Chapter 3

THEIR families had returned home, leaving them as the only ones inside. She huddled to get Lucas’s attention, who was typing on his phone. He was seated across from her on the couch.

To clear her throat, she breathed and hemmed. “Where is our room?” she inquired, causing Lucas to pause and stare at her.

He laughed. “Our room? You’ve got to be kidding me. Do you think I’ll share a room with you now that you’ve done this?” Ryleigh noticed how he clutched his fist as he rose. “Keep dreaming, Rye. There is no way I will share a room with you. Why not, if it was Hannah?” He moved closer to her. Because the male is much taller than she is, being roughly six feet three inches tall while she is five feet eight inches tall. She then raised her head to meet his angry gaze. “Listen, selfish bitch,” he said as he grabbed her arm and drew her closer. She almost cursed as she felt the warmth of his heavy breathing. “File for divorce, or I will make your life a living hell.”

Because she was Ryleigh, who wasn’t frightened of anyone, even Lucas, she let go of his grip and glared at him, attempting to match his gaze. “Make me, and I don’t care,” she grinned. “That’s okay. I’ll pick my room. So that you know, I will never file for divorce—” she didn’t finish her sentence because Lucas grabbed her hair and drew her closer.

It hurt her scalp, but she didn’t say anything and only winced. Lucas increased his grip on her hair, but she didn’t say anything about how terrible it was. She meets his stare squarely.

She must stay tougher… for all of them. Yes, including Lucas. If she disobeys any order from her father, she may face the old man’s wrath. And if it means of sacrificing her heart, to bear all the pain just because of this forced marriage, she will stay braver. Even if Lucas will hate her. If she needs to act happy, she will. Until she buys time and escapes. But for now, she will play the too good to be true wife.

“You have no idea what I’m capable of. I’m thinking about killing you.”

Despite the pain in her scalp from his grip, she only smirks and attempts to escape it. “I don’t give a damn.”

It’s now Lucas’s time to grin. “You’re a tough cookie, huh? Let’s see,” he murmured before eventually letting her go.

Ryleigh instantly turned around and went upstairs to get her belongings. She opts for the door closest to the stairwell. She leaned against the closed door and grasped her chest as a tear spilled from her eyes, which she quickly wiped away. She rubs her scalp; Lucas’s firm grip is still there. She was still aware of it. But she must be robust. She must take everything. She must face his anger. She must not appear frail in front of him. This time, she must go to any length to win the man’s affection. She’ll do everything she can to make him forget about Hannah. 

Can she?

She ignored the pain in her scalp and strolled around her vast room. She moved back the huge gray curtains blocking her view of the water. She strode onto the balcony after opening the sliding door. As she gets closer to the edge, the cool air touches her, seeking to soothe her. She grabbed a grip of the railing. She raised her face, closed her eyes, and then opened them. She looked out at the horizon, where the sun was sinking, and the dazzling orange rays illuminated the magnificent bluish-green water.

The pain in her scalp had gone away. She still couldn’t believe Lucas would do her harm. But she was well aware that it was her fault. And it’s possible Lucas did it out of rage. She will comprehend. She has no choice.

LUCAS entered his room, removed his clothing, and proceeded to the bathroom. Out of wrath, he hits the tiled wall. As the water from the shower falls into his body, blood drips from his knuckles.

Why? 

Why must fate be so harsh to him? Why should he have to suffer? 

That’s when he realized it was all Rye’s fault. He treated her as though she were his sister or best friend. He never imagined she would be the one to destroy him. He hasn’t informed Hannah about the wedding yet and is unsure how. He screams and punches the wall again.

When finished, he suited up and placed the gold key inside his bag before leaving. He was the one who chose the house and location. Because Evans wanted to make his life a misery, he will repay the favor. He doesn’t give a damn, even if it’s Ryleigh, whom he once considered a friend.

Keith, a friend of his, owned the Villa. As a result, he received the house for less money, but it was purchased by his uncle Noah—it serves as the Evans’ gift to them as newlyweds.

“Newlywed my foot,” he said quietly.

