Ariana De Souza stood at the window of the grand Sterling estate, her reflection blurry against the glass. She should have felt excited—this was the day she had been raised to expect, the moment she would step into a new life. But instead, she felt like a stranger in her own skin.

Eighteen years old and barely out of high school, Ariana had imagined a future filled with choices, dreams, and the freedom to make mistakes. She never envisioned herself standing here, about to marry a man she barely knew, under the guise of family duty.

Theon Sterling was a mystery, a quiet figure she had only seen at family gatherings, a man of few words but strong presence. At thirty, he seemed to belong to an entirely different world—one that Ariana couldn’t even begin to understand. He was calm, composed, and focused, traits that had earned him respect in business and from those around him. But those same traits made him feel distant, almost cold to Ariana.

Her wedding dress was beautiful—a satin white gown with delicate lace trimming—but it felt like a costume she was forced to wear for a play she didn’t want to act in. The house around her was silent, except for the occasional clink of silverware and murmured conversation downstairs as guests prepared for the ceremony.

“You look stunning,” said Tasha, her cousin, stepping into the room with a camera in hand. “This is your moment, Ari. Enjoy it.”

Ariana turned to her cousin with a forced smile. “Stunning, yes. But I feel more like a deer caught in headlights.”

Tasha laughed, a soft, light sound that filled the otherwise quiet room. “Don’t overthink it. This is your future. You’ll get used to it.”

“Used to what?” Ariana asked, her voice tinged with bitterness. “The fact that I’m getting married to a man I hardly know because my family’s business is in shambles?”

Tasha winced. “I know it’s not ideal, but you don’t have to do this alone. Theon’s a good man. You’ll see.”

Ariana shook her head, staring out the window again. Theon. His name sounded foreign to her, like a stranger she was about to be bound to for the rest of her life.

When her father’s business had hit a financial crisis, the Sterlings had offered a solution—an alliance between their families sealed by marriage. Ariana’s father, too proud to admit defeat, had accepted the deal without consulting her. Ariana’s future had been decided in a boardroom meeting, not a conversation with her.

The door opened, and her Aunt Laila appeared. “It’s time, sweetheart.”

Ariana swallowed hard and nodded, trying to ignore the knot in her stomach. This was it. The moment that would change everything.

As she descended the stairs, her heart pounded in her chest. The guests were waiting, their polite smiles hiding the gossip that buzzed under the surface. Theon was standing at the altar, his back straight, his dark eyes fixed ahead. He was impeccably dressed in a black suit, his expression unreadable.

Ariana walked down the aisle, trying to calm her nerves. She could feel the weight of everyone’s gaze on her, but it was Theon’s gaze that held her attention. It wasn’t warm. It wasn’t cold. It was neutral, as though this was just another transaction to him.

When she reached him, they exchanged a glance—brief, fleeting—and he gave her a small, respectful nod.

“Shall we begin?” the officiant asked, his voice gentle but firm.

Ariana barely heard the words as the ceremony started. The vows were spoken, but they felt like they belonged to someone else, not her. Theon’s voice was steady when he said his part, promising to cherish and protect her, but there was no emotion behind the words. It wasn’t love that filled the air; it was duty.

When the officiant finally declared them husband and wife, the room erupted into applause, but Ariana felt no rush of happiness, no sense of accomplishment. Just an overwhelming sense of unease. She was a wife now. A wife to a man who was still a stranger in many ways.

Theon turned to her, his eyes soft but still distant. “You’re safe here,” he said, his voice low enough that only she could hear. “I won’t rush you. We’ll take it one step at a time.”

Ariana nodded, but the words didn’t offer her the comfort they were meant to. She wasn’t sure if she could ever trust him, or if she could even trust herself in this new life.

---

After the ceremony, Ariana followed Theon through the mansion’s grand hallway, her thoughts racing. Theon didn’t speak, but he led her to a sitting room, where a tray of champagne and hors d'oeuvres awaited them.

“Do you want to sit?” he asked, gesturing toward the couch.

