My cheeks flushed at the memory. He and his friends had walked in on me while I was in the laundry room. His friend snatched the manifestation diary I was writing in and began reading the entry. It just coincidentally be the day I wrote about my crush on Carey and hope to date him one day. Carey and his friends had laughed. It was also the last time I ever poured my feelings on a piece of paper.
He let out a harsh laughter. "I don't know why I thought I was making my own choices when my father had already made it for me. So what was the deal you made with my father? How much did he pay you?"
"You were never supposed to know," I said. "I didn't want to do it at first, but he tied my hands. If you must know, all of my feelings for you were real."
That made him fly into a rage. “Don't you ever! Ever say you had any feelings for me! Everything about people like you is transactional. I was a fool to think otherwise.”
I felt a stab at my chest. "People like me?"
"Gold diggers who think they can get ahead in life by getting on their knees and sucking whatever cock that can get them ahead." He closed the gap between us and leaned into my ear. "Did you suck my father's dick, too? Is that how you convinced him to make you my wife?"
I was so repulsed; I slapped him without thinking. I turned to the door, wanting to get away from him, but he grabbed my hand and snatched me back into his arms. We were face to face, our hands crushed between our chests. I wiggled out of his grasp, but he held me firm. "I'm not done with you," he said.
My breath hitched as I my hand splayed against his chest. I could feel his heart beating, the rhythm same as my own.Looking up into his eyes, I wanted to show him I wouldn't be intimidated, but I saw something else. Hunger and desire. They were dark with the same passion I could feel build up inside me.I want you, his gaze seemed to say. But what did that mean when he was equally repulsed by my presence? Even though I felt shame for what I did, I still had some morals left.
"I don't want to have sex with you," I said.
"Fucking is the last thing I want to do to you right now. You could be naked and I would not be tempted to touch your body. Not now. Not ever." His words did exactly what they intended. They pierced my heart and knocked me down several pegs.
"So, what do you want? A divorce?" My challenge was empty. There's no way his father was going to let that happen.
"You and I will remain married for the foreseeable future. But those babies my father paid you to have, tough luck. You ain't having them, because this is the last time I am touching you." He gave me a kiss. A brutal, punishing kiss that made my insides flutter and my soul cry. "We are going to stay on this honeymoon like a happily married couple. When we return home, you will act like the dutiful wife you sold yourself to be and if you want to fuck someone, you do it discreetly, like a good, bored housewife. Understood."
"And what about you?"
His mouth twitched. "Don't worry about me. I can get pussy easy enough. As for whatever relationship we had, it's all gone. You and I are husband and wife in name only."
Chapter 9
Thalia
THE HONEYMOON WAShorrible after that. Carey rarely spoke to me, if at all, and the super yacht, large as it was, felt constricting. The death of our relationship was so obvious, even the staff knew something was off. I could see it in their side glances. Even so, I spent most of my time on the boat. Going onto the Greek shore didn't hold the same appeal as it did before. I was too shy. I felt like I had a mark on my forehead.
Rejected by her husband on her honeymoon.
I also didn't want to encounter other happy and in love couples on their honeymoon. The only bright light was that at least everything was out in the open now. At least what he felt for me was not based on deception. And it was all pure hate. It radiated from him whenever I was in his presence. I was on deck one day when I saw a lot of activity on the island. I asked a staff member if there was a festival when Carey came onto the deck. His lip visibly curled as I was speaking, and he turned back, retracing his steps. Even the sound of my voice was disgusting to him.
It was a long two weeks. The first week went on like that. Him cold and never talking to me. Me sleeping alone in the enormous master bedroom, while he slept in another room. Except for the staff, the only person I spoke to was my mother. Her cheerfulvoice made me continue the farce of our relationship. She was getting better, and it was because of Nolan Hawthorne Sr's money. For that, I couldn't apologize.
Things changed dramatically in the second week. It had started the same as the last, Carey ignoring me and me going about doing my thing. Then, on the second day of the second week, the boat sailed deeper into the sea. It was according to Carey's instructions; the captain said. Apparently, the Hawthornes owned a private island, and that's where we were going. Of course, they had an island.
My mother called me like she always did that morning. "Shouldn't you be asleep?" I asked her when I answered the video call. She was back at her apartment and even in the low light, she looked a little frail, but she was smiling. "I couldn't sleep." Her voice was raspy. "I hope I am not disturbing your honeymoon, sweetie."
"Not at all." I put on my brightest, cheeriest voice.
"How's Carey? I haven't spoken to my son-in-law since the wedding?"
"He's busy with work at the moment. He was asking after you," I lied. I had no idea what Carey was up to. My mom frowned. "Work? On your honeymoon?"
Shit. "He, uh, had to deal with an emergency. His office called so…" I trailed off.
"Well, tell him I said hi."
Our conversation moved on to more mundane topics. She was feeling better these days, she said, and the medication was working well. I tried to avoid questions about my marriage, and after a few minutes, I ended the call. Just as I finished talking to mom, the Captain honked his horn. I heard some commotion outside. Deck hands were running around. Curious, I went to the Captain's office to check. Carey was already there and he and the Captain were in deep discussion. Out of the window, I saw a boattipped at a forty-five-degree angle into the water and three life boats floating around it.
"Won't it ruin your honeymoon?" The Captain said. “We could call the coast guard to come pick them up.” Carey glanced at me as I came in and his eyes flared right before he turned his attention back to the Captain, dismissing me.
“This boat is big enough. I wouldn't mind some company,” Carey said.
