The 365 days wife

A Battle of Expectations

The silence in the Cole mansion was deceiving. It wasn't the peaceful kind—it was the kind that carried the weight of unspoken words, unvoiced judgments, and expectations too heavy to bear.

Ava sat in the grand study, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the spine of a leather-bound book she had no intention of reading. The air still held the faint scent of Caroline's perfume, a stark reminder of the conversation that had just taken place.

"You may have married my brother, but that doesn't mean you belong here."

Caroline's words echoed in her mind, a sharp blade slicing through the fragile confidence she had built.

She had known this world wouldn't accept her easily. She had expected resistance, cold stares, and carefully veiled insults. But experiencing it firsthand was different. It wasn't just about wealth—it was about legacy, reputation, and power.

And she had none of those.

She let out a slow breath, pressing her fingers against her temples.

What had she truly expected? A warm welcome? A family that would embrace her with open arms?

No.

She had stepped into this marriage knowing what it was—a transaction, a necessity for Damien, and a decision she had made out of desperation. There was no fairytale ending waiting for her here.

But still…

Still, she hadn't expected to feel so alone.

A Cold Reunion

The creak of the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She straightened, expecting Caroline to return. Instead, it was Damien.

His presence filled the room effortlessly. Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his face was unreadable, the sharp angles of his jaw and piercing gaze making him look as untouchable as ever.

She studied him for a moment, searching for any trace of warmth, any sign that she wasn't entirely alone in this house.

But Damien was a fortress, guarded and impenetrable.

"You met Caroline," he said, his voice neutral as he stepped closer.

Ava nodded. "I did."

He arched a brow, waiting for more.

She hesitated before adding, "She doesn't think I belong here."

A flicker of something—amusement? Annoyance?—crossed his face before it disappeared just as quickly.

"Caroline is protective of this family. She doesn't trust easily."

Ava let out a dry laugh. "I noticed."

Damien leaned against the desk, crossing his arms. "She's not your biggest problem. My parents will be watching your every move. They don't care about what you say, Ava. They care about what you prove."

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "And what do you care about?"

A long pause.

The room felt smaller, the space between them charged with something she couldn't quite name.

Finally, he spoke. "I care about results."

Of course.

Ava forced herself to nod, pushing down the sting of disappointment she had no right to feel.

Damien didn't care about her struggles, her fears, or the loneliness pressing down on her. He only cared that she played her role well enough to keep up appearances.

"Good," she said, keeping her voice steady. "Then I won't disappoint you."

She expected him to end the conversation there, to turn on his heel and walk away as he always did. But he didn't.

Instead, he studied her for a long moment before saying, "Be careful, Ava. This world isn't kind to people who don't know how to survive in it."

Her fingers curled into fists beneath the table.

"I know how to survive," she said quietly.

Damien's gaze lingered on her for a second longer before he finally pushed off the desk.

"We'll see."

And just like that, he was gone, leaving her alone with nothing but the sound of her own heartbeat.

Ava's First Public Test

The next morning, Ava found herself standing at the entrance of one of the most luxurious restaurants in the city.

It wasn't by choice.

Eleanor Cole had arranged a charity brunch—a gathering of high-society women, business moguls' wives, and heiresses who had been born into privilege.

And Ava had been invited.

No.

Summoned.

She understood what this was.

A test.

A chance for Eleanor to see if she could handle the scrutiny, the whispers, the unspoken rules of their world.

The moment she stepped inside, the conversations hushed, eyes scanning her from head to toe. Judging. Calculating.

Ava lifted her chin, refusing to let them see her discomfort.

She spotted Eleanor at the center of the room, seated at an elegant table draped in silk, surrounded by women who exuded effortless poise.

Ava moved toward her, every step feeling heavier than the last.

"Ah, Ava," Eleanor greeted, her smile polite but distant. "You made it."

"Of course," Ava replied, her voice even.

Eleanor gestured to an empty seat beside her. "Come. Sit."

Ava did, acutely aware of the way the other women observed her.

A server poured her a cup of tea, but before she could take a sip, one of the women spoke.

"So, Ava," the woman said, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "Tell us, how does it feel to go from handmade jewelry to wearing couture?"

Ava smiled, meeting her gaze head-on. "The same way it feels to go from strangers to family. An adjustment."

The woman blinked, clearly not expecting her to hold her ground.

Eleanor's lips twitched slightly, as if amused.

"Such a unique background you have," another woman added. "It must have been… quite the experience, working as a waitress before this."

Ava's grip on her teacup tightened.

These women weren't here to welcome her. They were here to pick her apart.

To remind her that she didn't belong.

But she refused to let them win.

She set down her cup carefully, leveling them with a calm gaze.

"Yes, I worked as a waitress," she said, her tone steady. "And I ran my own business. I didn't grow up with wealth or privilege, but I know the value of hard work. It may not be the world you're familiar with, but it taught me resilience. And that's something money can't buy."

A flicker of surprise passed over a few faces.

Eleanor studied her for a long moment before finally speaking.

"Interesting perspective," she murmured, taking a sip of her tea.

The conversation shifted, but Ava knew.

This wasn't over.

Eleanor was watching.

Waiting.

And Ava?

She was ready.

She had to be.

Because in this world, the moment you showed weakness—

They devoured you whole.