CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Sharon was cooped up in her room, trying to avoid Luca. The house was big, but she just didn't want a confrontation.

Lunch and dinner were delivered to her via the servants, and she had no problem with it.

There was a knock on the door

Sharon didn't bother to ask who it was, she was expecting one person.The only person that treated her like she was well, a person.

“Arma—”

Luca's icy cold gaze was what she met when she opened the door

Common courtesy was what stopped her from slamming the door right back

“What do you want?”

He handed to her a document. She didn't need to open a fortune cookie to know what it was

“I don't want your stupid terms and conditions, I don't want to read it, I don't want to see it—”

“This is the simplified layout of the house.

It will aid you in your navigation, since I plan to divide the house

But

Since you ratted yourself out—”

His hands went to her neck, in the same deathly way they did when they met at their engagement dinner

She contorted her face, winced, twisted

But she knew she wasn't getting out until he decided to release her

“You think my rules are a joke, huh bitch?”

“Do you know what happens when you don't follow those rules?

Sharon gasped for breath. He was more violent this time.

“You wouldn't know because it was written at the bottom of the paper.”

She could feel his hot breath on her ear

“If you fail to comply with them, I will reveal your identity as Riann

Do you know what happens then?

This union which your father cherished so dear will be destroyed. And the media won't blame me

Picture it

Daughter of Hillary Gray and Ex wife of Luca Pavilochenki discovered to have a double personality

Luca Pavilochenki says he only recently discovered this, is heartbroken and has no choice to seek for—”

“Stop!”

She sobbed

“I'll abide by your stupid terms”

He released his grip on her neck, then she fell on her knees.

She held her neck and tried to erase the memory of what just happened

Sharon understood the fact that he hated her, but was it that deep? Was it so deep that he couldn't consider her a person?

“Get up”

Like a zombie, Sharon obeyed. There was no point trying to defy him now

He had her in the palm of his hand

*******************

Luca's mansion was four storeys high. Sharon hadn't explored past the second floor, where her room was.

Luca's room was located on the third floor

I've separated the house vertically into two sections

The parts of the house where you are allowed to roam freely have blue lights.

The parts you are restricted from have red lights

He demonstrated by flicking a switch, all the lights on her side of the house came on.

The blue glow reflected where she would be permitted to stray.

He flicked it off and flicked another switch. Red lights came on at different parts of the house.

There were some places that were ‘neutral’

They had no red or blue lights.

“The places without red or blue lights have been left that way because they are necessary to keep up our pretense as a loving couple.

Take the main dining for example

“What happens if I stray into your territory by mistake?”

Luca turned to her and began a menacing, intimidating descent. He only stopped when he could feel her breathing on his chest. He towered over her.

This time she had no heels to boost her confidence

“You’ll be punished”

He whispered

Cold shivers ran down Sharon's spine. She could hear her heart beat

“Punished how ?”

He brought his fingers to her lips

“Your father's stocks—

He ran his thumb over her bottom lip

“Will plummet for no reason”

Sharon stepped away from him

“Understood”

She wiped the tear that was threatening to fall

“But you shouldn't come to my side of the house either, and you shouldn't come close to me”

He walked two steps forward, and he was close to her once again.

“You see Sharon, you don't understand my rules very much

I have control over you, I dictate what you do. But you—

I'm afraid you don't have a say here

Your daddy basically sold you off. So all the marital rights you think you have are non existent”

With that, Luca walked away from her.

She felt empty, she felt used.

She felt like merchandise that had been traded for something more valuable.

She walked slowly up the stairs to her room, not stopping for a second to look back.

As she locked the door to her room, she felt the tears she had been holding back slip down her eyes.

Then in a fit of anger and sadness, she kicked something.

It was a little box, a part of her “not so important luggage”

But what was in it?

She picked it up and found out that it was light, really light.

It was almost as if nothing was inside

She opened the box carefully. Whatever it was, she was certain it was important

Draped inside two barriers of foam was her mother's gift

The bottle of poison

Mrs Emilia Gray made sure she didn't leave it behind

Whatever ethics and morals she had before disappeared instantly

She played with the bottle she held in her hand

“I'm going to poison you Luca Pavilochenki”

“I'm just going to have to gain your trust first—”