Chapter 10

Freya's POV 

I sat across from Brandon, trying to explain the situation to him. "You see, Brandon, my father's will stipulates that I can only receive my inheritance if I'm married. It's a bit old-fashioned, I know, but that's just the way it is."

Brandon's expression was neutral, but I could sense a hint of curiosity behind his eyes. "And you thought marrying me would be the solution?" he asked, his voice even.

I nodded, trying to sound as practical as possible. "Well, it's not like I brought the idea of a marriage, but it was on my list, besides it's not like we're in love or anything. We barely know each other. So, I figured it would be a win-win situation. You'd get the benefits of being married to me, and I'd get my inheritance and overall we will get to be parents to our child."

Brandon's expression didn't change, but I noticed a flicker of hurt in his eyes. It was quick, and he covered it up well, but I saw it nonetheless.

Was he actually hurt? he hasn't even known me that long in general so what was the thing I saw in his eyes just a while ago?

He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together. "I see. You made your point, a good one at that, but I was at least honest with you from the beginning, why couldn't you tell me what you wanted?"

I felt a pang of guilt at his detached tone, but I pushed on, trying to keep the conversation focused on the practicalities. "Well, like I said, you immediately brought the idea of a marriage, and I haven't found the right time yet but I guess it's now."

Brandon's gaze never wavered, but I sensed a hint of disappointment behind his eyes. I wondered if I had misjudged him, if he was more invested in this arrangement than I thought. But his next words dispelled that notion.

"Alright, Freya. It's not like anything can actually change now that we are already married, but I would have preferred if you had told me from the very beginning."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. It was done. We had an agreement. But as I looked into Brandon's eyes, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just may have actually hurt his feelings even when his face showed no emotion in the slightest.

I stood in the doorway of the bedroom, watching as Brandon expertly knotted his tie. He looked up and caught my eye, flashing a brief smile before returning to his task.

"I'm going back to work tomorrow," I announced, trying to sound casual.

Brandon's hands stilled, and he looked up at me with a frown. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I'm going back to my catering job. I need to keep busy, and I love cooking and I can't be here forever."

Brandon's expression turned firm. "No, you're not going back to work, at least not yet."

I felt a surge of surprise. "What do you mean? Of course, I am."

Brandon walked over to his dresser and pulled out a small, sleek wallet. He extracted a black credit card and held it out to me. "You don't need to work, Freya. This is for you. Use it for whatever you need."

I stared at the card, feeling a mix of emotions. Part of me was relieved at the thought of not having to work, but another part of me was affronted by Brandon's high-handedness.

"I don't want your money," I said, trying to sound firm.

Brandon's eyes narrowed. "It's not just about the money, Freya. It's about your safety and well-being. As my wife, you're entitled to a certain standard of living. And I expect you to maintain that standard."

I felt a shiver run down my spine at his words. There was something possessive and controlling about his tone that made me uncomfortable.

But I pushed aside my reservations and took the card, tucking it into my pocket. "Fine," I said, trying to sound gracious. "Thank you."

Brandon's expression softened, and he smiled. "You're welcome, Freya. Now, I have to get back to work tonight, I'll be back tomorrow. I have a busy schedule tonight."