Chapter four

The days after the wedding passed in a blur I couldn't escape. I did everything I could to stay invisible in the house. Seraphine never liked me, and she and my sister mocked me every chance they got.

I walked to my wardrobe and brought out my outfit for the day, a plain white gown. Dorian had ordered that I wear clothes of the same level as a maid's, since I wanted to be his wife, which I never did.

As I walked to the dining table to get my breakfast, voices made me pause. Seraphine, Lara and Dorian were all sitting at the table, looking like a perfect family. I turned around quickly to avoid them, but a voice chimed in loudly.

"Ohhh, my sister is here," Lara said, glaring at me.

All eyes turned to me. Dorian's face was cold, and Seraphine's was disapproving.

I forced a smile as I stared at them. "I came to get something, but it seems it's in my room. I'll take my leave," I lied bluntly, turning to leave quickly.

"You're our family's wife. Come and serve your in-law," Seraphine said.

I paused and turned around. Was she testing me? She clearly wanted me uncomfortable.

I nodded and walked to the kitchen to cook some food. The maids looked around, confused.

"Ma'am… we have this covered. You can eat," a maid stammered, bowing several times.

A smile formed on my lips. At least someone still respected me. "It's alright, I can handle it," I said as I walked towards the kitchen cupboard.

I grabbed the ingredients for a simple dish. After twenty minutes I was done, and I dished it onto a plate. I carried it to the dining table, where they were chatting happily, and carefully placed the food in front of Seraphine. I stepped back.

She looked at the food, her face curling with disgust. She lazily picked up a spoon, tasted the dish, and spat it out.

"What is this nonsense?" she snarled, pushing the plate away. This was what I had expected, and it was why I hadn't bothered to put any effort into it.

"Dorian, what the hell did you marry?" She glared at me. "You're just a spoiled princess."

I snorted loudly. A spoiled princess? She must be joking. I was the one who had done all the work in our house.

"Please forgive her," Lara said, looking at me with pity. "She never had to do this in her life," she added, comforting Seraphine.

Seraphine nodded, her eyes filled with approval for Lara. She stood up and turned to me. "Clean this," she said, and walked away, with Lara following behind her like a dog.

I was left alone with Dorian. I walked slowly to pick up the plate and take it to the kitchen, but Dorian's hand gripped my wrist tightly.

"How are you liking this marriage?" he asked, his voice mocking. He drew me closer, our faces merely inches apart. My breath hitched, and I placed my hands on his chest to keep myself from falling.

"Dorian… let me go," I said, my cheeks burning.

He closed the last distance between us, his face hovering at my neck as he breathed in deeply. His breath against my skin made me hold mine.

"Isn't this what you wanted?" he continued. "To bear my name and call my name?" His mouth touched my neck, and a gasp escaped my lips as I melted against him.

"Dorian, please," I called out. My own voice confused me. I didn't know if I was begging him for more or begging him to leave me alone.

He quickly pulled away, his expression cold, as if he hadn't just done what he did.

"You have wife duties to do too," he said coldly as he knotted his tie.

"Lara will be staying here," he said, looking at me. I glared at him. Was he asking for my decision? It wasn't as if my choice mattered.

"And she will be staying in the master wing," he continued. "You are my wife on paper, not in heart. Don't mistake anything for love."

His cold words washed away my last hope. I had thought all the teasing was because he cared, but it seemed he did not.

"So am I a guest in this house, then?" I asked, my voice cracking as I stared at him.

"Yes," he muttered as he walked to the door. "And like I said, you have wife duties, starting tonight. If you don't come to my room, the consequences will be yours to deal with."

He shut the door with a loud bang.

I slumped weakly into the chair beside me. Was this my life after my parents, now having to deal with this? No. I wiped the stain from my hand. I couldn't stay like this. I had to use my skill. What no one knew was that I was very skilled in business, and I planned to use that to my advantage.