Evening had finally settled in by the time the vehicle that had taken Victoria and her maid out, returned. The sun was low, casting a soft glow across the driveway as they stepped out. Victoria's brown skin shimmered subtly in the fading light, her hair neatly arranged, every strand in place. She felt different somehow—lighter, more confident, more… new—even though she was still in the same plain clothes she had worn since morning.
As they entered the house, her brows immediately scrunched. Staffs were moving about, arranging flowers, draping ribbons, and adjusting the furniture. The living room looked transformed, each detail carefully planned, yet Victoria felt lost in the midst of it all. She hesitated, unsure what to say or even how to ask what was happening.
Grey, the butler, stepped forward, bowing gracefully. "Welcome home, ma'am."
Victoria blinked, swallowing her surprise. She couldn't help herself. "What… is going on?"
Grey's expression remained calm, almost unreadable. "Your wedding dinner party, ma'am."
Victoria's eyes widened. "Wedding … party? Already?"
Gray inclined his head slightly. "Must I remind you, ma'am? The sooner it reaches the public, the better."
She stood frozen for a moment, absorbing the weight of his words, feeling the rush of reality hit her in a way that made her stomach flutter.
• • •
Time passed quickly, and soon Victoria found herself moving through the halls, her steps light in the rush of it all.
Why were there so many staffs?
The table was so full… were those food or decorations?
… Why is the water sparkling?
By the way, how many guests were coming?
Are these the things set in rich people parties?
Was she going to attend?— wait! Of course she had to!
But… how was she to interact in a whole sophisticated crowd of elites as a wife of another tycoon? One she knew nothing of but has to pose as his loving wife… in public!
Victoria gulped.
In less than 72 hours, so much had happened. And she just needed a pause for a moment…
As she began ascending the stairs, the three musketeers maids following after, the entire house seemed to pause the moment a voice called from behind.
"Victoria."
Her shoulders flinched, craning her head over her shoulder.
Martin appeared at the foot of the staircase, his presence commanding the room without effort. The staff bowed deeply, the silence hanging heavy.
"G- Good evening…" she managed to sound.
Martin's gaze stayed settled on her. "How was the spa?"
Victoria forced a small, nervous smile. "It was… fine, thank you. I really appreciate—"
"No need to thank me," Martin replied evenly, his tone no different from the previous day. "It is simply my job to provide as your husband."
Sure… Husband.
He then snapped his fingers once, and at that precise moment a young woman stepped forth. Dressed in a maid uniform, she stood graceful and poised, carrying herself with serene demeanor.
Victoria's eyes gauged her from head to toe.
Her replacement already? She blinked twice.
The lady's hair was short, black, and neatly bobbed with her features delicate and her expression neutral yet warm.
"This is Li." Martin introduced.
She bowed slightly. "Greetings, ma'am."
Martin continued, "This will be your new attending maid. Your right-hand, from today onward."
The three maids standing in front of Victoria shifted, their brows rising in surprise. One of them finally spoke. "Excuse me, Master… will she be joining us?"
Martin's gaze flicked to maid before returning to the Victoria. "She will be the one to dress you for tonight's events. And from now on, she will be solely by your side for any errands, movements, or preparations. Do you understand?"
Did he just blankly ignore the maid's question?
Victoria paused, slightly confused, but the clarity in his tone left no room for argument. She nodded. "U- Understood."
Martin inclined his head once more and walked away. The three maids gazed at themselves and back—It was already too clear to ask further questions.
They hissed quietly among themselves, their murmurs of frustration quickly surfacing as he disappeared from view. Victoria couldn't quite process what had just happened.
Li then stepped forward again, bowing. "Allow me to assist you with your attire, ma'am."
Victoria let out a small breath, feeling the sudden weight of the evening settle around her. She followed Li's lead, unsure of what to expect next; whether to be grateful for the new steady presence at her side, or worry if she might be worse than the three previous combined.
Moments later…
Victoria stood in front of the bedroom full-length mirror, her breath catching as her eyes drank in her own reflection. The dress clung to her in all the right places, the soft shimmer of almond green sparkling subtly under the room's light, tracing the curves of her figure with quiet elegance.
Her hair was styled with golden floral pins, held up to expose her long neck, framing her face in a way that made her features glow.
