# Chapter 5 The House We Now Share
Nadira was still thinking about what Arkana had said when the workday ended.
“Starting tonight, you have to move into my house.”
The sentence sounded simple. But to Nadira, its meaning was crystal clear. She would be living under the same roof as the man who had made her want to argue for the past three years.
The man who always managed to make her let out a long sigh, sometimes even giving her a headache.
That man was her boss—and now, her husband.
Nadira straightened the documents on her desk before finally standing. When she reached the lobby, Arkana’s car was already waiting.
Nadira stopped beside the car. “Sir, are you serious?”
Arkana, seated inside, looked at her. “If I weren’t serious, I wouldn’t have told you to move.”
“At least give me time to pack my things.”
“Your things have already been picked up.”
Nadira froze. “Who picked them up?”
“The household staff.”
“Without my permission?”
“You’re going to be living there anyway.”
Nadira stared at him in disbelief. “You really do love making decisions on your own.”
Arkana didn’t answer. He simply opened the car door. “Get in.”
Nadira sighed before getting inside.
They barely spoke during the drive. But the closer they got to Arkana’s residence, the more uncomfortable Nadira felt.
When the car stopped in front of the large house, Nadira stared at the building. It was far bigger than her family’s home.
There was a sprawling garden, several cars parked in the garage, and a few household staff members who immediately came out to greet them.
A woman who appeared to have worked there for quite some time bowed politely.
“Welcome, ma’am.”
Nadira immediately felt awkward. “Don’t call me that.”
The woman smiled. “Of course, ma’am.”
Nadira shot Arkana an irritated look. “You see that, right? This is weird.”
Arkana simply walked inside. “Get used to it.”
“I can’t!”
“You will eventually.”
Nadira followed him, grumbling under her breath.
As soon as they entered, a staff member carried Nadira’s suitcase to the second floor. She followed immediately. But when she saw the two rooms at the end of the hallway, she stopped.
“Which room is mine?”
Arkana pointed to one of them. “That one.”
Nadira nodded in relief. “Good.”
Arkana looked at her. “You misunderstood.”
“What?”
“That’s my room.”
Nadira turned to him at once. “Then where’s my room?”
Arkana pointed to the door beside it. “Over there.”
Nadira fell silent. For the first time since arriving, she felt a little relieved. “We’re sleeping separately?”
“Did you want to share a room?”
“No!”
Nadira’s answer came too quickly. Arkana held back a smile. “Good.”
Nadira narrowed her eyes. “You did that on purpose?”
“No.”
“Your face says otherwise.”
Arkana walked toward his room. Before entering, he stopped. “From now on, that room is yours. You’re free to use it however you like.”
Nadira nodded.
“And one more thing.”
“What?”
“In this house, you don’t have to call me ‘sir.’”
Nadira fell silent. “Then what should I call you?”
“Arkana.”
The name felt strange on her tongue. For three years, she had always called him Mr. Arkana. Now she had to call him by his first name.
“All right, Mr. Arkana.”
Arkana sighed. “Nadira.”
“Yes?”
“Arkana.”
Nadira held back a smile. “Fine. Arkana.”
For some reason, the man looked slightly pleased.
It grew late. Nadira had finished arranging her things when she heard a knock on the door.
She opened it. Arkana was standing there.
“We’re having breakfast together tomorrow morning.”
Nadira frowned. “Why?”
“Grandfather is coming.”
Nadira immediately fell silent. “Your grandfather?”
“Yes.”
“What for?”
“To see what life is like for a newly married couple.”
Nadira sighed. “So starting tomorrow, we have to pretend to be husband and wife even at home.”
Arkana looked at her. “It’s not pretending.”
Nadira frowned. “Then what is it?”
“We are married.”
After saying that, Arkana left. Nadira stood in the doorway, staring at his back.
She knew he was right. Legally, they were husband and wife. But that night, for the first time, Nadira realized something that made her a little uneasy.
Living under the same roof would be far more difficult than simply signing a contract.