You're My Wife

She got down from the bed and hurried toward him before he could exit the room.

“I– I want to speak with you about the contract?” she said while looking away from his dark expression. On getting no reply after some seconds, she swallowed hard then continued.

“It wasn’t mentioned inside, how long it would last... a–and also the terms—”

“What problem do you have with the terms?” Adrian leaned against the door and folded his hands. His eyes were fixed on her intently and she couldn't fathom his expression.

“It... It says that we can’t act like a couple except in the presence of your family… I… I don’t understand–”

“The literal meaning,” Adrian replied simply, now giving her a hard look.

Gina's brows drew together, her forehead settling into a frown. ‘Absurd' she thought inside. And where are his family?

Without letting herself get lost in the confusing thoughts, she nodded in agreement, then continued.

“It also says that I’m not allowed to bear you children…" she paused while fiddling with her pajamas shirt, then took a deep breath and said, "since that’s the case, and we’re not a real couple… c… can you… can you please not touch me?”

Thinking back to the three times he had tried to make an advance on her, Gina shivered inside. Every time his hands graze her skin, it was as if the devil himself was running his claws all over her making her whole being overwhelmed with tremors, with the dark memories that came flooding back. He suddenly let out a chuckle and she took a step back.

Adrian stood straight and put both hands in his pocket. “What made you think I would like to touch you? And who said we’re not a real couple?” He muttered with a glint in his eyes, then stepped forward.

“You’re my wife and contract or not, you’ll follow each of my rules. I didn’t want to waste my time explaining everything to you, so I asked for it to be written in words.”

He stopped in front of her and lifted his hand to her hair. “Yes, you won’t bear my children, but that doesn’t deprive me of my right and I’ll do as I please with you.”

Gina's heart drummed rapidly, and she took another step back. “B… But you have a g... girlfriend—” she blurted out and hoped he would stop stroking her hair while giving her that weird look.

Adrian's eyes turned cold and he dropped his hand to his side. “It is none of your business,” he muttered under his breath.

“B… But it’s only fair th… that you don’t touch me, since we’re not going to h… have children, I think its better if we don’t —”

“Fine!” Adrian cut her off, his fists clenching and unclenching. He grabbed her chin and snapped, “Don't you dare forget to stick to your words, Regina. If you ruin everything, you’re not going to like the outcome. Not only your family but also you are going to wish you don’t exist… and I’ll terminate this contract, whenever I like.”

He broke away from her then strode out of the room, and slammed the door shut.”

Gina flinched once more with both hands on her chest. Her eyes lingered on the closed door and she patted her chest and let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding.

Thank God he agreed, and there’s also hope that he would terminate the contract. She doesn’t have to live in the anxiety of living with him forever, and could finally sense freedom.

When she walked out of the bathroom after taking her bath, she walked to the telephone which was ringing from the bedside table, then sat on the bed and answered it. “H… Hello,” she said to the phone.

After some seconds no answers came from the other end and she patiently waited while wondering if he had forgotten to tell her something.

“Come down and make me breakfast!" the voice finally came and she frowned on hearing a female's voice.

“Now!” the voice added before the call was hung up.

Gina narrowed her eyes at the phone and rubbed her temples with a groan. What was she up to again? Couldn’t she cook her own breakfast?

After wearing her clothes, she stepped out and found the girl in the kitchen, tapping her foot on the floor with folded hands. Her left arm was wrapped in thick gauze.

“What took so you long?” Ruby raised an eyebrow and scoffed. “Do it quick, I’m hungry.” She tossed her a key and strode past her.

Gina's gaze followed her back and she breathed out a helpless sigh. She took the keys to the fridge and opened it.

She arranged everything on a tray after she was done cooking, then stepped out to the dining room, and settled the tray in front of the girl.

“Omelet?” Ruby eyed the food and threw her a glare. “Is that all you can do?”

Gina ignored her and carefully made her a cup of tea before cutting the bread into slices, Then left for the kitchen with the remaining bread.

She sat down on the counter and slowly ate her breakfast, taking her time to mull over all the confusing thoughts in her head.

Adrian does not like her, he has another woman. He married her and set up rules for her by a contract. If he wanted to save her family’s business, he wouldn’t have gone to the extent of demanding something he obviously showed his dislike to; a marriage with her. And her father would never propose that idea. Then what was his motive?

She was sure that they had never crossed paths anywhere in the past. There must be a reason for all this.

Her curiosity increased with each passing minute, despite being warned by her father not to ask so many questions. It was like she was in an endless abyss with no clue about what was happening around her.