Maybe it was the long flight a few days earlier, or the exhaustion that had settled deep in my bones, but I woke with a surprisingly clear mind.

I'd slept soundly, collapsing the moment my head hit the pillow after stripping off the ridiculous wedding gown. It was beautiful, yes, but I wished I'd worn it under different circumstances. Nothing clears your head faster than the gnawing pangs of hunger, and at that point, the opulent room felt less like a sanctuary and more like a gilded cage.

Speaking of the room, it wasn't exactly uncomfortable. The white paint complemented the beige decor. A portrait of Sam in a white suit hung directly across from the bed, making me feel like he was constantly watching me. Beside it was a beige wall clock.

"Already one o'clock?" I sat up in bed, surprised.

I'd slept far longer than I intended. My phone lay beside me, dead, its battery drained. I'd grabbed it in a hurry yesterday evening, right after the wedding. I'd been asleep since 5 PM.

"Alright, Kat, let's get through this day."

Hungry and tired, I wrapped myself in the duvet, a meagre shield against the chill of the room. My luggage hadn't arrived yesterday, so I had no other clothes to wear, and my phone was dead. I knew I shouldn't be awkward, but I was in a new place, and venturing out for a meal felt too embarrassing.

I need to eat. I was already feeling faint.

Hesitantly, I opened the door. The hallway stretched before me, a grand space of polished marble and soaring ceilings. Simple and nice, I liked it.

A massive crystal chandelier cast a dazzling but cold light, the ornate rooms on either side eerily silent and identical. I could see where Sam got his boring taste in decor. The house was a testament to wealth, yet it felt empty, echoing with a perfection of isolation in whites and beiges.

As the door swung inward, my breath hitched. Benedict stood before a closed door opposite mine, his gaze fixed on my room as if he'd been waiting.

Dear God! I gasped inwardly.

He was shirtless, sweat beading on his tanned skin, his chest toned and sculpted. An earpiece nestled in his ear; he'd clearly just finished a workout. He could 'work' me, too.

Our eyes met, locking in a silent acknowledgement. There was something in his gaze, and even from a distance, I could see the hint of a smirk. Did he know this was my room—Sam's and my room? Had he deliberately waited there? A shiver ran down my spine.

Quickly, I closed the door, my stomach rumbling in protest. I already hated this place. I knew the wedding had been a sham, a transaction and obligation rather than a celebration of love. Even Sam couldn't bother to pretend to care, to show me around, or anything.

"Everything sucks!"

I sat on the bed, still in my underwear, the sheer blankness of the room mocking my discomfort.

"Well, screw you, Sam." I flipped off his portrait on the wall.

As if summoned, the door creaked open again. This time, it was Danielle, her cheeky smile radiating a pure energy that seemed almost out of place in the tense atmosphere.

"Hey, Katherine! Kat, can I call you Kat?" she asked.

I nodded, wary.

"I saw Sam at the gym, so I figured you were alone," Danielle announced, her casual gym outfit a stark contrast to my bare skin. "You good?"

As if the situation wasn't awkward enough, I could only manage a strained smile. I missed Susan.

My gaze followed Danielle as she walked to the couch. She certainly knew her way around. The only thing I disliked was her cheeky smile. For all I knew, she could be trying to screw me over, just like Susan and my sister.

Never again.

"Obviously. I just need my things—my luggage." I gestured to my bare body. "My phone is dead. I'll need a new charger," I explained.

Danielle, unfazed, stood up and walked to the wardrobe, opening it to reveal my belongings neatly arranged. "I put them in here yesterday while you were sleeping," she said matter-of-factly, her smile still intact.

I didn't want to hate her, but I might if she kept up this "nice lady" act.

"I wanted you to be comfortable. Sam, my brother, he can be a handful sometimes," she said, shrugging.

A wave of foolishness washed over me. I hadn't even thought to check.

Damn it! I'd opened the door with only a duvet wrapped around me—anyone would know I was practically naked. Did Benedict think I'd done it on purpose?

"I'm starving," I said, pushing aside the lingering awkwardness. "I'll join you for a meal."

Danielle's bright demeanour softened slightly, concern flickering in her eyes. She stood still in the closet, and something told me she pitied me, but I wasn't going to let that slide.

I'd been doing well in New York! My parents were wealthy, and I had an aunt who would help me if I planned to run again. Not that I was planning to.

"I know something isn't right, Kat. How are you really? How is Sam?" she asked.

I almost flared up in anger.

It was my decision to leave my family. It was obvious I didn't want anything to do with them from the beginning. Her concern was too annoying, like she was trying to pity me or something else! It was my choice—I had asked to marry Sam.

"I'll see you later," I said instead, gently but firmly ushering Danielle out of the room.

As soon as she was gone, I charged my phone while I freshened up. Old things gone. I wouldn't let this family see my loneliness.

Soon, I was dressed in a casual overall, phone in hand, only to find Benedict stepping out of his own room.

"No," I whispered, trying to close the door, but my legs wouldn't move.

Ben looked refreshed, his hair neatly styled, his blue jeans and gray polo shirt perfectly accentuating his physique. He offered a smile, but I avoided his eyes. The memory of our kiss—his hardened member in my palm, his tongue in my mouth—came flooding back, unwelcome yet undeniable.

"Hi. I can show you downstairs if you like," he offered, his tone low and considerate.

I instinctively recoiled, wanting to insist I knew the way. Instead, I blurted out the lie, "Thanks, I know my way around."

I heard his low chuckle, a sound that sent a strange warmth through me. My legs weakened, and I could only hope I wouldn't fall.

"Huh, Bye?" I said awkwardly.

I started left, heading toward the rooms Sam had pointed out yesterday. I paused; I was approaching the wine cellar, then the laundry room, and I stopped abruptly. Benedict's voice, calm but firm, cut through my uncertainty.

"That's the laundry room and Danielle's room," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone.

I looked at him, his smile making my cheeks flush despite myself. There was an odd tension, right above my waist. This is wrong, my brain screamed. I'm married to his brother!

He gestured to the right, and I followed, the subtle shift in direction somehow both comforting and unsettling. The tension between us crackled in the air as we descended the grand staircase in silence.

At the hall's juncture, I felt a sudden surge of discomfort at our closeness. I subtly moved back, creating a sliver of space between us, my body subtly rejecting his casual approach.

"Okay... Where are you headed?" he asked awkwardly. "I can get a housekeeper for..."

Before he could finish, Sam appeared, sweat still glistening on his skin, the scent of exercise clinging to him. He casually touched my face—from my cheek to my lower lip—his touch irritating.

"I thought you were going to sleep forever. Wait here. I'll freshen up, and then we'll have lunch," he announced before strolling off.

The audacity!

I tried to laugh off Sam's rudeness. I wasn't waiting. The fact that he seemed so comfortable marrying me and not my sister made me think he had something to do with the whole plan. I hated him.

"I'll let Danielle know," Benedict interrupted my thoughts, his voice smooth, shifting my mood in a way I hadn't expected. "She will keep you occupied until Sam comes."

I shook my head. I'd already dealt with someone like Sam, John. They don't change! They're inconsiderate souls, and once you do something they want, they act as if they own you.

"I had no intention of waiting for him," I stated firmly, my eyes meeting Ben's. "Just show me the dining room." My voice was filled with confidence.

Before Sam could break me, I was prepared to break him first. At that moment, my plan wasn't just to break Sam first; it was to show my family I wouldn't be pushed around or fooled anymore.