Chapter 9

Skyler’s POV

"I bet he is hiding something, he has been so sneaky since he came out of that marriage registry," Clara said bluntly.

"Tell me, Zane Hills, is there something you are hiding from me, your mother?"

"What! Am I now a kid who can’t have his own privacy?"

"You are my son! Zane Hills. And I have every right to know at least some important things about you."

"Really, Mom! You should start with yourself, talking behind my back, and planning a marriage I do not want for myself."

"That is so rude. Zane, Clara is a good woman. I picked her specifically for you, she is the daughter of the most successful vintner. Joining both families together would be huge, Zane."

"That is enough, mother!" He yelled

"That is enough!"

"You both need to leave now!"

"Then tell us what you went to do in the marriage registry."

"I will tell you when you have decided not to always poke your nose in my business." Her mother said.

He walked to the door, opened his bedroom door, and waited for them to come out of his room.

Then I heard a slam on the door, and everything was quiet. I stood in the bathroom for a while before I decided to come out. I had already put on my underwear and my bra.

I came out and saw Zane Hills' face buried in his hand. I didn’t know what to say. I quietly sat beside him for some minutes. "Do you need anything to eat?"

Words failed me, and I didn’t know what exactly to say to him at that moment.

"I’m not hungry; I’m just going to get ready for work."

"Okay, I will get ready too."

"No! You can’t go out today; my mom and Clara would be around; they have eyes everywhere, and they’re watching me."

"So I’m just going to stay at home."

"Yes, consider it your honeymoon."

"What! My honeymoon? I can’t do my honeymoon all by myself; it has to be me and you."

"The husband has to work, and the wife has to stay home. So start practicing how to perform the wife duty."

I sat there dumbfounded and watched him get ready for work; he was so fast and smooth. His room remained the same even after he was ready for work. He is a neat person, I must say; if it were my room, it would be so messy and untidy.

He left without saying goodbye. I was pissed about it; I would be the one at home, and he couldn’t even wave me goodbye.

After some minutes, I went to the bathroom to bathe, and then I began to remember all that had happened in the morning.

Does he really have to face all this stuff from his mother and Clara? I never knew late Mrs. Tia was a commoner; I heard she was wealthy. He must have loved her enough to put her out there as wealthy. The Hills family is full of drama, and I don’t think I can handle it. I prefer to stay quiet and low-key with the family.

Is Clara really going to get married to Zane? What will happen to me then? I thought to myself as I bathed.

Why did Zane marry me without thinking of it? He is definitely planning something, and what I really don’t want to be is a dog. He should stick to the plan and pay me my $5,000 every month.

I was done bathing, and I was dressed immediately in one of his big polos; I couldn’t wear my dress in the house.

I got downstairs and saw a woman in her mid-fifties holding a menu and a face mask on her face.

"Sorry, who are you?"

"I am your chef for today, Mrs. Skyler Hills. Please come downstairs to have your breakfast." I walked slowly to the dining table. I mean, I was a little bit scared, but not too scared because it was Zane Hills' house.

I sat down on the dining table, trying to look at the woman’s face, but I couldn’t see through. "Please let me know why you are wearing a face mask."

"Mr. Zane Hills instructed us to wear this."

"Us? What do you mean by us?"

"I have three other chefs to assist me with your breakfast."

"Can they come out, please?"

Immediately, the woman called them out. I did it all on a face mask.

"What is going on here? I don’t understand all this; he left the house and didn’t inform me about it."

"Mr. Zane Hills instructed that you are not to see our faces, so you wouldn’t recognize us outside."

"But you are to recognize my face, right?"

"Mr. Zane paid us to keep our mouths shut about your identity."

"This is hilarious. I thought he was smart; is this his own smart?"

"What would you like for breakfast? The menu is right in front of you."

"Hold on, I have to call him first."

I dialed his number, but he didn’t pick up his phone.

"Mrs. Skyler Hills, kindly tell us what you want for breakfast." I sat there in disbelief and tried to process it for a minute.