Married to My Ice-Cold Professor

Morning sunlight spilled through the windows of the luxurious estate, illuminating the elegant dining room.

Audrey Bennett shuffled in wearing a pale blue nightdress and a pair of fluffy slippers. Her almond-shaped eyes were heavy with sleep, and she looked as though she would happily crawl back into bed if given the chance.

“Sebastian, isn't school supposed to start tomorrow? Why are you heading to campus so early?”

She dropped into a dining chair sideways, casually draping one slender arm over its back.

Sebastian Pierce was thirty, a respected professor at Aster University, and the heir apparent to the Pierce Group fortune. He was also, at least on paper, Audrey's husband.

Two years earlier, their families had arranged their marriage to strengthen the ties between their businesses. Audrey had been too young and too uncomfortable with the idea of sharing a marital bed to accept that part of their relationship. As a result, although they lived under the same roof, their marriage had never been consummated.

Sebastian stood beside the table, looking immaculate in a tailored designer suit. Rimless glasses rested on the bridge of his straight nose, lending his already striking features an air of cool sophistication.

“Classes are about to begin. How's your homework coming along?”

His voice was low and smooth, with the kind of effortless resonance that could make even an ordinary question sound unfairly attractive.

Audrey stuck out her tongue at him.

“I've been waiting for you to come home and help me.”

In other words, she hadn't done it.

A faint, indulgent smile touched Sebastian's face. He reached over and patted her head, as he often did.

He had always treated her like a child. Considering that he was nearly eight years older than she was, perhaps it was only natural.

“People say you can still grow taller at twenty,” Audrey complained, rising to her feet to compare their heights. “But look at me. I haven't grown at all. It must be because you keep patting my head.”

Her confidence evaporated the moment she stood beside him.

At five foot three, she barely reached above his shoulder. Sebastian, at six foot one, towered over her without even trying.

He glanced down at her, amusement flickering behind his glasses.

“Drink more milk.”

“You told me to eat more papaya last time. That didn't do anything, either.”

Sebastian pressed his lips together, wisely choosing not to respond.

Audrey plopped back into her chair. She never bothered with proper manners around him. After two years of marriage, they knew each other far too well for her to pretend to be a demure young lady in his presence.

Sebastian checked his watch. His departure time was approaching, and he straightened his tie.

“Wait!”

Audrey sprang up and hurried into the bedroom. A moment later, she returned with a pink hair tie and held it out to him.

“Put this on. Could you act like a married man for once?”

If nothing unexpected happened, they would be stuck with each other for the rest of their lives. Divorce wasn't a realistic option for either family.

Audrey figured she might as well try to build some affection between them. Surely they couldn't spend their entire marriage living like polite strangers.

Sebastian accepted the pink hair tie and slipped it around his wrist.

He suspected she had watched another one of those short videos online and decided to try the idea out on him.

“By the way, I spoke to your academic adviser,” he said. “She told me your assignments aren't particularly difficult or time-consuming. I'll check them when I get home tonight. If you haven't finished, I'll inform her myself.”

He raised an eyebrow.

Then, leaving Audrey sitting there with puffed-out cheeks and an expression of pure indignation, he walked straight out of the house.

Audrey watched him go.

They attended the same university, although their lives on campus were quite different. Sebastian worked primarily in research and occasionally taught classes. Audrey, meanwhile, still had another year before graduation.

Outside, Sebastian climbed into his Bentley. While waiting at a traffic light, he glanced at the pink band around his wrist and let out a helpless sigh.

She was still a child at heart. Today she liked pink hair ties; tomorrow, who knew what she might come up with?

There was no need to rush anything between them. Once Audrey had grown up a little more and figured out what she truly wanted, they could talk about their marriage.

For now, he was content to give her time.

After breakfast, Audrey took a long bath and finally settled down in the study to tackle her assignments. Sebastian had promised to check them that evening, and when he made a promise like that, he always followed through.

She worked diligently for a little while.

Then she reached for the tablet beside her and started scrolling through videos.

An hour of studying, a whole day of surfing the internet. That was more or less her philosophy.

Her phone suddenly rang.

She glanced at the screen. Sebastian.

“Hello, Sebastian. What's up?”

She struggled to suppress a laugh. She had just watched a particularly hilarious video and was still in a good mood.

On the other end, Sebastian stood in a university corridor. Hearing the cheerfulness in her voice, he paused briefly before speaking.

“Audrey, Grandma called. She's coming over this evening. Ask Mrs. Collins to prepare for her visit.”

Audrey froze.

The moment she heard that Eleanor Pierce was coming, a chill ran down her spine.

Sebastian's grandmother was getting older, and she had become increasingly eager to see a great-grandchild. At first, she had raised the subject gently, as though she were merely offering friendly advice. This year, however, her questions had grown much more pointed.

Audrey couldn't exactly tell her the truth.

She and Sebastian slept in separate bedrooms.

How was she supposed to explain that they had been married for two years without ever sharing a bed?

Their families' interests were closely intertwined. The Bennett family's business had run into serious trouble a couple of years earlier, and it still hadn't fully recovered. They continued to depend on the Pierces for support.

