11. MARRIED LIFE

 I smile happily at what's in front of me. It's a huge room with all my things and a sign in the middle of the bed that says:

"I knew you wouldn't want to live on the second floor, because of what you confided in me on the wedding day, so I prepared this room here as your refuge" Congratulations, my granddaughter, and remember, if you need me, I'll be there in a second.

Love, your Grandpa.

I took my phone, happy and grateful, especially seeing the strong locks he had put on the door. I picked it up right away.

"You're the best grandfather in the world!" I shouted. "Thank you grandpa, I love you with all my heart too."

"Do you like the house?" he asks immediately.

"Yes, very much. Especially this secure room you made for me," I tell him while sitting on the bed.

"Did everything go well with that good-for-nothing husband of yours in Paris?" I knew he couldn't help asking.

"Yes, yes grandpa, don't worry," I respond smiling, and to calm him down when I hear him make a guttural sound, I add, "Luis behaved very well."

"Are you sure? Remember what I told you? At the first sign of trouble, you let me know," he reminds me very seriously.

"Grandpa, don't worry, Luis and I get along well. He hasn't mistreated me, he respects me and indulges me in everything," I explain, avoiding mentioning that we barely see each other.

"Are you sure? Remember what I told you? At the first sign of trouble, you let me know," he reminds me very seriously.

"Grandpa, don't worry, Luis and I get along well. He hasn't mistreated me, he respects me and indulges me in everything," I explain, avoiding mentioning that we barely see each other.

"That's good. Although I don't trust him, okay? He might be in love with you, or more likely with your money, and at the first chance he'll show his true character," he continued speaking with certainty and annoyance in his voice, though trying to contain himself.

"Grandpa..." if he only knew he was completely right. But it's something I can't confirm, because he would come and take me away.

"Alright, I'll say no more. I'm glad Luis is behaving as he should with you. Maybe I was wrong and he has changed because he's in love with you and you won't need to divorce," he changes his tone to the sweet one he always uses when speaking to me. "Be happy my granddaughter, you deserve it. And never forget you're not alone, you have us. Okay?"

"I know grandpa, stop worrying. Really, Luis and I are fine. Better than I imagined. Goodbye, I'll come by later after I rest a bit. Okay?" I promise to reassure him, knowing that like my grandmother, he's also eager to see me.

"Alright sweetheart, rest well," he says goodbye, and I feel like I lost an opportunity.

Although I partially confessed to grandpa why I was getting married, he seems to believe we're a real marriage. I'll leave it at that, it's better if he thinks so. This room is truly beautiful.

Needless to say, I settled in here, it's very secure, and it's on the ground floor - I hate climbing stairs!

I knew my fake husband wasn't going to care. Since we got back from the supposed honeymoon in Paris, I haven't seen him again and it's not like I want to. My aversion towards his person remains the same - the less we meet the better, for my peace of mind. So in the following days, I dedicated myself to accommodating some things inside the house to my liking. I bought some paintings and flowers, and many more flowers. 

The gardener is happy, yes, because in addition to my greenhouse, the house is surrounded by a huge garden created by my grandmother, according to what Enrique, the man who cares for it, told me. It is where, when I return from school early or on weekends that I do not go to my grandparents' house, I spend my time. We have planted an endless number of new roses and other plants. In my own way, I am happy with my solitude, surrounded by all the comforts that my grandparents gave me. I haven't heard from my parents. I just sent them a message saying that we had returned, to which they did not reply.

 Luis appeared two weeks after our return, as always in a bad mood. I heard him come up, throwing things in his path and yelling at the servants. And now what bug would have bitten him, so that he is making that scandal? I wondered, but I didn't care. I continued in my rocking chair, concentrating on my reading until I saw him standing in front of me. 

"You are supposed to come to receive your husband!" He yelled, visibly angry. "Why do I have to go all over the damn house to find you hiding here?" he asked, very upset.

 I closed the book to pay attention to him, thinking he may have a problem. I sat up so I could see him from the front. He had stopped in front of me, really annoyed, and without giving importance to what he had just said, I sighed and decided to find out what was wrong with him.

 "Ha, ha, ha... And what bug bit you?" I asked him. I stood up and then looked into his eyes. Wow, he's mad! It must be something very serious for him to get that way. As I said, it's been more than two weeks since we returned from our honeymoon and he hadn't deigned to find me, not even to agree on what we were going to do now that we're married. That is why I am intrigued that he is now standing in front of me with that attitude.

"What made you so angry Luis?” I ask now more seriously as I see how she looks at me.” You won't think of taking your troubles out on me after you disappear. Tell me what you have and I'll see if I can help you. But I don't want to hear your screams, I like the tranquility. So, finish telling me, what caused your good temper to go down the drain?” 

 "Bella, I'm not in the mood for jokes!" He said, looking at me squarely.