CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE

HEAVEN

The morning sunlight trickled in through the gaps in the curtains, gently rousing me from my slumber. My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the soft glow of dawn. The other side of the bed was empty, the sheets cold, indicating that Adrian had been gone for a while. I sat up, wrapping the silk robe around my frame, a shiver running down my spine as memories of the previous night cascaded through my mind like a relentless wave.

Adrian’s commanding voice echoed in the recesses of my memory, his words stark, devoid of warmth. " Strip." His directive had been laced with an impatience that brooked no argument, his eyebrow arching in a silent challenge. I remembered the tremble in my hands, the quickening of my heartbeat, and the uneasy knot in my stomach. Despite my hesitations, the night had unfolded in a way that quashed all the whispered rumors about Adrian Miller's supposed impotency. Those moments of intimacy, veiled in the shadows of the night, had revealed a truth far removed from the tales spun by idle tongues.

The reality was stark; Adrian was not the man society claimed him to be. The rumors of his impotence, a narrative so thoroughly believed, crumbled beneath the weight of the truth. I remembered it all, how awkward it was at first, how freaking scared I was as I laid down on the bed for him, his eyes watching me, unreadable as always, and the moment my skin met his in a slow union. The aim was to get pregnant, so Adrian did not use protection.My cheeks warmed at the memory, a mixture of embarrassment and an unexpected flutter of something else, something I couldn't quite name.

Why did I agree to it, again?

Was I truly ready for this?

How long did we have to continue like this before I'd finally get pregnant?

A soft knock at the door jolted me from my reverie. A maid entered, her eyes averted, informing me that breakfast was served and the family awaited my presence. My heart pounded at the prospect of facing the Millers. Adrian's absence beside me only added to the knot of anxiety in my stomach. Nonetheless, i dashed into the bathroom with speed that shocked me even, running a quick shower. I readied myself, donning a simple yellow dress that hugged my petite frame, stoping a few inches above my ankle, with my hair styled in a bun.

I exited the bedroom, walking through the corridors. The interior was even more intriguing than the exterior. The whole walls were designed with gold glitters in an aesthetic way, screaming luxury. The floors were spotless, I could see my reflection in them.

As I descended the grand staircase, a flurry of thoughts swirled in my head. Adrian had been clear about his intentions—he sought an heir, nothing more. His family, however, remained a mystery to me. Their absence at the wedding had been conspicuous, and I couldn't help but feel uneasy about what awaited me.

How would they all be like?

What was I to expect from them?

The breakfast room was filled with the Millers, their faces a mixture of curiosity and disdain. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, as if they were eager to dissect every detail of my relationship with Adrian, the heavy, uncomfortable silence, unsettling me, my footsteps echoing as I walked towards them. As I took my seat, a stern woman with sharp features, wasted no time.

“I know we weren’t present at the wedding, but it’s nice to finally meet the bride,” she started, a tight lipped smile spread across her face. “You are beautiful, I must say. What is your name again?”

“Heaven,” I replied, my voice small, almost inaudible.

“Lovely.”

My eyes flickered across the room, searching for the only person I knew in this family; Adrian. I wondered why he wasn’t here, having breakfast with the rest of the family, and where he had disappeared to so early in the morning.

"So, my dear," she began, her voice dripping with false sweetness, causing me to turn my attention back to her. "Tell us about your wedding night. Adrian has been... well, we all know the rumors. Did anything happen at all?"

What. The. Actual. Hell?

As if I wasn't embarrassed, and uncomfortable enough, she just had to bring last night up.

Why did she want to know what happened in her son’s bedroom on his wedding night?

I mean, I understand that she might be concerned, but bringing this up at the dining table was inappropriate, with all the other members of the family, watching me with anticipation swirling with anticipation swirling around in their eyes.

Her words hung in the air, charged with implication. The room fell silent, the hair pregnant with tension as they all awaited a response.

Oh goodness. This got awkward fast!

I could feel my cheeks flush, the weight of their expectations pressing down on me. I remained silent, unsure of how to navigate the treacherous waters of their curiosity without betraying Adrian's privacy or my own.

I DID NOT want to talk about last night.

Their laughter filled the room, a cruel sound that echoed off the walls.

"Oh, we knew it," a girl who looked a lot like Adrian remarked, smirking. "Poor girl, married to a man who can't perform. And here we thought Adrian was trying to change his fate."

Umm, what?

Oh, the rumor thing again.

Even his own family believed he was unable to... well.

An older looking man who looked a lot like Adrian, probably his father, leaned in, his gaze sharp. "You do understand, my dear," He quirked an eyebrow at me, "that without an heir, Adrian stands to inherit nothing. It's best if you recognize your place in this family. Without a child, you're nothing more than a temporary embarrassment."

The words stung, a cruel reminder of the transactional nature of my marriage to Adrian. Yet, beneath their mockery and scorn, I felt a spark of defiance ignite within me. They believed Adrian to be less of a man, incapable of producing an heir, but I knew the truth.

