bit out of place. She looked around at the crowd, feeling a bit uneasy in the presence of so many sophisticated women.

When Mrs. Romano gestured for her to sit, Sophia gratefully took a seat on the chair. As she looked over at the group of women, she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. They all seemed so sure of themselves and so much older than her.

"These are all my sisters. These are my cousins and these are my childhood friends." Mrs. Romano introduced them one by one and Sophia greeted them all. As Mrs. Romano introduced Sophia to each woman, Sophia tried to memorize their names and faces. There were so many women, all related to Mrs. Romano in some way.

Sophia greeted each woman politely, feeling a bit pressured to make a good impression. She smiled and nodded, trying to hide the nerves that she felt. She could sense that these women had a close bond with each other and would be scrutinizing her every move. She shifted her gaze from Mrs.Romano's sisters to back to Mrs. Romano and spoke,

"Now I know where you got your grace and sophistication from."

Hearing that, Mrs. Romano couldn't help but to laugh, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Her sisters and friends chuckled too, clearly amused by Sophia's statement. Mrs. Romano smiled at Sophia's comment and replied,

"My dear, you're too kind. But I do appreciate the compliment. We women of the Romano family do take pride in our grace and elegance, you see."

Their laughter was interrupted by the arrival of another woman who was addressing herself as Lorenzo's aunt. She was Mrs. Romano's one and only sister in law. She sat down and also joined in on the conversation. Sophia got up started pouring everyone juice while speaking a little in the elderly's conversations.

As Sophia was serving the elderly, she suddenly stumbled and accidentally spilled a little bit of juice on the floor. Almost instantly, Mrs. Romano's sister-in-law got up, her voice loud and scolding.

"Watch what you're doing, you mannerless girl!"

Sophia felt her face heat up in embarrassment at the scolding. Everyone's attention was now on her and she could feel the weight of their gazes. She immediately tried to apologize.

"I-I'm so sorry, it was an accident, I didn't mean to-"

"Ugh so annoying. Who the hell allowed you in this party?!" She screamed in anger. Mrs. Romano was not at the table and hearing the commotion, she started walking over to her table.

"Why are you still standing there! Come on, clean my shoes fast!"

Guests started whispering to each other and Sophia was starting to panic under so many people's gaze. She braced herself quickly and looked up at the woman.

"I'm sorry for ruining your shoes. I'll let someone clean that up immediately." She said and gestured a waiter to come over.

"Let someone else clean that up when you're the one who messed it up?! Who let an arrogant brat like you in here! Do you know who I am? My son bought these shoes for me from Malaysia!"

"I apologise, Ma'am. Moreover, you also should know that I am the fiancé of Lorenzo." Sophia said confidently. She had no reason to panic. It was just a trivial mistake. However, the haughty woman in front of her was causing a scene for no reason.

"So? I believe, rules are equal for everyone and none should be given a different privilege when they do mistakes. Now clean that up quick."

Mrs. Romano had already returned and looked at the commotion and the spilled juice, she immediately understood the context. She was about to speak up but she was interrupted again and again.

Sophia's heart started racing as the woman started making a scene. She could feel the weight of everyone's gazes on her, and she felt humiliated. But she also knew that she couldn't let this woman bully her around.

Sophia looked back to see Lorenzo was already behind her. He was a little far from them while talking in a call. Maybe his aunt didn't notice him but what was eating Sophia from inside out was that Lorenzo was hearing everything but he still wasn't defending her. She had apologised for her mistake and offered to let somebody even clean the mess up but this woman was now gaslighting her into thinking she is being haughty and arrogant when in real it's the opposite.

But then, a man and a paper were thrown on the table near Lorenzo's aunt and seeing the man, her eyes widened in horror. It was her son who had multiple bruises of punches in his face and looked miserable.

"Pedro!!" She called out to him and knelt down to face him and her gaze went to the paper. It was their company's paper of him admitting to money embezzlement and fraud.

"Tell your son to sign and resign on his own or else we will sue him for money embezzlement and fraud charges." Lorenzo said, entering the crowd with a straight face and stood beside Sophia.

"Lorenzo..son...listen to me first." she tried to calm him down as his secretary signalled her son to sign the papers.

"Lorenzo.. I'm really sorry...you know I can't control my anger...he is your brother.." she pleaded.

"You should've known the consequences of your actions before committing them." Lorenzo said coldly.

"I will, I swear I will control my anger from now on. Just leave him alone. He's your brother. Your own!"

"I'm sorry aunt. But I thought, you said, rules are 'equal' for everyone." Lorenzo said, emphasizing the word equal. A small smile appeared in the corner of Sophia's lips upon hearing that. It seems like, Lorenzo was hearing everything.

Seeing no further choice, in order to avoid punishment from the law and ruining their life, she made her son sign those papers. Lorenzo was already enough merciful to give them the chance to just resign and leave without suing her son and ruin his reputation even though it was already pretty much ruined for them.

Lorenzo, then held Sophia's hand and signalled his mom to start the party again. Mrs. Romano smiled seeing the issue resolved without further problems and eventually everything returned back to normal. Lorenzo and Sophia were about to turn around and walk away when his aunt got up and yelled again.

"For a mere arrogant brat, you disrespected your own aunt and threw your own blood brother on the streets! She-" before she could continue further she was cut off by Lorenzo's death glare.

..."She is my wife!"...

..."My life partner for the rest of my life!"...

..."She is not a mere arrogant brat. She knows her rights and position unlike you who bit off more than you could chew."...

Lorenzo said in a tone which was mixed with disgust and anger. Guards came in and quickly dragged the mother-son duo out of the party. The whole atmosphere had turned quiet. The party had taken an unexpected turn. Sophia felt a wave of emotions wash over her. She had never heard Lorenzo speak so passionately or with such conviction before.

The party eventually resumed, but the atmosphere was still tense as the guests tried to process what had just happened. However, Sophia's mind was still swirling with thoughts and feelings. Lorenzo had defended her and made it clear that she was his top priority, something she had never expected.

The guards finally escorted Lorenzo's aunt and cousin out of the party, and the room fell silent for a moment. The incident had undoubtedly left a mark on everyone present. Lorenzo went inside while his hand still holding Sophia's.

With just those three lines from Lorenzo's mouth, everyone understood and became aware of what value Sophia kept to him.