Chapter 6

Starting my new life with the least wanted man I had no attachments towards, I started the first day of my marriage when sunlight fell on my face.

Groaning, I stretched my hands. No doubt his mattress was so comfy that I wanted to sleep all day long there but for the sake of the first day, I sat up.

“Morning.” 

I yawned when I saw him setting the collar of his white shirt and wearing his gray waistcoat, getting ready to look aesthetic as always.

“Finally you are awake.” 

His nonchalant tone came, applying his cologne before turning to me with a frown and arms folded at his chest, making his strong muscles visible through the white shirt.

He was no doubt handsome.

“When did you wake up?” I asked, checking the time. It was eleven in the morning and I couldn’t help it, it was his bed’s fault. 

“I woke up early. I am a punctual man. I am used to my timings and schedule.” His stern response came.

“Boring.” I muttered. 

Getting out of the bed, running my fingers through my hair. Trying to ignore his keen eyes following my movements.

“Freshen up and have your breakfast.” He sighed, moving back to leave the room.

“Mine? Aren’t we going to eat together? Can’t you wait for a few hours?” 

Stopping my tracks, I turned to him with disappointment coming to my face. Despite the reasons and everything else, I had my imaginations for my marriage. 

But none of them were how I fantasized…

“No. I cannot wait. I told you, I follow my routines.” He sighed again, pissing me off.

I scoffed, taking out my best dress to at least look good, “Don’t tell me you are going to work now?”

“No. I have to show I am happily married. If I go back they will know something is wrong and I don’t want that.” He replied calmly.

Pausing my work, I turned with furrowed eyebrows, always failing to comprehend what he intended to prove by his charade.

“To whom do you prove this fake show of happiness?”

“It’s none of your concern.”

With a scoff, he left the room. Not thinking deeply about him, I decided to ignore him so it wouldn't ruin my mood too and went straight to our room after having breakfast.

Since I had nothing to do, I decided to call Sarah, only to hear her yelling and worry. Of course, none of us thought that I would have this kind of marriage.

“What the hell have you done, Saafia?! How could you marry this rich bastard and for what? To prove a point?”

“Yes, Sarah. My heart was never strong enough to hate on anybody, I am never heartless, that was not me and I would never become that.” I sighed, taking a seat, noticing the bed was made perfect and things were organized exactly how they were.

“And what if he made you that way?” 

“And what if he changed?” I smirked, intrigued to know where this marriage would lead and began to brush my hair.

I was curious too. 

“Don’t be ridiculous. He is a man of stone, he can never change. This whole marriage would be a sham only. It will destroy you two.” She enunciated.

Humming, I didn’t pay heed to her warning and continued to inspect his large room, befitting for a king, embellished beautifully.

“We will see who will be hurt.” 

I declared and the second I spoke it, he entered. 

We had a keen eye contact for the next few seconds, his eyes gradually narrowed, tilting his head to the side as he closed the door slowly.

“I will talk to you later, Sarah. Take care. Bye.” 

Doing the same gesture, I cut the call and threw my phone on the bed, folding my arms at my chest sternly.

“What?”

He walked slowly towards me, tensing me when he walked past me and picked my brush, placing it with his.

“When you use your brush, put it there, okay?” He spoke softly.

“Okay.” I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly.

Turning to me gradually, his eyes observed me from top to bottom and cleared his throat.

“So… talking to your sister?” He asked with his voice as awkward and uncomfortable it could go.

“Can’t you be more awkward with this question?” I mocked, sitting on the bed and pushing my hair behind.

“What else am I supposed to do? I am the one who is stuck here. I could be working hard but here I am, enjoying my so-called marriage.” He muttered, rolling his eyes as he also sat on the couch.

Honestly, we were awkward to the core, having no idea what to do or what to talk about. Didn’t expect this hesitation after his endless talks of making me hate.

“Your choice, Mister.” I smirked dryly.

“Besides, I am going through the same. I took the day off too.”

He paused, snapping his fingers to get my attention, “Wait, a minute. You are not going to work anymore.” He declared sternly.

“Why not? Why do I need ‘your’ permission to go to work?” My mouth gaped in disbelief as I hissed.

