Chapter 1

Eden sat in her room, dreading to step outside. He was still at home, and she couldn’t risk having a clash with him right now.

She got off the bed and went to the bathroom for a quick shower, and when she was done, she put on joggers and a T-shirt. Sitting beside the mirror, she sighed at how miserable her life had been for the past few years. Oh well, it had always been miserable and sad. She let out a sigh, leaving the table to sit on her bed.

A knock sounded on her door, and she knew it must be him. What does he want with her now? She wasn’t feeling too well for a quarrel this morning. The knock came yet again, though harsher than the first one, and she stood slowly, walking to the door and unbolting it.

"What took you so long?" Jace barked harshly.

“I am sorry; I was feeling a little tired,” she replied lowly.

“Tired? How can you possibly be tired? You barely do anything in this house, aside from eating and lazing about, just because you’re pregnant!” he said harshly, but she ignored him entirely. It wasn’t the first time he was saying words like this, so why bother?

“I am talking to you, woman! And for your own good, you’d better answer me!” He snapped at her.

“Please, I beg you, I don’t feel well enough for an early morning exchange of words,” she said simply, sitting on her bed tiredly.

“And who says I am here for an exchange of words? You shouldn’t be tired yet. We haven’t even begun yet.”

“Please, Jace, I beg you in God’s name, please let me be,” she pleaded.

“Let you be? I thought you wanted my attention, Eden. You don’t want me anymore? You are my wife, remember? You wanted to be my wife by all means necessary; you didn’t mind playing foul and ruining my whole life in the process, you bitch!” He said as he advanced towards her.

“You wanted this, Eden, badly. So, don’t you dare complain. Now get the hell out of that bed and make me breakfast!” He thundered.

“Please, Jace, I am sorry for everything. Just stop making my life a misery, please. I’ll do anything you want if it’ll get you to stop. Please!” She pleaded with him, forcing back the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Unfortunately, the only thing I want is for you to get the hell out of my house and my life! But you have refused to do that, so we both are going to be miserable. Now get up and make me breakfast!” His words were laced with contempt.

“Please, Jace, I don’t feel too well,” Eden begged.

“And how’s that any of my business? I am hungry, and I need food.”

“Let Tessa make you breakfast today.”

“Tessa is not my wife.”

“Please, just for today, I feel dizzy.”

“You always feel dizzy, and that’s the problem. You use your pregnancy as an excuse every damn time. I don’t want to get angry at you right now, so get up and make me breakfast!” He yelled at her.

Eden knew it was pointless to plead with him, so she got up from the bed.

“What would you like to have?” she asked.

“Anything simple and fast will do. My breakfast should be ready in ten minutes at most. And it better be good.” He said before striding off, slamming the door behind him, and making her flinch in fear.

***

She served him his breakfast of French toast and hot chocolate, which Tessa, her maid, made. In truth, she really just supervised because of her ill health, even though she could barely stop herself from collapsing the entire time, making Tessa hate her boss all the more.

For as long as she knew Jace, the core memories she had were of him maltreating Eden, whom she liked very much. Eden was a great contrast to his snobby and spoiled girlfriend, Sky.

“Thank you, Tessa. Could you serve me breakfast upstairs? I feel really tired.” Eden said after she had served Jace.

“Of course, ma’am. Can I help you up? You look like you could really use it.” Tessa asked with concern.

“Don’t worry, Tessa, I’ll be alright. Just get me breakfast, and make sure you have something as well.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Tessa replied and turned towards the kitchen.

Eden was already at the foot of the stairs and about to begin her ascent up the flight of stairs when Jace stopped her.

“And where the hell do you think you are going to?” he asked.

“To my room,” she replied without turning to look at him.

“To do what exactly?” he asked yet again.

“Jace, please, not now. I already served you breakfast like you wanted.” Eden pleaded, knowing he was trying to frustrate her.

“Did I do anything wrong by asking my wife a question?” Jace asked with mock innocence.

“No, but I need some rest. My entire body aches, and I feel like I’m going to pass out.” She finally turned to look at him. Her voice was hoarse from exhaustion.

“Did your mother never teach you to hang around after serving your husband? Just in case he needs something, or your food is trash, and he needs you to make something else? Jace mocked, but Eden only stared at him quietly.

“Oh my, they’re dead. How could I forget my in-laws are dead? My bad.” He continued when he saw that his words were getting to Eden.

