6: The Morning After

He moved closer to me.

"Don't think if I kiss you here, it means something," he said coldly, his breath brushing against my skin. "There's nothing to think about. After this, I’ll need to sterilize my mouth."

Before I could even flinch, he bent down and pressed his lips against mine. It wasn’t a kiss of affection — it was sharp, harsh, and emotionless, as if he were kissing trash.

The pastor continued as if nothing happened. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

There was no applause. No celebration. Just a haunting silence that clung to the air like fog.

As soon as the ceremony was done, I turned to leave. My heart ached to see my parents — to tell them the surgery was over, that I was now married to a man who looked at me like filth.

But as I opened the parlor door, his voice stopped me cold.

"And where do you think you're going?"

I turned, slowly. He stood at the foot of the stairs, arms folded across his chest, his eyes narrowing into sharp daggers.

"I'm going back to the hospital," I said, struggling to stay calm. "I want to check on my parents—"

"You’re under me now. And don’t forget," his tone dropped like ice, "the contract says you obey my rules. So get inside. Your duties begin now."

"This is..." I tried to explain, but he didn’t let me finish.

"I said get inside. Now."

His voice thundered like a whip through my chest, and I found myself retreating without another word. I ran back to the room I had been taken to earlier and collapsed onto the bed. Tears streamed silently down my face. I had never felt so humiliated, so owned.

Minutes passed. Or maybe hours. I wasn't sure. The weight in my chest made it hard to breathe.

Then, I heard a small voice at the door.

"You said you’re not my mommy... but you married my daddy."

I sat up, wiping my tears quickly. It was the little girl again — Lillian.

"No... I mean, yes," I stammered, my voice trembling. "I will be your new mommy."

With a bright squeal, she ran and hugged me tightly on the bed. My chest tightened in a way that had nothing to do with sadness. There was something so warm about her small arms wrapping around me. Something I couldn't explain.

"Why were you crying, Mommy?" she asked innocently, lifting her head from my chest.

"Oh baby, I’m not crying. Something just got in my eyes," I said with a fake smile.

"Sorry," she whispered, her little hands patting my cheeks.

"Thank you," I replied, pulling her gently into my arms again.

"Let’s go sleep in Daddy’s room," she said excitedly.

My entire body stiffened. "Oh no, sweetheart. I’m not feeling well. Let’s sleep here, okay?"

"Okay," she said simply and lay beside me.

And just like that... I started to fall for her. Her innocence, her kindness — it was healing something broken inside me. I didn’t know what it was. I just knew that, for the first time since this nightmare began, I felt a flicker of warmth.

I must have drifted off because the next thing I heard was her voice again, bright and chipper.

"Mommy! Mommy, wake up!"

I groaned and opened my eyes. The sun was already bright through the windows. Lillian stood at the foot of the bed, grinning in a colorful swimsuit.

"It’s morning! Let’s go bathe in the swimming pool!"

I blinked, still disoriented. "What’s your name again, sweetheart?"

"Lillian! My name is Lillian."

"Okay, Lillian," I said softly. "Why don’t you go bathe alone, and I’ll use the toilet to freshen up?"

Her smile vanished. Her lips began to tremble.

"You don’t want to bathe with me because I’m little? You don’t like me?"

"No! No, it’s not that, baby," I quickly said, but she was already headed for the door. Panic surged in me. What if she told Lucian? What if he humiliated me again?

"Okay, okay, I’ll go with you."

"Yaaay!" she clapped her hands and bounced excitedly.

I stood up to follow her.

"No, Mommy! You can’t wear that. You need light clothes!"

I tried to come up with an excuse. "Sweetheart, I don’t have light clothes yet. I didn’t come with any."

"Oh! That’s okay. Yesterday, when Daddy told me I’d have a new mommy, I made him take me shopping! I picked lots of clothes for you! Even your wedding dress — I chose it myself!" she said proudly, running to a wardrobe and pulling out a white, sleeveless shirt that barely reached my knees.

I stared at it in horror.

"Lillian, I can’t wear this... it’ll be see-through when it gets wet."

Immediately, she started to cry again. "You don’t like the clothes I bought for you... You don’t want to play with me."

I sighed. "Okay, okay. I’ll wear it."

She turned her back to give me privacy, and I slipped it on. It was worse than I thought — so revealing. I felt bare. Exposed.

"I’m done," I whispered.

She turned. "Yay, Mommy! But... people don’t wear adult clothes to swim," she said, pointing to my bra.

"Adults have to wear bras, sweetie."

"No, they don’t! I’ve seen women without them on TV! Please Mommy, just take it off so we can be the same."

I groaned inwardly, but the fear of what Lucian might say — or worse, do — if she complained again made me cave.

I took it off.

She beamed and grabbed my hand, leading me outside. Her energy was contagious, even if I was anxious.

When we reached the pool, I was relieved to see it wasn’t deep. As soon as she jumped in, the water only reached her neck. Thank God.

I dipped in after her, letting the water wash over my legs. Lillian was laughing, splashing, talking nonstop — and despite myself, I smiled. Just for a moment, I forgot the pain of yesterday.

Until a splash of water hit me square in the chest.

"Oh no, Lillian! Look what you’ve done!" I gasped, looking down at my body. The thin fabric clung to my skin, outlining my breasts and revealing my nipples clearly.

I turned, desperate to get out of the pool and find something to cover myself with.

And that’s when I saw him.

Lucian.

He stood near a tree branch, hands in his pockets, his cold eyes locked on my body.

Panicked, I dipped back into the water, hoping to hide myself.

*******

Lucian's POV

I woke up and didn’t see Lillian in her bed. I searched the house before realizing she was probably at the pool — her favorite place.

I didn’t even think to check on Lyra.

But as I neared the pool, I saw them — Lillian and... her. Lyra. In the water.

I was about to turn around when something stopped me.

Her body.

The soaked shirt clung to her skin, revealing curves I hadn’t imagined. Her breasts. Her waist. Her legs. Oh my God, her nipples. She looked... nothing like I expected. Nothing like the bulky, clumsy image I had in my mind.

Was it the clothes she usually wore that made her look older? Heavier?

Damn it.

Why did I care?

Mtssww. What’s even coming over me?

She’s just a land whale. Nothing more.

As I turned to leave, Lillian ran up to me, still dripping wet.

"Good morning, Daddy!" she chirped.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I’m bringing a new dress for Mommy!" she said cheerfully.

I frowned. "Go back and tell her you’re not her servant. Let her get it herself."