CHAPTER 10: I MARRIED YOU BECAUSE I WANTED TO KIMBERLY:I was curled up in bed when I heard the soft click of the door.I faced the wall and pretended to be sleeping. I didn't want him to see the dried tears in my cheeks..I heard Damien’s footsteps as he walked into the room, then crossed toward the bed slowly. His cologne.filled the room and I heard him call me."Kim?" His voice was low, and cautious.I didn’t move."Kim, I know you’re awake," he said gently.I squeezed my eyes shut for a second before forcing myself to turn over. "Hey," I said, trying to smile. "You're back."He sat on the bed, his eyes searching mine. "Have you been crying?”"No," I whispered, shaking my head too quickly. "I'm fine."Damien reached out, and brushed his thumb along my cheek. "Don’t lie to me, Kimberly."I breathed down heavily, being touched by the tenderness in his voice. "I’m just tired," I said, my voice wobbling.He didn’t argue with me. Instead, he stood up and started loosening his tie, his
CHAPTER 11: IT FEELS LIKE A DREAM KIMBERLY:When we stepped inside the bedroom, I hovered near the door awkwardly, watching as he tossed his jacket onto a nearby chair.“Damien!” I called.“Hmmm!” he answered.“Are we supposed to be intimate?”He nodded, unbuttoning the cuffs of his shirt casually. "Yeah, We’re married, Kim. We're a real couple."I licked my lips nervously and dropped my gaze to the floor. “But.. this is an arranged marriage,” I mumbled.Damien crossed the room in two strides and tipped my chin up gently. "Arranged, yes. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be real," he said softly. "It doesn’t mean we can’t make it work."I swallowed hard. "I don't know, Damien." I whispered."What? You don't want to get intimate with me?" he said, brushing his thumb across my cheek. “I need time.”"It's fine. I’m not going to touch you until you are ready, okay?”“Okay,” I responded with a nod."I just want to hold you tonight," he said. "Nothing more."I hesitated, then nodded again."
CHAPTER 12: I FEEL STUPID KIMBERLY:I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and washed my face, then headed downstairs. It was already past eight and I wasn't used to late breakfast. I wanted to make my breakfast by myself. And it has to be my favourite. With the help of a maid, I found the ingredients I needed and started.A few minutes later…"Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?"I paused, lifting the spatula up. I was halfway through scrambling the eggs. I turned to find Barbra standing at the entrance of the kitchen, arms crossed and lips curled in that signature sneer of hers."Good morning ma’am. I’m… making breakfast," I said, gesturing to the eggs and sizzling bacon.Barbra scoffed. "This isn’t a hostel, Kimberly. You don’t just walk in here and do whatever you please."I blinked. "I've not had breakfast. And Damien said—""Nobody cares what Damien says. That’s his problem," she snapped, cutting me off. "This is my kitchen. My house. And I don
CHAPTER 13: WHAT HAS MY GRANDSON DONE NOW?KIMBERLY:I went back home after having lunch with Bethany. I wanted to be alone and shed my tears in private.My parents don't want me, my ex cheated on me with my sister, and now, just one day after our marriage, my husband is out there with another woman.Just great!I spent the rest of the evening in our room, scrolling through my phone, trying to distract myself from the reality of the situation.But my heart was heavy.Around seven in the evening, I heard the door creak open downstairs, followed by Damien’s familiar footsteps."Kim!" he called when he got to our doorstep. His voice was full of confidence. "I’m home baby."I didn’t answer.I stayed exactly where I was on the bed, rocking my body back and forth. My knees tucked to my chest, and my face was buried in my arms. I hadn’t even changed out of the clothes I wore to lunch. I was too confused and worried to care.A few seconds later, the bedroom door opened."There you are," Dami
