Accidental Matriarch

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Miles decided to film a reality dating show right here in the family estate. Dominic and I accidentally became the foil to this celebrity power couple.

At first, the internet trolled me, calling the current lady of the house a glorified background extra. An unloved wife, tormented by her mother-in-law.

Later, viewers flooded the show's tags.

[I'm obsessed with Dominic and Blair's dynamic. Petition for more screen time!]

[Pausing the video just to catch their background moments!]

[I'm starving for their crumbs, drop the Dominic and Blair cut right now!]

Chapter 1

Miles and his new romance were trending every other day. The notorious playboy had finally settled down, and his target was none other than Sierra, the A-list actress. He wore Dominic down for an entire month until he finally caved and let the crew into the estate.

Dominic told me the news a week before the cameras rolled. "They only need a few episodes. If you want to avoid the cameras, we can move into the penthouse for a bit."

I lounged against the headboard, dark hair spilling over my bare shoulders. "Pass. Too much effort."

Three years of marriage to Dominic. Three years in this estate. I had my routine, and packing sounded exhausting. I padded downstairs, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Dominic had laid down the law with the production teamno unauthorized filming of his wife.

The first floor was already bustling. Sierra was surrounded by a group of people. She held court like she already owned the place. Catching me in her periphery, she clapped her hands at Ruth. "Ruth, be a sweetheart and get Blair a plate."

Ruth hesitated, her eyes darting to me for confirmation.

I swallowed a yawn and gave a slight nod. Only then did Ruth signal the kitchen.

Miles looked up from his breakfast. "Morning, Blair."

I blinked through the brain fog. "Morning."

"Did Dominic head to the office?" Miles asked.

"Uh? I guess?"

The man woke up before the sun. Even after a marathon session the night before, his internal alarm never glitched. But that was Dominic. The heir. Bred for relentless self-control. He never slipped. Even our sex life ran on a tight, disciplined schedule.

While I waited for my coffee, Sierra slid into the seat next to me. She hooked her arm through mine, beaming at the main camera. "Blair is a little camera-shy, guys. Give her some grace, okay?" She angled her face toward me, flashing a picture-perfect smile. "Don't stress, Blair. My fans are super supportive."

And just like that, my bare face and bewildered expression went live.

Sierra scrolled through the iPad displaying the livestream chat, her saccharine smile locked in place as she cherry-picked questions. "You guys think she looks familiar? She just has one of those relatable, everyday faces." She giggled, tapping her lips. "Asking for her age? Shh! A lady never tells."

She answered a few more, but the chat kept dragging the focus back to me. Sensing the shift, she unhooked her arm and leaned back, desperately steering the narrative back to her.

The live chat exploded.

[Wait, that's Miles' sister-in-law? The CEO's wife?]

[She doesn't look everyday. She looks expensive. I swear I've seen her somewhere.]

[Is she trying to use Sierra for clout?]

[Sierra is literally an angel for sharing her screen time.]

[Here for Sierra! She looks stunning today!]

[Sierra won at life. Her man is loaded and obsessed with her!]

As for me? My mind was miles away. Exhaustion dragged at my bones. Dominic just got back from a week-long business trip. The ever-disciplined man utterly lost his mind last night, demanding every ounce of what he had missed over the past seven days. My body was utterly wrecked.

Chapter 2

Miles disappeared into the study to handle some business.

That left me trapped on the sofa, dragged into a bridal catalog browsing session by an overly enthusiastic Sierra. She and Miles had just locked down their engagement, gearing up to tie the knot soon. "Blair, isn't this one stunning?"

I glanced at her, then down at the glossy lookbook in her lap. "Stunning."

"What about this one?"

Another lazy glance. "Also stunning."

"Blair, I heard a crazy rumor that you and Dominic never even had a ceremony." Sierra flipped a page, her tone dripping with manufactured innocence.

I took a bite of my apple. The crisp crunch echoed before I bothered to answer. "Nope."

Sierra covered her mouth in surprise. "Wait, Dominic really didn't give you a special day?"

I shook my head. "I didn't want one."

My marriage to Dominic was strictly a marriage of convenience. We had no emotional foundation.

Right before we signed the papers, he asked me. "When do you want to do the ceremony? Church or beach?"

