16. You're my wife.

"Where did he go?" I mutter to myself as I climb down the majestic stairs. Seriously, this house is insane. I always thought that comic artists were exaggerating whenever they drew the mansion of a rich man. Because I thought no one would build a house like this in real life.

Clearly, I was mistaken. This place feels like a comic book came to life. In fact everything about that man feels animated and unreal.

"Looking for me?" I jolt and stumble as I hear his voice come from behind me. I think I'm going to fall, but just before I hit the ground, I feel strong arms enveloping me, and pressing closer to his body.

"Did I startle you, dearest?" His voice, like rich creamy chocolate dripping from a cup onto a pastry, is so smooth and soft, but with a certain firmness that is all too manly. It's a lovely voice. Very pleasant to listen to.

But when that voice sounds so close to my face, with his hot clean breath kissing my cheek, and those unnaturally Light-gray eyes stare at me as though he can actually see me beneath my cloth and skin, like he can see into my soul… It's quite unnerving.

"I_ I'm fine." I say and quickly move to escape being in his arms only for him to pull me right back and shock me even further by cupping my face with both his hands.

"W_what are you do—"

"Was it him?" He suddenly asks.

"W_what?"

"The reason your eyes are swollen. The reason you were crying, was it because of that son of a b*tch ex of yours?"

Instantly, I try to pull away from him again, but it's no use, he won't even budge. How did he notice? Are my eyes that swollen?

"I_ I am fine I just—"

"Tsk," He clicks his tongue. "What should I do when my dearest wife is crying over another man?" What is he suddenly talking about? "Should I repay the person responsible by making him cry to, or—" his gaze suddenly darkens and so does the sound of his voice as it slips down lower, "should I completely destroy him so she can never think of him again."

I feel a certain chill run through my spine, and I'm suddenly scared. But beneath the fear, there is something else there… something that is weirdly fascinated by the words this man just spoke.

"W_what are you even saying? It's not like we are a real married couple." I scoff and try again to bring his hand down from my face. This time I succeed… More like he lets me.

I try to walk as naturally away from him as possible as I make my way to the refrigerator, take out a bottle of water but when I try to open it, it's like they used some kind of crazy glue to seal it! Or maybe my hands are just slippery. And a little bit shaky too.

Why won't it open!

The bottle is stolen out of my hands and returned back to me opened, "T_thank you." I say as I collect the water and gulp down the contents.

Why is he still standing here though? And staring at me with his hands folded over his chest like he is expecting something from me.

This is awkward.

Too awkward.

Say something Champagne, say something. Start a conversation or go back to your room at least. But I can't, he's standing on the way!

What do I? What do I say? I look around the place for something to say. "Th_That's a very beautiful picture of a pink cockatoo." I point at the huge portrait occupying an entire wall in the main living room.

"I_it's really beautiful. It really suits the place." What am I even saying?

"Have you thought about my offer?" He asks.

"You literally told me you'd give me some time to think about it. It's barely been two hours since you said that." I quickly remind him.

"No one ever stated that the words 'Some time' should actually mean a long time. Two hours count as some time too." He shrugs.

Hah, he is such a smooth talker. He always has a comeback!

"I've been meaning to ask you, do you live here all by yourself? Just you and your kids?" I don't have an answer to his question just yet, even though it is quite obvious what I should do, I still want to think about it a little longer.

"I mean it's an enormous mansion, for one it would require a good amount of cleaning staff, so how come I haven't seen anyone around?"

"I don't like having strangers around, so the cleaning staff comes once a week… that's on Saturdays."

"You know, for someone who does like having strangers around, it is quite funny that you married a strange woman you just met and brought me here." I laugh as I think about it.

"You're not a stranger." He says, "You're my wife."

M_my heart.

How can he say that with a straight face? While also staring at me without blinking.

"Other than the cleaning staff, there are three other people you will be seeing quite often. One is Alan who you already met and—"

"Wait, Alan? I already met an Alan? When? I don't remember seeing anyone in this house but you."

"Oh, Alan is the blonde who dropped my car off last night at the hospital."

"Ahhh_ that weird guy who was looking at me weirdly." I blurt out the words without thinking.

"He was looking at you weirdly?" He asks and I finally realize what I said out loud.

"Well, not weirdly, it's just he was staring at me like I had offended him somehow and—"

"Hah, I see. Do not worry about Alan, he does that to everyone he meets for the first time. He's not normal."

"Ah, I see." But still, to think I'll be seeing that man around a lot scares me a little. His gaze was just so intense and creepy.