In a twist of fate, a wealthy heir believed he was bound to wed an unattractive stranger in an arranged marriage, only to be stunned when she unveiled her face…

David hesitated, glancing at Anna. She inclined her head slightly but made no move to lift her veil. With a resigned sigh, David placed a brief kiss on the fabric covering her cheek, the gesture perfunctory and distant.

Polite applause followed, but David could feel the tension in the room, the unspoken judgments of the guests. The reception was a lavish affair, held in a grand ballroom filled with champagne, music, and laughter. But the atmosphere between David and Anna remained cold.

They sat at the head table, side by side yet worlds apart. David sipped his drink in silence, his eyes scanning the crowd. He caught snippets of conversations, the words cutting through the celebratory air-like shards of glass.

Why wouldn’t she show her face? Maybe she’s hiding something. Can you imagine? Marrying someone like that just for a business deal? David clenched his jaw, the shame and anger bubbling beneath the surface. He stole a glance at Anna, who remained composed, her posture elegant.

She seemed utterly unfazed by the whispers, her veil still firmly in place. When the evening finally drew to a close, David and Anna were escorted to the private suite prepared for them. The tension between them was palpable as they entered the room, the door closing softly behind them.

David shrugged off his jacket, tossing it onto a nearby chair. He turned to Anna, his frustration finally boiling over. Are you going to keep that thing on forever? He demanded, gesturing toward her veil.

Anna calmly removed her gloves, placing them neatly on the dresser. Until I’m ready, she replied, her voice even. David’s laugh was sharp and bitter.

Ready? For what? To reveal whatever it is you’re hiding? Or are you just enjoying this game you’re playing? Anna turned to face him, her eyes meeting his through the fabric of her veil. This isn’t a game, David, and I’m not hiding anything that matters. Not to you, maybe, he shot back.

But I’m the one standing there while people whisper about my wife like she’s some kind of mystery. Do you have any idea what that’s like? Anna’s gaze didn’t waver. If their opinions matter more to you than I do, then perhaps you should reconsider what this marriage is about.

David’s anger faltered, her words striking a nerve he hadn’t expected. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. I just want to know the truth, Anna.

Why won’t you let me see you? When the time is right, she said simply. And who decides that? I do, she replied, her tone unwavering. David stared at her, his frustration and confusion tangling into a knot he couldn’t untangle.

Finally, he turned away, pouring himself a glass of whiskey from the sweets bar. Fine, he said, his voice clipped. Keep your secrets, but don’t expect me to wait forever.

Anna didn’t respond. Instead, she sat down at the vanity, removing her earrings with practiced care. Her silence filled the room, heavy and unyielding.

David downed his drink, the burn doing little to ease the ache in his chest. This was not the life he had imagined, and yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Anna than she let on. As the night wore on, they retreated to opposite sides of the suite, the distance between them as vast as ever.

But in the quiet moments before sleep, David found himself wondering, not for the first time, what lay beneath the veil. The days following their awkward wedding passed in a blur of strained silence and polite distance. David avoided Anna as much as possible, retreating to his office or taking long drives to escape the confines of the mansion.

Yet, despite his frustration, he couldn’t help but notice small things about her, the way she moved through the house, always graceful and composed, or the way she seemed to carry an air of quiet authority. It was during one of these moments of observation that David stumbled upon an unexpected scene. Late one morning, David was in the sunlit study, sifting through documents for a merger proposal that had hit a roadblock…