Chapter Five

The next few days. He didn't bring up my meeting with Jane again, but I could tell he wasn't happy about it. He kept a closer eye on me, almost as if he expected her to pop up out of nowhere.

e tension between Rex and me was thick for the 

Part of me wanted to confide in him, to tell him everything she had said at the café, but something held me back. Maybe it was the cold detachment in his eyes, or maybe it was the nagging feeling that this was my

problem to handle.

One evening, as I sat in the living room flipping through channels on the oversized TV, Alicia called. "Sarah! You've been so quiet lately. What's going on?"

I smiled, grateful to hear her voice. "Nothing much. Just...adjusting to everything." "Adjusting? Girl, you're living in a mansion with Rex Go, the Rex Go. Don't tell me it's boring!" I laughed softly. "It's not boring. Just...complicated."

"Complicated how?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to share. Alicia was my best friend, but even she didn't know the full truth about my marriage. "Let's just say, being Mrs. Go isn't as glamorous as it sounds."

"Well, if you ever need to vent, you know where to find me," she said, her tone light but sincere. "I know. Thanks, Alicia."

After we hung up, I sat back on the couch, staring at the blank TV screen. Talking to her made me realize just how isolated I felt. The mansion was beautiful, but it wasn't home.

The next morning, I woke up to find Rex already gone. A note on the bedside table informed me he had an early meeting at the office.

I decided to take advantage of his absence and explore the mansion more thoroughly. There were still parts of the house I hadn't seen, and curiosity got the better of me.

The east wing, which I hadn't ventured into before, was quiet and eerily still. The walls were lined with old family portraits, their painted eyes watching as I walked by.

One door at the end of the hall caught my attention. It was slightly ajar, revealing a glimpse of what looked like a study.

Pushing the door open, I stepped inside. The room was smaller than Rex's office but cozy, with shelves lined with books and a large wooden desk in the center. Papers and photographs were scattered across the surface, as though someone had left in a hurry.

One photo in particular caught my eye. It was of Rex, younger and smiling, standing beside an older man I recognized from the portraits—Grandpa Go.

"Find anything interesting?"

I jumped, spinning around to find Rex leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that made me feel like a child caught snooping.

"I didn't mean to pry," I said quickly. "I was just exploring and..."

"This room isn't off-limits," he interrupted, stepping inside. "But I'd appreciate it if you didn't go through my things."

"I wasn't!" I protested, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he walked over to the desk and picked up the photograph I had been looking at.

"This was taken a few years ago," he said, his tone softer now. "Before things...changed." "Changed how?" I asked cautiously.

He didn't answer right away, his gaze fixed on the photo. "My grandfather built this company from the ground up. He taught me everything I know about business. But when he started talking about stepping down, he made it clear there were conditions."

"The marriage condition," I said quietly.

Rex nodded. "He believes a stable personal life makes for a better leader. I think it's outdated, but his word is law in this family."

For a moment, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes, a glimpse of the weight he carried. "I didn't realize it was so complicated," I said.

"It always is," he replied, placing the photo back on the desk. "But that's enough about the past. Let's focus on the present."

The rest of the day passed uneventfully, but I couldn't stop thinking about what Rex had said. Beneath his cold exterior was a man shaped by expectations and obligations, much like me.

Later that evening, as we sat in the dining room for dinner, I decided to break the silence. "Rex, can I ask you something?"

He looked up from his plate, his expression guarded. "What is it?"

"Why me? Out of all the people you could have chosen, why did you ask me to marry you?" He set his fork down, leaning back in his chair. "Because you're not like everyone else." "That's not an answer," I said, crossing my arms.

He smirked slightly, as if amused by my persistence. "Alright, I'll be honest. You're honest, hardworking, and

you don't have an agenda. Most people I deal with are after something—money, power, status. But you...you're different."

His words caught me off guard, and I didn't know how to respond.

"Don't read too much into it," he added quickly, his tone lightening. "This is still a business arrangement." "Of course," I said, forcing a smile.

But as I lay in bed that night, his words replayed in my mind. For all his talk of this being a business arrangement, I couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it than he was letting on.

The following day, I decided to focus on my role as Rex's wife, attending another event with him. This time, it was a corporate luncheon hosted by one of Go Enterprise's major partners.

I was determined to make a good impression, but the moment we walked into the venue, I felt the familiar weight of judgmental stares. Whispers followed us as we moved through the crowd, but Rex's presence by my side gave me a sense of security.

Halfway through the luncheon, I excused myself to use the restroom. As I washed my hands, I heard the door open behind me.

"Fancy seeing you here."

I looked up to see Jane standing by the door, her lips curled into a smug smile.

"What do you want, Jane?" I asked, my voice steady despite the unease creeping up my spine.

She sauntered over, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. "Just checking in on my replacement. You seem to be adjusting well."

I clenched my fists, refusing to rise to her bait.

"Enjoy it while it lasts, Sarah," she said, leaning closer. "Because when I'm done, there won't be anything left of this little fairy tale."

Before I could respond, she turned on her heel and walked out, leaving me with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Cliffhanger: What does Jane have planned, and how long can Sarah keep up the façade of a perfect marriage under her growing threats?