Chapter 2 – contract?

The newly-wed couple arrived at the reception area. It was held at a resort that the Ardiente family-owned.

Stephanie's gaze was drawn to the big tarpaulin with their portrait at the party hall's entrance. She paused and stared at it, "you are lucky to stand next to an adorable man like me." He whispered to her ears.

Her lips curled up as she gazed at him and scanned the faces of the waiters in the area. Her eyes sparkled and smiled widely when she spotted a good-looking man, "I don’t think you are right because that man is more appealing than you," she pointed at the man cheerfully.

He was upset when he saw how happy she was by looking at one of their employees. He tracked her pointing finger and inspected the man's face before blocking her view and staring at her. He took her hand in his. "Will you refrain from staring at another man at our wedding reception? You're making me seem bad in front of a lot of people, "He said irritably.

Stephanie’s eyes scanned the area. She smiled when she saw that the visitors were watching them. "What if I can’t stop myself from looking at them?" She challenged him and smirked.

His head went closer to her neck, and his breath sent thrills up and down her spine. "You're not going to like how I'm going to punish you tonight," he threatens her.

"What does this man intend to do with me?" She questioned herself as her mind wandered to the solution she sought. When she realized what he meant, her cheeks flushed.

Her eyes grew as he moved his face away from her and stated, "let’s go?" He invites her, offering his arm to her. Stephanie stared at his arm and was hesitating if she would accept it or not, but he looked at her as if he was sending a message to hold his arm.

She clung to his arm and walked with him when the emcee asked them to join him on the stage. "Let’s welcome our newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Ardiente!" The emcee announced the event to the guests and visitors.

The couple looked at each other’s eyes as if they were so in love while walking up to the stage. The two thanked everyone who attended their special wedding and announced they were to enjoy themselves tonight.

Caspian parted ways with Stephanie when he noticed his friends coming to the event without informing his wife.

"Congratulations, dude!" They greeted him.

Ivan, Lawrence, Jerome, and Brent are his batchmates in the Academy from which he graduated.

"I can’t believe that you will settle first before us," Lawrence laughs.

"Exactly! I even assumed you wouldn't take all the females you've dated seriously because you're always telling us that no girl can tame a lion." Brent went on to say that they laughed at his comments.

"Why don’t you introduce your wife to us, Caspian?" Ivan suggested that, while his friends were waiting for his response. Caspian's eyes quickly looked for his wife and saw her joyfully conversing with the waiter she mentioned as gorgeous as him.

"What are you staring at, dude?" he said, his face darkening and his chest constricting.

He heard them speak and was about to glance in the direction he was looking when Caspian summoned a waiter to divert their attention. 

They all get a glass of wine on the tray that a man is holding, Caspian whispers something to the waiter and instructs him to do as he says.

"Hey, Caspian. Call your wife and introduce her to us. We want to know the woman you married," Jerome demands.

"You'll see her another day, but not today," he searched for her again and found her sitting alone in the corner.

This is the first time that Stephanie feels so alone because many of the visitors surrounded by her are strangers. She doesn’t know how she will interact with those unknown people.

She chose to talk to the handsome waiter she spotted, but eventually, he went missing during the party, "where is he?" She sighed and felt sad while her eyes were searching for the waiter.

"Are you looking for me, my Mrs. Ardiente?" She heard her husband’s voice behind her. She grimaced, then faked her smile facing him.

"Why would I do that?" she rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms across her chest.

Caspian comes towards her and places his arm around her shoulder. He moves his lips closer to her ears, "can’t you be sweet to me in front of everyone?" He requested.

Stephanie felt irritated when he felt for her. That made her laugh secretly at him, "I didn’t hear that the man I married was hot-headed," she muttered.

"What are you muttering about?"

"I said, that I am tired, so how can I smile? I have been smiling since our pre-nuptial and my cheeks are getting sore because of it," she complains like a child.

Caspian quietly chuckled at her foolish behavior. He decided to excuse himself from the visitors and instructed the emcee to keep them entertained till the celebration finished.

"Why are we leaving now?" She asked out of the blue when Caspian excused themselves.

"Didn’t you complain just now?" He sarcastically replied.

She didn't object, instead of following him as he escorted her out of the venue, "He did still have a heart. I guess," her mind thought.

Caspian's chauffeur drove them to the condominium that his parents had given them as a present, unlocked the door’s vehicle, and waited for her to go.

Stephanie was waiting for him to open the door, but she noticed he was standing at the side and seemed to be waiting for her to be out. She stayed there for about a minute till Caspian became impatient and knocked on the window.

She rolled down the window, exposing her irritated husband's face. "What exactly are you doing there? Drop down, "He gave her instructions.

She pouted, turned around, and pushed the door open, exiting the vehicle. "What do those individuals find appealing about him? He's not a gentleman at all! He is selfish, obnoxious, and egotistical,” she murmured.

Caspian was watching her. His heart was celebrating seeing her irritated. He saw her hold each hem of her wedding gown while he was standing at the doorway, waiting for his wife to come.

"Faster! It’s getting dark and I am in hurry," he instructed, and he grins at her when he notices she is making faces at him.

"I should have asked his name and added him on his social media account, but it's a pity that I didn’t have a chance to know his name," she muttered as she walked past him. "My parents had been blind to choosing this man as my husband. What’s so good about having a soldier as a husband?"

Caspian saw the slippery ground she was about to step on. He didn’t know what came into his mind, but his feet had the urge to run through her and pushed her to the other corner, causing her to fall on the wet grassy ground.

She stared at him and shouted, "why did push me?! What are you thinking?!"

Caspian did not say anything, but he offered his hand to help her stand, but she ignored him and stood on her own, walking before him to the front door.

"Open the door now, I thought you were in hurry?" She speaks like a brat.

Caspian ran in her direction and opened the door, stepping inside the condominium. Stephanie saw him race to the second level and return a few minutes later with the bags.

She knitted her brows as she watched him. She remained silent as she observed his every move, but she opened her mouth when she noticed him passing by and was ready to leave the home.

"Hey!!" She screamed, but it seemed that he didn’t hear her, "where are you planning to go?"

Caspian turns around and steps forward toward her, "can’t you tell? I am going back to the camp." He arrogantly replied.

"Oh! Can you stay for a bit?" She looks concerned.

Caspian smiled when she pleaded with him, thinking that she will stop her. He was planning to stay in their house tonight to get to know his wife better, but he thinks that she wants some time alone to familiarize herself with the house.

"Are you attempting to persuade me not to leave the house tonight?" He questions her.

"Oh no, dear! Please don’t misunderstand my intention, I am asking you to stay here for a while because…" She pulled something behind her back and showed him a brown envelope, "of this," she added happily.

"What is that?" He was puzzled.

"A written agreement. And I'd like you to sign this.” She flashes a broad grin.

"Contract?" 

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