4. Me and You

Allow me to delve into your wounds as deeply as I can, so I can learn how to win your heart and ensure that all that's left of your heart has surrendered to my affection.

***

"You shouldn't expect anything from this marriage!" Calvin said firmly, gripping Emily's arm tightly, causing her to wince. Ignoring Emily's pained expression, Calvin continued to fix his sharp gaze on her, piercing deep into her eyes.

"What should I expect from a cold and rough man like you?" Emily retorted, matching Calvin's piercing gaze without flinching despite the pain in her arm.

"You're the one who started all of this. From the beginning, I gave you a choice. Just so you know, you're not the kind of girl I'd go for, so don't expect your efforts to seduce me to work. Even if you were naked in front of me, it wouldn't make me willing to touch you!" Calvin sneered before forcefully pushing Emily, making her fall to the edge of the bed.

"Well, just so you know. I accepted this marriage reluctantly. Besides, you're not my ideal man either. So, from now on, consider us as having no relationship at all. We're both free. So, there's nothing more to discuss," Emily replied firmly, though inside, she felt immense pain realizing there was no hope in their marriage. She had thought their togetherness would eventually lead to love, but she had to accept the harsh reality, even on their first day of marriage.

As Calvin was about to leave, he suddenly turned back, fixing his eyes on Emily again. He approached her, bending down slightly. He lifted Emily's chin to intensify their eye contact, intimidating her into submission.

"You're a clever girl," he said briefly, releasing Emily's chin before walking away. Without a second thought, Calvin took off his comfortable glasses, placed them on the nightstand, and headed for the bathroom.

"Just wait, Calvin. It won't take me long to make you kneel and beg for my love, and when that time comes, I'll make sure you'll never find me, not even my shadow," Emily promised herself with determination as she watched Calvin's figure disappear from her sight.

Repeatedly mentioning God in her heart, Emily packed her clothes and personal belongings into her backpack. She had no intention of playing games with the sanctity of marriage, even though their union lacked love. Emily hoped their marriage would progress normally and naturally. She thought that their time together would eventually nurture mutual love. However, the reality was different, and she had to accept the pain, even on the first day of their marriage.

Calvin stood frozen in place, observing Emily's neatly arranged attire. She had chosen a simple outfit, much like when they first met: long jeans paired with a t-shirt that displayed her well-toned physique. To Calvin, Emily's body was too plump for his ideal woman. His gaze then shifted to the backpack on the bed, and once again, he fixed his intense gaze on Emily, who was sitting in front of the dressing table. From behind the mirror, Emily was seen applying soft pink lipstick to her lips, leaving her straight, shoulder-length hair to cascade beautifully.

Seeing Calvin's surprised expression, Emily offered a faint smile. "Shouldn't we go? Sooner is better. Well, I'm also tired of pretending in front of our families," Emily said as she turned her body to enjoy Calvin's cold expression. "Oh, by the way, you don't need to bother providing for me. Even though I know your salary as a heart specialist is substantial. I can support myself. And one more thing, I can assure you our marriage won't last long because I don't want to waste my time living with a rough man like you!" Emily provoked Calvin just as he was about to speak.

"Don't test my patience, Emily! Remember your limits!" Calvin shouted, moving quickly toward Emily to reach her arm, but she swiftly avoided him.

"Do you want this argument to be heard by our entire family?" Emily said sarcastically, successfully making Calvin's jaw tense with her piercing gaze. Emily's gaze then shifted to Calvin's clenched fists. "I won't take risks with my father's health. Doesn't Mama also have a history of hypertension? I think it's a fair deal," Emily continued, causing Calvin's eyes to darken. His right hand rose high, and the strong muscles of his arm were visible. But within a split second, his hand remained suspended in the air before eventually dropping back to his side.

"You don't know me well enough, Calvin. You sold me, and I bought it!" Emily's heart pounded with satisfaction as she saw she had managed to provoke Calvin's emotions.

"I'm hungry. I'll wait for you downstairs, my dearest husband," Emily taunted calmly before quickly leaving the room. She didn't want their argument to escalate into a big fight that would hurt everyone.

After Emily closed the door firmly, she took a moment to compose herself and regulate her breathing. She suppressed her racing heart and held back the tears that had pooled in her eyes for she knew not how long. It was painful to realize the impending failure of her marriage, especially after waiting for it for so long. This pain was even deeper than the one inflicted by Rama, her former boyfriend, who had abandoned her just days before their wedding. Even now, Emily had not been able to forget her first love, no matter how hard she tried, or understand why Rama had left her.

Calvin sat at the edge of the bed, his face buried in his hands, rubbing his face roughly. What he had done to Emily was excessive, but accepting her rebellion had wounded his ego. Regardless, he was supposed to be the one in control of the game he had created, not Emily, and her defRyance had caught him off guard. He had thought that dictating terms to Emily wouldn't be difficult, but after seeing her behavior that morning, Calvin realized that Emily was not an ordinary girl. She was different from the girls he had known, especially Clara, the perfect, gentle, and resolute girl who still held a special place in his heart.

"Clara," Calvin mumbled, a sudden rush of longing and pain flooding his heart. A woman he could never attain. If time could be rewound, Calvin would fix everything, win Clara's heart without leaving room for any other man to approach her, especially Gibran, his cousin's older brother.

The sound of a knock on the door interrupted Calvin's reverie. He quickly got up and glanced at himself in the mirror for a moment. With reluctance, he forced a smile and opened the door to see who was disturbing his thoughts.

"Dad!" Calvin murmured in surprise.

"Dad wants to talk to you seriously for a moment," Steve replied, and without being invited, the middle-aged man entered the room. His eyes scanned every corner of the room. Then there was a long sigh as Steve sat on the sofa. The bridal chamber of his son was neat and clean, unlike that of most newlyweds. Steve noticed a thin white fabric that he was sure was lingerie lying in the trash can. Calvin joined him, feeling uncertain.

"Actually, Dad is a bit hesitant about you two deciding to live in the apartment. Dad knows you need privacy, but this house is spacious enough for us to live together," Steve said honestly while looking at Calvin seriously. Calvin fell silent, and his face showed a deep sense of doubt.

"Dad won't force you. All the decisions are in your hands. But one thing Dad wants you to remember: never be even slightly harsh to a woman," Steve explained without averting his gaze from his son, who looked troubled. Steve was sure that the journey of their marriage would be a bit complicated since it wasn't based on love.

"A wife is a husband's rib; she will be gentle and obedient if we treat her as such. Conversely, she will bend and break if we are harsh. A wife is a reflection of a husband, so be like a husband who can always comfort and protect." Calvin remained silent. His lips felt dry, unable to speak. Even since last night, he had been cruel to his wife.

"Emily is a good girl. Dad and Mom have known her since she was a child. In fact, Mom loves her like her own daughter. As far as Dad knows, she was a bit spoiled by her two older brothers. Dad hopes you always remember Dad's words!" Steve got up from the sofa and patted Calvin's shoulder. "Let's have breakfast now. Everyone is waiting for us in the dining room!"

Calvin also rose from his seat and followed Steve out of the room, digesting every word that his father had conveyed.