Chapter 2

Sophia trembled with fear, on the night of their wedding. She looked at William with confusion in her eyes as he ordered her to strip. She was expecting it but not this soon.

What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling. 

William looked at her coldly, his eyes steely and calculating.

"I mean exactly what I said," he replied curtly. "Take off your clothes."

Sophia felt a wave of panic wash over her.She had never imagined that he would be so demanding, especially so soon after their marriage. He was even sounding so condescending that she felt she meant nothing more than a prostitute he paid for.

"I... I don't understand," she stammered, her hands trembling at her sides.

"Listen to me, Sophia," he said, "I am your husband, and as such, I have certain expectations. You are my wife, and you are here to please me. I expect you to obey me without questions. I only expect you to do as I say. Now, take off your clothes."

Sophia hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with fear and confusion. She knew that she had no choice but to comply, but she could not bring herself to do it.

"Could you please let us do this tomorrow?" She said, her voice barely above a whisper. She needed to be mentally prepared. William's blatant lustful gaze was scaring her virgin heart.

William's expression hardened again, and he strode over to her, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her close.

"You will do as I say," he said firmly, his eyes locked on hers. "You are my wife now, and you will learn to submit to me. Now take off your clothes, I want to watch you do it."

Sophia felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes as she slowly began to unbutton her dress, feeling violated and ashamed. She knew that her life with William would be nothing like what she had imagined.

As she undressed, she felt a sense of shame and vulnerability wash over her. But she also knew that she had no choice. William had made it clear that he expected her to submit to him in all things, and she had quickly learned that he would not tolerate any resistance.

William dragged a chair in front of her, and he sat down, his eyes fixed on her as she undressed. She felt a sense of humiliation as she realized that he was enjoying the sight of her, vulnerable and exposed.

Finally, she stood before him in her lingerie, feeling extreme embarrassment like never before.

For a moment, there was silence between them as William continued to watch her, his expression inscrutable. Sophia waited, her heart racing, wondering what he would do next.

"Turn around," he commanded, gesturing with his hand.

Sophia hesitated for a moment, then slowly turned around, keeping her gaze fixed on the ground. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that she was completely at his mercy.

"Stop!" he said suddenly, and Sophia froze in place.

William stepped closer, his hands reaching out to touch her. She tensed as his fingers grazed her bare shoulders, then moved down her back.

For a moment, there was silence between them as William continued to watch her, his expression inscrutable. Sophia waited, her heart racing, wondering what he would do next.

Suddenly, he broke the silence. 

"Take off your underwear" 

Sophia looked at him with confusion and fear in her eyes. She didn't understand why he was asking her to do this. "William, I don't think I'm ready for this," she said, her voice breaking.

William's eyes darkened as he heard her protest. "You belong to me. You will do as I say. Remember that" 

Sophia's heart was pounding as she looked at William, realizing for the first time how dangerous he could be. She gathered her courage and spoke up again. "Please, can we take things slowly? I need some time to get used to all of this."

William's face twisted in anger as he stood up and advanced towards Sophia. He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him, his grip tight and unyielding.

Sophia's eyes were filled with tears, and he could feel her body shaking as she cried.

Tears fell faster from her cheeks as William let her go completely, stepping back and holding his hands out in front of him in a gesture of surrender.

He circled around her, taking in her every feature.

She shifted from one foot to the other, unsure of what to do or say.

William reached out to touch her cheek, but she stepped back, a look of panic flashing across her face.

He looked at her for a moment longer, then turned and left the room. Sophia breathed a sigh of relief, grateful to be alone again.

She didn't know what to make of the encounter. On the one hand, it was flattering to be the object of someone's desire. But on the other hand, it made her feel objectified and uncomfortable.

She realized too late that she had married a man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

She stood alone in her room, staring at her reflection in the mirror. 

William was always possessive, always wanting to know where she was and what she was doing. Sophia had agreed to marry him only out of necessity. Her step sister, Natalie, needed an expensive surgery, and William had offered to pay for it if Sophia agreed to marry him.

Sophia's stepmother accepted the offer without hesitation, and Sophia felt like she had no choice but to go along with it. But now, as she stood in her room, she couldn't help but feel trapped.

She didn't love William, and the thought of spending the rest of her life with him made her feel sick to her stomach. She knew he didn't love her either.  

She was completely lost and so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't hear the door open, and was caught off guard when a tall, fair-skinned guy barged into the room.

"William!" he called out, not realizing that Sophia was in there.

Sophia's eyes widened in shock and horror as she realized she was in her lingerie, and quickly grabbed the bed cover to cover herself. 

The young guy quickly turned his face away, not wanting to look at her. Realizing his mistake, he apologized profusely.

But Sophia was furious. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she screamed, her face red with anger. "Can't you knock before barging into someone's room?" She needed an outlet to vent her frustration. 

The guy looked mortified, his face turning red with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here" he stammered, his voice shaking.

Sophia glared at him, pouring out the whole anger she felt for William on him.

"Get out," she said coldly, her voice dripping with disdain.

As he turned to leave, he was stopped by the commanding voice of his cousin William, who had just walked in.

"Andrew, stay right there," William said firmly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "I have a proposition for you."

Sophia's expression of confusion and discomfort deepened. She knew that William had the right to see her half-naked or even completely naked, as her husband, even if she despised him. 

But this stranger had no business seeing her in her lingerie.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," Andrew stammered, feeling like a fool. "I'll come back when she's dressed."

William shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "No need, Andrew. I want you to stay. In fact, I have a job for you. I need a painting of Sophia.

Sophia's eyes widened in shock as she looked at William. "Did I hear you correctly? You want him to paint me in my underwear? That's despicable!"

William laughed, unfazed by her anger. "Oh, come on, Sophia. I want to show you off. And Andrew here is a talented artist. I'm sure he can capture your beauty better than any photograph."

Andrew shifted uncomfortably, feeling like a voyeur. He didn't want to be a part of this sick game, but he didn't want to disobey William either.

Sophia's face went pale as William insisted that Andrew should paint her nude. She couldn't believe that he would force her to do something so humiliating and degrading.

"No William, It's not something I'm comfortable with, It's degrading and disrespectful." Sophia said softly, her voice barely audible above William's furious ranting.

"I don't care how you feel," William spat. 

"Please I don't want to," she said firmly, her voice shaking with anger. "I won't let him paint me naked." 

William's face twisted into a scowl as he turned to face Sophia. "How many times do I have to remind you that you're my wife now? I own you, body and soul. If I want you to pose for a painting, you'll damn well do it."

Sophia trembled, feeling small and powerless in front of her husband's anger. 

"You do what I tell you to do, and if I say you're going to let Andrew paint your nudes, then that's what you're going to do."

Andrew stepped forward, feeling a surge of protectiveness towards Sophia. "William, you can't force her to do something she's not comfortable with. I don't force my muses when I draw them. It's about trust and mutual respect."

He continued. "If she doesn't want to do it, then you have to respect her wishes."

William rounded on Andrew, his face contorted with rage. "You stay out of this, Andrew. This is between me and my wife. And don't forget who's in charge here."

Andrew's eyes widened in shock. "Your wife?"

Andrew felt sick to his stomach. He couldn't believe that his cousin would treat someone he supposedly loved with such callous disregard. He didn't know her well, but he could tell that she deserved better than to be treated like a piece of art.

How wrong he was to think William married her out of love.