I harbored zero expectations for this union. We knew of each other, but we had never actually crossed paths before the arrangement. Two total strangers. The thought of swapping rings and kissing a guy I barely knew in front of an officiant just felt pointless. I shot it down instantly. "Let's skip it. There's no point."

I could still remember his piercing gaze pinning me down at that exact moment. He let the silence stretch before giving a curt nod. Whenever anyone asked, he took the bullet, claiming he was the one who wanted to skip the circus. He shielded me from the fallout.

Sierra conveniently ignored my explanation. "Every girl deserves that magical moment to feel chosen." She looked at me with a hint of pity. "It breaks my heart Dominic would just deny you that experience."

I chewed my apple. Defending myself required energy I refused to spend.

"Miles is practically forcing this massive fairytale wedding on me. I kept telling him not to burn so much cash, but he absolutely refused." Sierra's tone was coy, pretending to be annoyed but actually just acting spoiled. "He told me he'd never let me regret marrying him. But every single gown in here is gorgeous. It's so overwhelming."

The live chat devoured her saccharine performance.

[Miles literally treats Sierra like royalty!]

[Here for this pure energy! They are so obsessed with each other.]

[The contrast is brutal. Look at Blair sulking.]

[Of course she's bitter. She's stuck in a loveless PR stunt. Bet Dominic was the one who refused to drop a dime on a wedding.]

"Blair, my brain is turning to mush. Pick one for me?" Sierra slid the heavy book over to me.

I flipped through a handful of pages and tapped a random silk number. "This one works."

Sierra barely glanced at it. "The waistline lacks structure." She took the book back and closed it. "Never mind. I'll just wait for Miles to help me pick. He never settles for basic." She seamlessly pivoted to her next target. "Blair, did Dominic not even bother to buy you a wedding ring?"

Sierra's gaze dropped to my left hand. A plain metal band sat on my ring finger. It bore a strange, jagged crestthe kind of cheap trinket you'd dig out of a thrift store bargain bin.

"He did." I stared down at the band.

On the day we signed the papers, I found two rings waiting on my nightstand. One of them featured a blinding, suffocatingly massive diamond.

Chapter 3

The second option was this dull metal band. Dominic told me to choose. I thought it looked hideous, but the massive diamond was just too impractical to wear. I grabbed the plain one.

"That's it? Did Dominic find that in a Dollar Tree clearance bin? Just kidding, Blair, don't take it personally." Sierra flashed a playful pout at the lens. She extended her hand, flashing a rock the size of a golf ball. Miles's engagement ring. "I literally begged Miles not to drop this kind of cash. It's so heavy, but he's obsessed. He wouldn't take no for an answer. Now he's forcing me to pick a wedding band even bigger than this." She pushed the catalog toward me. "Blair, help me out."

"Sure." I flipped the heavy pages.

Miles emerged from the study. He slung an arm over Sierra's shoulder, pressing a kiss to her temple. "How's the ring hunt going, babe?"

Sierra leaned into him. "Blair's helping me." She traced a finger over Miles's collarbone. "Honestly, I feel awful that Dominic never got her a real ring. Why don't we buy her one? You know, as a makeup gift."

She waited for him to validate her performative pity. Instead, Miles's gaze flicked to my left hand. He scoffed. "Sierra, you have no idea what she's wearing. That dull metal band is the family signet. The absolute authority of the matriarch." He tapped the catalog. "As long as that ring is on her finger, she speaks for Dominic. She basically owns Manhattan."

Sierra's smile faded. She froze for a second. The way she looked at the ring shifted, filled with intense scrutiny and a trace of greedy longing.

I blinked. That hideous thing held that much power? Dominic never mentioned a word. I literally just picked it because it didn't snag on my clothes.

The livestream chat completely derailed.

[Wait, I knew that wasn't a cheap knockoff! That's the family crest!]

[And y'all said Dominic didn't claim her. He gave her the keys to the entire empire!]

[Don't be sad, Sierra. You'll get yours when you marry in.]

[She literally won't. There's only one matriarch. Unless Dominic drops dead, Miles gets nothing.]

[Why does Blair get it?! Sierra deserves it just as much!]

[Because Blair is the heir's wife? Cry about it.]

Jealousy bubbled up inside Sierra. She couldn't tear her eyes away from my hand.

