Chapter 18: Chapter 18

The next day, I was swinging my legs while sitting on the couch in the library because I am alone in the house and the devil has gone to work.

His absence feels like a reprieve from chaos, A short-lived freedom to me.

After reading, I leaned back and closed my eyes and remembered him consoling me for the nightmare and later intimidating me about it.

I just don't understand him. Why does he pity me? Why does he show little gestures that make me feel like he cares?

‘When there isn't any love then why does he refrain himself? There's no need for him to confine himself.’

He doesn’t have to make things so complicated.

His eyes are always clouded with his lust and compassion. I wonder what lies behind those unfathomable clouds. As I was lost in my thoughts, mother called,

"Hello.." I said.

"Hello, love, how are you?" I always feel elated whenever I hear her voice.

"I am fine. And you?"

"Just missing you. When are you going to pay a visit?" She asked sadly.

"I don't know..." I trailed off.

"How Christian treat you?" She asked. I remained silent for a while and decided to speak the truth,

"I hate his touch. I hate him. Especially his compassion."

"Compassion? Well, I didn't expect you to say that." Mother was amused with it as it made my blood boil.

"Were you listening? I hate everything about him." I said. I heard her sigh and immediately knew that she was going to give me a lecture.

"Look Sweetie, Not as a contract but as a wife, think what your obligations are. He needs you, only you can shine his dark world of hatred with love. If you back away, It will break you both. Remember this."

I don't know what to say about it as I felt flood of questions popping in my mind and I decided to release them,

"Who told you about the contract? Why do you sound like he is your son and you have known him for years?" There was a brief pause and she spoke up again,

"I read those papers when you weren't present at home. And what I said is based on the mere whim of knowing so little of his past."

"Mother.. he divorced her not she." I am even more perplexed.

Mother know him? Well, this is ridiculous, why would he be related to us?

"The depression of being alone, You can understand that." Why is she comparing him to my childhood where I seek attention from the Bastard?

“You don’t have to bring Bastard in this.” I said bitterly.

Her answer was very convincing but it's not convincing to me at all. I don’t want to listen to anything in his favor.

"Okay mom, I'll talk to you later. Bye." I said.

"Bye .." She said and cut the call.

I turned my head to look at the time, it's still a while for Christian to come home.

I then came to the hall as I sat and leaned on the comfy sofa present in the empty hall. I emit a loud sigh to show my boredom.

I heard a chuckle from Gwen, I looked at her and pouted.

"Do you know anything fun to do?" I asked.

"How about you watch a movie?" She suggested. I shook my head no.

"Then.. shopping?" I groaned and stood up.

"That's tiresome."

"Then you tell?" She said,

"I want to go and meet my mother.." I said looking away.

"Then do it.."

"I can't.. I don't know about her address..because mother shifted to her new home just the day before my marriage.." She made an 'o' face and smiled.

"Then ask Sir, he must know." I scoffed when I heard it. I'll ask my mother, I'll talk to her. I searched for my phone but it wasn't in my pocket.

"Gwen, can you get my phone from the library?" I asked as she nodded and left.

I puffed and turned around only to see the master of my fears entering. Our eyes met for a second and I looked away,

"Welcome home... you're early." I said as he smirked.

"Too much to your dismay." I rolled my eyes as we stood there.

I remained like that as he stared at me. I lifted my gaze and met him, filled with amusement as usual.

None of us spoke a word as we both had a staring competition. I narrowed my eyes in irk as his smirk grew wider. I opened my mouth to say something but I heard a voice,

"Sophie! I found your phone." Gwen came calling me.

We turned our head towards her, when she saw Christian her happy expression was turned into horror.

She began to quiver and my lips formed a thin line as my heart skipped a beat.

His stare was turned into a glare as he said slowly,

"Gwen, Call all the servants." Her terrified form nodded and left.

I remained still due to the dread building inside of me. I can feel the thick tension he created in a few seconds.

After a few moments all the servants came. They all stood in a line looking down.

Strong chills were given to my weak form just by looking at his dominant form who was staring at the servants like a hunter.

As I was lost in fright, he pulled my arm and brought me closer. I let out a yelp as he spoke up in his deep commanding voice,

"Who is she?" He asked Samuel.

"Your wife, Sir." He said without looking up.

"What's her status in this house?" This time, she asked Ross.

"She is the Madam of this house." She said.

He let go of me and lastly he turned his attention to Gwen who was at the verge of crying. "And how dare you call her that informally?" He hissed at her.

I bit my lips feeling bad for her. She is not at fault and I can't let her go through his wrath for something she never did intentionally.

Christian was about to shout at her but I held his arm, shut my eyes tightly and almost shouted,

"I told her to call me like that! I don't like being called formally. That's why I asked her, She is not at fault, I told her. Please forgive her. It's my fault." Saying this in front of him and in this tense atmosphere is something I can consider a brave act.

I am almost panting, I slowly opened my eyes. He was looking at me with a bewildered and angered look. My throat dried as I let go of his arm and held the hem of my dress as the terror consumed my body.

"Before calling her by her name ever again, remember the fact that she is my wife." He said taking a rapid step towards me as I took a step back.

He raised his hand a little and I squeaked fearing he raised his hand to hit me but he didn't. He did it to dismiss all of them.

They all left as only us were left in the empty hall and I know there's no hope to get out of this soul piercing gaze.

To avoid the worst, my trembling lips called him softly, "Christian.."

I called his name because I know that it will lower this temper a little although I have to feel the repugnance of it.

As expected, upon hearing his name on my lips- what I rarely do in daytime, his previous amusement came.

I took another step back but stumbled upon the sofa and fell on it. He swiftly put his hands on either side of me and continued to look at me with that minatory look. No matter what, I can never relax in his presence.

He is an epitome of intimidation.

"May I know why you don't like being called formally, my dearest wife?" He said with his lips curved upward wickedly giving me a dreadful feeling.

‘I am anything but dearest to you!’

"Coming from a middle-class life, this luxury is quite hard to adopt." I retorted.

"Now, now, You married me to go into that luxury life you are finding hard to adopt." He sneered.

"Our contract never states that I want this lavish life." I sneered back. He held my chin and let out a painfully slow laugh.

"Of all your emotions, this is the most amusing one." He said and got away.

I abruptly stood up and was about to leave but he held my arm as my back was facing him.

"Do you know which emotion I love?" Before I could react he moved closer and whispered in my ear,

"That look of disgust and hate when you call my name over and over again while receiving that unwanted pleasure." A shiver went down my spine upon hearing what I never want to.

My hairs stood on their edge as I ran away with my shaky form followed by his dark chuckle echoing through the empty hall causing me to fall deeper in those bottomless pits of despair....