Chapter 6 The Mansion

• After leaving the orphanage, Ryleigh dragged her luggage up the hill while catching her breath and looking at the GPS on the phone.
• Number 1, Acacia Street.
• Ryleigh did not expect Paxton's house to be halfway on a hill. More importantly, there was no public bus service!
• Rich people really like to live on hillsides.
• In any case, Ryleigh took Paxton's money, so she had to fulfill their agreement and stay at Paxton's house so that they would appear as a real couple.
• When Ryleigh finally reached the middle of the hill, she saw the gate of a mansion. She also noticed the road ended there. Could that mean Paxton's house stretched beyond the rest of the hillside?
• Ryleigh was even more stunned when she saw what was behind the gate.
• There was a path with shade trees on both sides, mowed lawn, and well-maintained flower beds. The fountains were flowing endlessly.
• A grand golden European-style building stood at the end of the path on the hillside, glowing under the sunset.
• Ryleigh almost had to climb to the main entrance of the mansion.
• The butler, Edward Chaine, opened the door and politely gestured to invite Ryleigh in. "Miss Brigg, please come in."
• Even though the butler hid it well, Ryleigh could still sense his contempt.
• She followed the butler entering the living room.
• The interior decor was even more outrageous, with granite walls and a crystal chandelier more than 30 feet tall.
• An elegant lady dressed in couture and a pearl necklace came down the grand spiral stairs.
• Yuliana Smith looked at Ryleigh in disgust at her worn white sneakers, store-bought T-shirt, and old broken suitcase.
• "Mr. Chaine, why did you let a beggar into our house?"
• Someone ran down the stairs and was shocked to see Ryleigh there.
• "Ryleigh? Is that really you? You are my brother's newlywed wife?" said Sophia Lev.
• "Mom! How could Pax marry someone like her? No! I can’t agree to this!" shouted Sophia.
• Yuliana and Sophia did not stay at the mansion occupied by Paxton and his grandmother. Instead, they usually stayed at a penthouse located in the busiest area in the city. Today, they were here to see Paxton's new wife.
• Ryleigh was shocked too. Sophia was her classmate at the university, and Ryleigh knew that Sophia did not like her at all.
• She did not expect Sophia to be Paxton's younger sister.
• Sophia hated Ryleigh's guts because she managed to skip a year and was admitted into their program at the end of Year Two against all odds.
• Ryleigh also gained Professor Ohl's trust for her excellent academic achievements and subsequently was accepted to his automotive design and development project.
• A project which Sophia failed to join.
• Why? She was the daughter of the wealthiest family in Karovia. Yet, the project, which was funded by her family, favored Ryleigh over her.
• That's outrageous!
• Now, Ryleigh would be her sister-in-law and outrank her in the family. So how could she take this insult!
• At that moment, Paxton reached home.
• Yuliana came forward. "Paxton, I know you always have a mind of your own. However, marriage is not a small matter to be taken lightly. The Lev family has plenty of assets. We can't just simply marry anyone," she said.
• Even though she gave birth to Paxton, Yuliana had been intimidated by him since he was five years old.
• "Yes, Pax. Get a divorce quickly. How could we give away our assets to Ryleigh?" Sophia chimed in, "Just give her some money. That would do for people like her."
• "May I say something?" Ryleigh could not hold her tongue anymore.
• Yuliana and Sophia looked at her.
• "You don't need to worry about your property. I've signed a prenuptial agreement and waived my right to your assets." Ryleigh shrugged.
• She would receive nothing except 80 thousand dollars.
• Ryleigh needed the 80 thousand dollars urgently to save someone very important to her.
• “…”
• “…”
• Everyone went very still. Suddenly, Yuliana opened her mouth. "Even so, this is not going to work. Paxton, you are already engaged to someone else."