"Sierra? You good?" Miles frowned.

She forced a tight laugh, practically dragging him to the opposite end of the sectional.

I caught Dominic in his study late that night. The workaholic had his laptop angled toward him, the screen glowing in the dim room. He was watching the unedited livestream footage from this morning.

"Come here."

I crossed the room. Before I could process his movement, his large hands gripped my waist, hauling me straight onto his lap.

Chapter 4

Three years of marriage. Year one, we lived like ghosts haunting the same sprawling house. He lived on private jets. I built my own empire. We crossed paths maybe twice a year.

Then came New Year's Eve. I sat with Franklin and Meredith in the estate's massive living room, watching the Times Square ball drop. Fireworks shattered the dark sky beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The front door clicked open. Dominic stood in the foyer. A heavy black overcoat draped over his shoulders, a sleek leather weekender bag resting at his feet. Meredith swore he wouldn't be back from London until the second week of January. Yet here he was.

Acting purely on instinct with his parents around, I crossed the room and slipped the heavy wool coat from his shoulders. My fingers brushed his collar. His muscles locked instantly.

I froze. He stared down at me, his breath hitching.

After that night, Dominic slowed down his pace. We gradually settled into a peaceful and stable married life.

By now, I was so used to our routine that a simple curl of his finger had me dropping right onto his lap in his private study.

"You never warned me this ring carried that much weight." I slid the plain band off my finger, holding the dull metal up to the harsh glare of his desk lamp, tracing the tiny engraved crest. He handed it over like an afterthought back then. I wore it like one. I had no idea this hideous piece of metal held the keys to Manhattan.

Dominic captured my wrist, plucking the ring from my grasp and sliding it right back into place. "The metal means nothing." His thumb dragged across my knuckles, tracing a vein. "It's only important because you wear it."

Franklin and Meredith carved out time for a rare family dinner the next evening. The invasive camera lenses dotted around the dining room set them on edge, but they played along. Dominic even clocked out on time for once.

He toed off his oxfords in the foyer. A greedy cameraman whipped the lens toward the entryway, catching a single second of footage before snapping back.

Even though it was just a one-second pause, it still sent the viewers into a frenzy.

[Wait, that's Dominic?! God, he's gorgeous!]

[Miles is cute, but Dominic has that terrifying billionaire CEO aura. It's over for us.]

[Blair won the lottery. With a man looking like that, I wouldn't care about a wedding either!]

Thirst trap viewers flooded the chat, drowning out the regular gossip.

At the dining table, Sierra played the perfect, sweet future daughter-in-law, keeping the atmosphere light. Then Meredith caught me stifling a yawn. Her gaze dropped straight to my stomach. "Still no good news for us yet?"

[Here we go. The classic toxic rich family baby trap.]

[Meredith definitely hates Blair. Interrogating her on live TV?]

[She's throwing shade. Probably trying to warn Sierra to get pregnant fast.]

I shot Dominic a look. He sliced his steak, acting entirely oblivious to the crossfire.

"Meredith, that's a question for him." I kicked the ball into Dominic's court, flashing him a loaded glare.

Meredith pinned her eldest son with an expectant stare.

Dominic met my eyes. His gaze was calm. "We're putting in the work. Aiming for back-to-back pregnancies."

I choked on my water. My hand dove under the mahogany table, gripping his thigh. My fingers met solid muscle. It felt like grabbing a marble pillar. I mouthed at him: What the hell are you doing?

We had a deal. No timeline on kids.

His large, warm palm swallowed my hand under the mahogany table. I couldn't pull my hand away, so I shot him an angry glare.

Dominic simply held my gaze. His lips barely moved as he mouthed a silent command. Stop. A faint, maddening smirk shadowed his otherwise ruthless features.

Meredith caught our silent crossfire. A knowing smile curved her lips before she casually slid a heavy, matte-black Centurion card across the table toward me. "Blair, sweetie, you've had an exhausting week. Go treat yourself. If you hit the limit, just text me."

The last black card she handed me carried an obscene seven-figure limit. I hadn't even dented it yet. This one probably held double.

Sierra stared at the sleek titanium card, raw envy bleeding through her sweet facade. But without a ring cementing her to Miles, she couldn't exactly demand her own.

