Bab 13: Who is he?

Waking up in a very bad mood had been Princess Elara's routine ever since she opened her eyes and found herself inhabiting Zuri's body. From that moment until now, everything felt wrong. She woke up after an accident, was forced away from a man who resembled her former lover, only to be forced into a marriage with someone who closely resembled Prince Tristan, the one who killed her former lover.

Princess Elara's life became very tragic. And now she had to play the role of Zuri because her soul was trapped in Zuri's body. The real Zuri's soul - the one she had met - was still sleeping, waiting to be returned. But what will happen when the original Zuri's soul returns? In her past, Princess Elara had committed suicide. It was a secret neither Zuri nor Princess Elara knew.

"Hurry and get up. Today you will go to a meeting with my people. Be good and don't make any trouble," Liam's voice broke her reverie as he approached the sofa where Zuri slept.

Instead of obeying, Zuri closed her eyes again, pretending not to hear him.

"Wake up," Liam repeated, his tone more commanding this time, but Zuri kept her eyes closed, unwilling to wake.

"Don't try my patience!" Liam warned, but Zuri remained silent. Frustrated, he pulled at the blanket roughly.

But Zuri made no move to get up.

"Don't force me!" Liam lost his temper with his contract wife.

"What are you going to do? Kill me?" Zuri asked defiantly, her eyes still closed.

"I will, if that's what you want. I will not tolerate insubordination," Liam replied coldly.

Zuri finally opened her eyes and looked at him sharply. "Go ahead and kill me, I'm tired of living with you!" Zuri challenged him. After all, in her past life she had taken her own life to avoid marrying Prince Tristan. Now she had awakened, only to be forced to marry someone like Prince Tristan. Once again, she would not regret dying a second time.

"Get up and get ready!" Liam ordered again, his tone stern, but Zuri was getting stubborn.

Splash!

Frustrated by Zuri's defiance, Liam doused her with water without hesitation. Zuri jerked awake, wiping the water from her face.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Zuri screamed, furious at Liam's treatment of her.

"I told you to get up earlier. Watering you is the most effective solution," Liam replied with a cold smile, while Zuri glared at him as if she could kill him with just a look.

"Don't look at me like that. Get ready or I'll ruin your lover's modeling career today," Liam began to threaten Simon's career again, seeing Zuri's growing anger.

"Damn you! Is that all you've got? A cheap threat? You heartless devil!" her anger was barely contained.

"Are you afraid now?" Liam grinned wickedly, having found a weapon to control him.

"Don't you dare touch Simon! This is between us, leave him alone!" Zuri shouted, her anger now mixed with sadness.

Liam's evil grin grew even wider. "If you want your lover to be safe, then follow my rules. Take a shower and get ready," Liam ordered before turning to leave.

"Liam!" Zuri called, making him pause without looking back, waiting to hear what she had to say.

"All right, I'll go. But on one condition: buy me a cell phone. I can't contact my boyfriend. And also, I'm tired of being stuck in this house. I want to go out without bodyguards and without orders from you. Just for a day or two. Then I'll come back and follow your rules like I'm living in prison." Zuri offered conditions if Liam wanted her to cooperate.

"Regarding the cell phone, I agree. The rest I will consider," Liam replied before walking out the door. As he left the room, Anya was already waiting outside. She was called by Liam to help Zuri prepare.

"Make sure she wears appropriate clothing," Liam advised, and Anya nodded politely.

Anya entered the room and found Zuri still soaking wet and looking upset.

"Miss, please take a shower. If you're not ready when Mr. Liam gets back here, he'll be angry," Anya gently urged Liam's wife to get ready.

Zuri looked at Anya with a feeling of sadness and frustration. "Anya, I want to escape. I'll go crazy if I stay in this house any longer. Liam is very annoying and also cruel. I want to be free." Zuri spoke to Anya like a child complaining to her mother.

Anya reached out her hand, grasping Zuri's gently. "Miss, you have to stay strong. I'm sure you'll be free soon. Mr. Liam is a good man. All you need to do is touch his heart," Anya advised gently.

Zuri shook her head, disagreeing. "Liam is a bad person. Don't be fooled by his appearance."

In Zuri's mind, which still carried the memories of Princess Elara, Liam was Prince Tristan, a bloodthirsty prince, a ruthless warlord and known as a demon on the battlefield. He was a merciless war leader who showed no fear or mercy, killing anyone who got in his way. She had heard countless stories of Prince Tristan's cruelty from her servants during her time as Princess Elara in the past. And now, in this new world, Liam is the exact image of Prince Tristan, just as heartless and and cruel.

"Miss, I'll always be by your side. Don't do anything reckless that might make Master Liam angry. Just follow what he wants. If you wish to be free, you'll need to play your cards right," Anya advised Zuri to be careful.

"Hold on, Miss. This is all for your own good."

Zuri heard Anya's thoughts. "For my own good?" Zuri wondered in frustration. "How could anything good come from being sold by my father to a heartless man like Liam?"

Finally, Zuri got up and prepared herself with Anya's help. She wore a formal outfit that fit her slim frame perfectly, her face touched up with natural makeup by Anya. She looked both beautiful and elegant.

"Where are we going?" Zuri asked Anya, who was brushing her hair.

"I'm not sure, but it's a meeting to discuss business cooperation and to introduce you as Young Master's wife," Anya explained, sharing what little she knew. Zuri tried to read Anya's mind, but the girl wasn't thinking of anything significant at the moment.

Zuri stepped out of the room with Anya by her side. Waiting for them was a man with a cold expression. Zuri didn't recognize him.

"I'm Zen Lee, Mr.Liam's bodyguard. I'll be escorting you today," said the handsome but unsmiling man, introducing himself.

"Where's Liam? Why isn't he getting ready?" Zuri asked, not seeing her husband.

"Mr. Liam is waiting for you in the car," Zen Lee replied politely. Zuri nodded and followed Zen Lee, flashing a brief smile at Anya.

"I hope she'll be alright." Zuri heard Anya's thoughts as she walked away, still unsure of what she meant.

Zen Lee opened the car door for Zuri, but almost stumbled when she saw an unattractive man inside. A not so fat man with a scar on his face. Why was this man here? Did she have to sit beside him?

"Where's Liam?" Zuri asked nervously.

"That's Young Master," Zen Lee pointed to the unattractive man. Zuri was utterly confused. Her husband, Liam, was a very handsome man. So, who was this Liam?