CHAPTER 14: THIS FEELS LIKE A TRAPCLAIRE:“Oh my dear girl, what has my grandson done now?”As soon as Grandma Evelyn said that, tears gathered at the back of my eyes again.I closed the door behind her and turned away quickly, wiping my face with the sleeve of my shirt.“I was just about to go to bed,” she said, lowering herself to a seat on the chaise. L“But I asked one of the maids if you’d come down for dinner. She said you hadn’t.”“Oh,” I said quickly, forcing a tiny smile. “I already ate. I wasn’t really hungry for more.”She raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that, Kimberly.”I swallowed hard. “Yes Grandma.”“Well, I know everything that goes on in this house,” she said, sounding very gentle but firm. “You think I don’t notice the way Barbra bullies you? The way you shrink whenever she enters the room? I've been watching from the distance.”I stayed quiet.“She treats you like an intruder, I know,” Grandma continued. “She’s been doing that to people she doesn't like for y
CHAPTER 15: SHE FROZE ME OUT DAMIEN:It was a big deal for me coming home to Kim's cold attitude.After the death of Ella, my childhood sweetheart, it has been nothing but casual flings for me. I don't have time to deal with issues like this.I picked up my car keys and left after I had told Kim off.I drove to Cozy bar in the heart of Sunview to hang out with my friends.Jerry and Ethan were already seated when I arrived.“Bro, you look like you swallowed a bag of nails,” Jerry muttered, sliding a glass of whiskey toward me after I sat down.I grunted and reached for it. “Give me a break, Jerry. I've only just got here.”Ethan leaned back in his seat. “You ought to look happy, Damien. You're no longer in the bachelor list. Or is there trouble in paradise already?”I sighed and continued sipping the wine.“The fact that you're keeping mute about it makes me worried. Did you have a fight with Kim?” Jerry asked.“You guys know me, I don't take shit,” I muttered before I tossed the sho
CHAPTER 16: A COLD WAR KIMBERLY:I've always hated spiders but not enough to scream the way I just did.It sounded raw, loud, and panicked. I was naked, dripping wet, and cornered in the bathroom. The spider on the wall was black, hairy, and huge and had no business existing, let alone existing near me. But I could've squashed it with a single blow. But I had something else on my mind.Grandma had made me an irresistible offer last night and I wanted to start seducing my husband.The bathroom door burst open.Damien stood there, wide-eyed, slightly disoriented, but instantly alert. His chest heaved like he’d run a marathon to get to me.“Kim?” he barked. “What happened?!”I made my hands trembled as I pointed a shaky finger toward the wall.He followed my gaze. When his eyes landed on the spider, he groaned.“Seriously? That thing?” he asked, half amused, half exasperated.I didn’t respond. I pretended like I was shivering in fear. Don't forget that I was still naked.Damien stood
CHAPTER 17: TRYING TO MAKE AMENDS KIMBERLY:I couldn't help but feel frustrated.My head was filled with thoughts of things that could go wrong if I continued to fight with Damien. I wasn't really going to let this marriage spiral into a battlefield just days after it began. I already had Barbra breathing fire down my neck.And Roland could be back anytime. Who knows what games he might want to play?If Damien joined that list... God, I’d be fighting a war I couldn’t win.I sighed in frustration and rubbed my forehead. "No," I whispered to myself. "I’m not going to lose this."I thought about everything Grandma Evelyn had said to me last night. One of which was that I had as much right as Barbra in the Carter's family.“You have to stand your ground in this family, Kimberly.” But I have to use wisdom. After all, Barbra was still my step mother-in-law.So I made up my mind. I was going to make Damien breakfast. Something thoughtful. That's my own little way of saying, ‘I'm not here