For a moment, she hardly recognized herself. She had always dreamed of looking beautiful, of feeling like she belonged in such grandeur, but seeing it now—real and tangible—was almost overwhelming.
She tilted her head slightly, examining the way the dress flowed over her hips, the gentle highlight of her cheekbones, the sparkle in her eyes. Every detail felt unreal, almost like she was watching someone else in the mirror. She couldn't quite believe it—this, her, reflected back at her.
A soft sound behind her made her turn her head slightly. Li was there, standing quietly, a small smile on her lips. "I'm guessing you love the dress, ma'am," she said gently.
Victoria nodded, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
She had to remind herself of the delicate care poured into her appearance—the cost of every brushstroke, every touch of makeup, every hand that had worked to transform her. She forced a calm smile. "It's… beautiful."
Li bowed her head slightly, a graceful, practiced motion. "Master personally picked out the dress for you. I'm sure he will be pleased to know that you love it."
Victoria blinked, caught off guard for a moment by the thought, the warmth behind Li's words made her smile softly. "I… I do," she said simply, letting herself feel the truth of it.
• • •
Victoria took a steadying breath as she approached the staircase. Her heels clicked lightly against the polished floor, each step echoing faintly in the grand hall.
From the top, she could already see the sea of faces below—guests scattered across the room, some arranging themselves, others talking softly, the glimmer of candlelight and chandeliers catching on their formal attire. The sight made her stomach twist into tiny knots.
Her heart beat faster. She froze.
"Ma'am," Li's calm voice came from behind, "You and Master are the stars of tonight's event. Everyone's eyes will be on you."
"Why does that only makes me feel worse," she muttered.
Li shook her head. "You shouldn't fear it, Ma'am. You should own it… because you deserve the attention with the beauty you stand in."
Victoria swallowed hard, letting Li's words sink in. She nodded, straightening her shoulders.
You can do this, rang in her head as she began to descend.
As she stepped down, the room fell completely silent. Every eye seemed to lock onto her, the whispers fading into nothing. Her posture was graceful, though she fought a constant battle with her heels.
Don't fall.
Don't trip.
Don't get stuck halfway like some tragic soap opera bride who can't handle stilettos, she reminded herself.
But her loud heart was shadowing her thoughts.
Victoria, don't fall… her brain was racing. A broken ankle from a tumble down these stairs won't make this green pop.
She gulped.
Victoria finally reached the bottom, Martin already standing close by. Without a word, he extended his hand. She hesitated for a second, then allowed him to guide her forward. He then lowered his head, pressing her hand softly to his lips, and said, "You look beautiful this evening."
Victoria's cheeks warmed instantly. She hadn't expected that—and more than that, she'd just realized with mild panic that they hadn't even rehearsed the fake public story.
All she could do was smile, hoping it didn't look like an awkward, forced grin in front of everyone.
They moved together into the heart of the party. The room was breathtaking.
Crystal chandeliers reflected a thousand tiny lights, and the walls gleamed with tasteful decorations. Music played softly in the background, elegant and restrained, while guests mingled with a composed sophistication that felt almost cinematic. Victoria felt like she had stepped into a movie she had no business attending.
Everyone who came forward bowed deeply, speaking in gentle, polite tones. Even those who usually intimidated her or whose eyes she could not meet—in her old life—now lowered their heads respectfully, addressing her as Mrs. Solberg.
Victoria couldn't help the tiny smirk forming in her mind. So this is what wealth felt like—bowing, nodding, pretending to be regal.
She could get used to this—as long as no one asks her which is the salad fork.
The evening continued smoothly, each greeting and congratulation reinforcing the unreal perfection of it all. Then, just as Victoria began to feel she might survive the social ordeal, a melodramatic voice cut through the hum of conversation.
"Martin, darling!"
Her eyes immediately found the speaker. A tall, fair-skinned slender woman, moved toward them with grace. Though her face was lined with age, there was a majesty to her presence that made Victoria's chest tighten.
Two maids flanked her, carrying herself with experience and poise, and she stepped into Martin's personal space with an authority that seemed natural.
She extended her hand toward Martin. Without hesitation, he received it, bowing respectfully to press it to his lips.
"Good evening, stepmother," he said politely.
Victoria froze.
Stepmother…?
The words echoed faintly in her mind as a cold chill ran down her spine.
Her pulse jumped. His stepmother?