Chapter 9: The Distance Between Us

The next morning, Amira woke up to an empty bed. She wasn't surprised. Jordan barely spoke to her unless necessary, and last night's tension still lingered in the air.

Stretching, she got up and changed into something comfortable before heading downstairs. The mansion was eerily quiet, except for the faint sound of footsteps echoing in the hallway.

Martha, the housekeeper, appeared with a polite smile. "Good morning, Mrs. Carter. Breakfast is ready in the dining room."

Mrs. Carter. The name still felt foreign.

"Where's Jordan?" she asked, even though she already knew the answer.

Martha hesitated. "He left early for work."

Of course he did.

Amira sighed, making her way to the dining room, where a full spread of gourmet dishes waited for her. But as she sat down, the emptiness of the room made her appetite disappear.

She wasn't sure what she had expected from this marriage, but the loneliness was heavier than she had anticipated.

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A Call from the Past

Later that afternoon, Amira sat on the balcony, sipping tea and scrolling through her phone. She hadn't contacted anyone since the wedding—not her so-called friends, not even her father.

But when her phone rang, her heart stopped.

Dad.

Her fingers hovered over the screen before she finally answered. "Hello?"

"You sound different," her father's voice came through, rough as ever. "Settling into your new life, are you?"

Amira gripped the phone tighter. "What do you want?"

A cruel chuckle. "Still ungrateful, I see. I gave you an opportunity. You should be thanking me."

She clenched her jaw. "You sold me."

"Semantics," he said dismissively. "Anyway, I hope you haven't forgotten our deal. You get paid, and I get my share."

Her stomach twisted. "You're not getting a cent from me."

His tone darkened. "We'll see about that."

The line went dead.

Amira's hands shook as she lowered the phone. She should've known he wouldn't let her go so easily.

But if he thought she was still the same scared girl he had control over, he was wrong.

This time, she wouldn't let him win.