Forget I was Mrs. Vale.

Leah’s POV

Damien slowly set his glass on the table and looked at me.

“I thought you read the contract.”

I swallowed, tightening my grip on the fork.

“Well, forgive me for not reading every last page. The only thing my eyes caught was that I was signing my entire life away to you so you could help save my uncle’s company.”

He leaned back slightly.

“Then we were both on the same page. So what’s the problem?”

“Why did you do it?”

“Because I chose to.”

I frowned. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“I need a wife. Your uncle needs his company restored. It was a convenient arrangement.”

I stared at him.

“So you just decided to throw your entire life into marrying someone you don’t know? Someone you’ve never even met? Just to help my uncle?”

“I have my reasons, Leah.”

He stood, adjusting his jacket.

“We’re married. You belong to me now.”

My jaw tightened.

“I don’t belong to you or anybody.”

“I’m done discussing this.”

He turned and began walking away. I pushed my chair back and followed him.

“If I’m your wife, aren’t you going to treat me like one?”

He stopped and glanced over his shoulder.

“I am treating you like one.”

“I don’t understand what you mean by that. For example, are we not going to sleep in the same room?”

He gave a low, humorless chuckle.

“I know girls like you. You never struck me as someone who wanted to rush into bedroom activities.”

I rolled my eyes.

“That’s not what I mean. But it’s part of being married, isn’t it, Damien? So why wouldn’t we?”

“That’s a decision I’ll make when I want to.”

I stared at him for a moment before asking the question that had been bothering me since I arrived.

“Will I ever get to see your face?”

His expression seemed to harden.

“That’s off-limits, Leah.”

“Off-limits?”

“I married you for society. I’m due for marriage, and I have the means to make it happen. That’s all you need to know.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“And what if I asked you to end this marriage?”

“Why? Because I won’t let you see my face?”

“No. Because I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with a stranger who refuses to show me who he is.”

“You’ll get to know me.”

“I don’t think I want to know someone like you.”

He tilted his head slightly.

“Why?”

“Because you’re cynical.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“That’s one thing I admire about you. That sharp tongue of yours.”

I folded my arms. “I’m glad you find it entertaining.”

“It’ll be interesting to tame it.”

My lips parted. Before I could respond, he turned and walked away.

I stood there, watching his retreating figure disappear down the hallway.

Unbelievable.

I returned to my room, picked up my phone, and began scrolling through my old pictures.

There were pictures from last Christmas. Me laughing with Erica, Tracy decorating the house, my uncle smiling beside the Christmas tree. Everyone had looked so happy.

I stopped at one picture and stared at it. That Christmas had been so beautiful.

And now?

I was thousands of miles away from the life I’d known, married to a man who barely considered me worth speaking to.

A tear slipped down my cheek; my phone suddenly rang.

Tracy.

I watched it ring for a few seconds before finally answering.

“I don’t like it here,” I whispered immediately. “I don’t like it here, Tracy. Please. I don’t want to do this anymore. I can’t.”

“Oh, baby.” Her voice broke.

“I’m so sorry, Leah. I’m so, so sorry.”

I pressed the phone closer to my ear.

“But I want you to remember that you still have us. We’re your family, sweetheart.”

“I’m not sure, Tracy. How am I supposed to live with this man? I’m scared.”

“You don’t have to be scared, baby. Just take things one day at a time. Do what you can to make yourself comfortable. You’ll adjust eventually.”

I wiped my cheeks.

“Uncle shouldn’t have done this to me. I never asked for any of this. I never wished my parents were gone, and I would never have wanted to repay all the love you gave me by selling my life away.”

“Oh, Leah, please…”

She sounded as though she was fighting back tears too.

I couldn’t bring myself to say anything else. After a few seconds, I ended the call.

The room fell silent.

I placed my phone on the bedside table, climbed onto the bed, and pulled my pillow against my chest.

I missed my old life. I missed my family.

And most of all, I missed the girl who had been so excited about Christmas just a few days ago.

I buried my face in the pillow as the tears came again.

That night, I cried myself to sleep, wondering how long I would have to live this way.

**

A day had passed since my conversation with Damien, and to my surprise, I hadn’t seen him once.

Not that I was complaining.

When I woke up that morning, I found a diamond wedding ring sitting beside a black card on my bedside table.

There was a small note beside them.

*For anything you want.*

I stared at it for a moment before sighing. Was this his idea of making up for being an unbearable husband?

I slipped the ring onto my finger and picked up the card.

A black card. Of course.

Apparently, my husband preferred throwing money at problems instead of having actual conversations.

The rest of the day was painfully boring. I hadn’t even found the courage to step outside the mansion. I’d spent hours in my room, trying to draw, but nothing came out right.

I had an artistic block. And it was driving me crazy.

I was on the phone with Erica when she brought it up again.

“Leah, please. Just relax and enjoy the luxury. You’re living in a mansion!”

“It’s not that easy, Erica. How am I supposed to enjoy any of this when I don’t even know what my husband looks like?”

“Maybe he’s so ugly he’s afraid to show his face.”

I laughed despite myself.

“Erica!”

“What? I’m just saying!”

I shook my head.

“Anyway, I think I know what you need,” she announced.

“What?”

“A night out. Come meet me at our usual bar. Let’s have some fun.”

“Are you serious?”

“Very. You can’t stay locked up in that mansion forever. Besides, is your husband even home?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him all day.”

“Perfect. Meet me there.”

I hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing.

Perhaps she was right. I needed to get out of that house, even if it was just for a few hours.

That evening, I chose a short, sexy dress and threw a coat over it. I wanted to look good, feel good, and forget about this flash marriage for a little while.

Before leaving, I informed Brian, the household staff member in charge of the drivers, that I was going out with my best friend and needed some fresh air.

To my surprise, nobody stopped me. I even insisted on having the driver take me to the bar.

When we arrived, I thanked him and told him I would return with my friend.

The moment I walked inside, I spotted Erica.

“Baby girl!”

We hugged tightly.

She stepped back and looked me over after I removed my coat.

“Wow! Look at you. You look stunning!”

I laughed.

“Thank you.”

We headed straight to the bar and ordered our usual drinks.

Erica raised her glass.

“Let’s have some fun tonight, girl!”

I clinked mine against hers. “Trust me, I really need it.”

Then I tipped my glass back and took a long drink. For once, I wanted to forget I was Mrs. Vale.