CHAPTER 20: YOU'RE RUTHLESS KIMBERLY:My eyes were dry, but inside, I was weeping."It doesn't matter that Damien has been nothing but insensitive since we got married,” I muttered under my breath. “No one has to know about that. We'll sort out our differences between the two of us.”I sniffed in annoyance. "And then Roland? Really? What does he take me for? I'm stuck with Damien and will never get back together with him, no matter what happens.”I sat on the edge of the bed, my chin in my hands as I thought about how my world keeps spinning like a wheel.I shook my head, biting my bottom lip hard enough to taste blood. My phone buzzed in my purse, but I didn't bother to check it. I wasn’t ready for any more drama. I just wanted nothing but peace right now. I wanted to spend a few minutes without anyone trying to crush my soul.The door creaked open. And I look up. The scent of Damien’s cologne was enough to tell me who it was before his voice did."Kim."I blinked and looked up. H
CHAPTER 19: ROLAND IS BACK KIMBERLY:"Roland?" I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.He stood tall and confident, and leaned casually against the stair rail like he wasn't bothered about anything in this world. My stomach twisted in fear. I still had not forgotten that incident at the registry where he almost drove a knife through my chest. How was I sure he won't try to kill me now?I had assumed I'd be free of him for a while—at least a few months. But here he was, back at the mansion just two days after the incident.Two days was all it took for the Carter family to flex their muscle and get him out.I took a deep breath and forced myself to ascend the steps, hoping to breeze past him like he was invisible."Kim," he called softly, catching my wrist before I could brush past. "You look... tired. Everything okay?""Let go, Roland," I muttered, trying not to sound as frustrated as I felt. I just wanted to be alone since no one wanted me. “Stop acting like you care.”"Why ar
CHAPTER 18: A CHAOTIC DAY KIMBERLY: Damien didn’t see me immediately. So I took a breath, stood slowly, and folded my arms. When Damien’s eyes finally landed on me, his steps faltered. The woman beside him looked from him to me and raised her eyebrows. "You didn’t tell me you were expecting a visitor." Damien didn't respond. I forced myself to smile and spoke in a calm voice. "Good morning, Damien. I brought you breakfast." His jaw tightened. "Kim. I didn't know you.." "Would barge in on you?" I interrupted. “I'm very sorry about that.” He nodded. I expected him to make an explanation or introduce his companion and I. But he didn't. "Well, I wanted to surprise you. But clearly, I’m the one who got surprised." The woman stepped back a little, sensing tension. I looked at her and then back at him. He didn’t say anything. I gestured to the box on the table. "You probably already ate, though. Right?" He glanced at the box but didn’t touch it. "Yeah. I went to brunch." I
CHAPTER 17: TRYING TO MAKE AMENDS KIMBERLY:I couldn't help but feel frustrated.My head was filled with thoughts of things that could go wrong if I continued to fight with Damien. I wasn't really going to let this marriage spiral into a battlefield just days after it began. I already had Barbra breathing fire down my neck.And Roland could be back anytime. Who knows what games he might want to play?If Damien joined that list... God, I’d be fighting a war I couldn’t win.I sighed in frustration and rubbed my forehead. "No," I whispered to myself. "I’m not going to lose this."I thought about everything Grandma Evelyn had said to me last night. One of which was that I had as much right as Barbra in the Carter's family.“You have to stand your ground in this family, Kimberly.” But I have to use wisdom. After all, Barbra was still my step mother-in-law.So I made up my mind. I was going to make Damien breakfast. Something thoughtful. That's my own little way of saying, ‘I'm not here
CHAPTER 16: A COLD WAR KIMBERLY:I've always hated spiders but not enough to scream the way I just did.It sounded raw, loud, and panicked. I was naked, dripping wet, and cornered in the bathroom. The spider on the wall was black, hairy, and huge and had no business existing, let alone existing near me. But I could've squashed it with a single blow. But I had something else on my mind.Grandma had made me an irresistible offer last night and I wanted to start seducing my husband.The bathroom door burst open.Damien stood there, wide-eyed, slightly disoriented, but instantly alert. His chest heaved like he’d run a marathon to get to me.“Kim?” he barked. “What happened?!”I made my hands trembled as I pointed a shaky finger toward the wall.He followed my gaze. When his eyes landed on the spider, he groaned.“Seriously? That thing?” he asked, half amused, half exasperated.I didn’t respond. I pretended like I was shivering in fear. Don't forget that I was still naked.Damien stood
