Chapter 5

‘Where was this manner when we were alone?’

Still being bewildered by his sudden appearance, I remained stoic, and my mother said, "Ask Sophie."

When Mother said that, I looked at him. He looked at me with his void gaze.

Since I was too shocked to say anything, I stood still and, being irritated by my lack of response, he asked,

"Can I have a glass of water?" Mother nodded and left.

After his mother left, he shook me, dragging me out of my thoughts.

"What are you thinking? Come, we need to talk." He said- no, he ordered. My lips formed a thin line as I looked away. Mother came with a glass of water, and I said.

"I'll go and change."

I went to my room and realized I was still in my messy form. I quickly changed into my casual red checked shirt and black jeans.

I combed my hair and walked out. I didn't dare to meet his dire gaze as I left with him.

We left, and, being a gentleman, he opened the door for me from outside. He was driving, and the crushing silence took over once again.

But since I have a few things to tell him, I have decided to break that silence, as I said,

"Listen.." I don't know how to address him, so I avoid calling him by name.

"Hmm?" I began to say,

"Why do you want to marry me? You can get any girl with your money. So, why a middle-class girl like me?"

He stopped the car and looked at me for a second. I pressed my cold fingers against myself as my legs went numb under his malevolent dark eyes.

I looked down and shut my mouth. And a feeling of 'you are not allowed to speak unless spoken to' filled me.

"You are stuck and can't betray me, no matter how much you want." That's all he said and began to drive again.

After a few seconds, he spoke up again,

"I want to marry you as soon as possible." ‘But I don't.’ No matter how much I want to tell the truth, I replied with an 'okay'.

"I don't want to be known as a gold-digger..." I said to myself, but he heard it and said,

"You are marrying me for money." His cold words stabbed my heart like an arrow.

"I know, but still I don't want it," I said in a low, depressed tone as tears brimmed in my eyes. I bit my cheek and looked out of the window.

"No one can degrade you." He said as I looked at him in disbelief.

Can he say comfy things too? Oh, how wrong I am. He spared me a glance and completed his sentence, "Except me."

My whole being stopped as I looked away, and a tear I was trying so hard to hold rolled onto my cheek. I wrapped my arms around my waist and hugged myself tightly.

As I continued to look out of the window, filled with anguish, I felt hopeless... absolutely hollow...

After a while, the car stopped. I looked at him, and he looked at me with those dominant and sinister eyes. I couldn't bear to look at him and lowered my gaze.

In an instant, he moved closer, coming within a few inches of me. My heart began to race when I felt his breath on my face.

A shiver of fear washed over my very core. I shut my eyes because of the ominous feeling building inside me. I moved farthest away from him and said timidly,

"Please get away."

Under the stress of his panicked action. I remain still.

I sensed him moving away as I slowly opened my eyes and looked at him. He seemed pleased, like he did it on purpose just to see my reaction.

His eyes glisten with a dark and lethal look that gives me a bad omen about what is going to happen next.

"P-Please take me h-home. My m-mother must be w-worried." I shudder in fear. I can't spend a second with him.

He glanced at my tensed form as a smirk formed on his lips,

"Such Innocence..." He said in a low but vehement tone. I looked at his unfathomable gaze.

For a second, I thought he was doing this just to find out something, but I don't know what.

But I consider this absurd and shrugged this thought off. His eyes hold expressions that are beyond my understanding.

His mystifying eye averted from mine, and he began to drive back, "Next Week." I looked at him and, being perplexed, I asked,

"What?"

"Next week is our marriage."

"That's too early," I complained.

"I told you. I want to marry you as soon as possible." He said monotonously as I scoffed and looked away again.

We reached my home, and I was about to leave, but he stopped me.

"Before you go, sign these papers."

He gave me some papers. I took them and read them. These are contract documents based on what we discussed over dinner.

I gave him a pleading look and said,

"Please don't... I have already sold myself to you. Please don't make my marriage a business deal." I said, hoping he might understand.

"Sign. Them," He said in a dark tone. I shook my head 'no'. He held my elbow and yanked me to him.

"You. Will. Sign. Them," He growled.

Tears prick at the corner of my eyes, and I plead again.

"Please.. don't.."

But he became oblivious to my cries as he scoffed and said.

"I don't make the same mistake twice."

Unable to understand his statement, I continued to cry.

"Do it!"

He said loudly, and I started, letting out convulsed gasps of dread. He let go of me as I signed the papers with my shaky hand.

Feeling utterly broken, I wiped my tears and gave him an infuriated look. I slammed the papers in his hands and looked at him,

"Now that you have made this marriage nothing but a mere contract. Let me tell you one thing, Mr Christian Elvis," I said coldly.

As I was about to get out, I gave him one last furious look and said,

"This marriage will be toxic for both of us."