Chapter 7: What's his name?

As Maya sat in the back seat of the car, her fingers fidgeted nervously. The makeup felt like it was blocking all her pores, and the dress made it hard to breathe. Everything felt too overwhelming.

Her heart raced, and her mind spun. Ethan’s best man drove silently, while Ethan sat in the shotgun seat.

Did her mother know about this? Did she even consent? Why had she just let her go like this? Maya barely managed to think straight. She didn’t even know her way back home to the countryside. This city was huge. She took a shaky breath, trying to calm herself.

The car finally came to a stop. The man glanced at her. “We’re here.”

Maya nodded slowly. Her stomach formed knots as she opened the back seat door and stepped out. She kept fidgeting with the folds of her dress. She glanced up at the building in front of her, and her mouth hung open. It was massive, more grand than anything she had ever seen in her life.

The best man moved to help Ethan out of the car, and Maya stared at the mansion in awe, still trying to process it all.

“You’re going to keep staring at it, or you’re going to go in?” Ethan’s deep voice said. He was already rolling forward.

Maya swallowed hard and began following behind him. She didn’t have a single bag of luggage like a normal bride would. This wasn’t a usual wedding. She wasn’t a usual bride. She was a hidden, replacement bride.

As they got inside, her eyes widened, taking in every detail as they moved further inside. The interior was just as breathtaking, sparkly chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, the marble floors gleamed under the light, and the large double doors made it feel like we were stepping into the courtroom of a king.

The maids in smooth uniforms stood perfectly in rows, holding bouquets of flowers in their hands, their heads bowed in unison.

“Welcome home, Master Ashford,” they said together.

Even the butler bowed slightly. Ethan paused, his gaze sweeping the room. “Am I the only one coming home?”

The maids raised their heads, their eyes widening as they realized their mistake.

“We are so sorry,” they echoed immediately. “Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Ashford,” they added in unison, their voices trembling slightly.

Maya swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. Her stomach felt tight. This wasn’t anything like she'd ever seen, and she didn’t even know what she was supposed to do.

“Thabk you…” She managed to say.

As if to emphasize their training, the maids scattered flower petals lightly across the floor, bowing deeply before stepping back in perfect formation.

“Would you like a drink, Master?” the butler asked politely, holding a tray with crystal glasses for Ethan.

Ethan’s eyes landed on him. “No,” he said flatly. Just like that?

He turned his head to the first maid standing. “Bring fresh towels and set them in our room,” he said.

“Yes, Master,” the maid replied immediately, bowing slightly before walking off.

Ethan turned to another maid. “You should serve her food exactly as she likes. If she wants it differently tomorrow, adjust immediately.”

“Yes, Master,” the second maid answered, bowing as well before leaving.

Then he moved to the next maid. “First thing in the morning, take a notepad and a pen and ask her what she needs,” he instructed calmly.

“Yes, Master,” the third maid said.

Once all three had received their commands, Ethan’s gaze swept across the remaining staff. He paused for a moment, observing silently.

“You may all go,” He said with a single wave of his hand.

They all bowed and walked away.

As the maids walked away, Maya’s eyes widened. “Uhm…about the notepad…”

Ethan’s gaze turned to her. “What? Would you prefer I request her to use an iPad to take what you need?”

Maya’s eyes widened. “That’s not what I meant! I mean—”

Before she could finish, a man rushed into the room, slightly out of breath. “Mr. Ashford!”

Ethan turned his head slowly. “What is it?”

“Someone’s here to see you,” the man said, his voice shaky.

“Who?” Ethan asked, his brows furrowing.

“I… I don’t quite recognize him, sir. But he came to give you gifts, for your wedding.”

Ethan’s expression hardened. He turned slightly in his chair to face the man. “You don’t know him,” he said evenly, “and he came to give me gifts?”

The man swallowed hard.

“What’s his name?” Ethan asked coldly.

“Wilson, sir,” the man stammered. “He said his name was Wilson.”

“I don’t know any Wilson,” Ethan said coldly. “Tell him to leave.”

The man hesitated, trembling. “I’m sorry, sir… I already asked him to come in.”

Ethan froze. His jaw clenched, the muscle in his cheek ticking. “You already asked him to come in?” His tone was deadly calm. “You don’t know him, and you invited him inside before informing me?”

The man’s lips parted, but he couldn't speak.

Ethan turned his glare toward his best man. “Xander,” he said slowly, “where did you even get this guy?”

Xander rubbed the back of his neck, already looking guilty. “He’s… uh, my cousin’s friend’s brother’s neighbour.”

Ethan just stared at him flatly for a moment. “Your cousin’s friend’s brother’s neighbour,” he repeated slowly. “That’s the kind of person you hire to manage my front door?”

Xander gave an awkward smile. “He looked trustworthy.”

Ethan’s jaw flexed. “Trustworthy my foot, I can't even trust him with a doll house.”

Maya couldn’t help it, she snorted, then instantly covered her mouth. Ethan’s gaze turned to her, that cold look of his softening when he saw her trying not to laugh. “Something funny, Mrs. Ashford?”

She bit her lip, struggling to compose herself. “No,”

Before another word could be said, the door opened again.

A man in a grey suit walked in, carrying a tray wrapped neatly in cling film.

“Congratulations, Mr. Ashford,” he said smoothly, his tone polite. Then he turned to Maya. “Mrs. Ashford. I couldn’t attend the wedding, but I was sent to deliver these sweets as special gifts. It was made from a renowned bakery. They were made just for you.”

Ethan’s gaze hardened. “And who are you?”

“Oh, sorry. I’m Wilson,” the man replied, straightening his tie.

“That’s not what I asked,” Ethan said. “Who is Wilson?”

“I was sent by someone to deliver these,” the man said, his voice faltering slightly under Ethan’s stare.

“By who?”

“Your friend,” Wilson replied quickly.

And then, the next thing, Wilson took a small step forward, smiling politely.

“Mrs. Ashford,” he said, “you should try one of these sweets. They’re really the best. You’ll love them.”

He lifted one of the sweets from the tray. Maya blinked, unsure what to do, frozen where she stood.

Wilson smiled again, stepping closer until the sweet was inches from her lips.