UNEXPECTEDLY YOURS

niel's hand, her mind racing with the g

et, here she was, sitting at a dining table in a grand, unfamiliar house, soon to be married

his voice calm but firm, drawing her back to the present. Michelle's eyes

's tone shifted, slightly impatient now, as he wave

d she must have looked. "Yes, sir," she replied softly, almost out of h

ips. "Sir? Really? I'm Daniel, not a 'sir.' You should start getting us

nt them to. Getting married tomorrow. She swallowed, no

lieve you've already been shown yours?" His voice had softened, taking

she replied, her voice soun

e turning and heading toward the hallway that led to his room. His footsteps echoe

w empty doorway where Daniel had just disappeared. The d

w how to deal with any of this. The handsome young man she was about to marry was, in reality, a stranger to her. His chi

ting at a grand table in a life that didn't feel like her own. Her gaze drifted to the flickerin

down on her chest, tightening with each passing second. It was a marriage born

er late parents say if they knew where she was right now? Would they be proud? Concerned? She

rough the dimly lit hallways of the house, her fingers trailing lightly along the walls as she found he

rying to release the weight of the world from her shoulders. Her heart was poundin

out into the night. The moon hung low, casting a silver glow over the garden below. It

arkness, one thought kept repeating in

ey is involved," Michelle murmured to her

tricate golden trimmings on the furniture, the plush carpeti

ing into it for the first time in her life. She stretched out, savoring every inch of the mattress and si

over the room. Michelle was still wrapped in her dreams, oblivious to the new reality sur

f the housekeepers entered quietly, carrying a tray laden with breakfast items, but she

pounding with a flash of old panic. She reached instinctively toward where she imagined her phone and bag would be. Then, reality washed over he

usekeeper asked, eyebrows

. Good morning, ma'am," she greeted, a little sheepishly. The

for breakfast, ma'am," she said

nded by wealth and comfort, and she had no obligations beyond enjoying the life laid

ave, but then turned back. "Your wa

's face. "Thank you so much," she rep

at the surreal nature of it all. This was her life now-the kind she'd only dreamed

around the mansion. She glanced down each hallway, scanning the

and intimidating the mansion could be. After a while, her curiosity grew stronger, and sh

leaned closer, pressing her ear gently agains

fluttering in her chest. But before she could gather her thoughts, the door suddenly swung open. Michelle's balance wav

nches apart. For a long, breathless moment, they stared i

elle's pulse quickened as she felt his warmth through the thin fab

rom a daze. "I think it's time for you to get up," he murmured, a faint smirk on

t, straightening her dress, a slight blush creeping o

a little too high-pitched as she glanced away from his bare chest, which was

nvinced, but he didn't press further. "Well, you can go out now," he said, turning his back to her as he moved toward

wkwardness show too much. But as she looked at him, she suddenly rem

oice soft and a little shy as he turned his