Chapter 6- When Silence Learns to Speak

In the morning, at the rising of the sun, the brightest of the luxurious company was seen.

Maria woke up like on a regular day, where no emotions could be felt at home, she looked into the mirror just to behold the woman looking at her, the look so heavy on her, not the gold but the chains.

She sat up slowly, covering herself with the duvet.

She was married.

Not for love.

Not for comfort.

But to survive.

Her eyes shifted to the end of the room. Empty. As expected,

He did not stay in the same room with her that night

She did not really havee her day has she wanted figured o as she wantedut as she wanted, no thoughts but him

Maria felt disappointed by her condition, but could not change it

She said to her reflection, “This is not forever.”

But she herself didn’t sound convinced.

When she got downstairs, she noticed everyone was busy with their duties, the cleaner and server an all others.

All of themwere very busy, all they could do was greet her and continue with what they were doing.

“Good morning, madam.”

The word madam hit her much more than she expected.

She did not feel comfortable with the name since she knew will not last

Breakfast was so beautiful with assorted fruits, foods and much more in their varieties she could not name, but she was not interested in all of it.

She waited before she turned

She felt him.

Tall. Calm. Controlled.

“Good morning, Maria.”

His voice was steady, deep, polite. Too polite for a husband.

While he was planning to have his seat when he reached the diningtable their eyes met.

Interesting, looking at her for the first time after their wedding.

Not the billionaire.

Not the man who saved her from debt.

Just the man.

Something was different about him this morning. Less cold, maybe. Or more tired.  There was Dark circles beneath his eyes, which had seen too much and trusted too little.

“Good morning,” she replied.

They stood there for some time, feeling awkward and distant, like strangers.

He pointed towards the table. “You should eat.”

She sat.

So did he.

They were now eating but not talking to each other.

She looked up.

“You will not lack anything. Your debts are now settled. Your family is safe. No one will trouble you again.”

She squeezed the napkin and said. “And you?”

His jaw shifted slightly. “I don’t need affection.”

That hit more than she expected.

“This is a contract,” he said. “Not a prison. You're free to do whatever you want, go to places of your choice. Just… avoid scandal.”

She laughed bitterly. “Trust me. Scandal follows me without being invited.”

For a second—just one second—something showed in his eyes.

Recognition.

Pain.

But it disappeared quickly.

“If you ever want anything, just reach out to my assistant, and it will be sorted immediately. After saying that,  he left for work as usual.

Days passed.

Maria started getting used to the cold environment, the luxury of wealth, skin care day  and other things that come with wealth and influence.

He was hardly home.

When he was, they exchanged polite words. Distant stares. Nothing more.

But one day, everything changed at noon.

Maria was just studying in the reading room when she heard Walton scream

Angry. Sharp. Male.

She froze.

“I told you to handle it quietly,” her husband hurled.

“I did,” another voice replied nervously. “But the media—”

“Then shut them down.”

There was a loud crash. Glass, maybe.

Maria’s heart was pounding. She shouldn’t be listening, but something kept her at the spot.

“They’re opening the case again,” the man continued. “The one from three years ago.”

Silence.

Then, quietly, dangerously calm:

“They have nothing.”

“They say they have.”

Maria stepped back, her breath shaking.

A case?

Reopening?

Her foot pushed a chair. It crashed against the floor.

The voices paused.

The door opened.

He was very furious at something, which made his countenance scary.

“wait what. Why are you here? You should not be around here.”

She was shaking. “Enough to know you’re angry.”

He looked at her first and said nothing, then he later spoke up

“I don’t like the fact that you're here,” he said.

“You stay here,” she replied. “So do I.”

That surprised him.

He studied her like she was a case he had not planned to solve.

“Go and sleep, Maria.”

She asked. “Is there any problem?”

He laughed. Dry. Hollow. “I’ve been in problems my entire life.”

And for the first time, she saw it.

Not the billionaire.

Not the powerful man.

But someone is hunted by unseen forces.

That night, Maria couldn’t sleep.

She thinks of his eyes.

Of the tension in his voice.

Of the way anger seemed to cover something far more fragile.

The morning was not a funny one; it came with striking news

Billionaire CEO accused of  a closed murder

Her phone rang nonstop. Messages. Missed calls. Whispers that travel through the air like poison.

At breakfast, the house felt different.

Tense.

Staff avoided eye contact.

He was so calm when he came to the table for breakfast

“Did you?” she said.

The room went still.

He looked at her. Really looked.

“No,” he said.

She believed him instantly.

“Okay, don’t worry about I will not allow then touch you”, she said before she as interrupted by him.

His face was speaking. “No need .”

“Maybe not,” she replied. “But you were by my side when I had nothing.”

Something broke in his eyes.

Just a crack.

But enough.

He kept on with her without walking away as usual

He sat.

And the room was not silent , which was very rare, or will I say the beginning of their journey to fight a dangerous battle ahead of them.