A tear slid down her face. How did she fall in love with this man and even make the mistake of getting married to him? How did she not see that he was a beast?

“Please, Jace, leave my parents out of this,” she begged.

“Why should I? They brought you into this world and left you without anything, not even a good upbringing. And that’s why you turned into a leech and a bloody gold digger. How shameful.” Jace said with a look of triumph in his eyes.

Jace had finally gotten under her skin, and Eden couldn’t ignore him any longer. She swallowed her fear and bit back.

“I know I did wrong by getting pregnant and forcing you into this marriage, and that’s why I take everything you dish out. What I won’t take is you dishonoring the memory of my parents.”

“I see you’ve become bold. Good for you. But I’m sure you know there’s punishment for disrespecting me. Tessa!”

“Sir?” Tessa answered from the kitchen, where she had been eavesdropping on them; she felt sorry for Eden because she knew what was about to befall her.

“Care to tell me what took you so long?” Jace growled.

“I apologize, sir; I was making breakfast for—” she began before Jace cut her off.

“The next time you make me wait on behalf of this woman, I’ll teach you a lesson, do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Now, you’ll take the day off; Eden will be in charge for today.” Jace ordered, staring directly at Eden while he spoke. The moment the words were out of his mouth, Eden and Tessa both turned to look at him in shock.

“But sir, Mrs. Eden isn’t well, and it doesn’t feel right taking the day off,” Tessa replied as calmly as she could.

“I do not care about your bloody feelings; get your things and leave my property right now! And don’t come back until I call you,” he ordered angrily.

“But sir—” Tessa began to protest.

“If you do not leave now, I’ll make you leave, and once you’re out, you won’t have a job anymore.” Jace threatened.

Tessa was torn between insisting on staying and helping Eden out and the fear of losing her job. Eden knew that Jace wasn’t bluffing, and she knew Tessa didn’t want to leave either, but she didn’t want the girl to lose her job on her account.

“It’s alright, Tessa, just take the day off, okay? I’ll be fine.” Eden said, forcing a smile.

Tessa hesitated a moment, taking one long look at Eden before leaving to gather her things.

Before Jace left for the golf club, he assigned various tasks to Eden, leaving strong instructions for her to finish all of them before he returned. He had a bunch of dirty laundry he had somehow manufactured that morning, and his closet was in disarray from top to bottom. Eden was supposed to finish all of this before he returned, and if she didn’t, then God help her.

***

An hour later, Jace sat on a bench, still fuming from the incident at home. For every time he had to look at Eden, or even speak to her, his anger multiplied, and soon, he would make her regret ever meeting him.

“My man!” It was Kyrell, Jace’s golf buddy, colleague, and longtime friend.

“Kyrell, where have you been?” Jace asked as soon as Kyrell sat beside him.

“Nowhere really, I’ve just been around,” Kyrell said with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Really?” Jace lifted a brow.

“What? Why are you staring at me like that?” Kyrell asked.

“Nothing, man; it’s just I heard you travelled, and I’m wondering why you didn’t inform me.”

“It was urgent. I’m sorry,” Kyrell said stiffly.

“What was so important you had to miss my bloody wedding?” Jace folded his arms across his chest.

“I’m really sorry, man, but it’s not like you wanted the wedding in the first place.” Kyrell defended.

“It’s just complicated.”

“You’re the one making things complicated, Jace. How’s the Mrs. doing?”

“Don’t know, don’t care.” Jace spat.

“Don’t be foolish, Jace. Eden is an amazing woman.” Kyrell scolded, but Jace didn’t reply. “Come on, man, but you are married to her. She’s carrying your child!” He pushed.

“Nah, she’s just a gold digger, and I sure as hell didn’t ask for a child!”

“But she gave you one; why don’t you just make an effort to forgive her? She loves you; that much is obvious.”

“And I don’t love her. Sky is the one I love, and I’d be married to her if it wasn’t for that bitch.”

“That snob.” Kyrell hissed.

“Don’t you dare call her that!” Jace snapped.

“But it’s the truth. She might be rich and sophisticated, but Eden is a million times better than she is.”

“I’m not going to listen to you trash-talk my woman, so I’m just going to leave you,” Jace said and stalked off, leaving Kyrell to wonder what in the world was wrong with his friend.