“Do you think my money is for show? Why do you need to work when I have ‘everything’ you need? I don’t want people to say that I am making my wife work.” 

There he goes again, thinking about his image, only caring about himself.

“You can’t do this to me. You never said you won’t let me work.” I argued, getting up from disappointment.

He got up as well, “I never said I will. Look, if you need to follow a hobby or passion of yours this year, go ahead but don’t work. What will people say?” He continued, putting his one hand in the air to shrug the matter off.

I scowled, glaring at him, “You only care about yourself, don’t you?”

“Exactly.” 

He smirked darkly in return, bringing his hand closer to touch me but I moved back.

Rolling my eyes, I stormed out of the room, knowing it was futile to argue with him.

“Fine then. Do whatever you want.”

As I walked out, his demand of me not working made me worried to think if he would control my life. We were no doubt strangers but- 

“Oh Lord, did I make the right choice by marrying him?” I asked myself but since he was following my trails, his amused voice came.

“Why don’t we find out?”

“Are you following me?” I gasped, putting my hand over my heart to find him behind me.

“Yes.” He nodded.

“Why?”

“Because this is the first day of our marriage and I know absolutely nothing about you.” He replied nonchalantly, refusing to leave my trails.

Turning to him, I spoke innocently, “I like the color pink.”

“What?” 

“You said you know nothing. There you go, you know something now.” I smiled faintly, not sure what he meant by knowing about me.

He had made enough assumptions about me.

“Why don’t I show you around my- I am sorry, ‘our’ home?” He offered politely. Since I had nothing to do, I agreed.

“Sure.” 

He showed me around and I couldn’t help but to look at everything in fascination. I had never been to a mansion this enormous and ravishing, it was a dream-like place.

And swayed by his immense wealth and beauty of this hollow home, I smiled and turned to him, holding my hands.

“Living here would make me feel like a princess.” I whispered with a hint of fondness.

My eyes gleamed at the thought of living in a place I wanted in my dream and got a chance to do so.

Chuckling at my enchantment, he walked closer, standing in front of me. His fingers took a strand of my hair, wiping the smile and making my heart skip a beat in anticipation.

He was smirking devilishly as I stood still when he caressed my hair with minimum gap, eyes affixed on my hair.

I stared at his handsome features closely, blushing faintly at his action as he started speaking in a tempting whisper.

“Let me correct you, a trapped princess in the possession of a cruel king waiting for a prince to save her and guess what, darling?” 

And the two seconds of blushed died the second he murdered my mood by his voice echoing in my ears.

“No prince is coming to save you from me.”

Shivering at his declaration, my smile vanished as I removed his hand quickly. I was displeased with how easily he ruined my mood.

“I never said I would wait for a prince. I married ‘you’, why would I look for someone? And save me from what? This was my choice.” I enunciated, folding my arms at my chest. 

“What makes you think I would trust you? When you can agree to marry me, a stranger, your total opposite, then why not someone else?” 

His taunt pricked a needle through my chest. My mouth gaped, blinking a few times to fathom how easily he mocked our bond.

“What…? How could you say this, Mr. Cannedy?”

Hissing, I turned to leave but he came before me, not letting me leave unless he completed his talk.

“I trust no one except myself. I have no expectations from you. What makes you think that a rich, successful man like me would be with ‘you’ willingly?” He made another heartless taunt, hurting me with his comment.

Burning two minutes of fascination in two statements.

“I was not dying to marry you either. I am here to prove my point.” I growled.

“See. Then why are you making big talks like this was my choice?” He smirked darkly, arching an eyebrow temptingly but it infuriated me.

Blinking at his absurd talks, I only breathed out from pure disappointment, moving him out of my way. 

“You’re an unbelievable stone.”

I turned to leave, escaping his vicinity but stopped to return a glare at his unaffected posture. He stood with his one hand in his pocket and a dead glance, showing none of it mattered to him

“And you know what?” 

Hissing, I pointed my finger at him in contempt before going away from him so it won’t ruin my mood.

“ ‘I’ don’t have any expectations from ‘you’, Mr. Cannedy.”