"You're so lucky, Blair." Sierra forced a bright, sugary smile. "His mother treats you exactly like her own daughter."

Meredith beamed, practically glowing with pride. "Of course she does. Having Blair in this family is an absolute privilege."

Sierra's smile fractured. Catching the slip, Meredith quickly smoothed it over. "You're lovely too, of course, Sierra."

Miles immediately rushed to his fiance's rescue. "Don't stress, babe. My mom is incredibly generous. Once we tie the knot, you'll get the exact same treatment."

Sierra's saccharine smile finally snapped back into place. "Thank you, Meredith."

"Thanks, Mom." I swept the black card off the table without a second thought. My private slush fund just got a massive upgrade.

I was so incredibly thrilled that I absentmindedly chewed and swallowed the roasted carrot Dominic had sneaked onto my platea vegetable I absolutely despised.

Watching me, Dominic calmly speared another carrot and dropped it directly onto my pristine porcelain plate.

I glared at him. He didn't even blink, his focus completely locked on his steak. I shoved the vegetable to the edge of my plate and ignored him.

The live chat lost their minds.

[A mother-in-law who just throws unlimited black cards at you? Goals.]

[Living for these Dominic and Blair crumbs!]

[The eye contact?! I am screaming!]

[You guys are desperate. Sierra and Miles are literally giving us a real romance.]

Chapter 5

Dominic and Miles vanished upstairs to the study to talk business.

That left me trapped downstairs with Sierra. I turned toward the staircase, desperate to escape to my room, but her manicured hand clamped onto my wrist.

Sierra fronted a massive domestic luxury brand. They recently launched a high-profile charity drive, expecting their A-list ambassadors to lead the charge with hefty donations. She clearly didn't want to foot the bill alone. She picked at a macaron. "Blair, are you planning to contribute to the fund?"

Letting her finish her pitch, I quietly pulled out my phone. I fired off a quick text to Amber, ordering her to run a full background check on the foundation's legitimacy.

Taking my silence as hesitation, Sierra dialed up the performative pity. "No pressure if things are tight for you. It's just those poor kids. They have nothing. I just feel obligated to use my platform, you know? A few other influencers dropped fifty grand. I was thinking of writing a check for a hundred"

"I'll wire two million," I cut her off. Amber had just texted back the green light.

Sierra froze.

"I'll fund it, but we'll list Meredith as the official donor." I locked my screen and looked up at her. "Anyway, what were you saying? How much were you putting down?"

Chapter 6

Sierra had been riding high on her planned hundred-grand stunt. Dropping that kind of cash was a flex, even for A-listers. She only floated the number because the cameras were rolling, terrified of looking cheap. Then I dropped two million like it was spare change.

With thousands of fans watching the livestream, she couldn't afford to look like the broke relative. Toxic envy radiated off her, but she plastered on a serene, media-trained smile for the lens.

"If Blair is so passionate about this, I absolutely have to match her energy. Put me down for two million, also under my future mother-in-law's name." She tilted her head, locking onto me with a sugary glare. "I totally thought you didn't hear me because you were scrolling on your phone."

I crunched into my apple. "I just had Amber run a background check on the charity. Throwing cash blind is a rookie move." I casually wiped my fingers on a napkin. "Amber is auditing the entire pipeline. Every cent is going straight to those underfunded schools to actually improve their lives, or I'm pulling the plug."

Sierra choked on her breath. "Right. You're just so thorough, Blair." She forced a tight laugh.

The chat lost its collective mind.

[Sierra is literally an angel. Two mil? Do you know how many endorsements that takes?]

[Wait, didn't Sierra just say a hundred grand a second ago?]

[Billionaire money is insane. They just dropped four mil like they were splitting an Uber.]

[Blair is a class act. Funding it but giving Meredith the credit.]

[Sierra brought it up first! Blair wouldn't have done it otherwise.]

[Nah, Blair is the real one here. Auditing the charity is a massive power move. No scammers getting that bag.]

[Exactly. Making sure those kids actually get the money is the only thing that matters.]

Sierra scurried upstairs to find Miles.

Left alone, I wandered out to the expansive backyard gardens to walk off the massive dinner.

