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Lorenzo huffed like a child as he exited the car, slamming the door behind him.

“Well, this is going to be fun.” I laughed as Red tried his best not to join in.

“I promise, he isn’t bad. I’ve known him since we were kids.” His promises meant nothing to me. I hadn’t known him long enough to trust him yet.

I was about to respond when Lorenzo yanked the door open, almost taking it off its hinges.

“Out,” he demanded, his hand hooked over the top of the door in a tight grasp as he waited.

“You know, a please would be nice,” I teased. It was worth it. He looked just about ready to combust.

I exited the car, not waiting for Lorenzo as I made my way up the stairs. I didn’t need to look to know he was striding after me, I felt his presence close behind.

“Why don’t you slow down since you have no idea where you’re going?”

“Oh, silly me. I thought that big thing in front of me with a handle was the door. Have I been wrong all these years?” I gasped sarcastically.

I heard two men chuckle from the car. Red had been joined by another guy, who I saw beside Lorenzo at the wedding. My assumption was that he was a friend as well since he wouldn’t have gotten away with that laugh otherwise.

“You two can shut up,” he snapped, directing his anger at them both.

“If you’re going to get so worked up about it, lead the way, your highness.” I curtsied as he stormed past me.

“No, I’m done. I’m fucking done.” Red cackled, not able to control his laughter anymore.

“Red, I swear to God if you don’t shut up, I’ll gut you from navel to mouth, friend or not.” Lorenzo shoved the door open as Red stifled his next bout of laughter.

I followed him into the foyer of his home and was immediately slack-jawed. I couldn’t believe how immaculate and stunning it was. There were bay windows overlooking a lakeon either side of the staircase opposite me, the body of water picturesque. It seemed serene and peaceful, everything this marriage wouldn’t be.

The staircase parted at the top, leading to different sides of the house. Hopefully I’d be far enough from him to keep my distance. Although the house was so breathtakingly beautiful, it was incredibly sparse. There were no flowers or pictures. It just felt empty and lifeless.

“Welcome home,” Lorenzo said from behind me, closing the door to everyone else outside.

“I’ve already told you that this won’t be my home.”

His hand snaked around my waist, the back of my head colliding with his shoulder. He brushed my hair over my shoulder as he brought his lips to my ear.

“It already is,” he whispered, sending a shiver down my spine and not in a way I liked.

“Can you show me to my room, please?” I asked as politely as possible, wanting to get this shit day over with.

“Your room? Correct me if I’m wrong but we’re married now. Husbands and wives share a room, bed, and many other things.” He ran his tongue over the hickey he left not that long ago.

“We will share nothing, believe me. Now, do I have my own room or do I need to find one myself?” I twisted in his arms, challenging his authority. “I’d hate to stumble into someone else’s room and maybe even fall into bed with?—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence!” he ordered. “You have your own room. Your bags are already waiting inside.” He cleared his throat as I stepped away from him. “I have a meeting to get to. Take a left at the top of the stairs, follow the corridor until the end, and your door is on the right next to mine.”

“Don’t trust me to be at the opposite end of the house, no?”

“You’ve got your own room, Anastacia. Don’t push the rest,” he snapped, turning his back to me as he slipped out the door without another word.

I had a feeling he didn’t trust that I wouldn’t pull a moonlight flit, hence why he wanted me in the room beside his. But at least there was a wall between us. I guessed that was something.

I glanced around, hearing the television blaring from what I assumed was the living room or a hang out area for his men. Ignoring that, I climbed the stairs, following Lorenzo’s instructions.

I didn’t know what to expect upon opening the door to my room but it wasn’t what I saw. My bags were at the foot of the four-poster bed that sat in the middle of the room, the walls a soft cotton white with petal pink accents dotted around the room. As beautiful as all this was, the one thing that captured my attention was the view. It was the same as the one I saw earlier with the lake in the back garden. The remainder of the afternoon sun reflected on the water as the trees that surrounded it blew gently in the breeze. The only good thing about living in Lorenzo’s house would be the scenery, nothing else.

I quickly rummaged through one of my bags to find a comfier alternative to the dress I was wearing. I came across a note instead.