Chapter 3

ARIANNA

I sat on my matrimonial bed, my body was stiff as hell and my blood ran cold.

Momentarily, I would shiver as a result of the chilly wind which seeped its way in through the partially thrown apart curtains.

The lacy night gown I wore did justice in exposing a mild part of my bossoms

My hands would nervously trail to drag a part of the gown up to cover up my bossoms time and time again.

My mum had picked it for me earlier when I went to my parents house. In her words, she said that I needed to look so sexy and alluring for my husband.

I did not want to put this on but mum had insisted saying it will make Lucas realise what he was missing by not treating me well as his wife.

I still could not believe what my married life had turned to.

I never imagined to be married to a man who completely detests me and loathes me.

He did not even have the decency to spend the entire night with me the last time we got intimate.

It felt like a taboo to him.

I had a feeling there was another woman somewhere because countless times I had heard him discussing ever so sweetly on a phone to a woman but when I did interrogate him, I would end up with a slap or an insult.

Twined tears trickled down my cheeks the more I pondered on my marraige.

Was this even a marraige?

I suddenly became claustrophobic and goosebumps raided my skin.

As if on cue, I heard the clicking sound of the door being opened and I swiftly pivoted my face to its direction.

Holding my stare, I jerked once we set our eyes upon each other.

There he stood, my cold and mysterious husband.

He was dressed in his white signature shirt and black trousers. It was partially unbuttoned to reveal a part of his chiseled chest.

His taunted muscles and biceps could easily be seen as the shirt stuck to him like a second skin.

He was not on his tuxedo or black tie like usual. His black hair was ruffled up and his brown orbs were void of emotion.

I wonder where he had gone to because earlier today he arrived back from work only to leave again. Should I ask him?

Fighting my inner questions, I tore my gaze away from him and downcasted it.

Like a silent predator, Lucas ponderously worked towards the bed where I sat.

My heart drummed in my chest so loud that I could hear it in my ears.

This was it.

Maybe he would find me alluring and complement me. He would tell me how beautiful and sexy I look in this night gown and he would kiss me with empathy.

Oh my God. I am feeling so nervous.

I clunged onto my lacy night gown so tight like it could vanish from my body any minute.

Or did I do a mistake by putting this on?

The moment I felt Lucas body graze mine as he leaned down on the bed, all the hairs in my body seemed to stand and my breathing hitched in my throat.

Like a reflex action, I bolted up and quickly spurned around to face him.

But to my very greatest surprise, Lucas was just leaning down to grab a pillow.

What?

My brows furrowed at his strange action. Where was he taking the pillow to?

I opened my mouth to speak but I was hesitant to do so. Without saying a word, he grabbed the duvet from the bed and spurned around towards the door.

"Wait..."I finally mustered enough courage to speak to him.

Confusion rocked my facial expression.

He stopped in his tracks and stood with his back facing against me.

"Where are you going to?" I whispered out my question but it was loud enough for him to hear me.

We normally shared the same room.

That was the only thing we did as a married couple even though we slept on different sides of the bed with a pillow in between us.

Silence raided the atmosphere for a while before he spoke. "I am going to sleep" he simply stated, pivoting to look at me.

Sleep? But this was our bedroom.

"Sleep where? I do not seem to understand you" I pushed further.

I hope I was not irritating him with these questions.

"I do not want to sleep in here with you Arianna what don't you understand!" He immediately erupted into anger.

My heart tightened in my chest and shivers slithered down my spine.

Did he hate me that much?

Why did he not want to sleep in our bedroom? Why did he not want to sleep next to me? We had always shared that together as a married couple. Why change it now?

"Why? Do you hate me? Do you hate this marraige that much? Is that why you do not want to sleep in here with me tonight? Are you that disgusted by me? Why are you doing this to me!?" I was forced to ask multiple questions with tears slithering down my cheeks.

I did not know where this unknown temerity was coming from but all I knew was that Lucas was really acting strange today.

He gave off a deep breathy sigh and a maniac chuckle broke on his lips.

I stood rigid and glued to the spot.

"I do not love you and I am fully aware you know that fact. I hate this marraige and this fucking union. I can not stand you! You are not even my type of woman. You are a plain Jane and yet even the bare minimum of what a wife can give to her husband, you can not even do it!" came his blunt but hurtful reply.

My heart burnt upon hearing that. He did not even try filter his words. He said it so bodly without carrying about my own emotions.

I felt like crying but I held myself together and pulled back my tears.

"Because of my inability to conceive? Is that why you are so wicked towards me! I am not God that gives children. I am only human" I was moved to speak.

His eyes raked my appearance for a while making me so uncomfortable.

What could he be thinking? Perhaps more words to throw at me that would break me even more.

"This marriage was for the benefit of both our parents. It was arranged. But it was the worst decision I had ever agreed to. We were both victims of circumstances.

I have been married to you for two fucking years and yet not even a miscarriage.

Since birthing a child is too hard for you to do then atleast have a miscarriage so the world can know that you are capable of taking in but no!

