The Strange Groom's Cursed Bride

So many things were happening to Alice at the same time. Even if she did not accidentally slip up, she was sure that if anyone stood close to her and listened to how hard her heart was beating, they would realize she was hiding something. From the car, she could see different buildings far apart in the estate. But one stood out, and the car rolled to a stop in front of it.

It was an imposing grey building that loomed like a fortress. Alice stared at it, wide-eyed. It was hard to believe this was someone's home. It looked more like a luxury hotel—or maybe even a government facility. The size alone was intimidating, but it was the aura of control and power radiating from it, even from outside that sent her nerves spiraling.

A young man wearing a suit opened the door for her, and she awkwardly stepped out, her wedding dress snagging slightly on the seatbelt. She tugged it free, feeling ridiculous as she looked down at herself, still wearing the dress and holding the bouquet. As for her groom, he was nowhere in sight. She wished it would remain like this for the next year.

Of all the awkward moments in her life, this was definitely in the top three.

She tried not to gawk as she looked around.

The estate was massive, with multiple buildings dotting the grounds, all sleek and modern in design. How many people live here? she wondered. Surely, it couldn't just be one family.

The front doors opened with a quiet hum, and her breath caught in her throat. A line of... women stood waiting, all dressed sharply in tailored black suits. They looked less like household staff and more like highly trained bodyguards. Their synchronized bow was unsettling, and their voices rang out in unison.

"Welcome, Second Lady."

Second Lady? Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively bowed back, unsure of what else to do.

She felt like an imposter. No, she was one. The title didn't belong to her—nothing about this did.

Before she could process the surreal greeting, a young woman stepped forward. She was tall, with a sharp, no-nonsense expression. Her posture was rigid, her eyes piercing.

"Come with me," the woman said curtly.

Alice frowned at the tone but followed her, clutching her dress awkwardly as they moved through the grand lobby. She wanted to take in her surroundings, to at least glance at the chandeliers or the polished floors, or artworks, but the woman's brisk pace didn't allow for it.

They reached an elevator, and the woman tapped a keycard against a panel before pressing the button for the fifth floor.

This was ridiculous.

The ride was silent, save for the soft hum of the elevator. Alice's nerves were fraying.

When the doors opened, they stepped into a long, dimly lit hallway. The air felt heavier here, and the minimalist design gave it an almost ominous vibe. The woman led her to a door at the end, swiped her card again, and pushed it open.

"This is your home," she said flatly, stepping aside for Alice to enter.

Her Home?

Hopefully, without Hades... right?

Alice hesitated before walking in. Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she took in the space. A fully furnished apartment with bedroom and all. It was luxurious—floor-to-ceiling windows, modern furniture, and a sleek color palette of whites and greys. But despite its grandeur, it felt oddly sterile, like a showroom.

"This will be your suite," the woman continued. "If you need anything, contact me directly—but only for important matters." Her tone was clipped, emphasizing the word as if Alice's potential requests were already an inconvenience.

Alice bristled but nodded.

"Be downstairs at 5 sharp for dinner and to meet the entire family," the woman added. "Your clothes have been laid out in your room. Starting tomorrow, you will begin learning the rules of this house."

Meet the entire family? Her heart dropped.

She didn't want to meet them.

But it was expected. They had also told her Priscilla would join the dinner. She was not looking forward to it.

Before Alice could reply, she turned to leave.

"Wait," Alice said, her voice firmer than she expected.

The woman stopped and glanced back, her brows slightly raised.

"Why are you so rude?" Alice asked, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Is this how you greet your new family members here?"

She was playing with fire, she knew that. She wasn't sure how Aurora would have reacted in this case. But Aurora came from a rich family. She had it all. She was smart, intelligent, a lawyer. A Westerner.

Why would this woman talk down to her like this? It wasn't as though she was much older. Maybe only two years older at most.

The woman's face twisted in surprise, then anger. She opened her mouth to retort, but seemed to think better of it.

"Mind your manners," she said coldly, her eyes narrowing. Without another word, she turned on her heel and left, the door clicking shut behind her.

Alice stood there, stunned.

"Well, that was...charming," she muttered to herself. She needed to speak with Priscilla privately. She had to know how best to act. She had only been told by the groomer that Aurora was quiet, reserved, and did not bother with people. It would be hard to pretend to be that.

She turned back to the suite, her earlier nerves creeping back in. She opened the door to the bedroom and her gaze drifted to the massive bed and the neatly laid-out outfit she was to wear to dinner.

Suit.

It was a formal black suit.

She dropped the bouquet on the bed and trailed her fingers over the expensive fabric of the suit.

They've got to be kidding her.

She sighed, feeling the weight of everything settling on her shoulders.

At 5 p.m., she would be facing the Wildfire family again. And if the woman's demeanor was anything to go by, the dinner was bound to be just as intense.

Alice scanned the room, her eyes darting from one luxurious detail to another, trying to make sense of her new reality.

It was nothing like the homes she had seen back in the North.

She wished Paula was here.

But then, her head snapped back to the most important thing right now.

She scrutinized every corner, checking for any sign that this room might belong to someone else—specifically, him. Her breath caught when she opened the wardrobe and found only women's clothing. No shoes in larger sizes, no jackets with intimidatingly masculine cuts. Her chest loosened a bit, but then she hurried to the bathroom, which almost left her in awe before she remembered what she was here for. No shaving foam, extra toothbrushes, or pairs of anything else.

'Thank God,' she thought, her knees nearly buckling from relief, but she held onto the sink to keep herself from falling.

But that small victory couldn't erase the turmoil bubbling inside her as she returned to the bedroom.

She sank into one of the plush chairs near the bed, her gaze sweeping everywhere. She was in the West. The Wildfire Estate.

Breaking rules.

This time, if she was caught, it would leave her with more than just a blacklist.

Her stomach twisted. "They'll catch me," a voice in her head whispered.

And when they do…

She shook her head, trying to block out the thought. But the anxiety wouldn't leave. It coiled around her like a snake, suffocating her. For the first time since this charade began, she felt true regret.

She needed to breathe. But firstly, she had to get out of the dress.

She struggled with the gown, fumbling with the buttons and zippers until it finally pooled at her feet. Left in only her underwear, a sudden wave of paranoia hit her.

What if there are cameras in here?

Her head snapped toward the corners of the room, her eyes scanning the walls and ceiling for any sign of surveillance. She had no reason to believe there were cameras, but this place was strange—intimidating. And she was living a lie. Her nerves were already frayed.

She raced to the wardrobe to pull out a casual t-shirt and shorts, glad to have found something less... Aurora. Then she returned and sat on the edge of the bed, clutching the fabric as if it could shield her from the tension building inside her.

The bed looked too inviting, its soft, luxurious sheets calling out to her aching body. She told herself she would only rest for a moment, just long enough to gather her thoughts before dinner.

Lying down, she stared at the ceiling, her mind racing. How had she gotten here? What had she been thinking? She had believed she could pull this off, but now the enormity of her situation was crushing her.

Her eyes fluttered shut. Just for a moment, she thought. Just to calm down.

But the exhaustion caught up with her, and before she could stop it, sleep overtook her.

And at 5 p.m., she was still embracing her warm pillow.