Loveless Bond

Lyra sat down on the polished dressing stool, in a room which seems to be her new home. The comfort that the master's bedroom offers is as cold as the owner. Shifting her gaze from the man sleeping peacefully on the big bed.

This is her new fate, a fate she is set to conquer.The state of her new husband gives her concern, her arm hurts from having to move him around so she could clean him up before she puts him to bed.

She laughed at her miserable condition, Darko should have just hired her as a maid for his son rather than this pathetic condition he placed on her.She had offered herself to be sold in place of her brother even though Darko scolded her for teaching him how to do his job. She smirks at the older man scheme.

Since no reasonable lady from the top class would marry his son, he's pinning him on her. She could see right through his plan but who is she to turn down the offer when her brother's life is on the line.

How was she supposed to make a full grown man who has a mind of his own fall in love with her?Lyra lay down beside him on the bed, after cleaning her face and taking off her jewelry for the wedding.She moved closer to him, her hand in his hair, caressing it. His hair was soft yet sharp.

What a combo.She loves the feeling of her hand in his hair, she noticed Ethan leaning in to her touch. She frowned at his reaction.Lyra continues to caress his hair until she slept off, drained and pitiful.

Darko arranged a proper marriage for the both of them, attended by influential people across the state and the media capturing each moment of bliss.

Lyra kept smiling at the camera while Ethan didn't lift a finger till the wedding was over, he didn't spare his wife-to-be a glance.He left the church after the exchange of rings and vows.Only to come back home drunk and wasted, reeking of alcohol.

Ethan woke up to a banging headache, he tried to sit up when he felt the presence of another body on his. Small but all over him, he frowned trying to remember who she was. His headache seems to worsen with each step he took trying to remember who the lady was.

Did he bring her home last night?, he thought, wincing in pain.He pushed her gently off his body. Her face! Yes he remembers that face. He pushed her off the bed when the realization dawned on him.

Fuck! He groaned."Ouch" Lyra winced in pain, holding her elbow which seems to have broken from the fall."Get me some hangover soup" Rowan commanded, laying down on the bed.

"Was that the reason you pushed me off, what if I've broken an arm" Lyra asked, rubbing her elbow.

"It would have been better if you had broken your neck instead , now would you get lost and do as I say" Ethan glared at her, he threw a pillow to her face.

Her sleepy eyes were adorable and enchanting, she looked too small in her nightgown. Her nipples staring at his face, he could make out her whole body from the revealing nightgown she wore.Was she trying to seduce him by wearing that, he thought, closing his eyes to steady his breath.

She's not his type.He tried to remind himself that she is no one important to waste his breath on. She's just a cheap whore who would give her body away in exchange for money.

How many men has she slept with already? He thought with a disdain look on his face.

Lyra walked down the stairs slowly, trying to find her way to the kitchen.

A big wall clock was placed by the side way. It's 3 AM in the morning.

The kitchen was located at the right wing of the house, she made Rowan the normal hangover soup she knew how to prepare for her late father, Pat.

Carried it on a tray and took it to their room, Rowan was sitting on the bed on her arrival.

She took the soup to the bedside, offer it to him but he didn't collect it.

He was just staring at her face."Ahhh" Lyra gestures for him to open his mouth since he won't drink the soup by himself.

Ethan opened his mouth as was told and she fed him with the soup, while the stain left by the soup with her slim fingers.

She put Ethan back to bed, the young man was frowning all through. She pecked his forehead, carried the tray and left to return it to the kitchen.

Ethan was already sleeping or pretending to be sleeping when she came back to the room. Lyra climbed into the bed, slide under the duvet cover.

She moved closer to him and repeated the same thing she did to him before she slept off. Ethan felt a tingling sensation under her touch, he opened his eyes when the hand in his hair stopped moving.

What is she doing to him? He loves the feeling of her hands in his hair, it helps calm him down and his headache subside. He pulled her closer and buried his face on her neck, her scent filled his nose, biting her skin playfully but not in a way to wake her from sleep.

He owned her so he could do that much to her. He stopped suddenly, pulling away, Lyra frowned.

What is he doing? He's supposed to hate and treat her like trash for accepting a deal from his father.He stood up from the bed and walked out of the room. He shouldn't be this close to her, not even a little closer.

He hates his father and so does everyone associated with him. He stopped in his tracks, the nightmares, how come he didn't have them today.

He shrugged it off.

"The sight of her should be disgusting to me and make me remember the shady deals she had with my father, who knows if she had already slept with the old man. Disgusting whore" He muttered under his breath as he walked out of the mansion with his guards.

The alarm clock woke Lyra up, she yawned and slipped out of the bed. She didn't expect to see him when she woke up in the morning. She's not the type to expect things from people, not even when her father has shattered that hope for her.

She gets by each day doing the things she could do for herself and the little boy her mom left behind after birth.She walked into the bathtub to run a quick bath, so she would arrive at work on time. She now works at three different places. She didn't put all her hope in the contract she signed with Darko.

