Chapter 2

Freya wanted to stand up, but she'd been crouching for so long that her legs had gone numb.

"What's wrong?" the man asked.

"My legs have gone numb."

She was lifted off her feet as soon as the words were out of her mouth. An unfamiliar scent enveloped her, and she felt her face burn.

The man placed her on the seat before the counter. "Get your identification."

She kept her head lowered as she obediently placed the things on the counter.

"Daniel Talbot," the staff said.

"That's me," the man said.

"Freya Somner."

"Here," Freya said. She looked up at the staff.

The staff looked at the identification she held, then at Freya. The latter's eyes were spirited but also carried a hint of naivety. Freya was only 22, but Daniel was already 28. He'd even carried her in.

That made the staff suspect whether Freya had been forced into this. She asked, "Are you here to get married at your own will?"

"Yes, I am," Freya said.

"Alright, then. Fill up these forms, please."

At 5:30 pm, Freya and Daniel walked out of the city hall. Freya looked down at her marriage certificate. She'd gone from being single to married once the staff stamped the certificate.

She'd married a man she'd met for the first time without even dating him. The whole thing had only taken a matter of minutes.

Daniel stopped and looked at her. "Where are you headed now?"

She had kept her head down and hadn't been paying attention to the distance between them. She walked right into his chest.

Pain spread through her, starting from her nose. Tears welled in Freya's eyes. How could his chest be as hard as a wall?

She clamped a hand over her nose and looked at him tearily. "I'm going back to the hospital."

He was so tall that her eyes were only level with his chest. It was incredibly muscular and looked just like the diagrams she'd seen in her medical texts.

"Get in the car," he said.

Freya struggled to open the door. She tugged it with all her strength, but it didn't budge. Daniel saw her from the driver's seat. He waved at her, gesturing for her to back up. Then, he opened the door from inside.

"Which hospital are you going to?" he asked.

"The county tumor hospital, the one at Percat Street. Thanks." Freya obediently settled in her seat.

"Your seatbelt," he said.

She put it on, and he started the car. She noticed that his hands and arms were tanned, with protruding veins. He oozed strength and power.

Suddenly, Freya's stomach rumbled. The sound was magnified in the silent car. She instinctively held her stomach, her face turning beet red.

What the hell was wrong with her? Why did she keep embarrassing herself? Was there something about her that made her incompatible with Daniel?

Her stomach continued to rumble for a while. Finally, the car stopped. Freya thought they'd arrived at the hospital and moved to open the door. Then, she looked out and said, "We're not at the hospital."

Daniel had already gotten out of the car, though. He headed to a fruit store without looking back at her. Soon, he returned with a bag full of fruits. "I don't know what your grandfather likes, so I bought a little of everything."

"He can't eat anything. Doctor's orders."

Daniel looked at her, perhaps because she sounded too calm. Only then did Freya notice how deep-set his eyes were. There was a hint of dominance in them.

"You have them, then." He placed the bag on her lap. "Have some to tide the hunger. I'm in a rush."

Freya wondered whether he was showing his concern for her. A wave of warmth surged in her as she peeled a banana. It was sweet.

…

The nurse had just removed Neil's IV drip when Freya and Daniel arrived at the ward. Thomas took the marriage certificates from Daniel and Freya and held them before Neil. He said happily, "Look at this, Neil. They're official marriage certificates with the stamps and all. They're genuine!"

Neil smiled and nodded weakly. "That's great. I won't have anything to worry about anymore."

"Come closer so Neil can see you, Dan," Thomas said.

Daniel stepped forward. "Hi, Grandpa."

Neil's smile widened. "Hi…"

He held Daniel's hand and said, "I'll leave Freya in your hands from now on. She's a softie but is stubborn on the inside. I hope you'll be more tolerant of her and take the time to explain your thoughts to her if you two ever get into an argument."

Tears streamed down Freya's face when she heard this. Daniel said, "I will, Grandpa."

"Don't worry, Neil. We won't mistreat Freya. Daniel has property and a car—I'll have him show Freya around his place right now. She can move in when she's free," Thomas said.

Freya forgot about crying and stared at Thomas in shock when she heard that. Didn't she and Daniel only have to get married? Why did they even have to live together?

"Go on, then. It's still light out, so you can see what the place is like," Neil said.

Daniel and Freya headed to his place under Thomas' urging.