Chapter 2

“Are you serious? Her husband is a cripple?” Lauretta laughed, waiting for a confirmation from her mother as both their asses landed on the couch at the same time, each of them carefully holding onto a glass of champagne. 

“Not only that, he is ugly as hell,” Rhoda responded, bringing the glass to her lips and taking a sip. 

“Well deserved .” Lauretta smirked. “I wish you had let me come with you. You know how much I love seeing that bitch in pain.” 

“I know, my love.” Rhoda caressed her daughter’s cheek with her other hand. “But I didn’t want them to know I have a beautiful daughter. You are far better than that witch. I don’t want them changing their mind and requesting you to marry that cripple.” 

“Eewww, that’s true! I’m glad she ended up with her kind of man.” Lauretta giggled. 

“Oh yes, my love. You needed to see the sadness and pain on her face. We won for real this time around.” Rhoda smirked. 

“But wait, how’s she going to make a baby with a cripple?” Lauretta burst into a peal of satisfied laughter. 

Rhoda joined her daughter. “I don’t know, I don’t care! But I made her understand I was going to murder her if this marriage doesn’t work.” 

“Poor Cassie! I hope the baby isn’t born crippled.” Lauretta mocked. 

“Well, that’s her life now, so she would have to deal with the misery that comes with it. And now that she’s out of the way and the debt has been cleared, it’s time to find you a rich man.” Rhoda winked at her daughter. 

Lauretta smiled proudly. “I’m glad you can focus on me now.” 

Rhoda playfully rolled her eyes at her daughter. “Don’t throw tantrums. No rich man would find you worthy if they find out we’ve got so much debt attached to us.” 

“Yeah! Whatever! Just do your magic. I can’t wait to walk down the aisle with my billionaire husband!” Lauretta said dreamily. 

“Trust me to make that happen. Cheers to being debt-free and to a successful future!” Rhoda brought up her glass, which still had some champagne in it and clicked it with her daughter’s own.” 

…………………..

CASSIE’S POV 

I reached for my nightdress in my little duffel bag and dashed into the adjoined bathroom. My eyes met with the tiny mirror by the sink. Seeing how puffy they were, I burst into another round of tears as the memory of what had happened earlier today clouded my mind. 

I felt so much pain in my chest that I suddenly wished I had died along with my father. But here I was, bearing the consequences of the offence I had no hand in. 

I have never had it this bad. The previous men I was forced to be with were able to do basic things on their own, and all I needed to do was to be stubborn to them, cause so much trouble for them, and they let me off the marriage. None of them requested a child. I can’t believe Rhoda would enter into such a deal without consulting me. I mean, how was I supposed to have a baby with a man that I do not love? My life was hard and miserable enough. Why bring an innocent child into it? 

I had no idea how long I cried my eyes out, but I eventually freed myself from my thoughts, undressed, and got into the shower. 

As the cold water touched my body, I decided that I wasn’t going to change my tactics. Just as the other men got tired of me and requested a divorce, I’ll do the same to Shawn. 

I dried my body and changed into my knee-length night dress. 

Hardly was I out of the bathroom when the door to the bedroom opened. Shawn, my husband, wheeled himself in and then gently shut the door behind himself. I looked away and tucked my so-called wedding dress away in my little duffel bag, which had just three other dresses. That was all I owned. 

“Why are your eyes puffy?” My husband asked, causing a shiver to run down my spine. He hardly said a word at the registry, and I could swear that the tone of his voice didn’t match his outer look. His voice was deep, hard, commanding, and car….. 

I mentally slapped myself in the face. 

I ignored Shawn, zipped up my bag on the couch, and then made my way over to the bed. I was almost by the bedside when his voice came through again. 

“Are you fine?” 

I mentally facepalmed, then turned to face him. “You should have thought about that before forcing yourself on a woman who wants nothing to do with you!” 

My voice came out harsher than I had predicted. I saw Shawn take a glance at lower body, and my heart ached. 

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not mocking you. It’s not your fault that you can’t walk around, and I’m sorry about that. But I would treat you the same even if you were standing in front of me right now.” 

“I don’t want to be your wife. I’m never going to give you what you want. If I had the power, I wouldn’t be here, so please stop being nice to me.” I tried my best to speak as politely as I could, but I failed because I could hear my voice echo in my head. 

Shawn stared at me with calm eyes. Almost impossible to believe that he was the one I was angry at. 

My heart ached even more. “No, I won’t feel guilty. I’m the one suffering here.” I mumbled, then started making my way to the bed. I was almost crashing on it when his voice stopped me. “Won’t you undress me and prepare me for bed?” 

Even though his words were polite, I felt my chest burn with anger. I turned around to face him. “Sorry?” I exclaimed because I was sure I must have heard him wrong. 

“Take off my clothes, help me shower, then we go to bed together.” He said casually, as though it was my duty. 

My lips parted to say something, but I ate my words and, at the same time, fought the tears in my eyes. Today was traumatic enough that I didn’t think I was going to be going through something worse.

I took three steps closer to Shawn and heaved a deep sigh. “Who cleaned you before today?” 

“The maid, but my father fired her this morning after getting me ready since I now have a wife.” 

I ran my fingers through my long, thick, wavy hair. “You said it just now that I’m your wife and not a maid. Why do I have to deal with this?” 

“Besides, aren’t you ashamed or something?” 

“No. You are my wife. We will eventually have a baby. So what’s there to be shy about?” 

I stared at Shawn in horror. I had no idea what shook me more. His confidence or the fact that he keeps treating the situation like a casual one. 

“You are really serious about having a child with me? You don’t even know me. You don’t know if I’m okay health-wise. Hell, what if I was a psychopath? How would even make a baby?” 

“Sex.” He responded, and I immediately rolled my eyes at him. 

“It’s sad you are going to be doing most of the work, but I will try my best to compliment your efforts with hip thrusts. You will ride me here or when I’m laid on the bed.”