Audrey's father had left when she was very young. Her mother had raised her alone while struggling to keep the family business afloat.

That was why Audrey had agreed to marry Sebastian without complaint, even though they had never met before the arrangement was made.

She had understood what was at stake.

“Of course! I'll get everything ready. Just make sure you come home early. Bye!”

Audrey forced herself to sound cheerful before ending the call.

Whatever her private frustrations with Eleanor, she knew that an open disagreement between them would only put Sebastian in a difficult position.

He had been raised by his grandmother, and the two shared a deep bond. Eleanor came from a family that prized education, refinement, and tradition. She had high standards for practically everything, especially the behavior of a daughter-in-law.

Sebastian ended the call and headed into a meeting room.

He had originally planned to work late that evening. Now, it looked as though he would have to leave early.

Meanwhile, Audrey sprang into action.

She tidied her desk, changed into an elegant lavender dress, and applied a light layer of makeup. Her delicate features looked even more polished once she had finished.

Eleanor was old-fashioned. She wanted a granddaughter-in-law who behaved like the refined young ladies of an earlier generation.

Fortunately, etiquette was one subject Audrey had never struggled with. She was confident that Eleanor would have a hard time finding fault with her manners.

Mrs. Collins, the only household employee responsible for their daily meals and general upkeep, immediately went out to buy groceries after learning about the visit.

Audrey had another problem to deal with.

She hurried into Sebastian's bedroom, gathered his pillow, and carried it into her own. Then she collected the clothes he usually changed into at home and arranged them as though he had been sleeping there all along.

The preparations took more than an hour.

By the time Audrey was finished, she could finally breathe again.

A Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the estate.

A woman in an exclusive ivory designer suit stepped out, carrying a luxurious leather handbag. Despite her advanced age, she stood straight and moved with remarkable energy.

It was Eleanor Pierce, Sebastian's grandmother.

Audrey pretended not to notice the car's arrival. She remained seated in the garden, calmly sipping tea while reading a volume of classical poetry.

Anyone who saw her now would never have guessed that, not long ago, she had been lounging in her pajamas and scrolling through videos in the study.

“Audrey, darling. Grandma's come to see you.”

Eleanor approached with a warm, affectionate smile.

Audrey set down her teacup and rose gracefully to her feet. She gave the older woman a respectful greeting.

“Welcome, Grandma.”

Eleanor smiled and beckoned her closer.

“Come here, sweetheart. Let me have a good look at you.”

Audrey walked over at an unhurried pace, her expression full of concern.

“You must be tired from the journey. Let me help you inside so you can rest.”

She was putting on a performance worthy of an award.

All she wanted was for Sebastian to come home as quickly as possible. At the moment, her husband was less a romantic partner than a desperately needed rescue team.

Eleanor took Audrey's hand and chuckled.

“I'm not tired. I just wanted to see you. Tell me, have you been to the doctor for a checkup?”

Audrey lowered her head, pretending to be shy. A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

“Sebastian took me for one. The doctor said everything was fine.”

It was a complete lie.

What good would a medical checkup do when she and Sebastian hadn't even slept together? Were they supposed to conceive a child by telepathy?

And if she somehow turned up pregnant now, there would be a very serious question about who the father was.

Eleanor's brows drew together. Her smile faded slightly.

They had been married for two years, yet Audrey showed no sign of being pregnant. Sebastian was already thirty. If they didn't have a child soon, when exactly were they planning to start a family?

“Grandma knows how much your education means to you,” Eleanor said, patting the back of Audrey's hand. “But you can always return to your studies after the baby is born. There's no need to put off having children just to finish school.”

Audrey smiled and nodded obediently.

“Of course, Grandma. I'll do whatever you think is best.”

Give up university and stay home to have a baby?

Not a chance.

She had no intention of abandoning her education. Fortunately, Sebastian would be back soon, and he would surely speak up for her.

For now, she would agree with Eleanor. There was no point arguing with an elder, especially one who believed she was acting in Sebastian's best interests.

Audrey kept her smile firmly in place.

Inside, however, she was already counting the minutes until her husband came home.

Audrey Bennett sat beside Eleanor Pierce on the living room sofa, doing her best to look like the perfect granddaughter-in-law.

Eleanor hadn't said anything for a while, and Audrey had no intention of filling the silence herself. Experience had taught her that whenever Grandma started talking, the subject somehow found its way back to babies.

Sure enough, Eleanor soon turned to her with a gentle smile.

“Audrey, darling, I've decided to stay this time. I hope you won't get tired of having me around.”

Audrey sighed inwardly.

Grandma could stay as long as she liked—provided she stopped pressuring Audrey to have a baby. Unfortunately, Audrey knew exactly why she'd come.

“Now I'll have you here to keep me company,” Audrey replied sweetly, slipping her arm through Eleanor's.

Apart from Audrey's apparent reluctance to give her a great-grandchild, Eleanor was quite pleased with her granddaughter-in-law.

“Grandma, I'm just going to use the rest