Chapter 2

It had been three months since Jessica's last confrontation with her mother. Exactly three months since she started to live in the rich lad's mansion. And three months of being caged inside. In those past months, she hadn't seen her friends, co-workers nor her dearest mother.

'I wonder how they are now.' Jessica thought.

And to top this all of, it had been three months since she last came out of this mansion. That was his command. For her to stay and never come out of the house until he says so.

But not today. She was really bored at the moment and couldn't think of any single thing to do inside the mansion, rather than explore it more. The maids, chef, and other people inside the house working for him wouldn't let her help with the chores. They said that it was his command to not let her do anything in the house.

She wanted to go out, maybe catch up with some of her friends since it’s been so long when she last saw them. She missed them so much. So, she thought, since Philip's not home, maybe she could sneak out.

But she really was just so unlucky, even today....

"Where are you going?" Philip asked her while he locked the door behind. She had no emotion on his face. His eyes were fixed on the brunette in front of him. "Are you sneaking out?" His voice was cold.

"Uhm, n-no, I just wanted to get some fresh air." She answered and bit her lip. She always had this mannerism to bite her lip whenever she's jealous, nervous or lying.

"Didn't I tell you to never go out of this mansion?" He sternly said. "Go to your room."

She was like a trained dog and did what Philip had told her to do.

It had been three months since she started to live with Philip under one roof. But they barely see each other. Maybe, twice or thrice a week, they’d bump to each other at the hall and if his schedule wasn’t jampacked, like it always is, Jess gets to share dinner with him but no words were ever exchanged between them.

Philip was always busy at work. He’s always in meetings. Even when he’s home, he’d lock himself up in his room. And most of the time, he’s out of town so he’s barely home anyway.

They're not even close, not even friends. He's such an asshole at times so Jessica didn't even bother approaching the lad. And she's also pissed off by his attitude. Things always have to go his way. What he wants had to happen. And if you dare contradict it, you'll be dead for sure.

Jess was brought out of her thoughts for there was a knock at the door. She stood up and answered the door only to be met by Samuel, Philip’s bodyguard.

"Miss Jessica, Mister Edwards called for you." Samuel told her. She just smiled at him as a response and nodded and Samuel was gone.

'What could he possibly need now?' Jessica thought yet shrugged it and went directly to Philip's library. He wasn't fond of waiting for too long. And that's just another thing why she was so pissed off at the lad.

She stood in front of the door and didn't hesitate to knock three times. When she saw that the door was open, she went inside.

"What?!" Jessica was surprised by the voice that just shouted. "Colin, I thought we're already done with that. What's the problem now?! You need to fix this or else!" Philip shouted then threw his phone across the room. "Fuck." He muttered under his breath but Jessica heard him right.

Jess just stood there still. She was terrified to what state the lad was in right now. This was the very first time she saw him be this mad. It was terrifying.

"What are you doing here?!" He spat at her direction.

"Y-you called for me?"

"Who told you that?"

"Samuel."

The lad looked at her oddly, thinking why he had called for the brunette's presence.

"Sit down." He commanded and she obliged right away. Jess sat down at the nearest chair. There had been a couple minutes of silence before Philip broke it.

"Marry me." He said emotionless.

After hearing him, Jessica's eyes widened. Did he hear him right? Marry him? Is he pulling a prank on her? Why on earth would this man want to marry her now? It’s just that simple? No need for proposal? He didn't even give her a ring.

"W-what?" That's all what came out of her mouth. The lad then gave her a death glare.

"Do I have to repeat myself, huh?" He rose one of his eyebrows at the brunette. Jessica shook her head. And silence fell upon them once again.

"Are you even serious?" She asked again.

"Does it look like I'm kidding?" He said with a serious face. 'Didn't his parents taught him how to smile?' Jessica thought.

"For what?" He won't ask straight away if he had no reason, right? There's got to be a reason. And Jess was determined to know what it is.

"That's none of your business." Philip answered back, turning his back on her to get something from his book shelf.

"What if I don't want to?"

Philip slowly turned around to look straight in Jessica’s eyes. He slowly made his way over to her. "You act as if you have a choice. You're mine and you'll do what I want." He firmly said as their faces were only a few inches apart.

Inside, she was trembling, scared at the way he loomed over her. With eyes so cold and deadly and yet she can’t look away from. But this fight was not something she could afford to lose. Three months was way too long to be cooped up, it was now time for her to stand her ground.

"I'm not a robot nor your slave,” She replied to Philip. “You don’t own me.”

An evil smirk slowly made its way onto his lips. "You're already my property since the day I bought you from your beloved Mother. Whether you like or not, you'll marry me."

"No," Jessica answered firmly. She promised herself that she'll one day marry the person that'll love her truly. Not someone she barely knew, nor someone who treats her like an object. Not Philip, there was simply no way.

"What?" Philip grabbed her arm that made Jessica shiver with alarm. Due to how tight the lad was holding her; Jess was sure that it would really leave a mark. "Have you forgotten who you’re talking to? You don't know what I could do to you and your precious mother."

"Never bring my mother into this."

"I won't." He released her arm. "If you agree to marry me." Philip then slowly leaned in and cupped her face.

This may not be what Jessica thought her engagement would be, all those years of dreaming about the perfect marriage with her dream guy, but she had no other choice. She doesn’t want to marry him but in order for this asshole to stop threatening her mother, she had no choice but to agree to what she wanted. After all, what he wants, he gets.

"I-I agree..." she whispered but enough for Philip to hear.

"Good." He smirked before slowly leaning into her ear. "As long as you agree to do as what you're told, we have no problem. Understood?" He whispered and Jessica nodded slightly.

"Now. Leave."