Chapter 1

Jasmine's POV

His insistent mouth parted my tired lips, sending chills down my spine and evoking the wildest sensations. I was tired and exhausted but yet I moaned at his every touch, it was like he had a way of renewing his energy. He had sex with me three times already tonight and this was the fourth one, I wanted to sleep but I wouldn't dare make a fool of him by sleeping off while he lay over me.

For the fourth time, I let him thrust as hard as he wanted as I let the tears that I had been holding back fall. I was sore and I hadn't slept throughout the night because of his persistent desires. This was my life as Mrs Levine.

“ You can sleep in today, it's not like you're going to work or anything,” I watched him button up as he stood in front of a mirror. It was already day, I had barely slept a wink and looked like I was quarter to die but here he was as energetic as he was on bed.

“ Alright,” I muttered as I fondled with my fingers nervously. I had been meaning to ask him for this favor for a while now but I wasn't sure of how he would take it.

“ You can say whatever you want to, I plan on waiting for you to finish idealing around,” he said in irritation.

“ Is it okay if I get a job?” I mumbled.

“ What did you just say?” His voice became alot more stern, I trembled in fear. I knew he hated when I asked him annoying questions or when I ask for relative freedom but I was tired of being at home all day doing nothing but hope to get pregnant and when that doesn't happen, let him slide in all night.

“ What I mean is... I'm tired of staying at home doing nothing, I can work at a clothing store or even a bakery. I promise I won't cause any trouble,” I pressed my palms together as I begged. “ If you still aren't comfortable with me being away from your sight, I can work as an intern in your company,” I pleaded with him. I needed to go out and have real fun, I just needed to be free once in a while.

“ Are you not satisfied with the house?” He asked fully focused on his tie.

“ I am. It's big and luxurious and well... Perfect,” I needed to appease him in anyway and in everyway.

“ Do you lack anything?” He went on with his questions.

“ No,”

“ Is the premises of the house not spacious enough for you?”

“ It is and I'm not complaining about anything, don't get me wrong,” I panicked. Was he mad at me now?

“ Then why do you crave your freedom so much?” He stared at himself in the mirror.

“ It's just that... Well, I love the house and I love you but I think I'm getting suffocated being at home all the time...”

“ Then it's settled, I'll get you everything you used to ideal around with here so you won't need to go outside. Problem solved,” he concluded dryly.

“ But...,”

“ And about you working in my company, do you plan on disgracing the Levine family? What do you think people would say if my wife was to work as an intern? Do you want to create the image that I'm a cruel, intimidating and heartless husband?” He questioned with a stoic face.

“ No, I would never do that to the family. If that's what you are worried about, you can just open a clothing line for me so I can be the boss of myself,” I beamed at my suggestion.

“ You really delude yourself that you're the daughter-in-law of this family, don't you?” He scoffed finally turning to look at me straight in the eye.

“ That's not it,” I mumbled as I began to cry. His words always hurt like a knife and of course he wasn't bothered about my feelings. He was Asphalt after all, he cared for no one except for my sister, Janet.

“ Don't forget that you're nothing more than a title, you'll never be Mrs Levine to me just in case you needed to hear that,” he let out the bitter truth as he walked towards the door. “ Be a good wife and get pregnant soon,” he said before slamming the door.

We had been married for two months now and yet the only person he thinks about is my sister Janet even when he groans in my arms, all he thinks of is Janet. I let myself cry profusely today, I wasn't at all angry with Janet. I just hated myself for not being able to match up to her.

I decided to sleep as I was both sore and sleepy and as much as I loved to eat, food could wait.

” Madam, breakfast is ready. Would you like it in bed or on the dining?” I heard Mrs Margaret come in.

“ I wanna sleep more,” I mumbled as I rolled over on the bed, burying my head under a pillow. I had barely slept and now they wanted me to have breakfast, urgh!

“ But madam, you need to be up by this time. And breakfast is most necessary especially health wise,” Butler William was at it again.

“ Butler William is right, we're talking about your conception here. You need to be healthy to conceive,” she added as the other workers lined up behind them.

Throwing the bedsheets over, I sat up in bed probably looking like a crazy koala right now. My dark circles not helping matters.

“ You'll are making it seem like I'm infertile or something. It's only been two bloody months,” I muttered trying my best to keep my cool.

“ Did you say something?” Butler William asked.

“ Nothing,” I smiled. “ I understand your concern and all but maybe we can delay...,” I was interrupted by the buzzing sound from my phone.