Dominic materialized from the shadows of the terrace a few minutes later. A large, warm palm swallowed my hand, his fingers sliding between mine. We strolled through the manicured hedges.

The second he showed up, all my energy evaporated. I leaned my entire body weight against his side, dragging my feet until I finally just stopped walking.

He halted, looking down at me. "What is it?"

I stretched both arms out toward him. "Carry me."

A faint, helpless smile tugged at the corner of Dominic's mouth. He turned his back and dropped into a low crouch.

I grinned, launching my entire body at him, fully expecting him to stumble.

Instead, he caught me steadily, absorbing the impact without flinching. I kicked my legs, resting my chin on his shoulder and mumbling nonsense into his ear. Dominic simply listened, carrying me effortlessly down the stone path, tossing back quiet, rumbling responses.

Neither of us realized the production crew had rigged hidden night-vision cameras deep in the gardens. They broadcasted the entire unedited feed straight to the livestream.

[EVERYONE WAKE UP, THE GOOD STUFF IS HERE!]

[Who said Dominic doesn't claim her? The man is literally acting as her personal Uber through the estate!]

[This is the real romance. No cameras, no flexing, just pure intimacy. I am obsessed.]

[Dominic is completely whipped. She demands, he delivers.]

[Petition for a Dominic and Blair spin-off! I need this injected into my veins!]

Chapter 7

Dominic and I stepped back into the massive living room. Sierra and Miles sat rigidly on the bench of the Steinway grand. The air practically crackled with tension.

Catching my reflection in the polished black wood, Miles spun around, his eyes locking onto me like a lifeline. "Blair, thank God. Come tell us where we're messing up." He gestured sharply to the sheet music. "Sierra swears she hit every note."

Sierra stiffened, feeling a bit embarrassed. The network required a couple's talent showcase for the finale. She had grinded for three grueling months on this specific duet. Seeing the Steinway in the estate was her golden ticket to go viral. She dragged Miles to the bench, fully expecting a standing ovation. Instead, Miles called out a dead note.

She shot Miles a lethal glare before smoothing her features into a condescending smile. "Babe, Blair doesn't even play. How is she supposed to catch a tempo shift?" She adjusted her posture, playing the misunderstood victim. "Besides, I've practiced this for ten straight days. It's literally muscle memory."

The live chat immediately rallied behind their queen.

[Ten days?! Sierra is a literal prodigy!]

[Miles needs to back off. He doesn't even know middle C.]

[Why drag Blair into this? Like she knows sheet music from a grocery receipt.]

I crossed the Persian rug, stopping right behind the bench. "Run it again."

Miles eagerly tapped the keys. "Come on, Sierra. One more time. Let Blair hear it."

Sierra was extremely reluctant, but mindful of the cameras, she forced herself to play it once. The final dissonant note hung in the air.

I leaned over the mahogany lid, pointing to three separate phrasing errors on the sheet. "This piece is quite difficult for beginners. I suggest you pick a simpler track."

Miles never questioned my judgment. Once Dominic and I disappeared up the sweeping staircase, he wrapped an arm around Sierra's rigid waist. "Babe, let's just pivot. We'll find an easier track."

The facade shattered. Sierra shoved him off, her acrylic nails digging into her palms. "Are you dating me or Blair?! She doesn't even know how to read music! You're really going to let her dictate my performance?!"

Miles was genuinely baffled by her sudden, irrational outburst. "Wait. Did I never tell you?" He stared at her. "Blair is a world-class pianist. She basically breathes music." He dragged a hand through his hair. "When I was trying to get your attention, I found out you liked artistic guys. I literally begged Blair for a crash course so I wouldn't look like an idiot." A smug, oblivious grin spread across his face. "I'm officially better at the keys than Dominic now.

Sierra's breath caught in her throat, a heavy lump of pure frustration suffocating her. She stood there entirely paralyzed by the overwhelming humiliation.

The livestream chat went absolutely feral.

[Wait. THAT'S BLAIR? The piano prodigy who swept the International Chopin Competition last year?!]

[Just Googled her. It's definitely her. She literally trends globally for her solos!]

[And Sierra really tried to gaslight a master into thinking she played it right. The cringe is lethal.]

Sierra stared down at the iPad screen. The brutal comments blurred together, turning her vision red.

Chapter 8