Chapter 4 TROUBLE IN PARADISE

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

"Eva!!! There's too much salt in the food!" Vince yelled, and I hurried out of the kitchen, a plate of soup in my hands.

"I'm sorry, I can make something else..."

"You didn't taste it before you brought this horrible mess to me?!" he snapped while I tried to fix the situation.

"I'll take it away. I made something else..."

"What's that?" He eyed the steaming bowl.

"Chicken soup. I added some vegetables..."

"Get that shit away from me," Vince turned his face away in disgust.

"You should try it, it's..."

Before I could finish talking, he slapped the bowl of soup off the table in a fit of fury. The plate shattered on the floor.

I was nursing the burns on my skin from the soup that splattered over me while Vince stared at me with no emotion.

"Get out of my face and clean yourself up!" he spat and rolled his wheelchair away from the table.

This was the misery I'd found myself in for the past eight months after marrying Vince.

I was now Mrs. Eva Sterling-but at what cost? This was not the man I'd spent my teenage years fantasizing about.

As soon as Vince was discharged from the hospital, he fired all the house helpers and chefs, leaving only security.

Vince barely spent time outside his room, and he used every single hour of the day to torment me and make me pay for "ruining" his life.

My day was already bad enough, but it got worse when Michelle's engagement appeared on the news.

I heard the television shatter into pieces before Vince wheeled himself back into his room.

Michelle had accepted the proposal of the man we saw her kissing the day Vince's life took a different turn.

"Eva!!!" I heard his screams a while later, and I scampered away from the table I had just finished cleaning.

Vince was in his office, and my breath caught in my throat when I saw the pile of papers scattered across the floor and table.

"Sort out these papers by date. You have thirty minutes. I need dinner in an hour," he said, and before I could respond, he wheeled himself away.

I broke down on the floor and wept, but not for long-I had work to do. I hurriedly set to it, wondering when this ordeal would end.

Evening came, and as I rushed to make dinner for my grumpy husband, he met me in the hallway.

"I want you to clean out the bedroom. Clear out Michelle's things," Vince said, strolling past me without a glance.

"Okay. Where do I send them...?"

"Burn them," he said, and my brows scrunched in confusion.

"What?"

"You heard me," he said and turned away into the living room, leaving me in disbelief.

At this point, I concluded that Vince needed therapy.

During dinner, I couldn't eat-as usual. The past eight months had stolen the joy of sharing a meal.

I missed Kord, but Vince allowed no visitors. Especially not Kord, my partner in crime.

"I have an event tomorrow. I want a buffet. I've written a list of dishes I'll need at the table," Vince suddenly said, flinging a paper toward me.

I dropped my spoon, attention now fully on the list.

"All right. How many chefs-"

"Chefs?" he scoffed. "Who said anything about chefs? You're doing it alone."

My head snapped up.

"What?"

"Why? Are you complaining? Aren't you my wife?" he grunted, pushing his plate away and picking up a glass of water.

"Yes."

"Besides, I like your cooking," he said, but that did nothing to ease the chaos inside me.

I was silent.

Silent and sad.

"Cheer up. You just have to wake up early and prepare. And no scowling!" he added. "You have no right to be sad. Imagine how sad I feel in this chair."

He ridiculed me throughout the event the next day, ordering me to stay in the shadows, then went to bed with a pleased smile while I did the dishes until I fell asleep in the kitchen.

I took him for strolls every morning while he watered the garden, and again in the evening to get fresh air while I fed the ducks by the pond.

He made being married a living hell.

Vince found ways to spill things and complain about everything, often making me redo tasks from scratch.

I'd lost weight from lack of sleep, being overworked, and barely eating. So it didn't come as a surprise when I felt lightheaded and collapsed.

When I woke up, it was with a start to see Vince sitting next to my bed, his expression unreadable.

"You passed out in the laundry room. When I saw you, I thought you were dead," he said, and I sighed.

"I wish I was," I muttered.

Then I realized what I'd said and looked up-Vince was staring at me blankly.

"I'm sorry." I hurried out of bed. "I need to go check on..."

"Stay!" he ordered.

I froze on the edge of the bed.

"The doctor said your fainting was due to stress."

Really?

My heart thudded. Did that make Vince happy? Was he going to double my workload?

"It's better if you don't do anything for now. I'll interview some house helpers tomorrow," he said after a moment.

What?!

"Oh," I only managed.

"That doesn't mean you're allowed to be lazy. You still have to take care of me. Your focus, attention, and time have to be directed at no one else but me."

I nodded softly. "Okay."

"Good. Join me downstairs for dinner. Or would you prefer eating in bed?"

"No, I'll come. I'm fine now," I said and reached for my footwear.

"Excellent," he said grumpily and opened the door.

