Page 9 of The Rancher's Unloved Wife

IT WAS A GOOD NINETY-minute ride to her new home, and Summerine didn't even realize she had fallen asleep until she heard her husband softly saying her name.

"I'm s-sorry."

She was already bracing herself for a harsh rebuke, but her husband only looked at her gravely. "You've probably lost a lot of sleep over the thought of marrying a complete stranger. I'm the one who should apologize. I should have taken the time to meet with you again before the wedding. But I didn't, and I apologize for that. Will you forgive me?"

All Summerine could do was nod.Neverhad she met someone this...this...smooth?

Ryu offered his hand once more after stepping out of the limousine, and her whole body tingled as his fingers clasped hers in a thrillingly firm grip.

(He's just holding your hand, girl.)

I know!

(So why are you acting like he's given you his heart?)

A-Am n-not!

(Then again, you're also that kid who's never been hugged by her parents—-)

Summerine duct-taped her Inner Troll and refocused her attention on reality. And she did so just in time, with Ryu smiling down at her as he presented his home.

"Welcome toKagami."

Mirror.

Her mind automatically translated this to English, but she wasn't aware of how her lips had also silently formed the word until she saw Ryu arch a brow in her direction.

"I'm impressed."

All she could do was smile weakly...even as she was forced to gloomily accept the truth.Inner Troll was right.Shewasa loser, and in more ways than one, sincethiswas also her first time to impress anyone.

"You took Japanese as an elective, didn't you?"

Summerine nodded even as she wondered if that was merely a lucky guess...or a result of the background check he had mentioned earlier.

"Shall we?"

He took her hand in his, and Summerine couldn't help but wonder if he was this chivalrous with everyone. A sharp pain pinched her heart at that moment, and Summerine wondered if she needed to have her heart checked.

While the exterior of Kagami was of sandstone, arched windows, and balconies draped with bougainvillea, her first glimpse of its interior was a mix of white marble and oak and a grand L-shaped staircase that immediately commanded attention.

"We can have a full tour tomorrow," Ryu murmured as he led her up the stairs.

It was when they reached the second floor that Summerine finally understood why his home's name wasKagami...while realizing at the same time that the man she married was far more complex than she could ever imagine.

The entire hallway consisted of mirrors. The walls. The ceilings. And even certain parts of the floor. There were also windows that mirrored each other's reflections. Mirrors that concealed storage or passageways. And mirrors that were, well, just mirrors.

By the time they went through a mirror that opened to the master suite, Summerine could barely understand what he was saying. Inside their suite was a palatial living room, a balcony on one side, a state-of-the-art kitchen on the other, and finally, a long row of mirrors (she countedten!) opposite the entrance, and all of them doors!

Summerine's mind continued to spin as she followed behind him.

"This is your room." Ryu pointed to -guess what! -another mirror. "That's the connecting door between yours and mine. Just knock if you need anything."

So many mirrors,Summerine thought.Why were there so many mirrors?

"Do you need anything?"

She shook her head.

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