Audrey's Pov
Xander escorted me to my father's mansion and I felt a bit irritated by his overprotective attitude, it's not like Amelia will come at me with a knife. Okay hold that thought she might, but I will expect that from her mother because Amelia might be a little witch but her mother is the destructive one. The car halted and I opened the door proceeding to step out when I felt a firm grip on my hand, I turned to see Xander holding me. “Be careful in there, if it was up to me I would have followed you in but you said you wanted to do this yourself, just call me if anything occurs” He articulated in a serious tone then he did something out of the ordinary. He pressed a chaste kiss on my forehead and I froze in shock, I wasn't expecting him to be this worried or concerned about my wellbeing, our marriage is based on me using him for revenge so I didn't get why he seemed so cool about it. Still lost in my head I headed inside my father's house and the moment I walked in it felt as if I was interrupting something, the scenario in front of me made me halt in my tracks. Amelia was sitting beside my father while Zachary was holding some papers and forcing a pen into my father's hand while he was asleep on the couch, “Is this how you intend to achieve your goal?” I chuckled as Zachary jerked in shock and moved a step back while Amelia jerked up at the sound of my voice. “Oh Sissy, I missed you too. You didn't tell me your Xander has such a beautiful mansion” I smirked as her face turned pale, ”He.. He took you to his house?” She looked like she was going to burst, “Well yes, I'm his wife in case you forgot” I tutted as my dad stirred and opened his eyes. “Audrey my dear, is that you?” Eric asked and I walked to stand in front of him, Zachary moved away from me and I ignored the sting I still felt, this idiot betrayed me and he was acting like I was the villain here. Maybe I am, and I will torture him until he knows his place is beneath me. “Yes father, I came to collect my stuff and see how you are doing. Have you eaten anything for breakfast?” I crunch down to check his pulse. “Breakfast isn't ready yet, your mother is still in the kitchen” He replied and smiled at my appearance, while I wondered what my stepmother was doing in the kitchen when we have three chefs, “I can see that young man is taking good care of you” He complimented and I blushed when I remembered how worried he looked while I left the car. “Yes, Father” I put my hands on his shoulder and Xander's guards were already getting my things from upstairs. I wish I could take my study along with me too but I can't. The least I could do is get new books and work in my bedroom. I don't want to ask Xander if I could have one that would be pretty demanding of me. “I just caught your daughter and her boyfriend trying to get your fingerprint on a pen, I don't know what they plan on using it to do but you can ask them yourself” Eric glowered at the both of them while Zachary hid the paper behind his back, “That is not true father, she is lying” Amelia denied wearing her fake innocent mask. I felt rage as I walked towards Zachary and ripped the papers from the hand behind his back, “Then how do you explain this!” I shoved my hand inside his pocket and he tried struggling with me but I got the pen before he could stop me. “And this! Huh?” I tore the papers into shreds not interested in knowing what it was about, I already knew they wanted all my assets but trying to use my father's fingerprint on a pen to forge his signature was just petty and stupid. “You--” I didn't let her finish before I landed my palm on her stupid face, a resounding slap echoed in the room and her hair stuck to her left cheek with a red handprint on it. This is my father, not hers. I have always treated her like my sister and I did all I could. Only for her to betray me and try to tarnish the reputation I worked so hard to build. Her mother came rushing out of the kitchen when she heard the sound, “You shameless slut, you still have the guts to show your face here” She fumed and I roll my eyes at her dramatic attitude, Amelia quickly rushed to meet with her mother while Zachary also followed her like a lap dog. “I'm also delighted to see you mother, and please warn your daughter to stay away from what is mine. She has taken my boyfriend. She can have him, but I won't tolerate her trying to forcefully take what is mine or else... I won't be so nice” I threatened harshly. “It is not yours, it was meant for me!” Amelia yelled in tears and I chuckled at her stupidity, “Seriously? Alright show me your father or you can ask your mother” I taunted and she screamed hysterically in anger. “Enough! All of you!” My father's voice thundered and I shut my mouth immediately, I didn't even remember he was still in the room. “Audrey please stay with us for breakfast, I want us to discuss and settle our differences as a family,” Eric said in a calm tone this time and my anger faded instantly, my father might be strict but he is also loving and caring. Just then Amelia's face turned white and Zachary started glaring at something behind me, I heard light but firm footsteps, and before I could turn to find out who it was, a strong hand encircled my waist and I flinched when I recognized the familiar scent. “Good morning, father-in-law” He bowed slightly and I lifted my gaze to stare into his eyes, what is he doing here? He leaned closer and my heart skipped a beat as he pressed his lips on mine. “Hey love, what did I miss?” He asked affectionately and this time I turned into a statue.Audrey's Pov We settled on having breakfast and my supposed doting husband sat beside me, Amelia looked red and angry while her mother just glared at my soul from across the table. They probably wished I was dead now, unfortunately, I don't plan on joining my mother anytime soon. I'm still stunned by the stunt Xander pulled out in front of them, not that I do not appreciate it but we never really discussed anything like getting intimate.My father sitting at the head of the table cleared his throat and everyone diverted their attention toward him, my stepmother wore a concerned look but I knew it was fake. “Are you alright Dad?” I asked and he nodded waving it off in a dismissive manner, I beckoned at a maid standing on the threshold of the kitchen. “Is there enough milk? Bring some for my father” I ordered and she rushed to go get some milk, my stepmother was still glaring at me like I did something wrong but I just ignored her. “You didn't have to, I'm not going to die anytime
