Chapter Seven

MICHAEL’S POV

“Did she throw it at you, or did you give her a reason to?” Chloe stared at me. For a moment, she looked as though she hadn’t heard me correctly. “A reason?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. I slipped my hands into my pockets.

“That’s what I asked.” She let out a bitter laugh. “Of course.” I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Nothing, Michael.” She shook her head. “Absolutely nothing. Her voice cracked. “I’m tired, Michael.” She looked at me one last time. “Can I please go upstairs?” I stared at her.

For some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to answer immediately. Then I stepped aside. “Go.” She nodded and walked past me. I watched her climb the staircase, one hand pressed against her neck. She didn’t look back. Not once. And I hated how much that bothered me. “Michael!” Grandma’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned toward her. “What?” She folded her arms. “That girl is disrespectful. Did you see how she spoke to me?” I glanced at the shattered cup on the floor.

“Did you throw the tea at her?” Grandma blinked. “Excuse me?” “You heard me.” Her expression hardened. “Michael, are you questioning me because of that girl?” “I’m asking whether you threw hot tea at my wife.” She looked away. “She brought me boiling tea. I was angry.”

I stared at her. “So you threw it at her?” “It wasn’t like that.” “Grandma!” She flinched at my tone. I ran a hand through my hair. “What you did was wrong.” Her eyes widened. “Michael!” “Whatever Chloe did, you had no right to throw hot tea at her.” “Are you defending her?” “I’m telling you that you were wrong.”

Grandma scoffed. “That girl is already turning you against your own family.” I clenched my jaw. “Don’t start.” “Michael, you don’t understand these women. They come into wealthy families pretending to be innocent, and before you know it—” “Enough!” She fell silent.

I picked up my car keys from the table. “I’m going to the office.” “Michael, we’re not done talking.” “We are.” I turned toward the housekeeper standing nearby. “Clean this up.” “Yes, sir.” “And make sure someone checks on Chloe.” The housekeeper nodded. I walked toward the entrance. Behind me, Grandma called my name again. I didn’t turn around.

MICHAEL’S OFFICE — 10:45 A.M.

I had been staring at the same document for almost twenty minutes. Twenty damn minutes. And I still hadn’t read a single paragraph. I dropped my pen onto the desk and leaned back in my chair. What the hell is wrong with me? There were three meetings scheduled for today, two contracts waiting for my signature, and a multimillion-dollar project that required my attention.

I exhaled sharply. “Ridiculous.” I reached for the document again. But the words blurred before my eyes. Was she okay? I frowned. Why did I care? Chloe Blake wasn’t someone I was supposed to worry about. Our marriage was an arrangement. A business transaction. Nothing more. Her father had taken something from my family that money could never replace. And marrying his daughter was only one part of making him pay. So why was I sitting here worrying about whether she had eaten breakfast?

A knock sounded at the door. “Come in.” My secretary entered with a tablet. “Sir, the investors are waiting in the conference room.” I glanced at the clock. “Tell them I’ll be there in ten minutes.” “Yes, sir.” She turned to leave. “Wait.” She stopped. “Yes, sir?”

I hesitated. “Cancel my afternoon appointments.” She looked surprised. “All of them?” “Did I stutter?” “No, sir.” She hurried out. I leaned back again. What am I doing? Since when did I cancel meetings because of a woman?

I was still questioning myself when my phone rang. Adrian. I answered immediately. “What?” “Good morning to you too, sunshine.” I rolled my eyes. “What do you want?” “Well, considering you called me earlier and asked me to arrange a doctor for your wife, I thought you might want an update.” I sat upright. “Has the doctor seen her?” “Yes. He just left the mansion.” “And?”

Adrian paused. “She has burns on her cheek and neck.” My fingers tightened around the phone. “How bad?” “The doctor says they appear superficial, but she’ll need proper care and monitoring. He treated the affected areas and left medication.” I exhaled slowly. “Okay.” “Okay?” Adrian repeated. “What else do you want me to say?” “Maybe thank you?” “Thank you, Adrian.” “Wow. That sounded painful.”

“Don’t start.” I rubbed my forehead. “Adrian, I have work to do.” He sighed. “Fine. But you should check on her when you get home.” I looked toward the window. “Is she resting?” “Last I checked, she was in her room.” “Goodbye, Adrian.” “Michael, wait—” I ended the call. Then I threw my phone onto the desk. Idiot. I wasn’t sure whether I was referring to Adrian or myself.

BACK AT THE MANSION

Grandma sat alone in the living room, tapping her fingers impatiently against the armrest. She had been staring at her phone for several minutes before finally dialing a number. The call connected after the fourth ring. “Hello, darling!” A cheerful female voice answered. “Grandma!” Grandma smiled. “Finally! I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about me.” The woman laughed. “How could I ever forget you?”

