CHAPTER 2

The day had finally arrived and Laura couldn't wait for it to be over. The luxurious ballroom with a grand chandelier cast a sparkling golden glow over the surroundings.

Laura was all dressed up in her astonishing wedding gown, "you look beautiful sweetheart." Her mom Claudia said.

She forced a smile and looked at her mom, her eyes welled with tears, her heart pounding like a drum.

Claudia with tears rolling down her cheeks held her hands and whispered to her, "everything will be fine."

Laura nodded and took a deep breath.

Daniel in his expensive tuxedo stood tall at the altar ready to take the vow with Laura 

With an Unreadable expression, he stared at Laura, one that sent shivers down her spine. They exchanged vows and rings, and the kiss was like a blur to Laura.

Laura stood outside gazing at the sky, she couldn't help but wonder how she would spend the rest of her life with someone she didn't love.

Laura was deep in thought. "Are you ok?" A voice from behind asked. 

She turned, and there was her brother Bryan.

"What's bothering you, Laura?" He asked.

Laura sighed deeply, "I know there's something fishy about Daniel but everything to figure it out, and I barely had time to speak to him alone.

Bryan rubbed her gently, "You are getting yourself worked up over nothing Laura, just focus on the wedding and everything will be fine afterward."

Laura forced a smile and nodded. 

The reception that followed was a grand one, befitting for a billionaire wedding. Champagne on every table, lavish dishes, and a live orchestra playing romantic melodies set the tone for the evening.

Daniel and Laura danced together with their movement stiff, his eyes locked to hers with a mixture of excitement and something else she couldn't quite figure out.

The night was almost worn out, it was time for the traditional cake-cutting ceremony.

The guests gathered around the corner, Daniel and Laura with a practiced smile picked up the knife and cut the cake.

Their wedding ceremony was one to remember as it was the trending topic in the city.

As Laura lay in bed that night with her mind clouded with thoughts, Daniel walked into the room with a fancy glass cup and a bottle of wine.

He stood on the corner, gazing at Laura. "Do you want a glass of wine?" he asked.

Laura looked at him tensely and replied, "No, thanks."

Without saying a word, Daniel turned around and left the room. Laura lay on the bed, speechless, wondering why he had remained silent and left.

Laura slowly sat up on the bed, her heart heavy with thoughts. 

She was married to Daniel Edward, but she didn't have any feelings for him. She had only married him because of her family's financial predicament. 

As she sat there, she couldn't help but wonder what the future held for her, as her life had taken a dark turn.

It's morning already, Laura moved to get out of bed. The door creaked open and a figure appeared, it was Daniel Edward.

He stood at the door staring at her, astonishingly dressed as always. His eyes fixed on her.

"Good morning," Daniel said in a loud tone.

She gently stood up, with no response, and walked up to Daniel, look I know we just got married but I want to make it known to you that It's just on paper.

"This marriage may be a legal contract, but it'll never make sense to me, I didn't choose or want this, so I won't pretend otherwise."

Daniel looked at Laura with a smile. "Oh, my dear, are you in pain? This was never about love. It was a means to an end, and that end still stands. We need to keep up the appearance of pretense."

Laura raged in anger, her eyes welled up with tears. She knew he had a game plan, but she had no choice but to play along.

Laura knew her family's future and welfare were at stake, and she needed to protect them. She nodded in response to Daniel's request.

As days went by, Laura tried to cope with Daniel's rude and annoying attitude. She was confined in their luxurious mansion and couldn't go out as she pleased.

 She was held captive like a prisoner in her husband's house. Laura managed all that to keep her family on the safe side.

However, Daniel didn't give her the attention she needed. 

He was efficient but distant, and they didn't have a close relationship as a couple. Daniel treated Laura with formality and protocol that left no room for warmth or companionship.

One day, Bryan stopped by to see Laura. He knocked, and the door was opened by Laura's maid.

 Laura was surprised to see Bryan and turned only to see him coming through the door. 

"Bryan, what a surprise! You didn't tell me you were coming." Bryan looked at her with a warm smile. "I just wanted to surprise you."

Laura was excited to see her brother as she hadn't been allowed to go out for a while, and she missed her family so much.

Laura welcomed her brother Bryan with enthusiasm, giving him a warm hug and offering him a chilled drink.

 Bryan walked around the sitting room, admiring every corner, and commented, "This house is so classy and dope, you're really enjoying this mansion, Laura."

Laura sighed deeply and responded, "Bryan, let me be clear, life in this house is just a living hell. I can't go anywhere, and Daniel treats me like I'm nobody."

 Bryan, with a shy smile, teased her, "As long as the money is there, what more could you wish for? Everything you need is here, Laura; enjoy it while you still can."

 Laura looked at Bryan with suspicion. 

"Bryan, I need you to be honest with me. Is there something you're not telling me? Every time I talk about Daniel, you seem to be defensive over him."

Her brother kept mute for some seconds, "why would you say a thing like that? You are my sister and I won't do anything to hurt you. don't think too much about irrelevant things."

Laura began to feel like her brother Daniel was hiding something from her, discovering Daniel's secret proved to be an uphill battle for her. But she remained strong.

Laura needed to have a little bit of fun, so she asked Bryan if he would like to go to the park with her.

Bryan decided to go out with her despite the fact he felt uneasy at the moment.

They hurriedly left so they could return on time before Daniel got home.

Laura and Bryan left the house together and headed to the park. 

Upon arrival, Laura felt a wave of excitement as if she hadn't been there in a long time.

 Together, they walked around the park, having fun all the way. Laura even brought out her camera and took pictures to capture the moment.

Laura was so excited that she almost forgot about her pains and worries.

 The day had been different for her, as she had just married Daniel Edward.

 She was full of enthusiasm and couldn't stop glancing through the pictures she had taken at the park when she got home.

However, her mood suddenly changed when she realized that she was back to her old life. She felt trapped and her heart began to pound.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she wished that she never had to return to a life of sadness and anxiety.

After a while, she decided to make dinner

Laura walked into the kitchen with a sense of self-assurance to prepare a delicious dinner for her husband, Daniel.

 She insisted on doing it herself and asked the maid to step aside.

As she set the table, she felt confident in her culinary skills and eagerly awaited Daniel's return to enjoy the meal she had created.

Laura had a cunning plan to win Daniel's trust and uncover his true intentions. She knew that playing nice was the way to get close to him.

It was almost dawn, Daniel Edward had returned home.

As Daniel Edward walked into the house, Laura's heart raced with anxiety. 

She knew there was something he was hiding from her, and she was determined to find out what it was.

Laura's greeting was assertive as she looked Daniel Edward in the eye and asked, "How was your day?"

Daniel Edward responded in a low tone, "It was good," as he walked past her toward his room. 

Undeterred, Laura picked up his briefcase and followed him to his room.

Laura approached Daniel with confidence and spoke clearly, "I have prepared dinner for us. Please freshen up now so we can eat together."

Daniel began undressing himself without a word.

"Just to be clear, I prepared dinner," Laura repeated calmly.

Daniel turned to her and responded in a tense voice, "I heard you."

Laura sensed his discomfort and decided to show more confidence, "Great. I know you're going to enjoy it. Now, go and freshen up."

Daniel hesitated for a moment before complying.

Laura watched him leave with a sense of pride and self-assurance, knowing that she had handled the situation with confidence and assertiveness.

They both ate together, Laura couldn't stop staring at Daniel Edward in the dining room as he enjoyed the meal.

She was bent on finding out his secret. Little did she know that the revelation of his secret would shake her to the core and change her life forever. What was Daniel's secret? Only time would tell.