Early in the morning, Nora woke up with a jerk, looking around askance at the new surroundings. It took her a moment to recall that she was not in her mother's home now but her new husband's.
As she stared at the ceiling, she could not help but sigh. A month ago, the word 'husband' would have evoked butterflies in her stomach and Antonio's smiling face and now, she felt nothing... No, not nothing. She felt intimidation as she thought of her new husband. It wasn't as if she was scared that he would be violent or harm her in some way. Just an instinct that she could never afford to offend him.
She wondered if he would now let her know why he had married her and how he wanted to proceed for her to 'show' her love for him. It was always better to have a script beforehand. Maybe now would be a good time to ask. What if he was a morning person and might be approachable? Jumping out of bed, she quickly raced to the bathroom to freshen up so that she could have a discussion with him.
***
He was NOT a morning person. As Nora sat on the small breakfast table across from him, staring at his face as he read some papers, Nora came to this conclusion. If anything, the man looked even more harsh with the sunlight over him.
She cocked her head and looked at him objectively. If Demetri Frost was a character from a novel, the author would describe him as brooding, enigmatic, etc etc. He would possibly be a serial killer posing as a detective or if it was a romance novel then the dynamic anti-hero who would steal the female lead.
"Ahem ahem." Nora was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of him clearing his throat. Realising that she had probably been staring, she quickly looked away and then her gaze fell on the thing that had been pushed in her direction.
It was totally a step out of a novel and she could not help but giggle. His eyebrows raised at her unprecedented reaction and she blurted out truthfully," I was just thinking that you look like someone who has stepped out of thos online webnovella and then you do this classic novel move of giving your wife a Black Card."
Demetri stared at her while Nora could not help but curse in her heart. Why did she have to open her mouth and talk about reading novels? Antonio used to hate it and called it a waste of time. She sighed and was expecting something derogatory when he spoke," And then?"
The two words caused her to blink in confusion. What then? Did he want her to tell him what happened after that?
Hesitantly, she spoke," She will try to refuse but in vain."
That earned her a nod as the man returned to sipping his coffee.
Utterly bewildered, Nora sipped her own coffee before sighing," I know we agreed that you will bear all the expenses but I really do not need your money. I agreed because I wanted to avoid arguments. My tuition fee is covered by the trust fund that my grandparents left me and I do get an allowance from that. I will also be working part-time so… you can just take your card back."
Demetri, however, finished his coffee and stood up with a glib remark," You need to re-read your novels. Trying to return is no use."
By the time Nora had gathered her wits the man was already out of the door with the discussion at an end. And she realized she had once again forgotten two important tasks. One, she'd needed to get her husband's phone number and second-the script for their task...
Grabbing the card from the table, she stood up and threw the rest of her horrible coffee into the sink. She hated black coffee! As she looked around the bare kitchen, with all the appliances but no groceries, she wondered if the man lived on takeout...
But that was none of her concern. Since she was moving in, she had already decided that she would treat this situation as if she was living with a roommate. And so she would simply take care of her own groceries from today. But now, she had to take care of an immediate problem... She had no clothes to wear...
Just then, her own phone vibrated and she looked at the message from an unknown number that said- "Bag on the couch. Help yourself."
***
As Nora stared at herself in the mirror, she could not help but wonder if the man had a personal shopper. The few times she had met him, his own clothing had been impeccably tailored to fit him. But now, even her clothing was perfectly fitting.
Well, whether the clothing had been chosen by him or the shopper, it made no difference since it would be perfect for the meeting now. And once that was done, she could even enjoy her time with Isabella before going to collect her things. Also, she now had the man's number. Thinking carefully, she saved his number as Mr Frost but then frowned. And quickly changed it again. Better to name him, 'Mr Husband.'
She could not help but wonder if the dress was his way of paying her... Grandpa William had given her the bare basics that Demetri Frost had asked him to look for a contract wife.
In the next moment, she shrugged her shoulders. It should make no difference to her. She would simply find a way to return what he spent on her when she had access to her own money...
With a last glance at herself in the mirror, Nora took a deep breath and practised her uncaring smile. Today was going to be the toughest and most painful performance of her life.
Hello everyone. How are you all doing? What do you think of our Demon? Are you as frustrated as me that he speaks so less? I want to know what is on the guy's mind but he is so stingy with his words and thoughts!
Author: "Sigh, Demon you need to talk more!"
Demon: "Pay up and I will talk."
Author: "Uhhh... you are already a billionaire."
*Demon shrugs shoulders*
Demon: "I need to spoil my new wife. So all the money in the world is not enough. She is too young."
Author: *facepalm* "I've created a demon."
"What are we waiting for? After all, there's no need for you to read the will. I already know its contents. Sara and Antonio have to leave for their honeymoon in the evening, and there are hundreds of things she has to prepare. She can't wait all day," Mrs. Lara Anderson complained to the paralegal who had been sitting with them in the conference room.
