Chapter 2

Catherin stood next to the man who would become her husband, the man chosen by her parents. He still looked young, but he was already 30 years old. His handsome face made him appear younger than he actually was. Catherin just realized that she didn't know the name of the man who would be her husband. She glanced at him for a moment, but he didn't look at her at all. She became more convinced that the man next to her was also forced into this marriage.

She wondered why he didn't just refuse. Catherin would be very grateful if the man next to her canceled their marriage. She heard his voice, which was surprisingly pleasant, saying the wedding vows in front of their families. There was an immense pain that Catherin felt this time, making her chest tight. Everyone present seemed happy, but she didn't. Somehow there were teardrops passing through her cheeks. She quickly wiped her cheeks; she didn't want her parents to see her shedding tears.

The wedding party went smoothly, without any obstacles.

"Catherin, starting today you will live in Mr. Louis's house," said Kayona, causing her daughter to shed tears. Kayona immediately hugged Catherin, then patted her back gently, feeling warm.

After saying goodbye to her parents and her sister, Ava, Catherin left the house she had lived in since she was a baby. Don't ask how her heart felt at that moment; it's difficult to explain in words.

The day that was supposed to be historic and beautiful for her felt painful. Throughout the journey, she was silent and stiff. The man sitting next to her was the same, not saying anything. Catherin felt like she was not acknowledged by him at all. She felt nothing special, even though she married a wealthy man and rode in a luxurious car. Instead of being happy, she felt hurt.

Meanwhile, Louis and his wife rode in another car, right behind the car Catherin was in. After about an hour's journey, they finally arrived at Louis's residence. Catherin got out of the car, looking around. The front yard of the house looked very spacious. The building itself looked large and grand, almost like a palace.

The man who had recently become Catherin's husband got out of the car without paying any attention to his wife. He really showed his dislike for his wife, even though they were newlyweds who should be filled with affection.

"Why are you silent, Catherin? Come in. Now you are part of our family; this is also your home," said Emma, her mother-in-law.

Catherin nodded and smiled, then walked into the house, escorted by her mother-in-law.

"Nolan actually has his own house, but for now, you two will live here first as newlyweds," Emma spoke softly, looking at her son-in-law with affection. Nolan, it turned out, was the name of Catherin's husband. She felt so strange to hear her husband's name. Her mother-in-law escorted her to the room, which was Nolan's room since he was a child.

When she entered, she saw that Nolan had changed his clothes into casual attire. He was sitting on the bed, his eyes focused on his phone, completely indifferent to his wife. "Your things will be brought here, Mona. If you need anything, just tell me," Bu Emma said, looking at Catherin with affection.

This time, Emma looked at her son, staring at him firmly. "Nolan, don't work too hard. Spend your time wisely on your wedding day." Nolan seemed to ignore his mother, and Catherin felt amazed at her own husband. Not only did he ignore her, but Nolan also seemed to ignore his mother.

Even when Emma left the room, Nolan's gaze was still on his phone. Catherin pursed her lips, unsure of what to do or where to go. In the very spacious room, there was only a bed. No sofa or chair, it looked completely empty and vast.

"You sleep on the floor. There's no sofa in this room so we can sleep on the same bed. But I won't deign to sleep with a girl like you. If you think I can be a good husband, you're dreaming. Have a good sleep on the floor," Nolan said loudly.

The first words Nolan said to his wife were hurtful to Catherin. He still didn't look at his wife, as if his eyes could be hurt if he looked at her. "Okay," Catherin replied shortly. Her heart felt hurt, but she couldn't do anything. She realized she was just a child of poor parents, with a different social status from her husband's. Although she held the status of a wife, she couldn't ask her husband to treat her better.

Catherin then sat on the floor, not far from the bed. "Stay away from me, I don't want to be close to you," Nolan said again. This time, his words hurt his wife's feelings even more. Catherin took a deep breath, then chose to move and sit at the far end of the room, clearly far from her husband. Shortly after she sat down, her head was hit by a pillow. Even though it was just a pillow, it still hurt and startled her. Catherin felt hurt and resentful towards her husband.

"That's your pillow!" Nolan deliberately threw the pillow, but accidentally hit his wife's head. Because he was also startled, his voice sounded like he was shouting.

Catherin took the pillow and then stared sharply at her husband. In her heart, she wanted to retaliate for what her husband did, but she restrained herself because she didn't want to be hated even more. The woman then lay on the floor without any padding, facing the wall. It was better than looking at her husband. To pass the time, she could only play with her phone.

"What kind of marriage is this? Instead of being affectionate, I'm treated badly like this," Catherin muttered to herself.

"Hey," Nolan called out, unsure of what to call his wife. He couldn't even remember her name.

"Lock the door! Don't let Mom and Dad know that you're sleeping on the floor! Or you'll see the consequences!" Nolan threatened Catherin bluntly, as if there was no doubt in his mind.

Catherin could only comply with her husband's wishes, not daring to argue or refuse. She got up and locked the bedroom door, then lay back down on the floor. Her anger seemed mountainous, mixed with the heartache of her sad fate. She wanted to cry, but she didn't have the courage to do it in front of her husband. Catherin was afraid her husband would get angry and treat her even worse. She just wanted to stay silent and obey for now, hoping her husband would treat her better if she always complied.

"I hope I won't be tortured any further in this huge house," she said to herself.

Several hours passed, and there was a knock on the bedroom door followed by a voice calling out from a woman. "Miss Catherin, Mr. Nolan, you're waited at the dining table." The voice belonged to Mona, the housekeeper in Louis's large house. It sounded strange to Catherin, but she could already guess that it was Mona's voice, not her mother-in-law's.

"Yes," Nolan half-shouted. The man who had been sitting on the bed looked at his wife, who was still lying on the floor.

"Did you hear that?" he asked sarcastically.

Catherin got up and looked at her husband with a flat expression. "Change your clothes over there, you look like a beggar," Nolan said, still speaking with a sarcastic tone, emphasizing his dislike.

"My things haven't arrived yet," she said weakly.

"They're over there," Nolan said, pointing to a room with a tightly closed door.

 "There are clothes that Mom bought for you, choose according to your taste. Hurry up and change, Mom and Dad are getting tired of waiting for you," Nolan explained, stating what he wanted.

Catherin complied, entering the room which was none other than Nolan's storage room. It contained clothes, bags, shoes, watches, and other items belonging to Nolan. The room was quite spacious, even though when the door was closed earlier, it seemed like a small and empty room. The woman was amazed, unable to believe what she saw. Her husband's wealth was clearly displayed in front of her, and she realized that her choice to obey her husband was correct. If she opposed her husband, it would only be like suicide for her.

Catherin took a dress that hung neatly there. A long dress with short sleeves, red in color, with a rose motif at the bottom. "So beautiful," Catherin said. Without looking at other clothes, she immediately put on the dress without hesitation. Afterwards, she stood in front of the mirror and saw her reflection. She smiled happily. Feeling beautiful in the delicate, soft, and cool dress, she had never touched such fine clothes before.

Then, Catherin turned towards the door. There was Nolan standing there with a sharp gaze. Catherin was very surprised and then crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Since when have you been there?!" she asked, raising her voice.

Nolan grinned. "Why? Don't you want me to see you change clothes? Don't be stupid, you're my wife!" Nolan's words made Catherin's hair stand on end. The woman realized that Nolan's words were true. Not only could he watch her change clothes, but he could also do anything to her. They were already married.

Then, Catherin imagined a hot night with her husband, "Should I entertain him? While he's being rough with me!"

To be continued...