Chapter 6 Madam

The second the sound of his car reached me, my breaths hitched as a distress began to creep under my skin. Probably because I wasn’t mentally prepared to be regarded as his bride, to appear before him with a smile and act as if everything was going beautifully. And when the fact that my ‘husband’ had arrived sank it, I ended up shivering. ‘Should I act like a wife? Would it enrage him to see me as his wife? Does he even want me to do that?’ And while I was struggling with these questions, I failed to notice the door of our room opened and entered with a transparently displeased expression. “Welcome-” My heart skipped a beat when he cut me off strictly. “What is this, Liliana?” “What? Did I do something wrong?” I asked quietly, twirling my fingers around my dress, not meeting his gaze. “When I return tired from work, all I see is a wife who didn’t even bother to put on a lipstick at least for me,” “I thought you wouldn't prefer it,” Sighing, he took a dangerous step and stopped right before me and his tall and muscular form never failed to intimidate me, evoking a tension I had never experienced before. “Do you think I have married you for naught? To let you lie in the corner and pretend?” Yes… right? Without a warning, he held my chin in a warning grip, compelling to link our gazes. “I married you for myself, Liliana. I made it clear the moment you entered this household that I want you how ‘I’ desire,” Moving his thumb across my lips, I could feel a heat collecting in my body as to me, I found this marriage as a heartbreaking pretense to be what I wasn’t. Or else why would he want me? But apparently, it meant more than I fathomed. Averting my gaze, I whispered, “I.. I thought you were drunk… and didn’t m-mean it..” “You wish,” Smirking at my innocence, he pulled away slightly. Taking off his waistcoat, running his finger through his hair to make them handsomely messy, enhancing his arduous features. Forming my lips in a thin line, I asked that one thing which annoyed him the most. “Didn’t you love your wife?” “Would you stop exasperating me with the same question?” He sighed loudly, glaring at me through the mirror to stop testing him. “I-I apologize,” Nodding, I didn’t speak further. Rather in his presence words vanished from my tongue. We were having dinner in silence as I glanced at him from time to time. His posture, his appearance, his body, everything about him was admirable and to sit beside unwillingly induces an inferiority complex. I had no idea why we got married. He made an offer, and we accepted. And here we were, anything else felt meaningless. At least to me. ‘What do you intend to do with this marriage? Why pretend when you had zero attachments with your wife?’ But, my trail of thoughts was left hanging when he spoke up, “Do you not like it?” “Huh?” I blinked. “You haven’t touched your food. Is it not to your liking? I believe you have seen Winnie, you can tell her if you need anything,” “No, no, it’s fine,” “Then why are you not eating?” I didn’t reply and took a bite of my food. Sighing with frustration at my lack of wording, he shook his head and began to eat until his phone rang. “Hmm, what, Zach?” It was his brother and his tone changed from a dominant one to a rude one like he was being forced to talk to him. ‘What was wrong with them?’ Attempting to not think about him anymore, I tried to focus on my food only, forcing the bite down my throat, praying he wouldn’t notice me. But, worsening my dread, he slammed his hand on the table. “Who the fuck told you to do that?! What if they get caught-” Get caught? Choking on my bite, I lifted my eyes fretfully at the enraged man. He paused, stopping his eyes on me for observance. I was listening ‘very’ carefully. Although I comprehended none of the context yet was intrigued what made him infuriated. Narrowing his eyes, he quickly wiped his mouth with the napkin and walked away. “That damn Quint will pay-” Leaving me all alone at the dinner table to take his wrath out on his brother. Shaking my head to not meddle with his ordeals, I continued eating, relaxed when he wasn’t present and went back to the room after dinner. “What’s with him?” Muttering under my breath, the second my eyes fell on the bed, a heat gathered and curled my insides. I was not prepared to share the bed with him, the merest condition of it sounded unsavory to me nor I believed I could. ‘What should I do? I don’t want to share the bed.’ Pacing around, holding my sides, I looked out of the door and when there weren’t any signs of his coming, I decided to lay on the couch. Curling like a ball, shutting my eyes to show I was sleeping so he won’t shift me to bed. Spending another night on the couch, maintaining my distance from the superior man. ‘Just what he does to me? I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t do anything before him. Sometimes he looks like a criminal or a mafia man,’ Discarding his perceptions which seemed impossible because he was my husband now and one way or another, his thoughts would knock. ‘What a drag,’ Sighing internally, I woke up before him and freshened up already, staying on the couch, waiting for him to wake up. The second he yawned, stretching his toned arms, groggily glancing at me, an instant grimace crept on his features, scanning me thoroughly. “Still in the same clothes. Why are you not changing, Liliana?” Sitting up straight, perturbed to hear any taunts about it, I tugged my hair behind my ear and blurted out hurriedly. “It’s- it’s a personal habit but I.. I don’t like wearing other people's clothes, Sir. I am sorry, I just can’t,” He asked again, confused, “What?” “I don’t feel comfortable-” “These are your clothes, woman,” “What?” “I have ordered them to clear her up, everything is to your perfect size and for you,” He exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose, rising from the bed. Surprised, to perceive all those beautiful clothes, shoes and bags I saw weren’t his late wife’s but mine immobilized me. Never once I fathomed I could own those costly and meticulous possessions. Tightening my grip on my dress, I asked distressfully. “What? How.. do you…” Arching an eyebrow handsomely, he let out a melodious, husky chuckle, standing before me with his fingers clasping around my neck. “Trust me, even if your faces are the same,” Yanking our bodies together, he hovered over me. Labeling my beats to his name when his fingers held me as if he owned me while enunciating seductively. “She is nowhere your beauty, nowhere this desirable innocence,” My breaths tightened around my throat, looking up at his assertive form, unsure what to feel about it. Leaning forward, he stopped right at my ears, forming goosebumps all over my skin. “And now when I return, I want you dressed up like a doll you are, is that understood, Liliana?” “Ye-Yes, Sir,” “Good girl,” Humming, he didn’t have breakfast again and changed into his charming attire, looking like an evil aristocrat, holding his hand high and was about to leave. Mustering my courage, holding my dress, I called him hesitantly, “Umm, listen,” “Hmm?” I spoke sincerely, “Thank you,” “You are the Madam of my mansion, Liliana,” Blushing faintly when he pinched my cheeks, I couldn’t help but to force a smile at him when he left for work. I stared at him uncertain about what to feel about him or his actions. Was it sincere or just an act? Even if it was real, why would he do anything for me?