Ariana hesitated before lowering herself onto the plush cushions. Theon sat beside her, maintaining a respectful distance.

“I know this isn’t what you expected,” he said, his voice steady. “But I promise you, I’m here for you. I will always respect your space.”

Ariana looked at him, really looked at him, for the first time since the wedding. He wasn’t like the men she had imagined falling for—someone exciting, spontaneous, full of life. Theon was steady, reserved, but there was an unwavering kindness in his eyes.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel,” Ariana admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You don’t have to feel anything right now,” Theon replied. “I’ll give you time. You don’t have to pretend for me. But I’m here, Ariana. Whenever you’re ready.”

And in that moment, something softened inside her. She didn’t know if it was relief, or just the overwhelming weight of it all finally hitting her. But for the first time in days, Ariana felt like she might not be as alone as she had thought.

---

___

The Sterling estate was vast — too large for Ariana to feel comfortable in. Every room was pristine, each space immaculately designed to reflect Theon’s quiet wealth. The house had a coldness to it, like it was more a museum than a home, filled with priceless art and rare antiques, but little warmth.

It was the second day after the wedding. Ariana had spent the morning wandering through the halls, trying to get familiar with the house, the surroundings, and the man she now shared a life with.

Theon had been quiet. It was in his nature, she assumed, and his silence was something that both unsettled and intrigued her. He didn’t hover around her, but he was always there when she needed him. His presence was like a steady hum in the background — not demanding attention, yet unmissable.

Ariana wasn’t used to this kind of quiet. Her home, though modest, had always been filled with the chatter of family, the clinking of dishes, the sound of television in the background. Here, it was different. A silence that spoke volumes.

She hadn’t expected to feel it so soon — the pull. It was subtle, creeping into her mind at moments when she was least prepared for it. It wasn’t like the passionate, fiery love stories in the movies. No, this was something else. Something quiet. Something steady.

She had caught herself staring at Theon more than once. Not because he was particularly handsome — though he was, in his own understated way. His dark hair, his sharp jawline, and the way his dark blue eyes seemed to pierce through the silence like they were reading her thoughts. But it was more than that. There was a quiet magnetism to him, an energy she couldn’t quite place.

This was a man who didn’t chase attention, who didn’t demand anything from others. It was that self-assuredness that intrigued her. He wasn’t rushing anything with her. He seemed to know that love — real love — took time.

Later that evening, after dinner, Ariana sat down in the living room with a glass of wine, looking out at the distant city lights. Theon had offered to join her, and though she wasn’t sure why, she had said yes.

He sat down across from her, a few feet of space between them, but it didn’t feel like distance. The quiet tension between them was palpable, almost thick in the air. It wasn’t awkward. It was… something else. Something that made her heart beat faster when he wasn’t even looking at her.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Theon finally broke the silence, his voice soft but direct. “You don’t have to feel pressured, Ariana. I don’t expect anything from you.”

She glanced at him, her pulse quickening as she caught the earnestness in his eyes. He wasn’t just saying that. He truly meant it.

“I know,” she whispered, her fingers tightening around her glass. “But I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel.”

“You don’t have to figure that out now,” he replied calmly. “Take your time. But I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

Ariana looked down at her wine, trying to steady her thoughts. She wasn’t sure what was happening between them — this strange bond that wasn’t friendship, but wasn’t yet love. It wasn’t anything she’d ever expected.

But there was something in the air. A shift. A subtle energy.

Theon’s gaze lingered on her, and Ariana felt an unexpected warmth spread through her chest. She wasn’t used to being the center of attention, especially not from someone as self-possessed as him. His stare wasn’t invasive, though. It was patient. Respectful. As if he were waiting for something… but not rushing her to provide it.

Suddenly, the space between them felt smaller. Ariana’s breath hitched when she saw him move slightly closer, his body language relaxed but intent. He reached for his glass, his fingers brushing hers for the briefest of moments.

Her heart skipped a beat.