As the door to the room opened, the woman looked at the entrance with an inaudible sigh of relief. However, when William Doughby and Nora Williams walked in, she winced as Lara Anderson's high-pitched voice rang out, "Why is she here?"
Even Antonio and Sara, who had been sitting quietly until now, looked at the older woman with puzzlement. While Sara frowned, Antonio could only stare at her. She looked so different. The Nora he knew was always dressed in loose long-sleeved t-shirts and jeans. Yesterday, she had worn a dress for the reception, and he had been unable to stop himself from staring at her. He had convinced himself that it was because he felt guilty towards her, but this morning... she looked even more breathtaking than yesterday...
"Mother? Why are you in such a bad mood? Why can't I be here? Sara is here? Even Antonio, who has nothing to do with our late grandparents, is here."
Lara Anderson seemed to realize that her mask of being a loving mother had almost slipped. She quickly stood up and hugged Nora.
Patting Nora's face, Lara spoke, "I am sorry for sounding so abrupt, dear. It's just that I wasn't expecting you here. I've also been so worried. You didn't even return home last night... Were you at your friend Isabella's place?"
"All you had to do was call, and you would know my whereabouts, mother," Nora replied stiffly.
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air as Lara stared at her daughter with narrowed eyes. There was something different about her today, other than the dress.
"Did you borrow Isabella's dress? You look very different... and not in a good way, sweetheart," Lara commented, intently studying her daughter as if trying to read her mind.
Stepping away from Lara, Nora ignored the comment and instead replied, "Let's not waste Grandpa William's time discussing my fashion choices, Mother. Grandpa, we're all here, so let's begin."
This time, Lara's gaze was sharper as she turned to the man and directly questioned, "Why is Nora's presence needed? Sara is here to claim her inheritance. Nora can claim hers when she is ma... older."
"Mother, Sara is younger than me, and she can claim her inheritance, but I can only do it when I am older. I want to know the terms of this will that my grandparents have left me."
SMACK
Before anyone could realize what would happen, Lara had already stood up again and slapped Nora across the face. "You rebellious child! When I already told you that there is no need for you to question me, you still do it! I see that you have forgotten your place."
Nora stared at the woman she had strived to please all her life and for the first time acknowledged the hatred in her eyes. She had always done her best so that her mother would look at her with anything other than loathing. The way she did when they were with other people. But she had only seen indifference. And now she saw the hate, and she committed it to her memory. Going forward, she would have to hold onto this memory so that she would not give in to her mother's coaxing.
"Aunty Lara, please step back. She wasn't being rebellious, just curious. Please." While everyone hesitated to move, Antonio stepped between Lara and Nora. He didn't glance her way but addressed the older woman, "It's alright, Aunt. If... if I hadn't done what I did yesterday, she would have been the one rightfully sitting here, isn't that what you told me? Whether she knows the truth today or a few days later, it won't matter. It's not your or Sara's fault."
That caused Nora to raise an eyebrow. So it seemed Antonio was also aware of these things, and she was the only one being kept in the dark.
A corner of her mouth twitched, and Nora commented, "What a wonderful moment. So, Mother, you can talk about your parents' will with outsiders, but when your own daughter wants to sit in, you abuse her?"
Lara charged forward again, but this time William Doughby was prepared and spoke up, "Let me remind you of where you are, Lara."
Once again, Lara's complexion changed, and she took a deep breath to compose herself. "Uncle Doughby, this isn't right. You might be the executor of the will, but you had no right to interfere in this. I had expressly made my wishes clear as the guardian of my daughters."
"But Lara, you aren't the guardian anymore. Both the girls are old enough to make their own decisions. The only person who isn't mentioned in the will at the moment and thus not required is... you. So, I suggest you sit down before I ask you to leave."
Finally, after the admonition from the man, Lara settled down but continued to glare at Nora, whose face was now red and swollen.
William Doughby nodded to the assistant, who then got up with a nod. The next minute, an ice pack was handed to her, and a security guard was brought in to stand.
"Now, we're here today to discuss the execution of the will left by Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Lara Anderson's parents. Due to their personal differences, they chose not to let their only daughter inherit the wealth but put it in safekeeping with our firm to be executed when their granddaughters turned twenty or got married, whichever came first."
Hey everyone! Just leaving this information for you here.
The update schedule:
August: One chapter per day( with Saturday/ Sunday off)
September: Two chapters/ day (though may have occasional one chapter but lengthy)
Bonus chapters: 1 review (per user)= 1 bonus chapter within 48 hours of the review
Now, if you are wondering why only 1 chapter every day in August, then it is because it's my birthday month and I am taking it slow! So, this author is shamelessly asking that you drop some reviews and powerstones as my birthday gift and I'll drop chapters as return favours! *Mwah* Love you all!
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