Chapter 3.

The days following William's return to the mansion became increasingly claustrophobic for Lydia. The smile she used to show to the public now felt more and more fake behind the walls of her home.

William began to show a side that Lydia had never seen before: cold, calculating, and as if he was just a pawn on a giant chessboard.

One afternoon, William came to her room without knocking. He stood in the doorway with a flat face, a neat shirt ironed as if he had just finished attending an important meeting.

"You're going to a party tonight," he said curtly.

Lydia closed the book on her lap. "What party?"

"The birthday party of one of my father's clients. I need you to be there."

His voice left no room for rejection. Lydia swallowed, then nodded.

That night, she stood beside William, wearing an elegant black dress chosen by an assistant. Crystal chandeliers hung, soft music played, but Lydia felt as if she was naked in front of everyone.

The guests were whispering, some of them casting measuring glances. William introduced her as his fiancée with a perfect smile, but every time Lydia spoke, he interrupted, organized, even corrected her answer.

"He likes classical music," Lydia said politely when asked by one of the guests.

William laughed coldly. "Actually, Lydia reads more than she listens to music. She's shy, but I'll help her get used to this world."

The guests' laughter broke out. Lydia forced a smile, even though her heart ached. She wasn't a fiancé, she was just property.

---

A few days later, Lydia walked into William's study to return books. On the table, she saw a pile of documents. The papers shouldn't have attracted attention, but there was one open folder.

Lydia approached it subconsciously. The numbers there showed stock transactions. But the more she read, the more she realized there was something strange. manipulated numbers, signatures that looked forged.

Her breath caught. She closed the folder quickly, hoping William wouldn't see her.

However, in her heart, a seed of fear began to grow. William wasn't just cold. he was dangerous.

That night, as she passed by the living room, she heard William's voice. His voice was loud, obviously talking to his father on the phone.

"Take it easy. This engagement is just for public image. The media will love us. The Hartmann family is just a small family, nothing can be lost."

Lydia's heart stopped beating for a moment. Those words stabbed sharper than anything else. That's right, she was just a pawn.

Lydia retreated slowly, back to her room. Her tears fell unbidden.

From then on, she started to be cold towards William. She no longer tried to please, no longer tried to open a conversation. The smile he gave her was just an empty formality.

William, of course, realized it.

---

One afternoon, William approached Lydia as she was sitting in the back garden.

"You've changed," he said with a probing look.

Lydia looked straight ahead. "Maybe I'm just tired."

William took her hand, gently at first, but then harder and harder until Lydia winced.

"Don't try to play games with me," he whispered. "I could make your family suffer at any moment."

Lydia withdrew her hand with difficulty. Red marks immediately appeared on her skin. She refrained from crying in front of him.

However, before William could add his threat, a cold voice rang out.

"Let her go."

Both of them turned their heads. Damien stood a few steps away from them, with a dark gaze that pierced through William.

"What's your business?" William hissed.

"My business is that you treat your future wife like property. That's disgraceful."

A tense silence hung in the air. William stared at Damien with fiery eyes, but finally he let go of Lydia, stood up, and left with heavy steps.

Lydia was still trembling, but she realized for the first time, Damien was challenging his brother directly.

---

A few days later, Lydia heard the servants whispering again.

"Poor Mr. Damien. Had that incident not happened, he would have been the true heir."

"Shhh! You want to lose your job?"

"William took the position. Everyone knows, but no one dares to speak up."

Lydia froze behind the door, her heart pounding. The pieces of the mystery about Damien were starting to form a vague picture. There was something bigger than just this engagement.

---

Meanwhile, William was getting busier with his public image. He forced Lydia to attend a photo shoot with a famous magazine. They have to hold hands, smile at each other, and even hug.

In front of the camera, Lydia looks happy. Her smile is wide, her eyes sparkling. But in her heart, she felt empty.

When the magazine was published, the public praised her. "The perfect couple," wrote one article. "True love from two wealthy families."

Lydia read the news with trembling hands. More and more, she felt trapped in a golden cage.

One night, she couldn't sleep. She went downstairs to get a glass of water, but stopped when she heard voices from William's study.

The door opened slightly. Lydia approached unintentionally.

Inside, William was talking on the phone. His voice was low, full of intimate tones that he never used on her.

"Honey... I miss you. Don't worry, this is all just a formality. I'm just waiting for the right time."

Lydia covered her mouth, afraid to cry. She backed away slowly, her back against the cold corridor wall. Her heart was breaking. She wasn't just a business pawn. She wasn't even the only woman.