Chapter 3

Winter

I hate how he said that like I had a choice to say no or say something like ‘I’m not his wife, father.’ I swallowed the lump in my throat as we drove away from my father’s house to my supposed husband’s house.

I stared out the window as he drove the car through the busy street but every here and there, it felt like he was keeping an eye on me through the mirror.

He barely said a word to me since the drive began and even though I am not a hundred percent interested in this, I should at least be treated like a human being who talks and not one who is dumb.

Ever since he asked who I was, he has been as sturdy as an oak and something in me just needed a response; I needed to understand who came up with this whole idea because he seemed so fine with it that it was driving me crazy.

“What do you want from me?” I asked and shit, I felt stupid at that moment and almost pinched myself for the tiny voice I spoke with.

“What do you mean?” he countered. His voice was smooth as silk but still deep and masculine. I took that moment to look at him again—he’s a different type of handsome. He has high cheekbones that cast a shadow on his thick-stubbled beards. His eyes have this piercing intense shade of gray that can also be mistaken for black but this young man has the beauty that makes your insides ache from just looking at him and just at that point, I could feel an intense migraine.

He frowned. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head. “No—Yes. I uh—I just had this headache.”

“I meant are you okay? Like are you mentally okay?”

My scowl deepened and I just looked at him because I had no idea what could make him ask such a question.

“Your father just married you off to me and you’re asking what I want from you? You are just his repayment alternative and I want absolutely nothing but for you to pretend that you are my wife.”

A growl escaped my stomach and I winced at how it came out in such a loud manner. His words, though calmly spoken pierced my chest and stabbed me right there. I tried to say something when my lips parted but I stopped there, caught between cussing him and ignoring.

The car came to a stop and that was when I realized we had gotten to our destination or better still—his destination.

“Remove your coat,” his hoarse voice blurted and rebellion sparked in my eyes.

“Why?”

“Just do as you’re told and stop talking back at me.”

I stared at him for a few seconds before removing the coat. “So what next?”

“Throw it away.”

His order was precise and I just looked at him from under my lashes wondering what the actual fuck was wrong with him.

Before I could voice that out, he reached for the coat on my lap and threw it out the window, making my scowl deepen. “What do you think you’re doing!?” This time, my voice was louder and he could sense how pissed I was getting. “I got that coat with my fucking savings and I’ve had it for three damn years now.”

“And what makes you think you’re going to walk into my house looking like a fucking beggar?”

“I am not a fucking beggar,” I responded, matching his tone.

“Don’t you ever talk back at me.” With that, he opened the car door and stepped out. I just exhaled audibly, holding myself and telling myself this is only going to last for a while. I shut my eyes repeating the mantra of tolerance that I just formed in my head when the door to the passenger seat opened and his bulky ass raised his brow at me. “Get out.”

I followed his instructions and stepped out of the car with a different kind of breeze blowing back my hair that I still had in the low bun. My legs connected to the flooring and I hummed silently as I walked behind him.

The jerk didn’t ever look back to check if I was behind him and I just imagined what on earth would happen if I ran away.

Firstly, my mom would die and secondly, my step-mother would kill me.

“This way,” he said without looking back and I just hobbled till I was in the elevator with him. He hit the button and I missed the floor he pressed but as soon as the doors opened, we were greeted by another man in a navy blue suit who looked like he was in his mid-thirties. I can’t even lie—I have never been in such a big mansion and I just couldn’t stop looking around but with the way the suit guy kept scanning me with his eyes, I knew I had to at least pretend.

“Morgan,” he called, turning to look at the jerk who brought me here. They both turned to me and strong hands gripped me by my waist and yanked me with effortless ease. I gasped at the pull and I gave one small smile, expecting him to let me go now that I’m beside him but he doesn’t. “Meet Winter,” he finally said. “My wife.”

My heart skipped at the mention of that but more than that, I could feel the controlling warmth of his hands tearing through my skin.

“Uh—hi,” I blurted out but the suit guy just looked at me and then looked back at Morgan. “We don’t have much time,” he said. “Let’s get this started with.”

It felt so good to see that Morgan isn’t the only jerk I’ll be around and this fucking guy— lord help me so I don't kick his balls too.

“Liam is my Attorney,” Morgan said and I looked at him wondering who the hell cared. He cocked an eyebrow and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. He had a very strong scent of wood and power. I could tell he had something to say so I just paused, waiting for him to say it. My stomach growled again but this time, it was actual hunger. I wish I could just say it and get something to eat but at that moment, a document was dropped in front of me.

I raised my vision to Liam, a petite man who had thick blonde hair and a pointed nose that wasn’t hiding what was going through his head. He kept scrunching his nose like there was something smelly around and Lord knows it was his balls that’s been kept in that pant all day.

“What?” I asked him and he dropped a pen on the table.

“Sign the papers.”

He was probably expecting me to protest but I was too hungry for that. I picked the pen and signed on the blank space left for me. “Done.”

Without any word, he took the document and took a few strides away. “You are now legally married and as the contract specifies, for two years.”

My jaw dropped at that moment and I turned back to Morgan. “Wait. We need to talk.”

“About what?” he asked. “You already signed the contract and there’s no going back. You had your chance to review the clauses but guess who did not think of that? You.”

I swallowed it. “You never said I was going to be married to you for two years.”

He tapped his fingers on the arm of the sofa. “You should be eternally grateful to me for that. Your loving father gave you to me as his debt repayment. You are mine, and I can do whatever I want with you.” He paused. “But I can’t because we’re not at the same level and the best I can do is tolerate you for two years before I decide what other use you can be.”

I remained still as ice under Morgan’s gaze and the moment he stood up to face me, I startled from my thoughts. “You’re a fucking asshole,” I muttered.

Liam was on the other side staring at us before diverting his attention to the briefcase. There was a small scar on his hand that I hadn’t noticed earlier but Liam was not my problem, Morgan was.

“How the hell am I supposed to be married to you for two years?” I asked without expecting a response. “I do not even know who the hell you are and—” I stuttered for a second. “What am I supposed to be doing as your wife?”

“Liam is going to send you a copy of the contract you just signed so you can familiarize yourself with your duties.”

My brows arched together. “Duties? What am I supposed to be doing as your wife?”

“Probably to satisfy my sexual needs.”

There was anger threatening to spurt through my mouth at his audacity but he just smirked rather casually. “I’m only joking. Do you think I want someone like you on my bed?”

Now, I couldn’t tell which made me feel more insulted. I stood there staring at him when he turned around but paused. He didn’t even give me a chance for a response before he looked back at me. “There’s one thing you’ll be doing though.”