"It’s getting late, you should rest."

The low, magnetic voice of the man snapped Alberta Bennett out of her wandering thoughts. She instinctively lifted her gaze and found his deep, onyx-like eyes meeting hers. They seemed to conceal emotions she couldn’t begin to comprehend.

Nervously, Alberta clutched at the hem of her dress, her heart racing uncontrollably.

She’d been sitting rigidly on the edge of the bed for what felt like forever, holding that stiff posture until her back ached. Still, she hadn’t changed out of her wedding gown. Only now, as the man came out from the bathroom, his hair still damp from the shower, did the reality hit her—she was about to spend her wedding night with this stranger.

And yet, Alberta had no idea how to interact with her newlywed husband. It wasn’t even a proper marriage—she was here as someone’s replacement.

As a child of privilege, born a hidden daughter of the Bennett family, she’d stepped in for her sister to marry this impoverished man. The whole reason was to fulfill an old pact between the families, and more importantly, to secure the sizable dowry that came with it.

With that money, her mother’s illness could finally be treated, her younger brother’s schooling wouldn’t be interrupted, and maybe—just maybe—the family could have a decent life again.

Taking a deep breath to steel herself, Alberta rose cautiously and shuffled toward the bathroom, like a frightened rabbit. “I… I’ll go get cleaned up too.”

The man’s gaze flickered, his expression briefly unreadable. Alberta Bennett quickly got up and slipped into the bathroom. Just as she reached for the lock, she froze—the old wooden door didn’t even have a latch. She stood there, stunned for a moment. Sure, life hadn’t been easy for her before, but it had never felt this humiliatingly poor.

Her eyes reddened slightly as she lingered in the bathroom, hesitating to take off her dress.

Outside, the man seemed to sense her unease. In a low, calm voice, he said, “I’ll head out for a smoke. Take your time.”

Her heart skipped a beat as she pressed her ear to the door. She listened intently as his footsteps faded away. Then came the sound of the front door creaking open, and just like that, the house was silent again.

The peeling walls still held the remnants of a red wedding symbol, washed out and dull. Just yesterday, a typhoon had swept through the city, leaving fallen signs and uprooted trees littering the streets. It was in this mess that she got married.

There wasn’t any fancy wedding car to pick her up. She’d walked a long way before climbing into an ordinary-looking van, which rumbled along until they finally reached this village. By the time they arrived, the muddy road had ruined her wedding dress and shoes.

The old folks had a saying—getting married in weather like this was a bad omen, and happiness wouldn’t follow.

But then again, happiness hadn’t been part of Alberta’s plan for a long time.

She stepped out of the bathroom, still drying her hair with a towel.

Her husband wasn’t back yet. “That’s one hell of a long smoke,” she muttered under her breath.She glanced around at the two mudbrick rooms, noticing the rain leaking in through some spots. Though a bit rundown, with some tidying up, it could still feel like home. Alberta Bennett smiled faintly and decided to make use of the time before the man returned, giving the place a simple clean-up from top to bottom.

Just as she was on the bed, pulling down the blanket, the man walked in through the door.

She turned her head too quickly, and in that moment, the bath towel she had hastily wrapped around herself slid down. Letting out a startled gasp, she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, but…

Everything had already been fully taken in by his sharp gaze.

In a panic, Alberta grabbed the blanket and pulled it up to cover herself, her face instantly flushed a deep red.

The man’s Adam’s apple moved subtly as his eyes darkened, a complex and unreadable look flickering within them. He took a slow step towards her, his deep, slightly raspy voice carrying a faint hint of teasing. “It’s getting late. Let’s sleep.”

This time, he deliberately emphasized the word “together.”

Alberta’s heart pounded so hard she thought it might leap out of her chest. Squeezing her eyes shut, she suddenly felt an arm wrap firmly around her waist. Before she could react, she toppled into his embrace, and he pressed her down onto the bed…