Chapter 5 FIVE. FIONA

I wished this was April Fool's Day. I wished it was all a dream. The worst nightmare ever. I wished it was just part of a reality show prank where the crew likes to create weird prank scenarios and set up hidden cameras on street corners.

I waited for them all to come out of hiding, laughing and showing off some of their cameras. And the guy next to me would probably be the one laughing the hardest because he managed to fool me in his annoying charade. But after almost an hour of driving in silence, not a single member of the TV crew came forward to tell me that this was all a prank. There were no hidden cameras. There were no bad actors assigned to fool their target, which was me.

"We're here."

"Where are we?"

"Home. Get off."

Home? This place didn't look like a home at all. It was a beach house built on a steep cliff. Down below, I could hear the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks. It was the perfect place for a vacation or a way to unwind from the stresses of life. However, this place was definitely not the home I had imagined.

"I have my own house and life. I have to finish my final paper before my graduation in six months. I can't stay here."

"I don't have time to talk about your life right now. Come on."

Joshua grabbed my wrist tightly and half dragged me up to the porch of his house. This place was very quiet. There were no men in black suits with full weapons guarding this place. Joshua took the key from under the pot, then opened the door in a hurry. He was very alert. Joshua always looked back to make sure none of the masked men were following us.

I was pulled into the house before Joshua closed the door with the tip of his heel. The humid air mixed with the scent of new furniture infiltrated my sense of smell. This place seemed like a vacation home. There were no photos or decorations on the walls. The living room was standard with a set of sofas, a coffee table, and a Persian rug.

"I want to go back to my own house. There are many things we need to talk about."

"I believe there is. But like I told you earlier, I don't have time to talk about your shit life right now. And about the house, you're my wife now. So you'll be staying at my house."

"Haha, funny. Don't tell me I'll be sleeping in your room too," I folded my arms across my chest.

He didn't laugh at all. He stared at me coldly, as if I were a flat freak from Mars.

So am I right? I'm going to sleep in his room? With him?

No shit!

"Let's go."

"Hey, where are you taking me?"

I struggled as Joshua dragged me toward the stairs. I was gripped by fear at the thought of what was going to happen next. There was no one in this house but the two of us. And the location of this house was so remote. I didn't even see another house within a mile radius. No one would help me if Joshua raped me, then killed me, and threw my body into the sea.

"Hey, you're hurting my arm. You've been holding it so tight since the church."

"I have a name, and I'm your husband. Show me some respect."

"You don't deserve my respect at all. I don't want this marriage. Give me back my peaceful life. Give me back my mother!"

I don't know where the urge came from, but I hit Joshua's arm hard. He didn't flinch at all. His body was three times bigger than mine with very hard muscles. I was only as tall as his neck with my hellish ten-centimeter pointed heels. He was like a giant compared to my petite body. My punches barely had any effect other than tickling. But at least, I tried to defend myself. I wouldn't just stand by while someone else crushed my life into dust.

"Enough, Fiona!"

Joshua grabbed my wrist before throwing me onto the bed.

"You stay here. Don't try to escape or you will face the consequences."

"Where are you going? Joshua?! Don't leave me here."

I stood up with difficulty and almost tripped over the train of my dress as I tried to chase Joshua who had just locked the door to this room. I banged on the door loudly, screaming and cursing as hard as I could, but Joshua still didn't respond to me. I heard his loud footsteps moving away from this room and down the stairs.

"Dammit! You damn bastard! Get me out of here, Joshua Craig!"

I ran to the window. Joshua's car left the beach house yard and disappeared around the corner. I was completely alone in this house. That damn man probably wanted to kill me slowly here.

But no. I wasn't going to give up so easily.

I banged on the window so hard that my palms turned red. The damn window was locked. I rushed to the bathroom to find another escape route, but again I had to swallow my disappointment because the bathroom had no windows. The ventilation came from a vent with iron bars the size of a mouse. My body couldn't possibly fit in there. This house seemed like it was prepared to lock someone up.

Was Joshua going to lock my mother up here once they were officially married?

Dammit

That man was truly terrifying. I didn't understand why Mom had to deal with a man like Joshua and even intended to marry him. Mom never even told me about the debts.

I fell down on the bed. Suddenly, I felt incredibly tired. I leaned my back against the headboard and hugged my knees to my chest. I had just had a long and bloody day. I never imagined that such a terrible thing would happen to me.

"Mom... Why did you leave me like this? I love you."

Tears streamed down my cheeks. Memories of my mother for the past ten years flooded my mind. I wanted to see her and hold her hand. I wished I could give her a proper burial. I wanted to bury her next to my father's grave.

"Rest in peace, Mom. I love you."