★

om was quiet

he man worked, his focus unbroken-until a knock on the do

d, bowing his he

here, sir," the

d briefly. His presence alone co

rules? Make sure she knows why she's here

ferent, sir," the

furrowed. "Wha

ifferent from the previous wive

able. "Looks don't matter. They're all the same. They p

"I'll deal with her myself. She needs to under

im, bowing as the man strode out. His presence

eir knees, bowing in greeting. He didn't acknowledge the

ilion where Chloe wai

t allowed to step foot inside the main mansion. No one dared to bre

aken from her earlier encounter with the children, espe

Whispers about the Knight family swirled in her mind-rumors of cruelty

y of i

rrupted by the sound o

dered, her heart pounding as she raised

ed open, and a

me was an understatement-he looked almost otherworldly, like a fallen angel. But h

him, the soft click ma

instinctively stepped back. Each step

him. Though she knows she is afraid of men b

ring at her in silence. The ten

on't you?" he finally asked,

odded q

tone was sharp, cutting th

sitated,

. Speak. I want words," he said,

be Mr. Knight? He didn't look anything like the monster the rumors had

y I'm here, I have signed a contract to marry into Knight's family to s

oldly, making Chloe lift her head slight

e your family's debts. That's only the first part of the arrangement. The second reason you're

er bubbling beneath the surface. She had never i

toward her. "Sign this," he demanded,

embled as she skimmed the text, her stomach twisting with dread. The wor

heart sank as she realized she had no choice. With a deep breath, sh

readable. Once she finished, he took the papers

in place. "Good," he said, his tone devoid of warmth. "Then

ing as she clasped them together. "I..

eplied sharply, his eyes narrowing. "You are here to fulfill

membered his earlier command. She quickly correcte

udying her. "I doubt that you d

and Chloe felt her back press against

firm. "Your role is simple: you will stay out of my way, you will follow every rule without question,

in the air, the weight

led to keep her composure. "I won't fail," she wh

If anything, it hardened. "We'll see

om. Chloe's heart pounded in her ch

mily," he said finally. "They will not make

ly corrected herself ag

urned to leave, his footstep

k at her. "One last thing," he said. "You will address

hloe said, her

door and left, leaving Chloe alone i

h she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She sank to

handle it, thinking she could endure whatever came her way. But afte

she whispered to herself, "Wh