Chapter Two

She was mysteriously married to the Almighty Alexander Georgia: the billionaire mafia lord.

Withstanding both the pain she felt on her fraction wrist and his beast-like expression, she asked the last question Alexander would have ever thought of at that moment.

“I still don't get it. Why exactly did you get married to me? Cause, if my memories are serving me right, I know I haven't met you before.” 

Alexander was taken aback for a second as his expression softened. Her question had hit him so unexpectedly, and he knew he wasn't ready to tell her the truth just yet. 

What is the need of bringing up the past when she hasn't learned to accept him yet? It will only cost her to loathe him even more.

He pursed his lips, the muscle in his jaw ticking a couple of beats before he let go of her wrist and then stood upwards, “Because… I saved your life.”

As ignorant as that sounded to him, unfortunately, that was the only excuse he could come up with at that moment.

Truly, he indeed saved her life but, that was his responsibility. 

In the meantime, he had to make it seem like saving her life was the reason for the sudden marriage. She was indebted to him so, getting married to him was the only way she could pay him back: at least, that was what she thought.

“Thanks! I appreciate your kind gesture, but besides getting married to me, you should have given us at least some time to pay you back. Alexander, I sincerely am not ready for marriage at all.”

Hearing her call his name for the first time sounded weirdly pleasing to him. Her accent called his name in a way he thought he has never heard before. The anger he felt gradually waved into thin air, and he could do nothing but watch them fly past him.

Learning that she knew his name was a great sign that, maybe, he was indeed making some progress.

“I am not ready for this at all.” She repeated and then stared down at her bloody wrist.

Even when he felt sympathy in her tone, unfortunately, he can't let go of her. He knew she needed some time to adjust to the whole situation, but letting her go would be the last thing he would do.

Slowly, she raised her head to look straight into his eyes with contempt, “I will continue to always love John. Alexander, no matter what you do, I won't accept you.”

He felt his heart exploding: again and again. He could see the smoke evaporating in the air, and all the anger he thought had left him gradually filling his bloodstream and tethering to his bones.

Shit not funny, he has never felt such humiliation in his entire life from a woman. 

Belong to John? His fist rolled up in a ball and a muscle in his jaw twitched. She must have not realized it yet, but other girls would kill to be in her shoes.

“John? Are you forgetting that he cheated on you with your sis…?”

“I can forgive him for that. And besides, that's known of your business.”

He became palm-twitchingly mad. His fist rolled up in a tight ball just on the thought that: she could forgive a cheater like John, but could not forgive him because he suddenly got married to her – not for anybody's good, but for her good. She does not deserve it, but why was he doing all this in the first place? Why was he protecting a woman he was supposed to discard into the lion's den? And to think that at the end of the day, he was the one losing for his own good makes him even madder. Anger was too weak for what he felt right now.

He just could not see any reason why this little woman had bluntly refused to face the cruel reality of her life.

Is he worse than John? If only she could see that John was only using her for his selfish desires: he was using her to get revenge on him. But, how would he explain this to her without any suspicion?

He admitted that the way he approached her and even got married to her was a little cruel, but at that moment, that was the only thing he could come up with. She won't understand.

Dating her or even making her fall in love with him would take ages, especially when he knew that her heart had completely been captured by that monster, so, just when an opportunity came for him, he had to seize it as soon as possible. Forget it. She still won't understand.

“Do you know why I spent so much money just to save your life?”

"Just to get married to me soon after? I still don't get it: they were other beautiful girls out there that would do anything just to have you. Why do you have to spend so much money to save me just to get married to me in return? Do you realize that John wouldn't have cheated on me if I was still with him? You caused all this!”

Screw that! Now, he was blamed for John cheating on her? For fuck’s sake, she is the only one taking her relationship with John seriously. John is just this dumbass guy who is using her for business against him.

At least, she knew other girls would do anything just to have him. She should take it as she just got lucky to be referred to as Mrs. Georgia, considering the fact that they were supposed to be enemies.

