Bird In A Gilded Cage

"Did you not think it essential to consult me before taking such an important decision?" Doran's overly calm voice jolted her back from her reverie.

This was the same Doran she had met in front of this fountain a few months ago and yet he was so different.

He had her tensed without having to raise his voice to make his point. The hard whisper in which he spoke ensured no one else would hear. Such a benevolent smile he held as if murmuring sweet musings to his fiancée.

She slowly turned and he was standing a few feet behind with an unreadable expression on his face. His hands tucked in his tailored dress pants. But she knew a storm was brewing inside of him, which would engulf her whole later.

"It was mine and I did what I deemed right. Besides I will be living with you in a couple of days, so I won't be needing it. Didn't want it to collect dust," Skyla slowly answered, tugging away the lock of hair that had come loose from the bun.

"You were afraid I would take it from you, weren't you?" He elegantly closed the distance between them. A small kiss he prepped on her temple, void of any emotions, making Skyla shudder.

Any onlooker would think what a lovely couple they were but reality was far from it.

"Would I be wrong? After how you took over…" his index finger landed on her lips and a cold glint flashed in his eyes, warning her.

"Not here."

Skyla closed her mouth and he took her arm, leading her away towards his car. There was this ominous smile on his face which didn't reach those icy eyes of his.

His chauffeur opened the back door for them but he said.

"Stay Anders, and finish up all the process here. Make sure all of Miss Skyla's belongings are neatly packed and moved to my villa. I will be taking the car. You can bring Miss Skyla's car around," Doran opened the passenger door and helped her settle inside after she had handed over her keys. He softly shut it behind her.

"Everything will be done as per your wishes," Anders respectfully nodded.

Taking the driver's seat, Doran started the car and it noiselessly came to life and rolled out of the driveway. Skyla fidgeted, nervously holding the sides of her dress, she bit her lower lip and stared out of the car window.

The mundane lives of the people of Angel City passed before her eyes. She had been born and raised here, the city was a business and tourism hub due to numerous influential families settled here and because of its beautiful beaches.

"Skyla!" her thoughts were interrupted by his stern voice. The calmness in his voice had disappeared, now that they were alone.

"Keep this drilled in your mind that all of your actions directly affect me now. From now onwards all your decisions will go through me. I won't let you jeopardize my reputation. Didn't you care to think how it would reflect on me? People would think I couldn't provide for you, leading you to take such drastic steps of selling property."

"Your actions are what exactly led me to this. You think I trust you after how you deceived us and took over my father's company?" she retorted back, seething inside of how brazenly he was throwing instructions at her.

"You are a naive girl, Skyla Adams. Your father willingly handed over the reins of the company to me and signed the legal documents. Until you learn the trade, it has to be handled by me. The businesses are run by vultures and wolves, not humans. What do you think they would have done, seeing a girl with no experience handling a billion-dollar company after her father's demise? I did you a favour and your father understood. But you are an ungrateful female with no thought process," Skyla gasped at his callous words but paying her no heed, he continued.

"You showed your zero business sense by selling your family villa. Exactly the reason you will be restricted from any business interactions from today onwards. You will only be my wife, who should look pretty, dress pretty and accompany me on social functions. You have no other purpose in my life. I don't love you and there will be no physical relationship between us. I have other means for that."

The contours of his face had hardened and that calm demeanour was buried somewhere deep. She didn't even recognise this man. His words had cut her deep, it was true. Words hurt worse than any physical pain.

"How dare you?" she screamed at him, fighting back tears. "I want to be involved in every decision related to the company, I won't let you steal it. You are an as*hole."

The frigid glare he sent her had her flinching away from him.

"Watch your tongue, don't make me discipline you again. I didn't like hitting you last time and I want you to look pretty at your wedding, not black and blue."

His words chilled her and her mouth was left ajar. Her eyes dilated as she unblinkingly stared at him and his set jaw, a vein was ticking in his temple.

Was this how her life was going to be now? Him beating her up for even trying to stand up for herself? Her hand instinctively went to her cheek where he had stuck her when she dared question him about his cheating. The sting of his first slap still rang fresh in her mind. The bruise was gone but the effect will never fade.

"You can whore around but want your wife to be obedient and look pretty? Is that what you have been taught? To raise your hand on women?" Skyla knew she was only agitating him but she couldn't help herself. The anger bubbling inside her wanted an out.

Doran's hold tightened around the steering wheel and he clenched his jaw even tighter before giving her a single-word answer to all of her questions.

"Yes!"

The one innocent word was enough to shatter any dreams she held, any hopes that still lingered in her heart for him, and any thoughts that were left that he might apologise for his behaviour.

The tears of anguish and hatred she felt for him spilt out of her eyes and she tore her gaze away from him. Taking out her phone in these fleeting moments she sent several texts. Once she was done, the red-haired girl shuffled away from the blue-eyed man and quietly began to observe the outside world. She was a caged bird now, who would be kept in a gilded cage with no doors.

Unbeknownst to her, Doran stole several glances at her crying figure but said nothing. His jaw only tightened further and further in frustration at every sniffle she made and it echoed in the confined space of their car.