Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 -

CULLEN’S POV -

Walking down the corridor and into the garden, with my hands tucked inside my pants pocket. After a long day at work and getting home to meet none of my family at home, I choose to spend the rest of my day in the garden, to get some fresh air.

A thought flashed through my mind like a bolt of lightning, causing my stomach to clench with sudden dread. Could it be that I had missed the event?

I racked my brain, trying to remember if there was anything I was supposed to do if Mom might not be able to cover up. As my anxiety mounted, I felt a bit relaxed to know that there was nothing Mom could not do.

There was no time to waste - if I could still make it to the event, I needed to know right away.

I brought out my hand from my pocket to check the time from my wristwatch and the time read five O'Clock. Meaning, the event must have ended an hour ago.

"I know my mom must have found a reason to cover up for me, even though I wasn't there when I was supposed to be," I mused aloud, my voice echoing in the empty garden.

I knew Mom had only been trying to protect me, but I still felt a twinge of guilt. I would need to talk to her about it when she got back home and explain what had happened. I slipped my hands into my pockets and sighed, feeling the weight of the day settle on my shoulders.

A guard walked up to me and bowed slightly, making sure to drop his gaze to the floor as he spoke up.

“Good evening, Mr Crawford.” he regretted, his hands clutching to his balls.

“Yes?” I grumbled, knitting my brows together, wondering what a guard whose business was mainly at the door would likely have to say to me.

“Madam Julianne…”

“What about her?” I cut him off, already getting sick at the mention of my wife's name and I was already getting bored of what would come next after her name, even though he was yet to tell me.

“She left the mansion before anyone while complaining about a stomach issue. I feel like I should report her health condition to you because she didn't look so well when she left,” he mumbled and I let out a scoff.

"Why would you come to me with something like that?" I asked, my tone nonchalant and unconcerned. It seemed silly to see a guard who was meant to be worried about the safety of the house, worrying about an adult lady, and I couldn't help but feel a bit amused by the whole situation.

I wasn't exactly the nurturing type, and I couldn't imagine myself getting all worry over a housewife whose only job is to keep the house clean.

“I just thought you should know, sir, I am very sorry,” he mumbled, bowing his head before walking back to the gate.

I signed and hand brushed my hair to the back, letting the cool breeze do its wonder in my hair.

Still walking around the garden, I spotted two cars driving into the mansion from afar, I halted on my track only to saw Mom stepped out of one of the cars, and Julianne got down from the other one. I was about to walk away from the garden when something caught my attention and I hastily looked back at the two people that were still at the parking lot.

My gaze landed on Mom first but I didn't think it was from her, I was still doubting until my gaze landed on Julianne carrying a red curl.

"Red hair?" I blinked rapidly, my mind spinning as I tried to process what I was seeing. “Since when has she been carrying that hair colour?” my jaw dropped, had I really just seen Julianne with hair the colour of a burning flame?

It seemed impossible, yet I couldn't deny what I had seen. My mind was still reeling when I spotted a guard walking past and I knew I had to ask for confirmation.

"I need your help!" I called out, my voice sounding more urgent than I intended.

“Who do you think that is?” I asked, pointing towards Julianne who seemed to be engrossed in what she was staring at. Not like I didn't know who the lady was, just that I have never seen her in red hair and it baffled me as to why she was carrying red hair all of a sudden.

“I fear that must be Madame Julianne.” said the guard. I darted my gaze to the guy whose gaze was still on Julianne.

"How long has her hair been that colour?" I pressed, turning to the guard again.

The guard seemed stunned, unable to answer my question. I took his silence as confirmation - it was true, Julianne had betrayed me. She had gone against my wishes, knowing how much I hated the colour red. It was a bold move on her part, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

I had never treated her as a wife, but she was still bound by my rules and she had broken them. As I stared at her red hair, I felt a burning anger rise inside me. It was like a red flag, a sign of rebellion against my authority.

Without thinking twice, I found myself heading towards the parking lot, determined to confront her. My mind was filled with thoughts of what I would say to her, and how I would punish her for her disobedience.

Storming towards them in rage, and not caring that maids and guards were watching, I came to a halt in front of them, and suddenly grasped Julianne by her hand and started to drag her with me to the house.

"Hey! What are you doing?" she cried, struggling against my grip as I pulled her along. "You can't just drag me like this!" she yelled, her voice filled with indignation and fear.

I ignored her protests, my mind consumed with the need to make her understand the gravity of her actions. I had to teach her a lesson, to show her that there were consequences for defying me.

“You dickhead! I said, what the hell are you doing?”

I was taken by surprise by her outburst. Never have I thought there would be a day when Julianne would talk back at me.

“You shut up and keep walking!” I fired at her, and she scoffed angrily.

"Shut up? I don't think so!" she retorted, her eyes flashing with anger. "I will not be silent while you drag me around like a dog!" she snapped, her tone defiant.

I tightened my grip on her arm, determined to keep her in line. I wasn't going to let her defiance go unpunished. I would make her see the error of her ways, no matter what it took.

“Julianne, I said shut up!”

“You don't tell me to shut up, okay?” she fired back at me and I only stared at her in amusement.

“What did you just say?” I pulled her by her arm and I watch her gulp nervously.

“Can you just let go of me!” She winced when she felt my nail piercing her skin. I let go of her arm not because I was hurting her, but I was surprised because the Julianne I knew doesn't question me or raise her voice at me but this Julianne here was proving otherwise.

“Shut up your mouth and keep walking.” that's all I could say to the lady that was glaring dagger at me.

I kept dragging her until we got inside the house, she kept on protesting but I didn't stop to spare her a glance.

“I swear I'm going to kick your balls if you don't let me go now!” She continued to hit my hand and out of anger just before we reached my room, I swirled her until her back hit the wall, and I roughly grabbed her throat.

“I fucking told you to keep quiet.” I smacked her hard on the face and she went mute with her eyes wide open. “That’s how you want it, huh?” I smirked and I watched the hazy look on her face.

After I was satisfied with how quiet she was for a second, I grabbed her hand and glared into her eyes.

“You have to keep still while you tell me the reason why you had to dye your hair with this ridiculous colour!” I yelled, tugging at her hair and yanking it back.

“Aargh!” Julianne cried out while grabbing my hand on her hair, trying to stop me from pulling her hair any further.

“For not knowing your place, I shall teach you a lesson you would never forget and you're going to regret ever going against my rule," I said, my voice low and dangerous.

I was losing my patience with her defiance, and I knew I had to put an end to it. I would show her what happened when someone disobeyed me, and I wouldn't hold back.

I pulled her along, heading towards my room. I knew what awaited her there, and I hoped she would understand the severity of her actions. I wasn't going to let this slide, and she would soon learn her lesson.