CHAPTER TWO

Sophia Lin had made plenty of bad decisions in her life.

This one, however, had to be the worst.

She sat on the edge of the massive bed in her assigned guest room—if she could even call it that. A "guest room" implied something modest, maybe a little plain. This? This was the size of an entire apartment, complete with a walk-in closet, a private bathroom larger than her old living space, and a balcony that overlooked an immaculately sculpted garden.

Everything screamed wealth—crystal chandeliers, silk drapes, marble floors. The bed alone looked like it could fit five people.

Sophia flopped back against the plush mattress, staring at the high ceiling.

What the hell had she done?

Just this morning, she had been a struggling woman, scraping by with two meals a day and unpaid bills looming over her like a death sentence. Now, she was Mrs. Leon Cheng—a title that came with luxury, but at what cost?

Her eyes drifted to the closet. Did she even have anything to wear that wouldn't look pathetically out of place in this house?

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

Before she could even get up, the door creaked open, and a woman—elegant, poised, and dressed in a crisp black suit—stepped in. Her sharp eyes scanned Sophia like she was some uninvited guest in a five-star hotel.

"You are to join Young Master Cheng for dinner," the woman said, voice clipped, professional. "Be ready in ten minutes."

Then, without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and disappeared.

Sophia blinked.

Was that a request or a command?

She decided to call Lu Cinyi after she had dinner as opposed to calling her at that moment.

Sophia arrived in the dining room precisely ten minutes later.

And nearly choked on air.

The dining table was obscenely long—like something straight out of a royal banquet, with golden-rimmed plates, polished silverware, and candles flickering in the dim lighting.

At the very end, Leon sat, cutting into his steak with slow, methodical precision. He didn't look up as she hesitated in the doorway.

"You're late," he remarked, not even glancing at the giant clock behind him.

Sophia gritted her teeth. "I had to find the dining room first. This place is bigger than a shopping mall."

Leon gestured toward the seat all the way across from him. "Sit."

She narrowed her eyes. "Are we hosting ghosts? Because I don't see the need for a table this long."

He finally looked up, eyes cool and unreadable. "If you prefer something more intimate, we can share a plate."

Her jaw clenched.

Damn him.

She dropped into her seat, snatching the napkin off the table and placing it in her lap with a little more force than necessary. The butler immediately served her—an insanely expensive-looking steak, perfectly cooked vegetables, and some kind of sauce she couldn't even name.

Sophia picked up her fork. "So, are we going to talk about this… arrangement?"

Leon took a sip of his wine, unconcerned. "There's nothing to talk about. We're married. You'll stay here until I say otherwise. In return, I'll take care of your financial issues."

Just like that. As if he had just adopted a stray cat.

Sophia bristled. "And what do you expect in return?"

His gaze flickered to her. "Your cooperation."

She stabbed a piece of steak. "Elaborate."

Leon set his glass down, fingers tapping lightly against the table. "Public appearances. Business functions. You'll act like the perfect wife—polite, obedient, no scandals. You don't interfere with my life, and I won't interfere with yours."

Sophia let out a sharp laugh. "Obedient? You married the wrong woman for that. Also, I do not plan to make any public appearances withh you. This has to be a secret for now"

His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smirk. "Then this will be entertaining."

Her stomach twisted.

This man.

Arrogant and Calculated.

And now, he was her husband. The thought of that made her stomach churn.

She had a terrible feeling that she had just signed up for something far more dangerous than she had ever imagined.

Later that night, Sophia found herself locked out of her own room.

She had just stepped out for a glass of water, only to return and find the door would not budge.

She jiggled the handle, irritation bubbling inside her. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me."

The mansion was eerily quiet at night, the hallways dimly lit by soft golden sconces. She turned, contemplating her next move. Where was the staff when she actually needed them?

With a sigh, she trudged toward the one place she was sure she'd find answers.

Leon's study.

The door was slightly ajar, a faint glow spilling into the hallway. She pushed it open without hesitation.

Leon sat behind a massive desk, sleeves rolled up, fingers skimming across a tablet. He barely glanced up. "What?"

Sophia crossed her arms. "Why is my door locked?"

He tapped the screen. "Because I locked it."

Her eye twitched. "Care to explain why?"

Leon exhaled, setting his tablet aside. "This house is full of important documents. I don't trust strangers wandering around at night."

She scoffed. "Strangers? I'm your wife!"

He leaned back, gaze assessing. "A title on paper doesn't make you trustworthy."

Her irritation exploded. "Then why the hell did you marry me?"

He shrugged . "Convenience. And because you were there."

Sophia clenched her fists. "Unbelievable. So, what, I'm just a warm body to fill in for your missing fiancée?"

Leon's expression didn't change, but his voice was quieter this time. "She was never my fiancée."

Sophia frowned. Something about the way he said it—controlled, yet laced with something she couldn't quite place—made her pause.

For a split second, she considered pushing for more. Who was the woman supposed to marry him? Why was he doing this?

But then she remembered who she was dealing with.

Leon Cheng wasn't the kind of man who offered answers.

And she wasn't the kind of woman who liked being kept in the dark.

Fine. If this was how he wanted to play, then she'd play along.

But one thing was certain—

She wasn't just going to sit quietly and let this arrogant billionaire dictate her life.

He had married the wrong woman for that.

And he was about to find out just how much of a mistake he had made.

" I need you to open the door to my room, I need to sleep!" She stated

His smirk returned "And what if I say no?"

She stomped her feet in visible frustration.

"Why did this man have to be so damn frustrating!"

He laughed at her countenance. Exposing his pearly white teeth. For a moment, she was taken aback by how charming he looked when he laughed but she soon caught herself.

"Say Mrs Cheng, tonight is our wedding night. Don't you think we should be spending it together" He spoke with a smile on his face.

Her eyes widened at this.

"Is this man insane? He had better be joking" she thought.

"Stop playing games with me Leon Cheng! I need to sleep now, come open the door"

He sized her up for a few more seconds and then blurted out "No!"