“ Arianna!!!” I called at her name as I was close to crying, I missed her. I missed our carefree days and her constant gossipping.

“ Babe! Bestie! Did you miss me?” She asked me in a muffled voice as if cuddling her kitten, Munna.

“ Sooooooo much. It's been like ages,” I exaggerated as I sprawled out on the king sized bed. It had it been two months since we last came into contact but I was so used to seeing her and meeting up with her everyday it felt like wehad been separated for eternity.

“ If you missed me, then why didn't you call me, huh? How am I your bestie if you can't even check up on me? Did that monster cage you?” She was fond of asking so many questions at a time.

“ Yes,” I said in an oppressed voice as I sat back up, twirling my hair with my fingers.

“ I knew you should have resisted this marriage from this start,” I was sure she just rolled her eyeballs.

“ But I really do love him,” I sighed. “ And besides, it wasn't in my power to bargain for anything else. My parents told me to,”

“ I can't believe you really call that witch your mom,” she scoffed.

“ She's not as bad as you think,” I mumbled.

“ Yeah, that's what the poisonous mushroom tells you when you meet it. Of course it doesn't look poisonous until you have a taste,” I never understood when Arianna spoke like this.

“ I'm still trying to get Asphalt to notice me but my plans don't seem to be working. Maybe I should re-decorate the house, or should it just be our room?”

“ Honey, not even a new house deco would make that ice melt. I can't believe my best friend is nothing but a bed warmer now,” she sighed in frustration. “ That's waste of your youth girl. We're in our early 20s, we should be free and out-n-about, you know,” she probably was doing her wiggle dance. She did that whenever she felt a rush of excitement especially one that was going to lead to a crazy idea.

“ So.....,”

“ So let's meet up, I have tons of things I wanna tell you,” she finally stated her objective.

“ Asphalt doesn't want me going out,” I really wanted to go but I couldn't disobey Asphalt either.

“ O c’mon! Girl, I can't believe how you're letting him rule you like this,” she complained. “ So what's he gonna do if you go out, huh? Kill you? Beat you up? He can't do neither because he knows that he'd be a real pussy for doing that,” she was as pig-headed as always.

“ I know he can't do that but he'll get really mad and I don't like it when he gets mad at me. I told you I'm trying to win him over and my ovaries aren't helping at all,”

“ So now you've become a nothing more than a pig in his eyes? And you really think he'd love you if you gave birth to his kids?”

“ Well, I heard that children create bond between couples and given how he's obsessed over having a child...well...,”

“ You know what, I'm not going to say anything about this to you. You'll realize it sooner or later but just know I'm always here for you. To be frank, I'm leaving for the States tomorrow so I wanted to bond and reconnect with you before I go. I mean, you're married now and I'll be out of country so we won't be able make our little escapades anymore and...,” I heard her sniffle through the phone. She was leaving Hillel city for good.

“ Where do you want us to meet?” I tried my best to sound audible through the tears that just kept pouring.

“ Our usual breakfast restaurant,” she said between sobs. I never believed that we'd ever be separated this much in my life, I don't know how I would be able to live without knowing she was around me.

“ Okay, just give me a few minutes,” I assured her before disconnecting the call. The sore feeling and laziness I had felt suddenly went away as I got up from bed and headed for the bathroom.

“ Madam, you know that the President wouldn't want you to go out,” Butler William reminded me of my major restraint but I didn't care at this point. My friend came first before anyone, she had been my bestie from elementary school and I wasn't going to watch her go without seeing her even if it meant defying Asphalt.

“ I know but I have to,” I said dryly.

“ But you know that the president will get really angry if he finds out that you went out,” Mrs. Margaret panicked.

“ Everything will be on me, no need to bother about being blamed,” I said as I took my bath. “ I acted independently so it's not going to be your fault. I'm sorry but I'll have to disobey orders today,” I was done with bathing.

“ Ma...,”

“ I'd like to be given the privacy to change into new clothes,” I instructed and with frequent glances, they finally all left the room for me to get changed.

I didn't care about status right now, I was going to dress the way I and Arianna loved in our casual, immature wear looking like teenagers. I took out a pink dungaree and a white shirt with matching white sneakers, putting my hair in bunches and with that I was out of the house.

As much as I loved Asphalt, I couldn't miss the chance of seeing Arianna one last time before she leaves for the States. She was more important than she knew she was to me and I can't believe my marriage had robbed me of the bond and friendship we had worked so hard to build.