It was a simple touch. A brush of skin. But it was enough to make something inside her stir, a heat she didn’t know was there. She met his gaze again, her breath catching in her throat. There was something about the way he looked at her, as though he could see through the layers she had built around herself.

“I’m not rushing you,” Theon said, his voice low, almost a whisper. “But I want you to know that I’m here. For you.”

Ariana swallowed, trying to push away the sudden rush of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Her entire body seemed to hum with a feeling she couldn’t describe. She could feel the chemistry between them, like a silent current beneath the surface.

It was there, in the small moments. In the way he said her name, in the gentle touch of his hand against hers, in the way he respected her space even when he was so close. It wasn’t love yet. But it was something more than just mere attraction. Something deeper. Something that neither of them had expected to happen.

She didn’t know what would happen next, or if she was ready for whatever this was between them. But in that moment, with Theon sitting across from her, his eyes steady and calm, Ariana felt a flicker of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, there was something worth exploring here.

The grand Thorne estate stood in dignified silence, much like its master. Ariana had seen wealth before—her family wasn't exactly poor—but this was different. The walls didn’t just shine with polish and elegance; they whispered of generations of discipline and legacy. It wasn’t the kind of home where children laughed loudly or people left their shoes near the door. It was... still.

Theon walked beside her, silent as ever, hands clasped behind his back. His strides were long and even, but he slowed down every few steps as if making sure she kept up. He hadn’t said a word since they entered the house. Not even when she almost knocked over an antique vase in the hallway, causing a maid to flinch.

Ariana’s nerves were dancing. Every creak of the floorboards felt amplified. She finally cleared her throat. “So… this is home, huh?”

Theon glanced at her. “Yes. I hope you’ll feel comfortable here.”

“Comfortable might be a stretch,” she muttered, half-joking.

To her surprise, a soft smile touched his lips. It vanished quickly, but it had been there.

He led her upstairs to a room at the far end of the corridor. It had a canopy bed, pastel drapes, and windows that opened to a blooming garden. The scent of roses wafted in with the breeze.

“This will be your room,” he said.

Ariana blinked. “My room?”

“Yes. I thought you might want your own space.”

Her pride prickled. “Because you don’t want me in yours?”

He looked genuinely startled. “No, that’s not it. I simply didn’t want you to feel forced. We’ve only just… met.”

There was something earnest in the way he said it, and it took the fire out of her indignation. She sat on the edge of the bed, brushing her fingers over the embroidered sheets.

“I suppose that’s considerate,” she admitted.

Theon nodded once and turned to leave. “Dinner is at seven. You can come down whenever you’re ready.”

And just like that, he was gone.

Dinner was a quiet affair, with more silverware than food and a table so long it felt like they were dining across countries. Ariana poked at her soup, occasionally sneaking glances at Theon, who ate with perfect posture and slow, deliberate motions.

He didn’t speak much. When he did, it was to ask if she needed anything or liked the food. No forced jokes, no smug comments. Just a quiet presence that made her curious.

“You don’t talk a lot, do you?” she asked finally.

“I speak when necessary,” he replied, without offense.

“You must be a hit at parties.”

“I don’t attend them.”

She grinned. “Of course you don’t.”

There was silence again. Then, unexpectedly, Theon set his spoon down. “Ariana.”

She looked up.

“I know this arrangement isn’t what you hoped for. But I will never force you to do anything. I want you to feel safe here.”

She was stunned. She hadn’t expected him to acknowledge her feelings so openly.

“I don’t hate you, you know,” she murmured.

“I didn’t think you did.”

“I just…” She trailed off, unsure how to explain the storm inside her.

“I understand,” he said gently.

And somehow, she believed he did.

Later that night, Ariana lay in bed staring at the ceiling. The silence of the house was comforting and strange. And downstairs, somewhere beyond her door, was the man she had married just days ago—a man who had promised her safety without ever raising his voice.

She didn’t love him. Not yet.

But she didn’t fear him either.

And that, perhaps, was a beginning.