Chapter 2

"Mrs. Hayes? With that tiny frame?"

Skylar leaned against the doorframe, the muscles in her arms taut beneath her sports bra.

Her gaze swept over me, like she was looking at a fluffy bunny who'd strayed into a boxing gym.

"I thought we'd get someone with a little more substance. Turns out, a strong gust of wind could probably blow her away."

I stood in the grand foyer of the Hayes villa, dragging my suitcase. A blast of cold air from the central AC made me let out a tiny sneeze.

"Achoo—"

The sound was soft and light, almost a kitten's whimper.

Skylar dramatically shivered. "Oh my god, that sound. Anyone who didn't know would think a kitten got lost."

I rubbed my nose, ignoring her, and continued dragging my suitcase further inside.

I'd prepared myself before coming to the Hayes family.

As an arranged bride, being unwelcome was normal.

As long as things didn't get too out of hand, there was no point getting into a spat with a boxing coach.

"Hey, I'm talking to you." Skylar snatched my suitcase from behind me, weighing it in her hand.

"I'm Skylar, Jaxson Hayes's personal boxing coach. We've also been childhood best friends."

She emphasized "childhood best friends."

"I usually run things around here. Jaxson is busy; he doesn't have time for household matters."

Daisy, my personal attendant who'd been with me since childhood, finally couldn't hold back.

"Miss Skylar, my lady is Mrs. Hayes, officially married into this family. You're just a coach..."

"Daisy." I pulled her hand, shaking my head slightly.

No need.

I was here to fulfill my six-month contract and secure my father's port development project with the Hayes Corporation.

Arguing with someone like her? Winning would be beneath me, and losing would be a complete humiliation.

Skylar raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by my silence, but quickly smiled.

"Alright, smart girl. Follow me."

She put me in the furthest annex of the villa, a room on the ground floor at the very end, facing north.

The window looked out onto a vine-covered wall, and the radiator was icy cold to the touch – broken.

Daisy's face turned livid with anger.

I looked around, sighing inwardly, but kept my expression neutral.

"It's fine, I can live here."

In the evening, I was tucked into bed, sipping the ginger tea Daisy had brewed, when the door opened.

I looked up.

Jaxson Hayes looked at me, wrapped in a blanket, the corner of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly.

"This is the one from the Sterling family?"

He wasn't talking to me.

He turned his head to Skylar behind him.

Skylar shrugged. "Yeah, as you can see, the kind that a breeze could knock over."

Jaxson's gaze returned, sweeping over me one last time.

"Don't cause any trouble for the family."

Five words. No greeting, no pleasantries.

He turned and left, Skylar following close behind, the two of them disappearing down the hallway.

I put down the ginger tea.

I took a deep breath, pushing down the surge of irritation.

My mom's words, whispered repeatedly as she held my hand before I left, echoed in my ears again.

"Thousands of families depend on this marriage for their livelihoods, Elara. Our entire business."

I gripped the blanket, my knuckles white from the effort.

Bear it.

I can bear it.