"Could you tell us a little about your background, Mrs. Aurelia? Or are you one of those 'models' Alexander always hires for his company launches?"
The sharp, piercing voice immediately greeted Aurelia James as she stepped across the threshold of the Family Room. She had just finished inspecting her navy silk cocktail dress in front of the mirror, ensuring her smile looked "warm but not excessive," as the Volkov rulebook dictated.
In the cold, silent, and luxurious room, three pairs of eyes assessed her. Alexander stood in front of the marble fireplace, radiating absolute coldness, without any reaction to his sister's provocation. On the expensive leather sofa sat Uncle Victor, the powerful man who held the invisible control behind the requirement of this marriage, his eyes welcoming Aura with a calculating, enjoying-the-show gaze. And beside him, Elara Volkov stared at Aura with eyes that emitted blatant hostility.
Alexander introduced Aura with a flat tone. "Uncle Victor, Elara. This is Aurelia, my wife."
Uncle Victor merely gave a slight nod. "Welcome to the family, Aurelia. I'm sure Alexander wasted no time with unnecessary formalities."
Aura's Monologue: Good, Aura. Don't let her see you tremble. I am the perfect wife in front of them. I must counter the "mistress" accusation with a ridiculous claim of love. I must look like a woman who is stupid for love, not for money.
Elara's accusation was clear, she considered Aura merely a cheap diversion who had managed to trap Alexander.
Aura took a dramatic pause that made Elara even more impatient. She smiled, a smile that reached her eyes and looked utterly convincing.
"A very fair question, Elara," Aura replied, her tone perfect and warm, as if she had just been complimented. "I perfectly understand your concern for Alexander. He is a very busy man, and I agree, I am not the type of socialite who often appears in the media. I greatly value our privacy and time together."
Aura leaned in slightly, continuing with a biting humor disguised as a sweet confession:
"Allow me to correct you. Alexander and I met in a very... unexpected place. We had a very emotional and intense connection. Isn't that what makes this marriage even more intriguing? We come from two very different worlds, and we chose each other because... well, Alexander might be tired of choosing the same thing every time."
Elara sneered. "Intriguing? That's just another word for 'suspicious.' Alexander is always with women from families of equal standing. We know Alexander would only marry someone who meets the Volkov standard."
Aura's Monologue: She knows more than I thought, or she's just clever at guessing. I must use Alexander's own logic to counter her. If I were a fraud, Alexander would surely be smarter than me.
"Alexander is an intelligent man, Elara," Aura countered, her tone becoming slightly firmer, but still controlled. "He wouldn't choose a life partner who would only embarrass him or become a burden. You know, Alexander demands perfection in every one of his decisions. If he chose me, it's because he saw something worth fighting for outside of a pedigree. Perhaps a little surprise, perhaps a little peace from socialite drama."
Aura looked at Alexander, who was still regarding her with a cold stare.
"And if you ask if I love my husband," Aura continued, with emphasis on the word 'love.' "I will be honest: of course, I love him. And if you ask if I enjoy the luxury he offers, I will also be honest: that is merely a small bonus that comes with the package. I came for Alexander."
Elara did not back down. "You dare to claim you're not interested in money? We all know who Alexander is. You must be a gold digger, trying to take advantage of our family's wealth. I won't let you ruin our good name."
The accusation was delivered with a palpable tone of contempt. Aura felt a cold anger spread, but she knew this was the moment to use her trump card: The Guest Room.
Aura's Monologue: Alright, Miss Elara. I will use respect and humility to prove I am not greedy. I will make myself sound like a thoughtful, tradition-honoring wife.
"Elara, I genuinely appreciate your refreshing honesty," Aura said, her tone remaining calm, almost too sweet. "I won't spend your time trying to convince you of my sincerity, but I will give you one piece of evidence that might convince you I am not the greedy gold digger you imagine."
Aura leaned back slightly, speaking in a voice quiet enough that Uncle Victor had to lean forward to hear.
"If I were only after wealth or status, I would certainly demand the Master Bedroom next to Mr. Volkov, or at least the most luxurious room in the same wing. That is the standard of an ambitious wife, isn't it? However, I am grateful to be placed in the quiet guest suite. I value my comfort and private space more, and I wanted to respect my husband's tradition and privacy. I came with respect, not demands."
Silence descended upon the room. Uncle Victor raised his eyebrow slightly, a crucial second that indicated the small detail had piqued his interest. Mrs. Jenkins, who stood at the door, looked surprised.
The conflict intensified, and Alexander finally felt the need to intervene to control a situation that was beginning to draw Uncle Victor's attention.
Alexander put down his glass. His voice was low and sharp, radiating complete authority. "Enough, Elara. Aurelia is now Mrs. Volkov. She is my choice and she abides by my rules. I appreciate her respecting my privacy and the comfort of this house. You do not need to question my decision."
He looked at Aura, but his eyes only emitted control, not protection. "Sit down, Aurelia. The show is over."
Aura's Monologue: Alexander, 'my choice.' Thank you for that warmth, my dear husband. Even though he only claimed ownership, it is enough for now. I have passed the first test. I successfully made Uncle Victor interested by claiming humility and respecting the Volkov privacy, not the money.
Uncle Victor flashed a rare, predatory smile. He looked at Aura, then at Alexander. "Intriguing. This new Mrs. Volkov has spirit, and she knows how to respect privacy. Take good care of her, Alexander. Your choices must be carefully maintained."
Aura sat down gracefully across from Elara, who was still staring at her with simmering hatred. Aura sipped her tea, tasting the bitterness of the victory.
Aura's Monologue: I know I've just made a lifelong enemy of my sister-in-law. Elara's hatred is pure. She won't stop. She will continue to try to prove that I am a gold digger ruining the Volkov name.
Aura had succeeded in conjuring a complicated and convincing lie. Her victory lay only in the fact that she managed to restrain herself from slapping Elara and managed to capture Uncle Victor's interest, something crucial for Alexander. That night, Aura knew, was the first of many nights where she would have to use her sharp tongue and perfect acting to survive in the Golden Hell of the Volkov family, while keeping the secret of her contract tightly locked away.