Chapter 4

Leilani looked up and met his gaze. It held a dangerous glint, almost like he was eager to make her sign the documents. Eager for her to lose whatever rights she had left. She bit back the tears threatening to fall out and stood up.

It's a contract they want, right? Fine. It's just a contract. She’ll sign it.

“I’ll sign it. Just let Nadia go. She has no part in this.”

The corner Aaron's lip tipped, expression flashing with satisfaction. He watched as Lei signed the documents, her hands trembling as she drew her sloppy signature. The marriage contract, the contract rules. All of it.

He leisurely picked up his phone and dialled a number. “Let Miss Stoumbourg go. I wouldn't want my wife to worry for a friend.” He dropped before the person of the other line could respond, didn't bother to spare Lei a single glance, and waved his hands. “Show her to her room.”

Lei clenched her fist, her emerald eyes, now red from little to no sleep, burning with immense hatred. The maids took her, no, they dragged her upstairs, leaving behind Aaron and his assistant alone in the living area.

She was thrown into a room by the maids, and they firmly bolted the door behind her.

Lei turned, pain shooting up her lower back. That man.. that man downstairs was Lucas' brother? Ha! She’s left the younger brother and now, somehow, ended up with the older one?

As if life couldn't get any more miserable.

She fell to the floor, her right hand clutching onto the bed's frame. Her hair was dishevelled, and a few wet strands stuck to her face. She let out a self-deprecating laughter. The universe really seemed to hate her, letting her suffer this much.. in the hands of two bastard brothers.

Her laughter, nothing close to a laugh, soon disappeared. Filled with pain and anger, she tried to stand up, but her legs gave away immediately. She landed to the ground with a thud.

Ha.

Maybe she should just give up? Aaron most likely wanted to use her for sex, just like Lucas. Or what if it was worse than that? Lucas was masochistic, one of the reasons he'd bought the cane. He enjoyed seeing her in pain while they had sex.

What was the guarantee his brother was no different?

No.

Maybe she should call the press? A friend of hers worked in a broadcasting company. Calling the paparazzi seemed to be the only reasonable solution here. Yes, they'll help. They’ll surely attack that sadist downstairs and question him. His reputation.. bastards like him valued that the most.

He'd be forced to let her go. Yes, the press!

She scrambled the room, looking for any phone in sight, but none. She knocked vigorously across the door, but no one came forth. Finally, she slid down and sat on the floor, her back resting against the door’s wooden frame, staring into nothingness.

Ha. How was she even going to call anyone?

~

Meanwhile, back in the living room, Aaron's gaze was fixated on the screen in front of him.

“Boss, these are the documents.” James spoke out, handing over some paperwork.

Aaron didn't budge from his position. He smacked his tongue and sighed slightly as he rubbed his temples. “Of what use is a marriage document to me?”

James’ brows pulled together. “I thought.. you really wanted to marry her.”

Aaron paused, then continued with the television. Wanted to marry her?

“Have you done what I asked?” He brushed off James' question.

James swallowed, then nodded. “Yes. Dr. Erin personally handled the procedure.”

Aaron raised a brow, his eyes flashing with glint. “Good, make sure the maids take care of her. We don't want anything to affect it, do we?”

“Of course not!” James hastily replied, his voice filled with respect.

“Wait.” Aaron called out. “The maid who washed her, what's her name?”

He'd noticed the lei's body had been a horrendous shade of red when she'd walked in.

James' head turned, his brows pulling from confusion. “Miss Radcliffe?”

“Fire her.” Aaron nodded and turned up the volume of the documentary he was watching.

James bowed deeply, but nonetheless, he nodded and immediately left.

Aaron had his fingers wrapped around the remote, his eyes fixed on the screen. He chuckled, Lucas was really full of himself. He probably felt he'd gotten everything he wanted. But, the stupid man just became one of his pawns.

He dipped his hand in his pocket, fishing out a locket. He snapped it open, and it showed a photo. A photo of a beautiful woman, she had grey eyes just like his, with a darker shade of hair. Her skin was flawless, slightly pale but considerably beautiful. His index finger brushed over her face.

Finally, he snapped the locket shut, his gaze returning to its stoic look.

Time flew by quickly as it was already evening. The maids arranged everything quickly, setting up the dining table.

“Master Aaron, should we invite Miss Leilani to join you at the dining table?” One of the maids asked, her head dipped into a bow.

Aaron paused, and he took his eyes off the magazine in his hands. “Hm.” He merely nodded before returning his focus to the magazine.

A few minutes later, Lei walked down into the dining room, her fists clenched behind her. She pressed a tight smile as she stepped into a large room, making Aaron raise an eyebrow.

Nonetheless, he looked away and kept his magazine aside. The table held a sumptuous meal, which made, no matter how much she tried to deny it, Lei's mouth water. She had not eaten since she'd gotten here after all. She sat down almost immediately, her eyes fixated on the meal before her.

Lei immediately began to eat, her eyes popping out slightly once the food landed on her taste buds. She’d never tasted anything better.

Living with Lucas and her family made her life hell. He always made sure she was ‘well fed’. She could remember eating cold ramyeon for dinner, and fish entails for breakfast. And water for lunch.

Her hands unconsciously clenched at the thought of the past. When she'd seen the divorce papers, she was partially relieved. Relieved that she was free but angry all the same. Angry that Lucas had gotten whatever he wanted, even with her.

She looked up, her gaze falling on the nonchalant silhouette eating opposite with relish and elegance at the far end of the dining table. She slowly gulped down the blackberry juice.

“..Husband?” She subconsciously called, the word tasting extremely bitter on her tongue.

Aaron paused, his brows tipping a little. He dropped his cutlery, awaiting what else she wanted to say.

Lei clutched her dress, her eyes lowering, darting from the floor to her bruised knees. She finally raised her head to meet his gaze. “..Why me ?”

That's what she wanted to ask?

Aaron's expression turned cold. He picked his cutlery and returned to his meal, totally ignoring her.

Lei's face turned red with embarrassment, her gaze momentarily flying to the maids, hoping they didn't witness this.

“You refuse to answer.” She pressed on.

“Be specific then.”

Lei swallowed. Specific? Is he trying to feign ignorance? He knew exactly what she was talking about!

“Why choose me? Why buy me? Why not let me go? Why make me suffer? Why hurt my friend ? Don't you think you made the wrong choice?” She questioned, nails digging into the dining table's wooden frame. It felt her nails would snap if she pressed on.

Aaron paused, his nonchalant gaze turning into something else. It was anger, no.. impatience or perhaps.. No. He simply remained expressionless.

“Remind me, ‘wife’ What does rule number three say?”

Lei's heart sank. The rules? She simply read them. She does not remember much. Was he actually serious about those rules?

“I don't.. remember mu..”

“Beufort, remind my wife what rule number three says.”

Lei swallowed as the male chef brought out thick stacks of books, seriously sorting till he found the rules Aaron mentioned.

He cleared his throat, reading out loud. “Rule number three says miss.. Miss Leilani should never question your decisions or choices no matter what.”

Lei's cheeks burned red, this crippled bastard! He was no god! He wasn't even good enough of a man! “Apologies then.” She said through gritted teeth.

Aaron picked up his cutleries, slicing through a piece of steak. “You’ll learn eventually.”

Lei clenched her fist underneath the table. Learn? The only one who's set to learn anything here was him! She glanced at the phone she'd managed to sneak in. It was a maid's phone, dropped carelessly against the vanity on her way out of the room.

A sly smile slowly formed her lips.

Let's see how this bastard was going to face the press tomorrow.