Audrey's Pov I wasn't expecting my boyfriend to be Zachary, I was more than disappointed because it wasn't who I thought it was. My assistant brought him in and he wore a remorseful look, okay here we go again. “Hey, I... Um I just wanted to let you know that I didn't want to do it I was only following Amelia's introductions, she threatened to kill me if I didn't give in to her. She would never be like you and you know I love you too much” He finished his rubbish speech with his sad puppy face. “Are you done? Cause you need to leave” I affirmed and he went down on his knees like the pathetic asshole that he is, I roll my eyes at his facade. “You know how much I love you Baby please, I don't know what Xander told you but I know him, he lies and manipulates you to do things you don't want to do. He is using and the same way he did with your sister, just listen to me this one time and I swear I will never do you wrong again” He begged looking like a clown to me, “Are you still going
Audrey's Pov I left home earlier than I planned to the next day, not because I was running away from him but because I didn't know what to say to him. I don't need a soothsayer to tell me he meant those words he said to me, I don't even know what is his endgame in all these. But those words he said kept replaying inside my head all day long, I got a text when it was time for lunch and it was from Xander. Asking if we could have lunch together I badly wanted to say no but that would look weak so I accepted, “Ma'am you have a visitor” My assistant announced with flushed cheeks, I wouldn't blame her Xander is the kind of good-looking that slaps you on the face. Do I find him attractive? Yes, but I have no interest in claiming him. I don't even know what that means but it sounded so scary and possessive. He was standing outside my office with a bouquet of roses and my eyes widened, now I know why my assistant was giving me those looks. “Uh.. What's the occasion?” I asked as soon as
Audrey's Pov My blood boiled as I glared at the excessive amount of makeup on her artificial-looking face, she looked like she got some work done on her nose. She also looks like she got work done on her face with her plum lips looking like a duck, Xander turned at the last minute and she kissed his cheek instead. “Sarah, it's also nice to see you again. I guess you haven't changed much” He said in an exhausted tone, I just watched the interaction ignoring the thought feeling in my chest. I might have thought of leaving the table for them but I'm not a chicken and it will make it too obvious that I'm pissed at her for disrupting us, I'm not jealous I just hate the fact that he is paying her so much attention. “You know I love..” “Ahem” I cleared my throat interrupting her speech in case she forgot there was someone else there, she averted her gaze from Xander and her blue eyes fell on me with a frown on her face, then it was gone in a blink as if it wasn't there in the fi
Audrey's Pov I stood up to leave and he chuckled as I picked up my purse, “I have no intention of enduring this torture, lunch break is over I have work to do” I uttered blankly. “We are the bosses, that rule doesn't apply to us we can go back anytime” He probed but I had already made up my mind to leave, I would rather leave than hear him speak to me that way. I left the restaurant and went back to work leaving him to his devices, his driver can always go pick him up whenever he is ready to go. I finished all my work for the day and decided to go see my father, I didn't bother you to tell Xander I only told him I would be coming home late today, I drove straight to my father's house after leaving the parking lot. I was told that my father had a visitor when I got there, I wasn't surprised to see my father's attorney with some documents on his hand. “Hello Dad,” I smiled at him and his face brightened, “Audrey my dear, you came at the right time I was just writing my wi
Audrey's Pov By the time I got back to the living room my stepmother and Amelia were there with my father, Amelia frowned when she saw me coming out of the kitchen. I didn't want to cause any drama in front of my father so I bowed slightly and walked towards the exit, “You should visit us soon, come with your husband” Eric said then he started coughing again, our lawyer must have left because I didn't meet him here.“I will do just that” I replied walking out the door, however, my stupid sister followed me just like I presumed she would. “He is tired of you so soon? I wonder why you are always here when you are supposed to be with your dear husband, perhaps he doesn't love you and poor Audrey thought she got a second chance to love, unfortunately, she went to seek it where there is none” She mocked and I halted in my tracks. She is right, I took that bargain without thinking and I might be in for a loveless marriage of convenience for the rest of my life, was it really
Audrey's Pov My heart raced as he placed a little box in my hand as soon as I pulled away from our embrace, I smiled and opened the box a shiny diamond 'A' shaped necklace stared back at me. I gasped as it catches the light and it glittered as I turned it but I can't accept this gift, I can't accept this. I lied when I said I deserved him because we are in this marriage for a selfish reason. “Thank you, I don't understand why you did this anyway” I mumbled trying to sound ungrateful, he ignored my comment and pulled me towards the dining area then I spotted a beautiful cake on the dining table. “Wow, you really planned this whole thing all by yourself?” I asked bewildered, “No I had help from our housekeepers and the decoration team, I would have loved to throw a party but I didn't know if you would like that” He replied and I smiled at the purple and silver color balloons, I would be a fool if I say this doesn't make me feel special. “Thank you so much” I really appre
Audrey's Pov Did he just ask me to kiss him? I cleared my throat pretending to be thinking about it but I already made up my mind. “I thought we agreed on asking for something less outrageous,” I remarked and he chuckled. “I guess that is a no then, I'm not surprised that you refused” He chuckled cutting more meat and transferring the pieces into my plate, “I'm sorry, you can ask for something else, anything that doesn't involve intimacy” I asserted. He didn't say anything or even try to protest so I let it go, “Are you going to ask me questions now?” I asked as soon as I was done with my food, he stayed silent cutting the cake and placing a piece on another plate beside me, “Eat first, we will talk after you are done” He mumbled and I nodded. I gave up on eating after three big pieces of cake and the amount of meat I ate was enough, I couldn't try the other dishes so I called for the staff to clear the table and gave the rest. They thanked me and I was worried