He halted in front of the entrance on the second floor’s far left side. The low lights on the wall have just illuminated the passageway. He inserted the gold key into the keyhole and twisted the knob. His eyes glowed as he saw all he had planned for the wedding a day before. Let’s see how tough you are, Rye, he reasoned. “I’ll make you regret having your surname changed to Carter.”

RYLEIGH awoke early on Saturday morning to prepare breakfast for Lucas. She has no idea what time Lucas will go down to eat because they haven’t lived together in a long time. Since their parents were great friends, they spent their youth in a vacation cottage for months. And at that time, Lucas was getting up early, usually around five or six a.m. But she was just fifteen at the time, and Lucas was eighteen.

Many things have changed since they parted ways, especially now that he has found his true love. Her last thought stabbed her in the chest. She let out a sigh. The most important thing is you’re protecting them, she told herself. She knew her father. The old man may be kind in front of everyone, truth is, he’s not.

Ryleigh was not used to doing housework because they used to employ maids. However, when she arrived at college, she learned how to cook from her buddy Abby. And since she has grown in learning things independently, it will not be difficult for her to handle some responsibilities. She admits, that sometimes, she’s a brat. But she never asked their maids to bring her everything; instead, she gets it all herself. However, she can watch tutorials on the internet when it comes to cleaning and laundry. 

Ryleigh only made a modest meal of ham and eggs and toasted some bread. She was wiping the stove’s surround when she heard footsteps approaching her. She was taken aback by the Greek-God-like figure approaching the table. 

Lucas is scorching. He has a great face shape, a sharp nose, pouty lips, and a perfect jaw with stubbles. His body was well-defined. Well, it’s in their blood.

If she had to compare him to a Hollywood actor, he’d be the younger version of Jensen Ross Ackles.

“G-Good morning,” she said, but all she got was a blank stare from him. “Coffee?”

Lucas remained silent and went to get a cup on his own. She groaned and finished what she was doing before making a plate for him.

Lucas cast a glance at her while stirring his coffee. “As my best friend, you have one more chance to file divorce papers and set me free,” he added as he drew a chair and sat.

When Ryleigh heard his sweet, deep voice, she felt guilt. Rather than responding, she asked, “Do you want some ham and egg?”

“No. I’ll ask you again,” he continued, looking her in the eyes. 

“I… I can’t.”

Ryleigh saw loneliness in Lucas’s gaze, but when he let out a chuckle, she saw wrath in his green eyes. 

“I’m sorry, then,” he says, confusing her. 

Why should he apologize if it was her fault in the first place?

Lucas stood up and walked out of the kitchen. If he can’t persuade her to alter her mind, no matter how much he begs and begs for a second opportunity. What he was thinking was all he could do to get her to let him go. He knew Ryleigh was sometimes stubborn and obstinate, but he also knew she was caring. But the Ryleigh he’s seeing now isn’t the same Ryleigh he used to know. She now resembles a deranged, pitiful, uncaring, and selfish woman. If she genuinely wants to help him with his business, she may have done so as his best friend. Not in the way she began by destroying his life.

Lucas sat on the couch and opened the television. He placed his coffee cup on the middle table. When his phone vibrated, he took it from his pocket. When he realized who had sent the message, he sighed.

Hannah.

Hannah will be flying home next week, and the girl was expecting him to meet her at the airport. His fiancé is a bikini model who is making a name for herself. He’s lucky to have her; Hannah never made him feel lonely. She is constantly available to him. That’s why, after years of dating, he was anxious to marry her, but his father died before their wedding date, and the firm he left behind is in a quandary. As a result, their wedding was postponed. He had planned to marry her the following month, but Ryleigh destroyed everything.

From Hannah: 

Hello, sweetie. I had just finished my breakfast. You?

As he typed into his phone, he smiled.

Ryleigh noticed Lucas’s smirk as he typed into his phone. She took her coffee and approached him. She doesn’t care if the man becomes irritated by her again. Lucas seemed to be unaware of her existence. And the fact is, she’s never seen him smile like that before, and Abby was correct: he was madly in love with Hannah. For now, she will gladly play the lousy bitch. Hannah deserved it. Well, she doesn’t care if the woman tries to cheat on Lucas, because she accepted that Lucas is not meant for her. However, with this unexpected opportunity, maybe she can teach the bitch a lesson.

