Chapter 4 Wedding Night

Most weddings usually ended in bliss.

But Maddie's?

It ended with a car ride that felt like torture because it was with a husband who wanted nothing to do with her.

As she and Nate exited the reception hall, guests waved and smiled but their polite expressions barely masked the intrigue and amusement that were dancing in their eyes.

"I give it six months," someone among the crowd murmured.

"Six? Please. Three at best," another chuckled as he said.

"Who's placing bets?" a third voice, which sounded amused, chimed in. "Because I am so in."

Henry's jaw tightened at the whispers and Bill Blackwood's grip on his cane turned white-knuckled as well but neither of them spoke as Nate helped Maddie into the car which was obviously not out of courtesy but because a hundred flashing cameras were pointed at them.

The moment the car door shut, the silence was suffocating.

Maddie kept her hands in her lap and stared at the city lights that flashed past the window. Nate sat beside her with legs spread and fingers drumming against the leather armrest as the car drove on. The tension in the car was thick and a sign of the subtle challenge that neither of them was willing to give into for a long time.

Finally, Maddie exhaled and broke the silence. "So that was fun."

Nate scoffed as his head lolled back against the seat. "Glad you enjoyed yourself."

Maddie turned to him and tilted her head slightly to study him as she said coolly, "Did you drink before or after you walked out on the kiss? Where did that audacity come from?"

As Nate glanced at her, his expression was as cold as ice. "You have a lot of questions."

"And you have a lot of attitude."

A smirk curled at the corner of his lips at that but he said nothing.

Maddie rolled her eyes and focused on the passing scenery until the car finally slowed and turned into a long and private road.

Her breath caught slightly as she took in the estate that belonged to Blackwood before her.

It was stunning.

A sprawling mansion, three stories high, went up into the dark sky. Its architecture was a blend of modern sophistication and ancient charm with its grand archways and floor-to-ceiling windows. There was a fountain in the center of the circular driveway which had its cascading water illuminated by soft golden lights.

By the side of the mansion was a vast lake that stretched into the distance and had its surface reflecting the moonlight like a sheet of silver. A manicured garden surrounded the property and the scent of roses and fresh earth wafted through the cool night air.

Maddie didn't gasp out loud-she was used to wealth so there was no way she could do that-but she did allow herself to appreciate how beautiful the place was.

Then Nate ruined it immediately.

"Don't get too comfortable," he muttered as the driver parked. "This isn't a home for you. It's just a place where we exist under the same roof."

Maddie turned to him with a tight smile. "You should embroider that on a pillow because it is very poetic."

He ignored her sarcasm and stepped out of the car as the staff in the mansion lined up at the entrance and welcomed them.

Maddie followed. She lifted her dress slightly to walk and her heels clicked against the marble steps as she did so. The staff-several maids, cooks, butlers and a few security personnel-bowed slightly as they greeted her.

"Welcome, Mrs. Blackwood."

Before she could respond, Nate scoffed and said in a rude tone, "She's not here for a tour so just take her bags upstairs and be done with it."

The warmth in the eyes of the staff dimmed immediately as they scurried to obey his orders. Maddie pursed her lips and glared at him as she debated whether to slap him or just let it go.

She chose the latter.

For now.

So she could only glare at his back as he turned away and walked through an exit to God knows where.

***

The master bedroom was massive when she stepped into it a few minutes later.

A four-poster bed sat in the center and its silk sheets and velvet comforter exuded luxury as Maddie looked at it. There was a fireplace which crackled in one corner and a seating area with plush chairs near a window that overlooked the moonlit lake. All these was along with an adjoining walk-in closet that was big enough to be a boutique.

It should have been exciting to look at.

Instead, Maddie felt a pit in her stomach as she stood there while she watched the man servants place her luggage neatly by the closet.

She was married to a man who despised her and shared this bedroom with him.

Once the maids left, she took a deep breath and made her way to the en-suite bathroom. The large soaking tub looked inviting so she filled it with warm and lavender-scented water and then sank in while she tried to relax.

Would there be a wedding night? She frowned at the thought as it suddenly came to her against her will

It was a ridiculous question, she thought-Nate had made it clear that this marriage was nothing but a contract.

But still, she wondered...

After her bath, she slipped into a silk nightgown and tried to read in bed but her eyes kept darting to the clock and didn't let her focus on the page before her.

An hour passed. Then another.

Where the hell was her husband? She wondered.

Or did he hate her so much that he couldn't even be in the same house with her? Heck, had he gone to a hotel?

The idea shouldn't have bothered her, but somehow, it did.

She was about to give up and turn off the lights when a knock sounded at the door.

Before she could go to answer it though, it swung open and Nate stumbled in very drunk.

Maddie shot up from the bed just then as her nose wrinkled when the scent of whiskey filled the room. Nate's tie was loosened, his suit jacket was missing and his usually sharp blue eyes were glazed with alcohol.

She blinked rapidly in shock. "Are you serious right now?" She asked him when she found her voice.

Nate barely looked at her as he kicked off his shoes. "What?"

Maddie folded her arms and glared at him. "You got drunk on our wedding night?"

He scoffed as he headed toward the bed without pulling his clothes."Trust me, sweetheart, if you were in my shoes, you'd be drunk too."

Maddie's hands curled into fists. "You did this because of me?"

Nate snorted and collapsed onto his side of the bed. "What do you think?"

Maddie inhaled sharply while her nails bit into her palm and caused her pain.

He was impossible. So impossible right now.

Without another word, Nate turned onto his stomach and let out a heavy sigh. Within seconds, he was out cold.

Maddie stared at him as a mix of disgust and something else twisted in her chest.

Something that was akin to hurt.

This was her wedding night. And yet, her husband had drunkenly passed out to avoid even speaking to her.

It was absolutely pathetic.