Not even a single miscarriage. You are tarnishing my image everywhere and you have the audacity to ask if that is why I am being wicked to you?

Huh? Is that not enough reason to kill you Arianna?!

You are so useless!" his words were like spitfire to me.

It broke me into a million pieces.

My heart broke and burnt within me.

He truly does not accept this marriage and to top it off, he wishes me dead.

"Hold on Lucas" I called out to him mildly the moment he was about stepping out. Gathering my emotions together, I managed to stand afloat.

My voice was so shaky. I snivelled and used the back of my palms to wipe off my tears.

He stood still and I walked over to meet him.

"Lucas...w-where did you go today? You came back from work and went out again almost immediately" I inquired.

I wanted to confirm if my suspicions were true--if he went to have fun with another woman.

"I went to attend to one of my business partners" he told me.

I was still not fully convinced.

"And who even gave you the temerity to ask me such a stupid question?" Lucas fired back causing me to jerk.

I sunk in breath. "I just wanted to know if..."

"I did not go to meet another woman" he added sharply after reading my facial expression.

"But even if I did, you have no right whatsoever to question my decisions" Lucas scowled. My legs immediately felt jelly and almost caved me to the ground at his words.

So he really might be cheating on me afterall.

"And yes, from today onwards, I will no longer sleep with you in the same room" Lucas deadpanned.

I sucked in breath at his dagger like words and tears rose to the brim of my eyes.

"W-what? W-why? I thought you were only sleeping outside for just this night" I asked almost in tears.

"Why will you make such a decision? We have always shared a room together? That is the only thing we do as a married couple. Do you also want to take that away too?" I questioned, trying so hard to hold back my tears.

"A married couple huh..?"Lucas whispered. "A fucking married couple huh!?" He suddenly erupted into flames of anger, catching me offguard and making me trepadised.

"Do you fucking call this marriage!? Do you really see this as a marraige? A union of two souls?!" Lucas yelled the more, yanking me by my arm and hauling me against his chest.

The hatred he had for me was so purely felt. Undiluted hatred.

It burned in his eyes. His aura wreaked of unprovoked fury and his grip on my arm tightened so bad.

"O-ouch...y-you are h-hurting me" I whimpered, soughting to writhe myself free of his deadly grip but all my attempts seemed weak and feeble.

"This fucking traphole called a marriage is also hurting me! I loathe it. It irks me every time knowing that we are fucking married!" Lucas spat at me.

"I did not f-force you to marry me Lucas" my voice was shaky, my breathing momentarily ceasing.

"But you could have rejected the proposal too! But no. You are a fucking gold digger!

A bitch who tries to stay where she is not needed. I have not divorced you yet because I want you to suffer every day for accepting this fucking marriage. And you know you can not even think of divorcing me because your poverty stricken family lives off my table" Lucas insulted me in the worst possible way before.

"Don't you speak another bad word about my mother and father! Who exactly do you think you are?! Is it because of your fucking wealth! Huh?! Yes my father does manual jobs to survive but he also earns his money with honesty! There is dignity in Labor!" I shot back, a hurricane of emotions flooding me.

"Did you just raise your fucking voice at me?" Lucas asked, his voice dropping deadly low.

At that moment, the sudden bravery I had vanished and I was shaking like a leaf in the wind.

Just staring into Lucas' molten brown eyes felt like I was staring into the eyes of a killer.

"Are you mad Arianna?" He asked again.

I stuttered for words but my sentences were never complete.

In the spur of the moment, Lucas had me by my throat causing me to let out a horrific shriek.

"Lucas!" I cried out whilst he increased pressure on my throat.

"Now listen here you little bitch, the main reason you were married to me was because my parents had this stupid believe that a woman from a lower class status would make the best wife and be very fertile but yet just fucking look at you!

No kids, no pregnancy, not even a miscarriage! You are a worthless piece of trash!

And your parents are even more stupid for believing that I could ever love their daughter!" Lucas growled at me before shoving me off.

I gazed at him, at lost for words. My eyes had become so reddened as a result of the packed up tears which I fought to keep at bay.

My heart broke into a million pieces and it felt like a sharp dagger had been run through me.

Was it my fault that I could not bear him children?

Was I God that gave kids!?

I pressed my lips into a thin line, trying so hard not to allow a single tear drop slip.

He will not see me fall in his presence.

I will deny him of that pleasure which he so much desired.

Without any more word, he walked out of the room leaving me alone.

I dejectedly walked back to my bed and slumped on it.

Curling myself up like a ball, I tried forcing my body to sleep but tears rolled down my cheeks instead.

The tears which I had struggled to keep back. They streamed so uncontrollably. Closing my mouth, I buried my head in my pillow releasing out only muffled sobs.

I did not want anyone to hear my wails. I only wanted my ears to be the only ears that took in the sound of my agony.

Because nobody else cared about my pain. If they found me crying, they would laugh at me or scold me for it.

I cried so hard that my throat hurt and breathing became hitched.

I never imagined the aftermath of my wedding to be like this.

This was yet another cold night in my life. But tonight was different becuase I was spending it alone without my husband by my side.