Emma woke up slowly as the warm morning sunlight slipped through the enormous glass windows of the bedroom.
For a few seconds she simply stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above her.
Then everything came rushing back.
The sudden marriage.
The contract.
Alexander Knight.
Emma sat up and ran a hand through her hair, still trying to process how her life had changed overnight.
Just yesterday she had been living in a small apartment, worrying about college fees and her mother's hospital bills.
Now she was inside one of the most luxurious mansions in the entire city.
She stood up and walked toward the large window.
Outside, the garden stretched endlessly. Beautiful flowers, marble statues, and sparkling fountains decorated the massive estate.
It looked less like a house and more like a royal palace.
Emma let out a quiet sigh.
"This place is unbelievable," she murmured.
After getting ready, Emma decided to explore the mansion.
She stepped into the long hallway and immediately felt small compared to the enormous space around her.
The marble floors reflected the sunlight like mirrors.
Several servants passed by and bowed politely.
"Good morning, Mrs. Knight."
Emma still felt a little awkward hearing that name.
Mrs. Knight.
She wasn't used to it yet.
She nodded politely and continued walking.
As she explored the mansion, she noticed expensive paintings on the walls and elegant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
Everything looked perfect.
Yet somehow the place still felt cold.
Just like Alexander.
Emma couldn't help thinking about him again.
He was calm, distant, and impossible to read.
Even during the wedding yesterday, he barely showed any emotion.
Their marriage was nothing more than a contract.
No love.
No affection.
Just an agreement.
Emma suddenly heard something.
A voice.
A woman's voice.
Emma immediately stopped walking.
Her eyebrows slowly frowned.
"A woman?"
She looked around the hallway, confused.
Alexander had never mentioned that anyone else lived here.
Curious, Emma quietly followed the sound.
The voice was coming from a room at the end of the corridor.
The door was slightly open.
Emma hesitated for a moment before gently pushing the door.
Inside the room stood a beautiful woman.
She was standing in front of a mirror, fixing her long black hair.
She wore a stunning red dress that perfectly fit her figure.
The woman looked elegant and confident… almost like she belonged here.
Emma stepped inside slowly.
The woman noticed her reflection in the mirror and turned around.
Their eyes met.
For a few seconds neither of them spoke.
Then the woman crossed her arms and examined Emma carefully.
"Who are you?" she asked coldly.
Emma frowned slightly.
"I should ask you the same question," Emma replied calmly.
The woman raised one eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Emma took a step forward.
"This is my husband's house," she said firmly. "So I think I have the right to ask who you are."
The woman stared at her silently for a moment.
Then suddenly she laughed.
"So you must be the girl Alexander married yesterday."
Emma felt surprised.
"How do you know that?"
The woman slowly walked closer.
Her heels echoed softly against the floor.
"I know many things about Alexander," she said with a mysterious smile.
Emma didn't like the way she said his name.
"I'm Emma," she said firmly. "Alexander's wife."
The woman repeated the word slowly.
"Wife…"
Then she smirked slightly.
"So you're the girl his grandfather forced him to marry."
Emma stiffened.
"How do you know about that?"
The woman tilted her head.
"Emma," she said softly, "it seems you don't know your husband very well."
Emma crossed her arms.
"What do you mean?"
The woman stepped closer until they were standing only a few feet apart.
"Alexander never wanted this marriage," she said quietly.
Emma felt something tighten inside her chest.
But she refused to show it.
"That doesn't concern you," Emma replied calmly.
The woman laughed softly.
"Oh, but it does."
Emma frowned.
"Why?"
The woman looked directly into Emma's eyes.
Her expression suddenly turned serious.
"Because I am the woman Alexander truly loves."
Emma felt shocked.
For a moment she couldn't say anything.
Her mind was filled with questions.
Was this woman telling the truth?
Just then the door behind them opened.
Both women turned around.
Alexander Knight walked into the room.
He stopped the moment he saw them standing together.
For the first time since Emma met him—
Alexander looked surprised.
The woman smiled at him warmly.
"Hello, Alexander."
Emma looked between them.
"Do you two know each other?" she asked.
Alexander didn't answer immediately.
His jaw tightened slightly.
The woman chuckled softly.
"Didn't you tell your wife about me?" she asked him.
Emma looked at Alexander again.
But he remained silent.
And somehow that silence felt worse than any answer.
The woman looked back at Emma.
"You really don't know anything, do you?"
Emma's patience was starting to disappear.
"Know what?"
The woman stepped closer and spoke slowly.
"I am Alexander's ex-fiancée."
Emma's eyes widened.
The room fell silent.
She slowly turned toward Alexander.
But Alexander said nothing.
His expression was unreadable.
Emma suddenly realized something disturbing.
She had married a man whose past she knew nothing about.
And that past had just walked into their home.
The woman smiled calmly as if she was enjoying the situation.
"Don't look so shocked," she said. "Alexander and I were together for three years."
Emma felt her heart sink.
Three years.
She looked at Alexander again.
Finally Alexander spoke.
"Why are you here?"
His voice was cold.
The woman shrugged casually.
"I wanted to see you."
Alexander's eyes darkened.
"You shouldn't be here."
The woman walked closer to him.
"Why not?" she asked quietly. "Did you already forget everything we had?"
Emma could feel the tension between them growing stronger.
This situation was far more complicated than she expected.
The woman suddenly turned to Emma again.
"You should know something," she said.
Emma frowned.
"What?"
The woman smiled slowly.
"Alexander didn't break off our engagement."
Emma froze.
"What?"
The woman leaned closer and whispered softly—
"I did."
Emma felt the ground disappear beneath her feet.
Then the woman added calmly,
"And if I wanted… I could still take him back."
A cold chill ran down Emma's spine.
At that moment she realized something terrifying.
Her contract marriage had just become a battlefield.
And this mysterious woman might be her biggest enemy.