At least the old man would temper justice with mercy once she presents half of her father's debt to him after the three months ultimatum expires.She dashed into the kitchen to make a quick breakfast for Ethan, since he made it clear to her that it was her wifey duty to take care of him.

He should have hired a nanny instead of getting married to her since that's what he needed. Someone to clean up after him. She made toss bread and hot tea, and an egg was arranged on the tray and taken to the dining table.She arranged it at the table neatly just like when serving her customer.She carried her blue handbag and walked out of the mansion.

Returning to her regular life, no entitlement whatsoever except for the Darko name attached to her name. She scoffed at the thought.If only she had a choice to reject Darko's offer.

10 AM

Ethan face was gloomy and devoid of emotion, he left home so he could go have his fill of women just like always but he couldn't bring his mind to do it. Lyra's face kept showing up in his mind, he gritted his teeth in anger.He went into the living room hoping to see her but he couldn't.

He searched all over for her, when he couldn't find her. "Where's Lyra?" He asked one of the maids standing by."She has left for work sir" she answered, bowing her head in respect.

"Did she make this?" He pointed to the food arranged on the table.The maid nodded her head in response.The smile on his face turned into a smirk before the maid could swear she saw him smile.

He went to his room, had a quick shower, dried his hair and wore a blue shirt with a pair of white trousers before heading downstairs to have his breakfast.

He drew the chair back to eat his meal."Look who we have here when everyone is out there on the street trying to make a living"

Ethan heard the person speak but chose to ignore who it was.Chris, Ethan's cousin frowned, what's going on. That word would have caused a reaction out of Ethan unlike before.

It's either for Ethan to break something or he gets hit but he's doing none, so surprising.

"And what are you doing here, I thought you would be at the office like the dog you are, licking after the old man's business" Ethan said munching on his bread without sparing the other man a look.

"Are you sad that you get to see my excellent face every now and then? It's not my fault that the old man considers ma as a son more than the one he begat" Chris said showing off with a proud face.

"You think so? Or are you being delusional? Is that what you told yourself so you would keep going hoping that one day the old man would see you for who you truly are. And I must say you are doing an excellent job already. I would remember to learn from you in the future" Ethan raised his coffee cup as a toast to Chris' success.

"You know what, it's pointless staying here and bantering words with you. You aren't worth it " Chris spat.

"Young man, watch it. You should know when not to cross the line or else you wouldn't like to come out of it" Rowan said icily.

Chris shuddered at his gloomy face. The brat still has it in him to scare him like daylight."I must say your dad has a good taste in women" Chris said changing the subject of discussion.

"And what has that got to do with you, Hun? It's high time you stop poking your filthy nose into my affairs and my wife is not a subject for you to debate on '' Rowan warned him staring at his greedy cousin without batting an eye, after he was sure that he got the message clearly he stood up from the dining table and walked away.

"Asshole" Chris muttered under his breath.Who does he think he is to threaten him, he should channel that energy into becoming a son that makes a glad father, Chris thought, stepping out of the house to return to the office.

********

"Ouch, my hand hurts" Ariel, Lyra's friend, complained. Stretching and flexing her fingers that hurt from holding and serving the tray all day.It's their short break.

"You complain about everything Ariel" Lyra teased her, changing the post outside to "Will Be Right"

"It's not my fault that my life has been so difficult. The universe intentionally takes a different turn in dealing with me. Ahh I hate it here" Ariel threw the napkin in her hand on the small table in anger.

Lyra laughed at her friend "it's crazy how I went from being a school dropout to marrying overnight all because of that simp" Lyra said referring to her father.

"Everything is in disarray" Ariel sighs "what is he like?""The full definition of backward mess" Lyra answered and the two friends burst into laughter, they both laughed till their eyes sting.

Their laughter didn't come from Lyra's definition of Rowan only, but how they actually arrived at this point, this misery she finds herself in.

Ariel was in the same position as her friend only that she still has a mother to shield her from her abusive father and the outer world. If not all but the ones she could.

It's better than being left alone in the middle of the ocean without being taught how to swim or with the aid of a life jacket. You are left alone to figure it all out. And through all they've learnt to stay true to themselves since that's all they've got.

Everyone seems so immersed in their lives, unwilling to lend a helping hand since whatever that is happening in the other person's life doesn't affect them.

They have no one to explain to, people would only act like they understood when it's clearly written on their faces that they do not. Experience, they said, is the best teacher.

"I mean, it's crazy and I can't believe that my friend got swept off her feet in one go" Ariel teased, trying hard to hold back her laughter.

"Stop being so dramatic, this is no movie" Lyra said, supporting her chin with her palm.

"At least you still have your brother by your side. It's worth the fight and who knows he might soften towards you one day" Ariel said with seriousness.