The smile encoded into his face remained, and she kinda disliked it. She walked behind her back and purposefully poured small drops of hot coffee directly into his phone, shocking him and yelling the word ‘fuck'.

“S-Sorry—” 

Lucas grabbed her hair and drew her closer to him before she could finish her snarky apologies.

Ryleigh’s knees brushed up against the back of the couch. But she didn’t let pain get to her.

“What in the world did you do?” Lucas screamed angrily.

“I… I apologize—” She came to a halt when he drew closer and tightened his grip on her hair. She clutches his arms to ease the anguish, but she says nothing and stares into his eyes.

“You deliberately spilled a damn coffee into me, bitch!” he yelled in disgust. And Ryleigh sensed it.

Lucas’s mother’s voice rang inside his thoughts when he raised his left hand and was prepared to slap her. ‘Never, ever injure Ryleigh, son. Never be bossy around her. Ryleigh is different. Don’t even think about it with her, son. Please.’ Her mother’s words were when she saw him packing such items. He then lowered his hand. 

Lucas locked his gaze on her. “For the last time, file for divorce and set me free,” he whispered, still clutching her hair, trying to find some optimism and keep from hurting her.

When Ryleigh shook her head, a tear spilled from her eye. “This is the only way... to save you.”

“Then I’ll force you to reconsider.” Lucas dragged her, unconcerned about his grip on her hair. They proceeded upstairs, and Ryleigh couldn’t keep up with him.

“Stop it, Luke….”

But the man remained silent and dragged her to the second level of the house.

Ryleigh then forced herself to a halt by putting her effort into her feet and holding his arm, which was twisted into her hair. “S-Stop. Luke!” she began to shout.

Lucas then came to a halt and stared at her. When she saw his eyes, her knees buckled. 

“Luke, you’re not like this—”

“That’s when you didn’t get my freedom!” he exclaimed, pointing to her. He relaxed his grasp and wiped his brow with his palm.

“Release me, Rye. And I swear I won’t hurt you.”

When Bela shook her head, she knew she was screwed up.

Lucas dragged her again, which was more terrible since she hauled her by her hair like a cart.

“No! Luke, no!” She yelled in agony as she clutched his arm. Her bottoms are almost aware of the heated friction on the floor. She attempted to stand to alleviate the pain, but the man was too strong.

Lucas dragged her into the shadowy corridor on the left side of the home, where he came to a halt in front of the black door. He reached into his pocket and inserted the key. Ryleigh’s tears were growing louder and louder, but he didn’t care. When he first opened it. He dragged her inside again and only let her go when he closed the door. He noticed Ryleigh’s wide eyes scrutinizing the area. He stuffed his hands into his side pockets. 

“You stated that our marriage is the only way to preserve the firm and me, correct?” 

Ryleigh remained silent. It was my father’s idea, she thought.

“This is my only means of making your life a living misery... until you beg me to leave.”

Ryleigh raised her head. “I will never l-leave you…” she sobbed, almost whimpering as she lay on the floor.

Lucas gave a frightening chuckle, causing Ryleigh to tremble and hold back her tears as she glanced up at him.

When Ryleigh saw a different Lucas, her eyes widened. He’s not the Lucas she remembers—the Lucas who will never harm anyone. He’s different. He appears to be possessed by one who is evil. He moved closer to her and knelt. He grabbed her by the hair, but she didn’t say anything. Even if the agony was nearly unbearable, he moved closer to her left ear. 

“Then welcome to my playroom, Rye,” he said softly before letting her go. He straightened up. “Didn’t we used to be playmates when we were younger, Rye?”

Tears well up in her eyes, but she manages to respond, “Y-Yes.”

“Then let’s be playmates once more, Rye.”

Ryleigh realized that she was already confronting his wrath—the consequences of her so-called obedience. Her mother was correct; once destroyed, the person you used to know will never be the same. She had no idea what she was witnessing, but she knew it was all Lucas’s doing, and she couldn’t think such a place existed.

“Rye, I implore you, one last time, for the years we’ve spent together. Please set me free.”

Ryleigh meets his stare, and whatever she says next will serve as her life’s verdict alongside Lucas. “No.”