An unexpected revelation

Natasha arrived at Aiden's sprawling estate, which would have originally taken her a ten-minute stroll from the entrance to the main house. Never before had she encountered such an exquisite mansion.

From the stunning flora and meticulously manicured gardens to the cascading fountains, it was a sight to behold. Could this really be her home for the next two years? She was unsure whether to feel elated or intimidated.

"The boss is waiting for you," the bodyguard informed her, opening the car door and guiding her into the house.

She stepped into the opulent sitting room and spotted Aiden, seated on one of the sofas with a glass of wine and a cigar in hand. Fear coursed through her as she attempted to greet him.

"You won't need those here," Aiden interjected, gesturing towards her luggage.

"But these are my clothes," Natasha reasoned.

"Remove them. You won't be needing them," Aiden repeated coldly.

"I've already arranged for your wardrobe. You won't be leaving the house anyway," Aiden added, rising from his seat and making his way upstairs to his room.

Stunned, Natasha exclaimed, "What do you mean I won't be going out? That was not part of the deal!" Her voice echoed in the sitting room as she yelled at him.

Aiden halted in his tracks, turning towards her.

"This will be the last time you dare question my orders. You will do as I say, or else!" Aiden bellowed, his voice reverberating through the room. Natasha's fear intensified; she had never expected Aiden to be so heartless. But then again, she hardly knew him.

She stood in silence as Aiden instructed a maid to show her to her room.

Charlotte entered the bedroom, sinking onto the bed with a sense of hopelessness. Anxiety and uncertainty consumed her.

"What happened? Was Aiden always this cold?" she pondered, running her fingers through her hair in frustration. She searched for answers but found none.

Opening the wardrobe, she glimpsed a selection of beautiful dresses, neatly arranged, she slammed the doors shut.

Charlotte's mind was plagued with fear at the thought of what Aiden might do if he found out about her infertility. She debated whether or not to tell him the truth, but she knew she couldn't bear the consequences. The money he had given her had been used to pay for her mother's surgery, and she had no way of repaying him.

In the evening, Natasha descended the stairs, ready for dinner. Aiden was already seated at the grand dining table, adorned with expensive tableware and set for ten. They sat across from each other in silence.

Natasha absentmindedly played with her cutlery, unable to eat due to the earlier events. After a few minutes, Aiden broke the silence.

"I trust your mother is recovering well," he said with a smirk.

Fear gripped Charlotte as she dropped her fork to look at him.

"How...how did you know about her surgery?" she asked, trembling.

Aiden's smirk widened as he wiped his lips with a napkin.

"I know everything," he replied, placing the napkin back on the table. "I knew something was amiss when you readily accepted my offer. I did my investigation and found out your background and also discovered that you gave my secretary a fake address. Do not try to outsmart me again, or your mother will suffer."

Anxiety crept up Natasha's spine, overwhelming her with emotions. With tears in her eyes, she got up and ran out of the dining room in frustration.

She had made a grave mistake, one she would regret for the rest of her life. She went straight to her room and cried her heart out, hoping to wake up from this nightmare.

The following day, Natasha woke up abruptly at the sound of a gentle tapping on her door. She immediately headed towards the door and was greeted by a maid waiting on the other side.

"Good morning Ma'am, Breakfast is ready", the maid informed, entering the room to draw the curtains.

"Did Mr. Aiden leave for work already?" Natasha inquired, turning around to await the maid's answer.

"Yes ma'am, he left quite early", the maid answered.

"I was instructed to have you prepared by 8 pm for an occasion with Mr. Aiden," the maid continued while Charlotte stood in front of her.

"Pardon me, what occasion?" Natasha's curiosity was piqued.

"The company has their annual gala this evening," the maid disclosed before leaving the room for Charlotte to get ready for breakfast.

At six o'clock, the designer arrived with her dress - a black gown with a gracefully placed slit, tailored to perfection. Her makeup was done and her long hair was styled into a sophisticated curly bun, enhanced with delicate jewelry.

An hour later, the driver arrived and she nervously got into the car as they made their way to the event. Sitting in the backseat, her mind raced back to the events of the previous day with Aiden.

She didn't know how to process the sudden realization that she was now known as Aiden Kensington's wife, it all happened so fast. Tension filled the air as they pulled up to the red carpet venue, throngs of people filling the scene.

As the car door swung open, she hesitated, her eyes darting nervously around the crowd while Aiden stood before her, donning a tailored suit, arm outstretched. Taking a deep breath, she clasped her hand in his and they proceeded forward. Confusion erupted among the press as the camera bulbs flashed at the unexpected sight. Natasha's anxiety constricted her stomach, making it difficult to breathe.

"You better flash a smile, and don't make a fool of yourself", Aiden's hushed voice whispered in her ear as they entered the hall. Charlotte sat in the front row next to Aiden as the ceremony commenced, and her anxiety resurfaced when he took the stage and introduced her as his wife.

As he continued his speech, all eyes were on Natasha and she could hear murmurs from the crowd as she sat down. After a few moments, she excused herself to the restroom to calm her nerves. In a fit of self-disgust, she aggressively washed her sweaty hands.

When she emerged from the restroom, she was taken aback to find Mervick standing in front of her.

"What a show, Tasha. Did you do this to spite me?" Mervick exclaimed, clapping his hands in amusement.

"Wife? You are nothing but a cheap slut! You're just trying to suck money out of him, aren't you? So he was the one that paid for your mother's surgical bills" Mervick scoffed.

"Don't you dare!" Natasha interrupted, pointing her index finger in his face.

"What the hell are you doing here? Why are you stalking me? What do you want from me?" Natasha cried out in frustration.

"Cut the act, Tasha. You're not fooling anyone. You dumped me for cheating, and now I find out you've fucking my uncle? And you even married him? You bitch!" Mervick spat in anger.

Natasha felt a shockwave surge through her as she processed his words.

"What - uncle?" She stammered, unable to believe it.

"Don't play dumb, bitch! Enough with the lies," Mervick snapped in rage.

Natasha threatened to leave, needing time to digest this unexpected revelation. But Mervick grabbed her hand, stopping her.

"Let go, you asshole! Or I'll give you a lesson you'll never forget!" Natasha struggled to free her hand from his grip.

Mervick smirked, gazing into her eyes with a piercing stare.

"Does Aiden know you can't bear children?" He spat out with venom.