CHAPTER 15: SHE FROZE ME OUT DAMIEN:It was a big deal for me coming home to Kim's cold attitude.After the death of Ella, my childhood sweetheart, it has been nothing but casual flings for me. I don't have time to deal with issues like this.I picked up my car keys and left after I had told Kim off.I drove to Cozy bar in the heart of Sunview to hang out with my friends.Jerry and Ethan were already seated when I arrived.“Bro, you look like you swallowed a bag of nails,” Jerry muttered, sliding a glass of whiskey toward me after I sat down.I grunted and reached for it. “Give me a break, Jerry. I've only just got here.”Ethan leaned back in his seat. “You ought to look happy, Damien. You're no longer in the bachelor list. Or is there trouble in paradise already?”I sighed and continued sipping the wine.“The fact that you're keeping mute about it makes me worried. Did you have a fight with Kim?” Jerry asked.“You guys know me, I don't take shit,” I muttered before I tossed the sho
CHAPTER 14: THIS FEELS LIKE A TRAPCLAIRE:“Oh my dear girl, what has my grandson done now?”As soon as Grandma Evelyn said that, tears gathered at the back of my eyes again.I closed the door behind her and turned away quickly, wiping my face with the sleeve of my shirt.“I was just about to go to bed,” she said, lowering herself to a seat on the chaise. L“But I asked one of the maids if you’d come down for dinner. She said you hadn’t.”“Oh,” I said quickly, forcing a tiny smile. “I already ate. I wasn’t really hungry for more.”She raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that, Kimberly.”I swallowed hard. “Yes Grandma.”“Well, I know everything that goes on in this house,” she said, sounding very gentle but firm. “You think I don’t notice the way Barbra bullies you? The way you shrink whenever she enters the room? I've been watching from the distance.”I stayed quiet.“She treats you like an intruder, I know,” Grandma continued. “She’s been doing that to people she doesn't like for y
CHAPTER 13: WHAT HAS MY GRANDSON DONE NOW?KIMBERLY:I went back home after having lunch with Bethany. I wanted to be alone and shed my tears in private.My parents don't want me, my ex cheated on me with my sister, and now, just one day after our marriage, my husband is out there with another woman.Just great!I spent the rest of the evening in our room, scrolling through my phone, trying to distract myself from the reality of the situation.But my heart was heavy.Around seven in the evening, I heard the door creak open downstairs, followed by Damien’s familiar footsteps."Kim!" he called when he got to our doorstep. His voice was full of confidence. "I’m home baby."I didn’t answer.I stayed exactly where I was on the bed, rocking my body back and forth. My knees tucked to my chest, and my face was buried in my arms. I hadn’t even changed out of the clothes I wore to lunch. I was too confused and worried to care.A few seconds later, the bedroom door opened."There you are," Dami
CHAPTER 12: I FEEL STUPID KIMBERLY:I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and washed my face, then headed downstairs. It was already past eight and I wasn't used to late breakfast. I wanted to make my breakfast by myself. And it has to be my favourite. With the help of a maid, I found the ingredients I needed and started.A few minutes later…"Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?"I paused, lifting the spatula up. I was halfway through scrambling the eggs. I turned to find Barbra standing at the entrance of the kitchen, arms crossed and lips curled in that signature sneer of hers."Good morning ma’am. I’m… making breakfast," I said, gesturing to the eggs and sizzling bacon.Barbra scoffed. "This isn’t a hostel, Kimberly. You don’t just walk in here and do whatever you please."I blinked. "I've not had breakfast. And Damien said—""Nobody cares what Damien says. That’s his problem," she snapped, cutting me off. "This is my kitchen. My house. And I don