Something real.

Nobody in the house could sleep that night.

When Maria was in her room pondering on what the news says, reading different articles from different publishing stations, she was so confused about what to believe.

Murderous billionaire under serious investigation to uncover the truth

She just switched off her phone and put it close to her chest. This was too much for the day.

Walton was at the dining table,, taking a coffee, not bothered about what was going on. He behaved like on trained to remain calm even in hell or a dangerous situation, he was so controlled and unshaken.

Maria was still talking to herself when she entered the hallway

Will she was thinking he passed to enter the study work when the lamp reflected on him and she could see he was so exhausted, weak, and very stressed out, but these are what he hides on a daily basis.

“So you have not yet gotten to bed,” she said.

He stopped.

He then turned to look at her.

“Even you, too, you should be inbedd by now.. I have some work to do,” he replied.Its was not sharp like always. It was calm and composed

They both stood there filled with emotions in their heart but could not let it out because they were tied to a document.

“Are there camera people outside? Maria said,

Yeahh. I have it under control.”Will the arrest you?”

A pause.

“Not tonight.”

A yes would have been better than that answer because it got her very scared, and she felt her heart melting.

He wanted to pass her, but when she was unconscious placed her hands on his chest to calm him down. When she realised…

He then looked at her hand where she placed it.

She pulled it back immediately. “Sorry.”

He just giggled and said, “It's fine”

Now, silence was everywhere among them; they just kept looking at themselves when she spoke.

You told me the case is not true, right? Maria said, “When will they start investigating the??n”

He begmore seriouslyous than ever now.

“Because humans will always envy humans, they will open it soon.”

He always had a way of saying things thamadees her heart melt.

Come and stay with me, you don’t look like someone that should be sleeping alone this night,, Mar said. He did not act like before, all serious and composed; he yielded to her request.

And followed her to her room for the first time since they got married.

“Just for a few minutes.” He said

They both sat a distance apart, both emotional and physically, in a quiet room, staring at each other.

Maria spoke first. “Who was it?”

He didn’t ask what she meant.

“A business partner,” he said. “A friend. Someone I trusted.”

Her breath caught. “They died?”

“Yes.”

“And they said you—”

“Yes.”

The word was heavy. Final.

But I did not do it. he said 

“I know,” Maria replied.

He looked at her for a minute and said you don’t even know me too well

She said, “I don’t know you too well, ll but I know what it means to be accused”

He then looked at her boldly. “How?”

Ssighsigh. “My father was accused of something he knew nothing about, he got arrested,  ted he was there for so long, long enough for my mum to have a miscarriage, he was later rele,ased but stayedstead.”

Shocked,ingly for the firstst time, he laydown on her bed to take a deep breath

. soSoy,” he said.

“Yeah its fine now,” she said, crying. “It takes away the people you love, trusted and have faith in.”

He bbreathesout slowly, like letting go of so much in his heart.

“They really tore me apart, I had to start all over again to build from scratch, no support, no love, just pain, blood and sweat”, He said

Maria got up, walked towards the window, and looked at all the cameras hoveringover the compound.

“they wont stand a chance this time,” Maria said

“You’re optimist,c,c.” Walton said

“No,” she said. “I will not go down without a fight.”

That gave a small smile. Just a few seconds

“You don’t have to involve yourself, if things don’t go asplanned , will make proper aarrangementsfor you to leave somewhere safe”. alton said

She said angrily. “Leave?”

“I want to be sure you're safe.”

“I will also make you safe”

He didn’t answer.

She lewhereree she was ststandingnd came very close to him, she looked into and saw the weight he was carrying.

“yYouhelped me when I was nothing, lost and in so much pain,, why should I leave you now, you're in your own downtime” Maria said

He looked at her for the first time not hasthe contracted wife, but someone ready to die for him to keep him safe.

“Why?” he asked.

She hesitated. “beBelieveife is unfair to the poor, but when you see someone who truly loves you, love with all your heart.”

Something very emotional came on his face

He sighed and said. “Thank you.”

This was a very characteristic of him to say those words to her, she loved them but kept a straight face.

The couple of days afterwards were not easy or bearable in any way

Everyday lawyers came in and out, close friends, business partners started to leave his life, his enemies started coming aroun,d putting on a disgusting smile on the   faces to lure him.

Maria observed everything but did not leave.

There weretimess she got him food, but he did not eat due to his meetings, even up to late nights.

One cold night during one of his meeting,s he broke down.

“I’m scared”, he said, every time I’m working, but it'ss like I’m not making any headw.ay

She stood up from where she sat and covered his handCancan I help you now?” she said.

He did not throw her hand as always

But this time he held on tto hem so tightly and did not want to let go.

At this moment no noise, just two humble souls that wanted clarity. He kept looking at her.

Not love.

Not yet.

But trust.

And trust, Maria would learn, was far more dangerous.