Chapter 2

"Do I need to call a servant to help you change your clothes?" Carter asked.

"No, I can do it myself," Aron replied flatly. "Just leave me alone."

Carter nodded and promptly left the room as per as Aron's request.

Aron's gaze fixed on the darkness outside. Just ten minuted ago, he had officially become the husband of Aleeza Whitaker. Now, he was determined to make this marriage a living hell for the woman.

Without removing his wedding attire, Aron wheeled his chair toward his desk. There was no chair provided at the large desk, as he couldn't use one anyway. He intended to work, regardless of this being his wedding night. He had immediately returned to his room with Aleeza once their marriage had been declared official.

Furthermore, there was nothing enjoyable about the wedding party. The guests were only close friends of his stepfamily. Aleeza's parents couldn't attend because they were abroad. It was just Aleeza's two older brothers and a few of her close friends in attendance.

Given the circumstances, there was no reason for Aron to stay. Although he was the groom, he didn't know a single guest. His stepfamily had successfully made him feel like a stranger at his own wedding.

-KNOCK-

Aron didn't bother to look up to see who had entered his room without knocking. Who else could it be but the woman he had just married?

"Aron, why did you rush away from the party?" Aleeza asked gently. "You haven't even eaten anything."

Aleeza placed a tray of food and a glass of milk on the bedside table. She was still wearing her floor-sweeping wedding gown.

She had been taken by surprise when Aron left abruptly. Her older brother and friends had stared at her questioningly. Of course, they had no idea that this marriage had ulterior motives.

Fortunately, her parents couldn't attend the wedding. If they had, her strict father would have immediately dragged her home and annulled the marriage. But since it was only her brother and friends here, Aleeza easily explained that her husband was feeling unwell. Her husband's family had agreed with her statement.

Eventually, she had to excuse herself to follow Aron to the room so that people wouldn't become more suspicious.

Seeing that Aron was still not diverting his attention from the documents he was reading, Aleeza finally approached and stood in front of his desk.

"Would you like me to feed you?" Aleeza asked somewhat shyly.

Aron's reading activity came to a halt when he heard Aleeza's question. He slowly raised his head, and his sharp gaze pierced Aleeza.

"No need to be repulsive like that in front of me," Aron said coldly.

Aleeza fell silent for a moment. Then, slowly, her shy demeanor changed. She grinned broadly. "My husband, can't you pretend to be sweet? At least just for tonight?" Aleeza teased, winking with one eye.

"Finally, your true self is showing," Aron retorted.

Aleeza burst into laughter upon hearing Aron's comment, finding it amusing. "Am I some kind of shape-shifter to you?"

"You are even lover than a shape-shifter. You are just a servant snake."

Aleeza's chuckles turned into laughter.

Aron was infuriated. He despised it when his words were treated as a joke. His fingers clenched tightly. Aleeza was fortunate that Aron couldn't stand up; otherwise, she would have already fallen with a face covered in blood. Aron wouldn't have cared that she was a woman.

"You're good at cracking jokes, Darling," Aleeza praised after her laughter subsided.

Aleeza stepped closer to Aron's desk, placing both of her hands on the cold surface. She leaned forward until her eyes were level with Aron's.

They locked eyes, both with intense gazed. Aron had his cold stare, while Aleeza had a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"The more acerbic you are, the more enticing you become in my eyes, Aron," Aleeza commented without warning and briefly nibbled on Aron's lower lip.

Aron was so taken aback by Aleeza's action that he couldn't move. He remained frozen in place even as Aleeza withdrew, wearing a wide smile, and disappeared behind the bathroom door.

Once he regained his composure, Aron's fingers moved to his chest. His heart was racing. It was probably because he hadn't been in a close proximity to someone of the opposite sex, other than the family he detested, for a long time.

Aron closed his eyes. He leaned back in his wheelchair, and his heart gradually slowed down. The sound of the bathroom door opening again, accompanied by Aleeza's voice, brought him back.

