Chapter 6

Finally, after almost two hours of uncomfortable travel back to his mansion, which is supposed to be my mansion too since we are legally a couple now, I can finally breathe freely.

Martin opened the door for us. I gave Martin a smile before I walked out of the car.

I exhaled to overcome the uneasy feeling that I suddenly had. I couldn't imagine that I am married now. If it was a nightmare, I hope that I would fall from my bed so that I could be awakened.

“Let's go now, Valerie. You will get colds if you keep on standing here all night.”

“Y-Yeah.”

I didn't mind following him until we got inside this big and wide mansion, where I will live for the rest of my life since I married this man.

Our steps echoed in the living room. I noticed that the mansion was quite at peace, as if it were in the desert.

“Where are the maids and butlers?” I cocked my head in some directions.

“There are a few maids left, and the same with butlers. I don't want many people near me from now on, Valerie. Especially that you are here with me. The maids and butlers I trusted most stayed.”

“Hey! I-It’s not fair for those who were fired without any notice and explanation, Mister—ahm, I mean, El! You shouldn't have done that.”

His feet retreated to do another step. His body turned, and he faced me.

“Don't be too judgmental, Valerie. I gave them a job in my company. Most of them worked at the factory, and some of them worked as janitors in my building.”

“S-Sorry.”

“Don't mind that. Now that you are here, let me remind you that you can go and enter anywhere inside this mansion. But there's a room I am prohibiting you from entering.”

Suspicious. But hell. It's his mansion. We were not married by love anyway. So why would I give a damn about the place he was talking about?

Every step on the staircases is heard clearly; those were like stamps that turned into chants.

A cold breeze from the open window on the second floor of the mansion slipped on my skin, and it made me hug my shoulder.

He was not saying a word, but he kept on walking until we reached the end of this floor.

He held the top of the door and knocked on it three times.

“Here's the room I'm telling you about, Valerie. You can't go inside or attempt to open it. If I catch you, you will never like how I will punish you.”

“El, this marriage was already a punishment.” I looked away and rolled my eyes. “Don't worry because I am not going to attempt to enter inside your secret room.”

I suddenly stopped breathing when his fingers gripped on the collar of my dress. My lips started to shiver as he pulled me and pinned me at the door of the room he was prohibiting me from entering.

His eyes show his anger won't be contained.

“What's t-the matter, E-El? I-I just—”

“If you ever think of my house rule as a funny thing, you will be sanctioned by my own hands, my wife. Think about the words you utter because they can definitely be the reason for your suffering.”

I'm thrilled, scared, and wanting to wake up from this shit.

If time can only be reset, I will choose to live as the Valerie Wills who had freedom in her hands. I will turn back time when I could feel the heat of the hope I have to live life according to what I want. I will savor the moment when I am still free before this bad incident comes into my life.

I thought of him as hot and evil in disguise, but I discovered within a few moments we were together that he was not like that. He has a temper that is hard to control, and he is not charming at all, but really an evil person who acts like an angel in newspapers and television.

From my collar, his hand went to my neck and gently caressed my soft skin. His lips were near mine, so it made me more stunned and unable to say a word.

“You are beautiful, but your attitude will have an impact on you. Try to observe from now on, my wife, and do not talk to me as if we knew each other really well.”

“L-Let me g-go…”

“Sure, I will, but swear today that you will not raise your voice at me and do not contradict my decisions.”

Another question popped into my head.

What am I here? Am I really a wife? Or just a pet who was bought somewhere doesn't matter to anyone.

“O-Okay, El.”

I could finally breathe freely when he retreated, pinning me on the door. I cough as if I were choked while my palms lend support from my knees.

“Let's go to the room,” he said as if he hadn't hurt me earlier.

As someone who was afraid to be pinned again and looked in the eyes of this man, I stood up straight and followed him, but I was a few steps behind him.

I suddenly can't make it near him because of the unpleasant feeling I have every time we are an inch closer to each other.

We were in the room he was referring to. It was quiet as if it were midnight. There is a window, but the transparent glass used is unable to be opened. You can see the outside of the room, but it is a wall only; there is no tree that can be a subject to watch. Even the blue sky is invisible from here. This room looks like a closed jail.

I looked at him when I heard the little sound of the shut door.

I started to feel restless because of his gaze on me. He stared blankly at me. His stare was a ray of the sun that no one would peek into for fear of being blinded.

Every time we were left in a place where we were alone together, I felt something bad was going to happen to me. His eyes were vengeful. It was as if I had done a great sin to him.

“Why is that your expression when you see your room, my wife? Don't you like it?”

My eyes were watering when I heard what he was saying.

“M-my room?”

“Of course, Valerie. One of my most dislikes is the one who wanted me to repeat what I said. Isn't one word enough for a wiseman? Why, my wife, aren't you wise?”

“El…”

I ran my gaze inside the room; it's big and wide, but it feels lonely. There's a bed where a thick cushion was on top of it, pillows that were all fluffy, and a thick fabric of sheet that should be covering my body from the cold breath of the air conditioner.

“I know that you want to thank me because of this, Valerie. But don't bother, because, as I've promised you, I will become the best husband in town,” he said with a creepy smile on his face.

“H-How about my things in my parents’ home? Shouldn't I get it? Those were precious to me. Everything there is.”

He walked towards me. My feet reacted and slowly made backward steps.

The back of my knees stopped when it felt blocked by the side of the bed. Two more steps, and he was so neat again.

What will he do to me? Choke me with his long fingers? Damn it.

I closed my eyes and waited for what possible evil things he could do to me.

His fingers ran on my scalp’s surface. It tickles me, but still, the fear I have of him has never perished.

“Don't you ever forget who you are married to, my wife. It's the richest guy. I am Eldifonso Suarez. I can buy you clothes, jewelry, and even a life that is more precious than your existence. I will make you the most valuable wife ever. So don't worry about your cheap and unworthy possessions in your poor little house, because everything you need is literally here.”

“How about my parents? Shouldn't we go to them or invite them here for a short conversation over a dinner?”

His laugh echoed inside the room.

“There’s no need to do that, my wife. They already had what they needed from you. As jewelry that was sold and disposed of, they earned the money of your value.”

I stood up because his words touched my ego. I couldn't hold back my emotions because he was talking badly about my parents.

“My parents love me more than anything, El. Stop mumbling malicious words about them!”

“My wife, chill. Isn't it that I told you that you shouldn't be shouting or raising a voice at me? The judge said that you should submit to me because I am your husband. The Bible said that either.”

He sighed and moved his head around.

“Your parents love money over you. I know that you are aware of that. That's why you are here, right? Right, Valerie?”

“S-Stop! That's not true!”

My tears are unstoppable. I hate him because his words were nailed in my heart. Those words were the thoughts I have had since my parents decided to marry this devil. And here is the confirmation! I am not the only one who could see that. And it makes me feel worthless.

“You stop crying over your silly life, my wife. Let your parents suck that money and live as a good wife to me. Don't worry, because I am not going to punish you for now. I understand how you feel right now. It's always a bad feeling when you realize that your parents sold you to a man that you don't like.”

He whistled while he turned his back to me. I sank my butt on the cushion and cried on my palms.

The door was shut, and I was left here alone, crying like a child, doing self-pity as a bird who can't fly.

“I hate you, Eldifonso Suarez! I hate you!”