Runaway Heiress, Reluctant bride

I couldn’t help but feel a little triumphant that he gave in to my request. Should I push my luck with another one? “I hope you don’t mind, but could you keep your voice down when… you’re with her?” I asked, not even bothering to hide my irritation.

Leo froze, and his jaw clenched when I used the word ‘fuck.’ He seemed genuinely taken aback. Well, it wasn’t new to me. I had heard worse, and the vulgar word no longer had the power to shock me.

“Whether I scream or grunt, it’s none of your business, Elena. Or do you want to experience it with me?” His taunt was laced with arrogance.

I knew he was trying to provoke me into submission, but I wouldn’t bite. Not now, not ever. Sebastian Cruz might have held power over me, but this man—Leo—had nothing on me. I’d do what I had to do for love, but no one, except my father, could boss me around.

“I’d rather please myself than do it with you,” I said firmly, my voice cold and defensive. It wasn’t an insult to his abilities, but more of a defense mechanism against his arrogance.

Leo’s face twisted with fury. “Oh, my God, just go to your room and don’t come out unless it’s to cook,” he snapped, storming off after he led me to the guest bedroom.

“Thank you,” I called after him, though I wasn’t sure if he even heard.

I sighed, shaking my head in disbelief. How had I gotten myself involved with such an impossible man? When I opened the door to the room he had given me, I couldn’t help but be surprised. It was a beautiful space. Would his wife have been this kind to me? I doubted it.

The room was tastefully furnished with modern, sleek fixtures. The four-poster bed looked grand, and there were comfortable seating areas scattered around. As I moved toward the window, I noticed a beautiful view of the garden below.

It was considerate of him to let me use such a lovely room with access to the garden. For a moment, I actually felt a small pang of appreciation.

I stretched out my muscles, feeling the exhaustion in every fiber of my body, before sinking into the massive bed. It had been an exhausting day. The journey here, then meeting Leo—it was all too much.

Maybe it wasn’t such a horrible twist of fate after all. I had to admit, Leo had done more for me than most people ever had. But that didn’t mean I was going to let him walk all over me. Not for one second.

I closed my eyes, the fatigue from the long journey taking over my body. I had meant to set an alarm, but I was too tired to care. Let fate decide if I would wake up in time.

The sound of the clock ticking on the wall was the last thing I heard before sleep claimed me.

Hours later, I jolted awake in a panic. The faint glow of dusk trickled through the curtains, and I groaned. Dinner! I had overslept!

I scrambled out of bed, pulling on my shoes as I rushed to the kitchen. Sure enough, Leo was already there, his brow furrowed in frustration when he saw that his meal wasn’t prepared yet.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologized, my voice strained with embarrassment. “I overslept.”

He grunted in response, clearly unimpressed. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, Elena,” he muttered. “By the way, I didn’t see anyone else except you and… your wife.” I figured I should ask, though I already had my suspicions.

“I don’t have a wife,” Leo replied shortly.

“Then who was that woman I saw earlier?” I pressed, trying to be nonchalant. “The brunette.”

“Oh, her?” Leo said, his voice almost bored. “She’s one of my mistresses.”

I blinked, my mind taking a moment to process his words. “Are you serious?” I asked, stunned. “How many are there?”

“Don’t ask if you don’t want to be one of them,” he replied, his tone colder than ice.

“Should I cook for all of them when they’re here?” I asked, mostly to gauge his response.

“No. They can manage on their own. Just cook for us,” Leo answered firmly.

“Okay, I’ll need about an hour to prepare dinner. You can come back then,” I told him, trying to hide my discomfort.

“Thirty minutes,” he bargained, his eyes narrowing. It was clear he was starving, and I had no choice but to agree.

“Fine,” I said with a sigh. My cooking skills were limited, but I would manage. At least, I hoped I would.