Chapter 3 The Drama Begins

Her chest felt tight all of a sudden. Even breathing felt heavy for Naomi.

She had just decided to devote herself to the cold man who now held the title of her husband. Even if it was only on paper, as Brad had said, Naomi wanted to treat him well. But what did she get in return? Naomi never imagined Brad would be this harsh toward her.

Does he really hate her that much?

Naomi nodded slowly as she managed to regain control of her emotions. She then took a few steps back and let herself fall onto the edge of the bed, sitting quietly as she tried to contain the tightness in her chest.

Stay calm, Naomi. Be patient...

Naomi tried to soothe herself, reminding herself to be more patient. She was well aware of the nature of her boss, who was also her husband. The fair-skinned man had shown his dislike for her ever since the first time she set foot in the luxurious Smith family mansion. Especially when his father gave her a position in the company.

It only worsened when Brad was arranged to marry Naomi because his family disapproved of the woman Brad had chosen.

"We're just a couple on paper. You don't need to meddle in my business, and I'll never bother with yours!" the man said coldly as he shrugged off the wedding suit he was still wearing.

"But remember! We need to put on an act in front of everyone. Show them that we're the happiest married couple," he said with a mocking smile.

He then strode toward the bathroom, tossing the jacket he had just taken off as he passed Naomi. The jacket landed squarely on her face.

The sound of the bathroom door slamming shut echoed through the room as Brad disappeared behind it.

At that moment, a tear Naomi had been holding back finally fell.

"Astaghfirullah... please, God, grant me patience. I believe You will never test Your servants beyond their ability. So, please give me the strength and an open heart to endure this," Naomi whispered amidst her sobs of pain.

As the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. Naomi had just been left by the man she loved, who chose to marry the woman his parents had picked for him.

The wound in Naomi's heart was still fresh and painful. But now, it felt as if her own husband had rubbed salt into it, making the hurt even worse.

The first night that should have been filled with romantic moments between husband and wife was instead consumed by silence. Even during dinner, they said nothing to each other. Naomi didn't dare start a conversation. She was afraid of saying the wrong thing and making her husband even angrier with her.

They even slept in separate places. Naomi lay on the wedding bed adorned with scattered red rose petals, while Brad chose to sleep on the sofa in the same room, unwilling to share a bed with a woman he didn't love.

The next morning, Naomi woke up with slightly swollen eyes, the result of crying silently for too long before finally falling asleep. Her gaze shifted to the clock hanging on the wall of their hotel room.

"Half past three," she murmured softly. She sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, then glanced at the figure of her husband curled up on the sofa. Poor Brad, he must be cold, she thought.

Feeling concerned, Naomi took the initiative to grab a blanket and gently covered Brad's body, worried that he might be chilled by the room's air conditioning.

Afterward, Naomi decided to freshen up with warm water before performing tahajjud prayers. She wanted to pour out all her feelings to her Lord.

Raising her hands in supplication after completing her two units of sunnah prayer and prolonged dhikr, she whispered:

"O Allah, I surrender everything to You. Grant me patience and an open heart to accept all of this with sincerity so that You, too, will be pleased with me. Forgive me and my husband for not yet being able to fulfill this marriage as we should. If this is truly what's best and if Brad is indeed my destined partner."

After pouring out her grievances to Allah, Naomi continued by reading the Qur'an through an app on her phone, as she had forgotten to bring her small physical Qur'an. Occasionally, she glanced at her husband, who was still curled up, fast asleep.

When the time for Fajr prayer arrived, Naomi gently tried to wake Brad by lightly shaking his shoulder.

"Brad, wake up. It's time for the Fajr prayer," she said as softly as possible, careful not to disturb or startle him.

Brad stirred and slowly opened his eyes. He squinted at Naomi's face, which greeted him with a warm, gentle smile.

"Let's pray Fajr first," she said again, still smiling.

But in that instant, Brad's expression hardened. He roughly brushed her hand away. "Go pray by yourself. You don't need to tell

The hotel room doorbell rang. Naomi quickly opened it and received the breakfast delivered by the hotel staff.

While waiting for Brad, who was freshening up in the bathroom, Naomi arranged the breakfast dishes neatly on the dining table near the balcony.

"Brad, let's have breakfast. I've set everything up," Naomi said as her husband stepped out of the bathroom, his face looking refreshed.

Without glancing at Naomi, Brad walked straight to the dining table and sat down. The 25-year-old woman followed him quietly. Without waiting for a request, she began serving rice onto Brad's plate.

"What do you want to eat with it?" she asked, trying to continue serving him despite knowing how he might react. For her, fulfilling her duty as a wife mattered more than his response.

"I can serve myself!" he snapped, snatching the plate from Naomi's hands roughly.

Once again, Naomi could only take a deep breath. She then chose to sit across from Brad and eat her breakfast, though her heart felt torn.

There was no cheerful conversation between the couple, not even light small talk. Only the occasional clinking of spoons and plates broke the silence.

"After this, pack your things. We're going home," Brad said coldly, breaking the tension in the air.

Naomi lifted her gaze, her brows furrowed in confusion. "But didn't Daddy book

"Do as I say, or I'll leave you here!" Brad said firmly before rising from his seat, having finished his meal.

"Y-yes," Naomi stammered.

She had no other choice but to obey her husband's order. Besides, what was the point of staying longer in this luxurious hotel if the atmosphere was so stifling and dull? Though deep down, she couldn't help but feel it was a waste, considering how much money her father-in-law must have spent to book such an extravagant room.

Naomi stood up and began packing her belongings. Shortly afterward, she left with Brad. After about half an hour on the road, they finally arrived at Josh Smith's grand estate.

As they arrived, Josh was sitting on the porch, enjoying his coffee and reading the newspaper, taking advantage of the leisurely Sunday morning. He stood up upon seeing the newlyweds step out of the sleek sports car.

"Huh, why are you two back already?" he asked, his brows furrowing in surprise.