"Fetch the keys. We're going on a stroll."

"A stroll in a car?" I asked.

Vince gave me a condescending look.

"We'll be using the McLaren 750S."

"Okay."

"Can you drive?" he asked with a raised brow.

"Yes."

"Good."

**************

The Next Morning

"Vince? I... I made you breakfast," I said, pushing his door open, waiting for permission to enter.

"Leave it," he gestured toward the table.

"Okay," I whispered, setting the tray down, trying not to stare at his shirtless body.

His chest was sculpted. My eyes betrayed me, drinking in every defined line. His triceps flexed, and my throat dried.

Vince was staring at a scar, but he soon turned to me.

"Are those peas?" he asked, eyeing the plate.

I tensed. "Yes..."

"I don't eat peas."

"Oh. All right. I'm sorry. I'll take them away and make something else."

I picked up the tray and hurried to the door. But before I left, I paused, turning to see him still watching me.

"Do you have anything in mind? I didn't know you didn't like peas. I'm so sorry."

"What are you sorry for, Eva?" he asked, voice calm but firm.

I hesitated. "The peas... your breakfast..."

"What exactly are you sorry for?" he asked again.

I sighed.

"Ruining your engagement to your one true love... causing you emotional distress and your accident. At least that's what I remember," I said in a small voice.

"You don't have to keep apologizing. She never loved me. And you're not the reason I'm in this wheelchair," Vince said.

My head snapped up.

"I was just stupid and careless."

Relief washed over me. A heavy burden lifted.

"My legs will never be okay. Maybe my heart will heal. But my eyes and mind are fine. You did nothing wrong. I'll speak to my lawyer and have the marriage dissolved. I'll let you off with fifty million dollars for the damages I've caused. I'll inform your family later today."

My breath caught.

"No..."

"It's settled, Eva. Sit down and have breakfast with me."

I was stunned.

"This change is so sudden," I whispered.

"A bottle of wine and some painkillers would do too," he said as I stepped back into the room.

"But you're not supposed to-"

"Bring a glass for yourself too."

For the first time in months, I cracked a smile.

Life with Vince suddenly changed.

Our conversations softened. Then our days followed.

He hired chefs and house helpers.

He started assisting me in the kitchen.

When my birthday came, he gifted me diamonds-sparkly, jaw-dropping jewelry.

I awkwardly said, "I've never gotten gifts before... this is the first time someone remembered my birthday."

And Vince smiled.

Soon, he got me tickets to see my favorite band live. He even came.

Then came the day he brought me breakfast in bed-and kissed me.

We floated for months.

Until Christmas Eve.

After I tucked him in bed, he held my hand pulled me back.

"Lie with me," Vince said, threading his fingers through my hair before kissing me.

That night, I gave myself to him for the first time-and I loved it.

"I missed you," he mumbled in his sleep while I lay on his chest.

I slept in bliss that night and the days that followed.

But a month later, everything shattered.

Kingsley held me by the throat in the hallway. Kaitlyn grabbed my hand and slipped my ring off.

Vince had started receiving guests again and invited them over for dinner.

Kord wasn't around-he was vacationing with his lover-so I was left to face my terrifying older siblings.

"You're not worthy of this," Kaitlyn said, admiring the pink diamond as Kingsley's grip tightened on my neck.

"Listen, dumb child. We just hit the jackpot with this marriage. I hear that rich fuck wants to divorce you. But we as a family, think you haven't paid enough for your crimes. So make sure he doesn't divorce you-or else..."

Kaitlyn stepped in and pushed Kingsley away.

I gasped and coughed violently.

"Do whatever it takes to stay married to him, Eva. We need his money," Kaitlyn said, slapping my cheek and straightening her fur coat.

"Now smile before you join us for dinner again."

As they walked off, I heard Kingsley ask, "How much do you think it's worth?"

"A million or two," Kaitlyn replied.

"Perfect."

That night, I cried in the bathroom and called Kord.

He was furious.

"Kingsley and Kaitlyn? How dare you let them do that?! I'm booking the next flight to New York. We need to put those bullies in their place-"

"Kord, I think I'm having a divorce," I interrupted, and he gasped.

"What? What happened? Why?"

"I don't know... Vince has changed. He said he forgives me. And now he wants a divorce. I don't know how soon. And Kaitlyn..."

"Uh-huh, go on."

"She stole my ring," I said, my voice cracking.

"What?! That's unacceptable. Have you told Vince?"

"No... I'm scared."

"If you don't tell him, I will-"

"Kord... will I sound crazy if I say I'm in love?"

"Yes! That man hated you! He's still not over Michelle! Are you mad?!"

I couldn't stop myself from saying the next thing.

"I think I'm pregnant."