“Then explain why you’ve been away for so long.” “Grandma, you know I’ve been busy.” “Busy, busy, busy! That’s all you ever say.” The woman chuckled. “What’s wrong? You sound upset.” Grandma sighed. “Everything is wrong.”Did something happen?” Then the woman laughed softly. “And you didn’t even attend the wedding!” “I told you I couldn’t leave everything here.” “Well, it’s time you came back.” “Grandma—” “No excuses! You’ve stayed outside the country for too long.”

The woman sighed. “I’ll come back, Grandma. Just not yet.” “Why?” “I still have a few things to finish here.” “How long will that take?” “Not too long.” Grandma leaned forward. “Listen to me carefully, sweetheart. Things are changing here, and I don’t like it.” “What do you mean?” “Michael is beginning to behave strangely.” The woman’s voice became serious. “Strangely how?” Grandma hesitated.

“There’s a girl in this house.” “His wife?” “Yes.” Another silence followed. Then the woman asked quietly, “What about her?” Grandma’s expression darkened. “I don’t trust her.” “Grandma, you barely know her.” “I know enough.” The woman sighed.

“Michael isn’t a child. He can make his own decisions.” “That’s exactly what worries me.” “Grandma…” “Just promise me you’ll come home soon.” The woman remained silent for a moment. Then she spoke. “I promise I’ll return. But I need to finish what I’m doing first.” Grandma smiled faintly. “Good.” “And Grandma?” “Yes, darling?” “Don’t tell Michael we spoke.” Grandma frowned.

“Why not?” “I want my return to be a surprise.” A small smile appeared on Grandma’s face. “Very well.” “Take care of yourself.” “You too, sweetheart.” The call ended. Grandma lowered the phone. For a long moment, she stared at the dark screen. Then she looked toward the staircase. “Enjoy your position while you can, Chloe,” she murmured. “Because things won’t remain this way forever.”

CHLOE’S BEDROOM

Chloe sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The doctor had already treated the burns on her cheek and neck, but the pain hadn’t completely disappeared. She gently touched the uninjured side of her face. Her eyes filled with tears again. Why?

It was the only question she had been asking herself all morning. Why does everything always happen to me? She had spent years living under Elena’s cruelty. Years listening to Amelia mock her. Years hoping her father would finally stand up for her. But he never did. And when the marriage proposal came, she had believed that perhaps leaving her father’s house would finally give her some peace.

“I thought leaving my father’s house would mean leaving all this behind.” She said to herself. But she was wrong  Terribly wrong. She laughed bitterly. “So this is my new life.” Her voice sounded strange in the empty room. “A husband who hates me and a grandmother who wants me gone.”

She wiped her tears. “What did I ever do to deserve this?” She remembered her mother. The gentle smile. The warm hugs. The way she used to stroke Chloe’s hair whenever she cried. If her mother were alive, would things have been different? Probably. Her mother would never have allowed anyone to treat her this way. Chloe pulled her knees toward her chest. “Mom,” she whispered. Her voice broke.

“I miss you.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I thought things would get better.” She buried her face in her hands. “I really thought they would.” For several minutes, she cried quietly.

MICHAEL’S OFFICE — 4:30 P.M.

I had just finished reviewing a contract when my phone vibrated. A message from the housekeeper.

HOUSEKEEPER: Good afternoon, sir. Madam Chloe has refused lunch.

I frowned. Refused lunch? I typed a reply. Why? A few seconds passed.

HOUSEKEEPER: She said she isn’t hungry, sir.

I stared at the message. Then I checked the time. 4:30 p.m. Had she eaten anything all day? I called the housekeeper. She answered immediately. “Sir?” “Has Chloe eaten anything since morning?” “No, sir.” I closed my eyes. “Nothing?” “No, sir. We offered her breakfast and lunch, but she refused both.” I rubbed my forehead.

“Did she take her medication?” “Yes, sir. The doctor instructed her on how to use it.” “Fine.” I ended the call. For several seconds, I sat motionless. Then I stood and grabbed my jacket. I was halfway toward the door when my phone rang again.

Grandma. I hesitated before answering. “Yes, Grandma?” “Michael, are you coming home?” “I’m leaving the office.” “Good. There’s something I want to discuss with you.” “Can it wait?” “It’s important.” I sighed. “Fine. We’ll talk when I get home.” I was about to end the call when she spoke again. “And Michael?” “What?” “I think it’s time we discussed your marriage.” My expression hardened. “What about it?” She paused.