The next morning, Liana woke up to a silence so deep it felt almost heavy. For a moment, she lay still, staring up at the high, decorated ceiling, trying to remember where she was. The soft, expensive sheets, the air scented with a faint fragrance of sandalwood, and the large windows draped in silk curtains—none of these belonged to her small, cramped apartment back in the city. Then the memories came flooding back: the meeting with Raka Arga, the contract, and the signature that had bound her life for the next two years.
She sat up slowly, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. The room was far larger than her old home, spacious enough to hold three of her previous bedrooms combined. Every piece of furniture was carefully chosen, polished to a shine, and clearly worth more than she could earn in a whole year. It was beautiful, comfortable, and undeniably luxurious—but as she looked around, she could not shake off the feeling that this was nothing more than a beautifully gilded cage.
A soft knock sounded at the door, followed by a gentle voice. “Miss Liana, are you awake?”
“Come in,” she called out.
The door opened, and Mrs. Siti, the housekeeper, stepped in carrying a tray with a glass of warm water and a folded set of clean clothes. She had a kind face and a warm smile, which brought a little relief to Liana’s tense heart.
“Good morning, Miss,” Mrs. Siti said softly. “Master Raka has already left for the office early this morning. He asked me to help you settle in and show you around the house. He also said that as soon as you are ready, the driver will take you to the hospital to see your brother.”
Liana’s eyes widened slightly. She had not expected him to keep his word so quickly, without needing to be reminded. “Thank you… thank you very much. I will get ready right away.”
While she washed and changed into the simple but elegant clothes provided, her mind wandered back to the contract she had signed the day before. Even though it felt like a heavy burden, knowing that Arka would finally receive the treatment he needed made every rule and every restriction worth it. She would live by those terms—stay in her place, speak only when necessary, and never cross the invisible line drawn between her and Raka.
After she was ready, Mrs. Siti led her through the corridors of the enormous mansion. She pointed out every room and explained what each area was for.
“This is the main living room where guests are received,” Mrs. Siti explained as they walked past. “Over there is the dining hall, and further down is the library. But there are two places you must remember to avoid: Master Raka’s private study and his bedroom. Those are strictly off‑limits unless he gives you permission to enter. That is the rule he has set for everyone in this house.”
Liana nodded, understanding perfectly. It was exactly what the agreement had stated—separate lives, separate spaces, no intrusion into each other’s private world. “I understand. I will not go anywhere I am not supposed to be.”
Mrs. Siti gave her a reassuring smile. “You are a sensible young lady. I think you will do well here. Master Raka may seem cold and distant, but he always keeps his word. If you follow the rules, you will have no trouble.”
When they finished the tour, Liana went straight to the entrance, where the driver was already waiting with the car. The ride to the hospital felt longer than usual, but her heart beat faster with every passing minute. She had not seen Arka since the doctors told her they would stop treatment if payment was not made. Now, everything had changed.
As soon as she stepped into the hospital ward, she rushed toward Arka’s room. The nurse greeted her with a smile. “You must be Miss Liana. The payment for all medical bills has been settled in full this morning. Your brother’s surgery is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and he is already responding well to the new medication.”
Relief washed over Liana like a warm wave. She pushed open the door and saw Arka lying on the bed, his face still pale, but his breathing much more stable than before. When he saw her, his eyes lit up, and he tried to sit up.
“Sister… you are here,” he whispered weakly.
Liana hurried to his side, holding his hand gently. “I am here, Arka. Everything is going to be fine now. The bills are paid, and you will have the surgery soon. You are going to get better, I promise.”
Arka looked at her with confusion in his eyes. “But how? Where did you get that much money? Did you sell everything we have?”
Liana paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. She could not tell him the whole truth—it would only worry him and make him feel guilty. “I found a way, don’t worry. It is a temporary arrangement, and soon enough, everything will go back to normal. You just focus on getting your strength back, okay?”
Arka studied her face, sensing that there was more to the story, but he was too weak to ask further. “As long as you are safe, Sister… that is all I care about.”
Liana stayed with him for hours, talking softly, telling him not to worry, and trying to keep his spirits up. When it was time to leave, she felt a little lighter in her heart. No matter how hard the life ahead would be, knowing Arka was safe and treated well gave her the strength to keep going.
Back at the mansion that evening, the house was quiet again. Raka had not returned yet. Liana sat in the garden, watching the sunset paint the sky in shades of red and gold, when she heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. A few minutes later, Raka walked into the garden, his suit still neat, but his expression looking more tired than usual.
He stopped when he saw her sitting there. For a moment, they just looked at each other in silence.
“How is your brother?” he asked finally, his voice neutral, no hint of emotion.
“He is stable,” Liana replied, standing up respectfully. “The payment was made, and the surgery is tomorrow. Thank you. I… I really appreciate it.”
Raka nodded, his gaze sweeping over her face briefly. “That is part of the agreement. I do what I promised. Just remember, this is not kindness. It is simply fulfilling my side of the deal. Do not let gratitude make you forget the boundaries we have set.”
His words were sharp and direct, reminding her once again of their position. Liana’s shoulders straightened, her expression returning to calm and firm. “I have not forgotten anything, Mr. Arga. I know exactly what this is. I will follow every rule: I will stay in my room unless needed, I will not enter your private spaces, I will keep our arrangement a secret from everyone, and I will never ask for more than what is written in the contract. As long as you hold up your end, I will hold up mine.”
A flicker of something like surprise crossed Raka’s eyes, though it vanished almost instantly. He was used to people begging, flattering, or trying to win his favor—but Liana spoke with honesty and clarity, without fear or pretense. It was different from anything he had expected.
“Good,” he said simply. “In three days, we will attend the first family dinner. That will be your first real test. You will have to act as my wife in front of everyone. Do not say too much, do not give too much information, and do not let anyone see that this is just a role. If you keep your composure, they will believe it.”
“I understand,” Liana answered. “I am ready.”
Raka turned to walk toward the house, but before he took another step, he added without looking back, “The monthly allowance will be transferred to your account tomorrow morning. Use it as you wish. And remember—break any rule, and this arrangement ends immediately, with nothing more for you.”
“I know,” Liana replied softly. “I have nothing to gain but what we agreed.”
As he walked away, Liana sat back down on the bench, looking up at the stars beginning to appear in the darkening sky. She had entered this golden cage by choice, trading her freedom for her brother’s life. But as long as she kept her heart guarded and her mind clear, she would survive these two years.
What she did not know yet was that walls built on coldness and rules were not always strong enough to keep out the unexpected. And somewhere inside Raka Arga, behind his strict rules and icy heart, something was already beginning to shift—slowly, quietly, and without him even realizing it.