Chapter 2 New Bride

I felt someone jerking me and I woke up with fright.

"We're here," he said gruffly and I stared at what would now be my new home.

It was a huge house, even bigger than my Dad's and I began to wonder if he was really broke.

The media had reported that every property belonging to the Dowells had been seized.

I said nothing as I slowly got out of the car. A few people stood at the gate to welcome us and they did seem nice.

"Welcome Mrs Dowell," they greeted with a smile and I forced a smile back at them.

If only they knew I was being forced into this. I was no more April Harrington, but April Dowell.

"Thank-"

"She needs to rest," he bellowed, stopping me from interacting with them.

"Come with me," it was more like an order and I trudged behind him without a word.

I glanced back and could swear that it was pity that reflected in their eyes. Maybe they did know I was being forced into this and were sympathetic to my plight.

He opened a door which I suspected to be the bedroom and my heart began to thump wildly in my chest.

It was indeed a bedroom and the bed was very huge--meant for two people. I dreaded his next words and swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Take off that dress," he commanded and a gasp escaped my lips.

Was he that impatient? I knew we were married, but it was all just too soon.

"What are you waiting for? Go on," he urged and I gripped the dress tightly, suddenly afraid.

He opened the closet and brought out something, he then turned and handed it over to me.

It was pajamas and surprisingly, it was my size. I wondered if it belonged to one of those women whom he had brought to his house and I scrunched my face at the thought of him being with another woman on this bed.

I wanted to tell him that I didn't want to wear an unknown woman's clothing, but for some reason, I didn't know, I couldn't and I began to cry.

I could feel his cold glare on me.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" He demanded harshly and I flinched from his tone.

"You are just so unbelievable! You think I'd be moved by those fake tears?" He scoffed and I whimpered.

"I gave you something to wear and you're crying! you ungrateful wench," he bit out harshly and stormed off, to the bathroom, leaving me in tears.

I heard the shower stop and knew that he was done. I quickly changed into the pajamas, my heart racing. I didn't want to have sex with him!

I quietly curled myself on the bed, wrapping myself with the duvet, and acted as if I was sleeping. I didn't want to face him and I hoped that he'd leave me alone.

*

I jolted awake as I heard some sounds and I realized that someone was knocking at the door.

I held my breath as my eyes met his. He had that glare in his eyes and I shuddered.

"You dare sleep peacefully after making me marry you?" his lips curled to the side and those deep blue eyes held contempt.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I shifted my gaze away from him.

He was on the sofa and I realized that he had slept there.

He must hate me so much that he'd rather sleep on the couch than on the bed. I was glad anyway. After all, I didn't want him to do anything with me.

He stood up and took quick strides to the door. He spoke in a hushed tone and closed the door after a while.

He went to the closet and changed quickly into a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

"I have an important meeting," he muttered and walked away and I sighed, grateful that he never considered this a real marriage.

I had my bath and changed into a light blue summer gown and went out of the room. I didn't know anywhere in the house, but I was hungry and my so-called husband had left me alone.

I knew I would starve if I stayed waiting for him. I didn't know where to go as it was a really large house. Luckily for me, one of the men who came out to greet me yesterday was walking by.

"Good morning, Mrs. Dowell," He greeted, a smile etched on his face and I smiled back.

"Good morning, please where is the kitchen?" I asked.

"Oh, let me take you there. You haven't had a tour of the house yet," he said as he began walking and I followed him, glancing around.

I didn't have the time to really look at the house the day before because of Richard.

The marble floor was polished to a brilliant shine and the intricate designs on the wall screamed money.

A crystal chandelier hung from the soaring ceiling creating a glow that danced around the room.

I wanted to ask who this house actually belonged to because all the properties gotten from Dowell incorporations had been confiscated by the feds and that included all the houses and other private properties from what I've heard, all Richard's properties were seized too as didn't have any other source of wealth if not his father's company.

"What is your name?," I instead asked.

"Oh,I'm Glenn, I'm Mr. Dowell's butler," he introduced and I nodded.

"You should sit here, Rose will bring you your breakfast," he said, motioning for me to sit at the dining table. "Is there anything you'd like?," he asked and I shook my head.

He quickly went to the kitchen and came back almost immediately with one of the women I saw the day before and she brought my breakfast.

I ate in silence, thinking about the marriage life I had envisioned, not this life I now had to live.

I decided that I wanted to look around the house on my own, since this was after all my new home, I might as well get familiar with it.

I sauntered into a room and realized that it was a study or rather, a private library.

Towering bookshelves lined the walls and the room was furnished with plush leather armchairs, there was a cozy fireplace and a mahogany desk adorned with a gold-plated reading lamp.

I was in awe of the whole place as I ran my hand through the smooth table until I heard the familiar voice which made me spin around quickly.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"