The Billionaire Sweet Love

Chapter 2

Lisa’s stomach twisted with anxiety as the town car pulled up to the gates of Ethan’s mansion.

The sprawling estate seemed like something out of a movie, an endless stretch of manicured lawns, grand pillars, and tall windows that gleamed in the sunlight.

Everything about it screamed wealth, power, and distance. The kind of life Lisa had never imagined for herself. Yet here she was, stepping out of the car, dressed in clothes that felt too formal, too uncomfortable for her.

She had agreed to this marriage for one reason: to save her mother. Ethan had offered her a way out of poverty, and though she didn’t know him well, she had convinced herself it was the right decision.

After all, he had kept his word. Her mother was now in a private hospital, receiving the best care money could buy. Lisa had reassured her mom, telling her she was “in good hands,” that she would be fine. But as she stood there, facing the mansion’s heavy doors, Lisa wasn’t sure she believed that herself.

The doors swung open, revealing a butler who greeted her with a formal nod. Inside, the house was just as imposing as the exterior, polished marble floors, high ceilings adorned with chandeliers, and an eerie, echoing silence.

Lisa hesitated, feeling out of place, as if she didn’t belong in such a grand space. It was a far cry from the cramped apartment she had shared with her mother, where everything had been worn but filled with warmth. Here, the luxury felt cold, detached.

Ethan’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. He had entered the room, dressed in a crisp suit, his expression as unreadable as ever. “The staff will take care of whatever you need,” he said without looking at her. “You’ll be comfortable here.”

Lisa nodded, though she wasn’t sure what “comfortable” really meant in this situation. “Thank you,” she replied softly, feeling the awkwardness between them like a heavy weight.

Ethan’s gaze finally shifted toward her, but there was no warmth in his eyes, only the same distant professionalism she had come to expect. “I’m heading to the office,” he said flatly. “If you need anything, ask the maids. They’ll be available.”

He turned to leave, but Lisa, desperate for some kind of connection in this strange, new world, spoke up. “Ethan... Do you want me to bring you lunch later? I could come by your office.”

He paused, his back still to her. For a moment, she thought he might say yes, that maybe this marriage wasn’t going to be as cold as it seemed. But when he turned around, his expression was as hard as stone. “No need. Your place is here, in the house.”

Her place? She hadn’t expected much from this arrangement, but the way he said it made her feel like a prisoner, confined to the mansion while he went about his life, free and unattached.

Ethan didn’t even bother to soften his tone. He just gave her a brief nod and walked out the door, leaving her standing there, feeling small and insignificant.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Lisa’s eyes filled with tears. She tried to hold them back, but the loneliness and confusion overwhelmed her.

How had her life come to this? Just months ago, she had been struggling, yes, but she had her freedom. Now, she was married to a man who didn’t care about her beyond the terms of their contract. She had never expected love, but the coldness was suffocating.

Lisa hurried to her room, shutting the door behind her before collapsing on the bed, burying her face in the pillow. She let the tears flow freely, sobbing quietly into the fabric.

She wasn’t just crying over Ethan’s words, but over everything, her mother’s illness, the life she had left behind, the uncertainty of her future.

She thought about leaving the mansion, going to see her mother, but the terms of the contract echoed in her mind. The marriage was confidential.

No one could know it was a business arrangement. If she went to her mother, if she let on that things weren’t perfect, it could raise suspicion. Lisa didn’t have the luxury of making mistakes. Ethan had made that clear when she signed the contract.

So, she stayed. There was nothing else she could do.

Hours passed in a blur, and eventually, Lisa dried her tears, trying to distract herself. One of the maids knocked on her door and suggested playing a game in the parlor.

The thought of sitting alone in her room, wallowing in sadness, seemed unbearable, so she agreed. She spent the next few hours with the maids, trying to lose herself in their company, playing cards and chatting lightly about meaningless things.

…..But underneath it all, the loneliness remained.

Evening fell, Lisa’s nerves began to tighten again. Ethan would be home soon, and though she dreaded seeing him after how cold he had been earlier, a part of her longed for some kind of interaction, some acknowledgment that she wasn’t invisible.

When Ethan finally returned, his presence filled the mansion like an oppressive weight. He walked in, as composed as ever, barely acknowledging her as he asked one of the maids to bring him dinner.

Lisa stood in the hallway, watching him as he sat down at the dining table, eating alone without even glancing in her direction.

It was only after he had finished his meal that he finally addressed her. “I’m heading to bed,” he said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.

Lisa nodded, following him to the bedroom, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t know what to expect, but the silence between them was unbearable.

As they entered the room, Ethan began to undress, his movements efficient and detached. Lisa stood awkwardly by the bed, unsure of what to do, but then Ethan turned to her, his gaze heavy and unreadable.

Without a word, he reached for her, pulling her gently toward him. His hands were cold against her skin, but his touch was firm, commanding.

Lisa’s breath caught in her throat as he led her to the bed. They were husband and wife, and this was part of the deal, part of the contract.

Ethan was gentle, his movements deliberate and controlled as he undressed her, and though there was no passion, no fire, Lisa didn’t resist. She let him take her, his body pressing against hers with a kind of quiet intensity.

It was not the first time she had been with a man, but this felt different, impersonal, almost clinical. Yet, there was a strange comfort in his gentleness, a relief in the fact that he wasn’t cruel, just distant.

Lisa lay in the dark, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing. She turned to Ethan, hoping for some kind of conversation, some connection. “How was your day?” she whispered, her voice soft.

Ethan didn’t respond immediately. When he finally did, it was with the same casual indifference he had shown her earlier. “Fine,” he said, his tone flat. “Go to sleep.”

And just like that, the conversation was over. Lisa felt the weight of disappointment settle in her chest as she turned away from him, curling up under the covers.

She had hoped for something that would make this feel less empty, but Ethan had made it clear that this was all there was. This was their marriage. A cold, transactional arrangement, where emotions were irrelevant.

As she lay there, the reality of her situation hit her harder than ever. She was married to a man who would never love her, living in a house that wasn’t her home, surrounded by luxury that meant nothing.

And no matter how much she tried to convince herself that it was worth it, that she was doing the right thing for her mother, a part of her wondered how long she could keep going before the emptiness consumed her completely.