Chapter 8: You're Grounded 

“Oh my… oh my… shit” she almost screamed. "I totally forgot. Damn!” A wave of panic swept over her as she stared at her wristwatch. "I'm finally doomed. It's 7 am, how did I forget I now have a husband,” she muttered and scratched her hair. “I have to go now, else I might lose this contract. But what in the heavens am I going to tell him now?" She thought.

Luna turned and stared at her mum, she was still sleeping. "I have to go now mum, I'll see you soon,” she said as she rushed out of the room.

“Nurse, please keep an eye on my mum I'll be back soon" She pleaded with the nurse on duty.

“That's alright Ms. Luna, but please don't be late" the nurse replied.

"I won't…” she replied, almost on top of her voice as she rushed out of the hospital building. She quickly searched through her phone and found the address Luke sent the previous day, she waved down a taxi, showed him the address, hopped in and the car zoomed off.

The journey to the Mason's house seemed like forever, the curiosity of what lied awaiting made her feel a silent torture. Fear was written all over her face. The taxi pulled up in front of a huge house. “Is this the place?" Luna asked the driver in a confused tone.

"Yes ma'am, this is exactly the address you showed me,” he replied.

"Ohh, I see" She said as she stared at the building in amazement.

She paid the man and alighted from the taxi. Standing in front of the mansion, Luna was drawn to the striking design that stood before her. It was nothing short from a masterpiece. “The architecture behind this must have taken years to create this" she thought to herself.

As she walked closer to the door of the house, her pulse quickened and the adrenaline in her pumped to high. “Phew…” she exhaled louding in a bid to calm her nerves. " Here we go,” she said as she rang the doorbell.

“Hello, who are you and how may I help you?” A lady who answered the door asked Luna politely.

"Hi, I'm Luna. I'm… I'm… Mr. Jasper's wife and I would love to speak with him." She said sharply, not knowing how else to present it.

“I see. Well, my boss is currently not available. He doesn't take appointments at home, you can book an appointment at the office." The lady replied calmly.

“Please, it's really urgent and I can't leave without talking to him. Please help me." Luna pleaded.

" Hmmm… I'll see what I can do.” Seeing the sincerity in her eyes the lady decided to help.

Jasper sat patiently in the sitting room. He was a bit skeptical about the whole incident but he didn't want to draw any conclusion yet. But this has placed him in a difficult situation, he needed to present his wife today at a dinner party that was hosted by a client.

“Someone's here to see you, Sir." Ariel's voice awakened Jasper from his thoughts.

Jasper lifted his eyes from the tablet in his hands and stared at Ariel who stood some away from him. “I don't have any appointments this morning Ariel. I don't want to see anyone.” His cold voice sent shivers down Ariel's body.

"I'm sorry sir, but she insisted it's urgent,” Ariel replied, her voice a bit shaky.

"She? Who's she? Tell the person I don't accept visitors, she can request an appointment at the office.” Jasper shouted, he was getting irritated.

"She's Luna, your wife, Sir,” Ariel replied, she knew her boss was quick to anger.

"Luna is here?” 

"Yes Sir. She's waiting outside”

"Send her in now.” His anger heightened the more.

Luna followed Ariel into the beautifully decorated mansion. 

A world of luxury was revealed as the hefty oak door creaked open. The polished marble flooring was bathed in a warm glow as sunlight poured through the large windows. Luna's breath caught in her throat as she entered the entryway. Each of the paintings that covered the walls was a masterwork. A large staircase that led to the second story took up much of the room. She was filled with admiration but she couldn't admire them for long as was already in a huge mess.

“Here she is." Ariel gestured as she retreated into the building. Luna stood for a while, her face bent as she stared at her toes. Words failed and all she could think of was to face whatever consequence that would be melted out for her.

"Where have you been?” Jasper finally broke the silence after staring at the figure in front of him for about a minute.

"I… I… I…? Luna stammered uncontrollably, she thought there were words she could utter to save her from the situation, but she was disappointed when the words got stuck in her throat.

"You suddenly can't talk?” Jasper asked, his whole body was now boiling in anger. “Speak up young lady, where the hail have you been?" Jasper screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice piercing the silence. He threw a vase across the room, shattering it into pieces.

Luna froze on the spot, her whole body shivered and her legs got so heavy and stuck, that she couldn't move an inch.

“I had an emergency, Mr. Jasper, I had to rush to the hospital. I'm very sorry I didn't inform you before leaving. It was a very urgent call that needed my attention" the words came rushing out.

"You had an emergency? Is that enough reason to disobey my orders?” 

"No. No. It's not.” Luna twisted her fingers as she spoke, her face still bent to the floor.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you,” Jasper commanded.

Luna slowly lifted her head and her eyes met with Jasper's bloodshot eyes which made her get scared the more.

"I don't condone disobedience. You are my wife and you'll do as I instruct. Hope I've made myself clear." 

“Yes Mr. Jasper" Luna replied with a slight nod.

“Good. Now from now on you're grounded, you go nowhere until I permit you to, and Luke will take you to wherever you're going and back to the house.”

Luna didn't know when her jaw dropped. This is going to be so difficult. “How will I take care of Mum? Gosh…” she whispered to herself.

“What did you say?" 

“Nothing. Nothing at all." Luna responded sharply.

"Ariel will show you to your room. Get ready, Luke will pick you up by 3 pm to get a dress, we have a dinner to attend tonight. Jasper said as he walked out of the sitting room.

Luna almost cried at the way Jasper just treated her but when she heard she had a room to herself it calmed her a bit.

“My room? Jasper and I won't be in the same room. Wow, that's the best news of the century. Phew…” Luna thought as she sighed with relief. She couldn't imagine sharing a room with cruel Jasper. This was not close to what she had expected marriage should be like, she had never for once thought she'd ever get married to a cruel billionaire but here she was. 

“Fuck. fuck. Fuck.” Luna pounced her palms together as she recalled Jasper's statement.

"I’ve been grounded, I can't even see my mum again, what am I going to do now?” Her whole world crumbled before her. She fell to the floor and sobbed quietly. "This can't be happening to me, this can't be happening"