"Darling, I can't unzip the dress," Aleeza said playfully.

"Call a servant!" Aron raised himself up and resumed reading his documents.

"I don't need a servant when my handsome husband is here. Besides, I'm only going to show my body to my husband."

"Don't make me cringe with your words. Judging by your slutty behavior toward me, there must have been countless men who have touched your body."

If Aron had said this to any other woman, she would likely have left in tears with a broken heart. But not Aleeza. She ran her tongue over her upper lip like she was savoring a delicious meal.

"Darling, you make me want to kiss you again."

Aleeza bent forward with her face approaching, but this time, Aron turned his face away. "Don't do that again if you don't want your face to get hurt because of me."

"That's called domestic violence. How do I explain that if people ask? Should I say that my husband hit me because I tried to kiss him?"

Only an inch remained for Aleeza to reach Aron's lips. But seeing the horror in Aron's face, Aleeza withdrew with a burst of laughter.

"Darling, you look like I'm about to force myself on you," Aleeza said amidst her laughter. "Never mind, I want to freshen up. Quickly, help me unzip my dress. After that, I'll leave you to work."

Aleeza walked around and knelt beside Aron's chair, facing away from him. She had already pulled her long hair away from her back so that Aron could more easily unzip her dress.

Aron, meanwhile, stared at Aleeza's back with a furious glare. He was frustrated and felt somewhat defeated. He had initially thought it would be easy to create hell for Aleeza, but it wasn't that simple.

"I can kneel all night," Aleeza mumbled because Aron still hadn't moved.

Aron began to understand that Aleeza was a stubborn woman. Therefore, he chose to give in to regain his peace of mind, even if it might only last for a moment.

Roughly, Aron unzipped Aleeza's dress, then immediately redirected his attention to the documents on his desk. Despite his efforts, his eyes still caught sight of Aleeza's smooth, white back.

"Thank you, my husband," Aleeza said naughtily, rising and kissing Aron's cheek. When Aron looked up and was about to shoot a glare at Aleeza, she had already hurried into the bathroom with a gleeful laugh.

Annoyed, Aron closed the file in front of him and pushed it aside. He couldn't concentrate at all.

This time, Keiran had sent a truly clever and cunning snake. Just a few minutes alone with Aleeza, and Aron had already lost his self-control. It seemed Aron needed to be cautious. Otherwise, he might become the loser because he couldn't hold his ground.

Not long after, Aleeza emerged wearing her nightgown. She casually walked to the dressing table provided for her in the room.

To avoid appearing as though he was watching Aleeza, Aron picked up one of his business books and attempted to concentrate on reading. But it was very difficult. Perhaps it was because Aron wasn't used to having someone else in his room, especially when that person was an enemy he had to be wary of.

Aleeza had finished removing her makeup and applying her night cream. When she stood up, her gaze landed on the untouched tray of food.

"Darling, you haven't touched your dinner," Aleeza observed as she picked up the tray and carried it over to Aron's desk.

"Stop calling me those disgusting names," Aron replied coldly.

Aleeza pretended not to hear Aron's words. Without sitting down, she sliced the steak into small pieces and skewered them with her fork.

"Come on, open your mouth," Aleeza requested, guiding the fork toward Aron's lips.

Aron's anger had reached its peak. He angrily waved his hand, causing the fork in Aleeza's grip to be flung away.

"You've crossed the line. We both know this isn't a real marriage. Behave and keep your distance from me, and I won't hurt you," Aron warned.

Aleeza smiled, ignoring Aron's anger, and instead, she pinched a piece of steak between her index and thumb. "If you knew that, you shouldn't have accepted this marriage. Now, it's too late for you to tell me to keep my distance because I will never keep my distance from my husband."

Aleeza put the delicious piece of meat into her mouth and licked her fingers. "It's not good to waste food, Darling."