Lyra laughs it off "have you ever since a rock soften or melt? That's who Rowan is, but then I would keep trying my best acting like the dutiful wife that I am. Who knows I might win the 'best wife of the year'

"Yay, that's the spirit, let's keep hope alive" Ariel said, folding her hand into a fist in a way to encourage her friend.

"Aiden will be going home with me today, he can't stay at your place forever. Moreover he would fall sick if he doesn't see me for one more day" Lyra said with a proud look on her face.

"What? Are you showing off now?" Ariel asked with a smile.

"You can't blame me for being such a good mother" Lyra answered standing up from the stool she sat on.

"it's best we go back to work before Mrs Rose serves our skull to the Lab for experiment" she said packing away the used plates and trays.

"Can we at least have lunch before you start packing those things?" Ariel asked but got no response from busy Lyra.

Sometimes she wishes her friend Lyra was a little bit lazy, then she would have breathing space when it comes to work. Her energy is too much for her to match up with.

Lyra took Aiden from the preschool he's attending, Aiden was so happy to see her. It's been three days without her mommy.Lyra waved down a cab and gave the chauffeur the address to Darko's mansion.

She saw the surprised look on the man's face but didn't encourage it either. She was staring out the window enjoying the evening view of the City.

Everything on the street was sparkling and Lyra wonders if her life would ever sparkle this way too.She paid the driver and walked towards the giant gate, the bodyguard opened the door for them. She's back to her reality. Aiden was running all over the place.

"Aiden be careful, you must not fall" she cautioned.She knew her brother was only amused at the beauty and perfection of the building before him. Aiden kept moving from one side to another touching everything he laid his eyes on.

The living room was quiet except for the ticking of the big Italian wall clock."Is this our new place?" Aiden asked in excitement.

Lyra nodded in response."Ta-da!!!" Aiden exclaimed, exploring the rooms.

"Don't touch anything," Lyra cautioned.

"Okay mama" Aiden responded intrigued by the vase placed at the window side.He sat down to perceive it since Lyra had warned him not to touch it.

"Mom, who is paying for the rent? I mean we could hardly afford that haunted house we were living in before" Aiden asked in his small voice while he sat beside Lyra.

"No one is paying rent, baby, free housing and feeding. Now that's enough question for today, let's go get you freshen up" Lyra held his hand and led him upstairs to the room she shared with Ethan.

Lyra knew she would be asking for trouble if she allowed her kid brother to stay in the same room with them. She ordered one of the maids to arrange the room next to theirs.

They both had their bath, Aiden was feeling sleepy by the time he finished eating his cookies. Lyra put him to bed, she left him when she's certain that he's comfortable with his new sleeping arrangement.

It's past eight in the evening, both her feet and body hurts from walking around all day but still has to cook dinner for Ethan.She rolled her eyes at the thought of him, wondering if he ate the breakfast she made in the morning.

She decided to make fried rice and chicken for the sake of Aiden since that's his favorite and because he missed out on the dishes cooked at her wedding.After spending another hour in the kitchen trying to make everything perfect.

"Hey pretty" she heard the voice say behind her, rinsing her hands under the running water before turning her attention to whoever it was.

"Hey" Lyra replied shortly, trying hard to place the person's face on the list of the people she had met recently.

"I'm Chris, Ethan's younger cousin" Chris introduced himself.

"Oh pardon my manners" Lyra offered."No it's fine, why are you cooking instead of the maids and it's already late. You should be resting now"

Lyra gave a small smile "no it's fine, nothing I can't handle" Chris laughed "sounding like a boss lady"

They both laughed at his joke.

"Ugh ugh!!!" Ethan clears his throat as he enters the kitchen.

Half glaring at his cousin, he heard Lyra's laughter and was curious to know who she' laughing with, and guess what it was his damn cousin.

"Hey, babe," Ethan called, walking towards Lyra. He hugged her and kissed her forehead before looking into her eyes.

Lyra was dumbstruck, she kept blinking at his face, thinking if he had mistaken him for someone else."Hi," Lyra replied, looking away.She tried releasing his grip on her waist but couldn't, she doesn't know why she is uncomfortable in his arms.

"I guess you would be so tired after the day's work, and I thought to come help," Ethan said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Lyra stared at him in disbelief, she returned her gaze at Chris who was watching them the entire time for clues and he only shrugged.

"Why not go upstairs and rest while I finish up here" Rowan continued loosening the apron from her waist.

"Are you sure about that?" Lyra squinted her face.

"Of course babe, anything for you" Ethan urged her to leave the kitchen, he kissed her forehead again before he finally let her go.His face changed, staring daggers at Chris.

"What? Are you afraid she would fall for me instead" Chris asked in his taunting voice, his chin up in the air.

"Stay away from her. Stay off my woman. There's a limit to what I can talk from you" Ethan said before he left the kitchen angrily.

It's just a few days after their wedding and she's already talking to other men.

That's a red flag.Talking to another man aside from him is a red flag and that person being his cousin is a redder flag. He breathed out in jealousy.