Where was Adrian anyway?

He left me to dine with them. These trouble seeking, cunning people.

A maid came and served me breakfast. I thanked her quietly and began eating, avoiding the gazes of the strangers I had to call family now. I sighed inwardly. My life was pathetic.

I didn't think any of Adrian's family liked me. Hell, I didn't think they liked Adrian that much, judging by how they spoke of him.

These power hungry, greedy set of people only cared for themselves. I wasn't interested in landing myself into any sort of trouble, so yes, I would definitely stay out of their way. Right now, my freedom was the only thing important to me, not me wasting my time trying to please these people.

“Good morning brother!" One of them greeted, his eyes twinkling in mischief. The other Miller sibling simply just stared at her brother, eyes as cold as Adrian's. Oh, I could definitely see the resemblance now!

I turned my head towards the direction they were all staring at and watched as Adrian walked in slow strides towards the dining table, wearing a suit, his hands in his pockets, his hair gelled back and his face void of emotions. He pulled out a seat beside me and sat down. A maid hurried over to his side but he raised a hand, not saying anything but firmly passing a message:

"Don't."

"How was your night, brother?" The same guy continued with a grin.

"Eat your food, Justin, and stop being nosy." Was all Adrian had said back to him. His name was Justin...noted.

The tension around the table was almost tangible, slicing through the air with a razor-sharp edge that had me shifting uncomfortably in my seat. Justin's grin faltered slightly under Adrian's cold dismissal but quickly bounced back, undeterred.

"Ah, always straight to the point, eh brother? Well, mine was fantastic, thanks for asking," Justin retorted with a mocking lilt to his voice, picking up his fork with an exaggerated elegance.

The cold-eyed sibling rolled her eyes at Justin's antics but said nothing, focusing instead on her breakfast. It was clear that verbal jabs were the norm at this table.

I fiddled with the fork, avoiding eye contact with anyone, especially Adrian. My heart raced with an odd mixture of anxiety and anticipation. What had I gotten myself into?

"So, Heaven," The sister finally spoke, breaking the uncomfortable silence. Her tone was curious but held an underlying note of scrutiny. "Tell us a little about yourself."

I looked up, meeting her gaze. Her eyes were as cold and unwelcoming as Adrian's. "Well," I started, my voice barely above a whisper, "Not much to say, really. My life was pretty ordinary until... this." I motioned vaguely at the surroundings, hoping she would leave it at that.

I wasn't ready to talk about it. The circumstances that led to me being here, In their home, married to a man I barely knew nor loved. I did not want them knowing much about me, either. Afterall, they did not like me, and plus, it's not like I'd be sticking around for much longer.

I just wanted my freedom.

The sister smirked, turning her attention back to her meal, clearly uninterested in my backstory(or atleast, the one I chose to give to her). The brother, Justin, however, leaned forward, the mischievous glint in his eyes becoming more pronounced. "Must be quite the adjustment, marrying into the Miller family on such short notice. How do you find it living here with Adrian?"

“It's only been less than a day, Justin, and it feels like absolute hell." I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell him how unhappy I was about this and then ask if he knew about how our marriage had taken place. Had he met my sister, Avery? Was he curious to know why his brother brought a different bride from the one they had met?

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond without offending anyone. "It's... different," I finally managed, choosing my words carefully. "I'm still getting used to everything.

Lying would be something I'd grow accustomed to from now on. Lying about my feelings, lying about my marriage, and lying in general because I did not trust anyone here.

"Good morning, Adrian." The older woman, his mother had said. Adrian grumbled a reply under his breath as he served himself some food and poured water into his coffee.

Adrian hadn't spoken a word to me since sitting down, his focus entirely on his breakfast. Was I expecting him to speak to me, though?

I stole a glance at him, hoping for some form of support, but his expression was as unreadable as ever.

The meal continued in mostly silence, the occasional small talk doing nothing to lighten the mood. I couldn't help but feel isolated, the vast gap between me and this family expanding with every passing second.

Suddenly, Adrian stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. "I have work to attend to. Don't wait up," he stated coldly, without a glance in my direction.

"What, no goodbye kiss? Awwn." Adrian's sister pouted, her steely grey eyes showing emotion for the first time. This woman was taunting me. The heck?

“Aren't newly-weds suppose to be all touchy feely?"

Please just shut up. I wired my eyes shut, trying so hard to hold back a snarky retort.

"Of course, Aria. I remember when your father and I got married, we couldn't keep our hands to ourselves." Adrian's mother giggled. Aria smirked at me, eyes challenging. What was she trying to do? Embarrass me? Cos it was definitely working!

Adrian strode away without uttering a single word seemingly unbothered by the cocky antics of his family members.

After breakfast, the rest of the family soon dispersed, leaving me alone at the table with my thoughts. I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that settled in the pit of my stomach. My marriage to Adrian had barely begun and I was already hating every second of it. Already feeling regret.

How was I to survive in the Miller household?