Then, she picked up the fork from the floor and used a tissue to clean the dirty floor cause by the steak. Afterward, she put on her robe and left, carrying the tray with her.

Once Aleeza was gone, Aron rubbed his face in frustration. Now, he was filled with regret. He regretted not rejecting this marriage as Carter advised. But since everything had already happened, all Aron could do was try to ignore Aleeza's presence and find a way to make her regret this marriage.

Aron wheeled his chair to the center of the room. Normally, a servant would come and prepare Aron for rest. He had a male servant who always assisted him with tasks like going to the bathroom or changing clothes. Although sometimes Aron tried to do it himself, he admitted that his body was not as strong as it used to be. The pain in both his calves could be quite sharp when he moved the lower part of his body.

Now Aron was puzzled. The servant must have assumed that his wife would take care of all his needs. Or maybe it was because he had forbidden Carter from calling the servant earlier. Anyway, tomorrow he would meet the servant and make it clear that the servant's duties hadn't changed despite Aron getting married.

Aron turned when the door opened, hoping it was his servant. But it was Aleeza who entered. She immediately averted her gaze and wheeled Aron's chair to the side of the bed.

"My husband, don't you want to change clothes or go to the bathroom?" Aleeza asked as she approached Aron. She completely ignored Aron's earlier warning.

Aron ignored Aleeza, staring at the bed and thinking about how to move his body onto it.

In the past, before the pain had set in, Aron could move his body on his own without assistamce. But now he couldn't do it anymore. Maybe tonight Aron would have to sleep in his wheelchair.

Seeing Aron's expression, Aleeza understood what he was thinking. Without a word, she moved closer to him and knelt in front of him.

"What are you doing?" Aron asked as Aleeza's fingers moved to the buttons of her wedding dress.

"For this time, stop your complaints!" Now there was no playful or teasing tone in Aleeza's voice.

Finally, Aron fell silent. If Aleeza intended to help him, that was good. But Aron's silence didn't mean he had given up.

Gently, Aleeza removed Aron's upper garment. Afterward, she stood up straight with her hands on her waist. "How can I help you move to the bed? Clearly, I won't be able to carry you."

Aron sighed. Earlier, she acted like she could help him. But now she seemed confused herself.

"Lift me from behind!" Aron ordered.

"Lift? Are you serious? You must be heavy."

Aleeza moved behind Aron, stretching her muscles like someone warming up before exercise. Without warning, her arm slipped under Aron's, embracing him from behind.

"I can do this!" Aleeza encouraged herself.

With all her strength, Aleeza lifted Aron. Thankfully, Aron lightened the load by supported himself on the arms of the wheelchair. Nevertheless, Aleeza still gasped when Aron's buttocks touched the bed.

"I can move myself from here. Now get out!" Aron commanded.

Instead of moving away, Aleeza continued to embrace Aron from behind. She even rested her cheek on Aron's bare back while catching her breath.

"Heh, aren't you passing out, are you? Quickly move!" Aron scolded.

"Oh my, is Aron angry?" Aleeza chuckled. "You're like a shy maiden, my husband." But she quickly turned her body around so Aron wouldn't get angrier.

For a few moments, only the rustling of fabric could be heard. Then Aron's previously worn pants were thrown near Aleeza's feet.

Speaking as if she were addressing a servant, Aron ordered, "Put those clothes in the bathroom."

Without taking offense, Aleeza bent down and picked up Aron's clothes. After fulfilling Aron's command, she removed her own nightgown and climbed onto the bed beside Aron, who had already laid down.

"Why aren't you wearing your clothes?" Aleeza asked, noticing that Aron was only wearing his long pajama pants.

"You are so naggy," Aron commented, then tried to sleep.

Aleeza only smiled faintly at Aron's response. Initially, she had intended to continue teasing him, but it seemed like it was enough for today. Aleeza was lucky that Aron didn't ask her to sleep onthe floor.