“Oh, him cheating on you now is my fault? You are legally married to me so, he is free to do whatever he wants. And besides, John never had good intentio…”

“I told him I will be back for him.” Ava interrupted him mid sentenced.

Even when she muttered these words, he could hear her faint voice ringing in his head, and he just couldn't take it in anymore. 

He grabbed her wrist vigorously; pulled her to the bathroom and made her stand right in front of the mirror with him holding her shoulders from behind.

Surprisingly, Ava didn't resist a bit. She was helpless anyway, so what's the need?

“Take a look at yourself. You haven't eaten for days: you didn't take proper care of yourself and every day, you keep on cutting your skin… all for him? You think I will let you go by doing this?”

“Since you know I am doing all this for him, why don't you let me go be with him then?” Ava replied, staring back at him through the mirror.

No matter how she tries, she can't learn to accept him into her life. He was a mafia lord: someone who gets engaged in so many illegal businesses. How can she accept him, knowing fully well of the identity he bares? Not only was his identity a high obstacle between them, but, the love she has for John can never be diverted to him.

Ever since she got married to him, she has always felt that she has been living in bondage; and in this bondage, she has no choice but to stay in it.

How can she appreciate a marriage that feels like bondage to her? For fuck's sake, she has no freedom!

Yes, John cheated on her, but isn't she cheating on him by living with Alexander? Call it foolish or ridiculous but, that was exactly how it felt to her.

“For the fact that you are taking advice from your sister is indeed questionable. She taught you all these little tricks, right? Cut your skin; don't eat for days, act like a psychopath and even look terrible, then I would let you go. Ava, don't be foolish. These people are only using you, and you're falling for it.”

Though, she didn't expect he knew of this but, she never really expressed herself. Besides, there is no need of being surprised. Alexander was indeed a dangerous man, and he could get whatever information he wants in just a twinkle of an eye, including your deepest secrets.

On the other hand, Alexander just couldn't understand how someone as beautiful as her could be so stupid. Taking advice from someone who is only pretending to love her? Wanita is only making her hurt herself. Cut your skin and starve yourself? Who gives such lame advice? If this continues, she might end up starving herself to death: her hatred towards him would do her no good.

Even when he confronted Wanita, she doesn't seem like she was ready to stop messing around with her any time soon.

These people were only making her turn her back on him: he was their true target.

“If I don't let them use me, then I would let you use me, huh?”

Alexander slowly shook his head and said rather too calmly, “I get it: you are just obsessed with this man.”

“Obsessed?!” She hesitated for a while and slowly nodded her head, “Yeah, let's say am obsessed. What has that got to do with you?”

“That has everything to do with me. You're my wife!” He yelled but flinched unnoticeably, and his heart skipped a bit when he realized how close they were.

He was standing just one inch behind her: his both hands grabbing her shoulders from behind and her back slightly touching his front.

How come he is the one feeling this way? This wasn't going as planned anymore.

He had to let go of her immediately, or else things might turn out--unpredictable.

He took a step backward and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Despite this woman looking so messy, he couldn't deny how beautiful she was. 

Her perfectly shaped body and her tender unlined dimpled face were indeed captivating. Though her hair was tied up in a messy bun and looked rough with strands of hair gluing to her forehead, but this had only added to her mesmerizing beauty.

Presently, she was indeed looking messy, but undoubtedly beautiful.

He turned her around to face him and gently held her cut wrist, “I will call the doctor to take care of this.”

“There's no need for that. I will continue cutting myself anyw…”

“Then you will have to meet with the doctor every day.” Alexander interrupted and let go of her wrist, “Remember, no matter what you do, you can't leave this marriage. Your parents signed the contract, and you have to pay ten times what I paid. You know, it will take you a lifetime to do that. I will advise you to stay calm and live peacefully with me.” He warned, and before she could come up with a word, he dashed out of the bathroom.