Chapter 6

Her hands flew straight to her neck, and she massaged the flesh there thoroughly, before trying to talk again. But her efforts were all null, as no words still came out of her mouth. She turned to Angela, sending her distress signal with her eyes, even though she knew there was nothing her friend could do about it.

"It's alright, Angela. She will be alright after a few days as long as you take care of her well, which I am not sure you will be able to do. Since you are currently living with the most heartless man in history," Lucas taunted, his tone heavily laced with sarcasm. He turned to Alicia and Hazel and smiled at them,

"Let's go stand at the front. We should be positioned in the best place to support our daughter."

And with that, the trio walked away, but not before Alicia threw an apologetic glance at her sister.

Isabella watched them leave, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears at the injustice she was suffering. As much as she wanted to accept the fact that her parents did this to save her from embarrassment, she still felt wronged that she had not been allowed to prove herself.

On the stage, the MC gave a bright smile after receiving the cue to start from the programs coordinator.

"And now, we will be inviting Mrs Isabella Hunt to the podium to give her wedding speech!"

The audience erupted into an applause as they watched in anticipation as the curtains rose to reveal a beautiful young lady. Not many knew that the first young Miss of the Yates family used a wheelchair, so they were not surprised when the beautiful lady walked up to the MC and took the mic, until she introduced herself.

"Hello everyone, sorry to dissapoint you. But I will be giving the wedding speech on behalf of my lovely sister, Isabella..."

"What the fuck is Isabella's sister doing on that podium? And where is my wife?!" he asked David, his face darkening to the point that everyone around him could sense his displeasure.

Knowing there was no way to pacify his boss when the man was already this angry, David hurriedly looked around the hall and searched for Isabella. For now, that was the only person he knew who could quell his anger.

"She is no longer in the hall, Sir. I think she left with Miss Angela, her friend."

Nicholas scoffed mockingly, restraining himself from laughing out loud.

"Since she is so ashamed to be addressed as my wife, do you think I should let her go, David?" he asked. But before David could answer, he continued, "Of course not! I struggled so hard to get her into my hands and now, she thinks I will just get frustrated and let her go so easily? She is my wife and will stay as such!"

He walked away from David, in the direction of the hall exit door. There was nothing he would do here without his wife anyway.

Nicholas went straight to the main mansion, prepared to go to Isabella's room straightaway to find her but was surprised to find her and her friend with some of the maids in the kitchen. His gaze softened monetarily with the subtle hint of a smile he spotted on her face, but he was quick to harden his heart.

"And what are you doing there?"

Isabella's head snapped around to look at him, as she could not turn her wheelchair that quickly. From his expression, she could tell he was very angry. What if he was here to punish her for her disobedience in not delivering the speech herself?

She knew she could not give excuses since that would only serve to aggravate the punishment so she had found ways to warn Angela not to tell Nicholas she could not talk for now.

Gulping saliva down her throat, she stayed quiet while Angela answered him.

"Isabella was helping the maids here in the kitchen to—"

"Helping the maids?" Nicholas asked. Turning to the maids who stood bowing in the middle of the kitchen, he gave them a questioning glare.

"Mrs Hunt offered to help and we could not stop her," they chorused, like they had planned the answer beforehand.

"I will pardon you for today. But when next I hear or even catch a glimpse of my wife's shadow in the kitchen, you will have to leave your work to her," he threatened, aiming at both Isabella and the maids. Even though the maids knew his threat concerning them was not to be downplayed, they knew Nicholas Hunt would never hurt his wife. He had been fussing about the woman right from two weeks ago, before she arrived, and everyone could already guess what kind of feelings he had for her.

Just that they were not sure if Nicholas Hunt was capable of such feelings.

"It won't happen again, Sir!" they chorused again, and this time around they were ignored by Nicholas.

He walked over to Isabella and carried her up from the wheelchair, amid her slight protests, and to the second living room where the maids would not be able to hear what they were saying.

He placed her on a couch when the got there, before taking a seat directly in front of her.

"Care to explain now? Why you disobeyed me," he asked, trying hard to maintain a dominant gaze.

Isabella stayed quiet and busied herself in tracing out the intricate nature of the rug beneath her feet. It was better to just keep quiet and endure the punishment which would come soon after, than to start crying and begging when it would all be for nothing.

"Are you ignoring me now, Isabella?"

And when he still received no answer from her, he flared up.

"Don't you think your actions are getting too unbearable? I understand that you were forced into this marriage but I was too! And you don't have to rub it in my face every single time that the perfect Isabella Yates is not supposed to be—"

"Sorry to interrupt you, Master Hunt! Mrs Hunt's friend said to inform you that dinner is ready. And that you should take note that it was cooked by Mrs Hunt."

Nicholas' eyes widened in surprise, but he was quick to regain his composure. She cooked for him?

"You cooked for me?"

Receiving no answer, he smirked.

"Let's see until when you will stay quiet. You seem to find the game fascinating."

With that, he went to carry her again to the dining table, helping her settle on a chair which was right beside his customary seat.

Since the table was already set before they arrived, he wasted no time in picking up his spoon and digging into the food.

With his first mouthful of food, he munched once...twice, and then his mouth's movement stopped.

There was something strange with the food.