Cold Welcome

ALESSIA

Claude had already left when I got out of bed. After cleaning myself up and getting dressed, I peeked out the window. From where I stood, I could see my husband's car driving away. Just like when we arrived earlier, the gate opened automatically as the car approached.

We had just gotten married, but my husband left me immediately, as if he had a more important appointment than me. Well, it was only me and his parents who wanted us to get married anyway.

What would happen now? What would my life be like with Claude? Maybe me and Lia shared the same fate. Lia had also married a man she didn't like.

I returned to bed and lay down again. I stared at the ceiling for a few minutes until my eyelids grew heavy. When I woke up, the room was already dark. I got up and felt for the switch of the night lamp beside the bed. Slowly, I walked and searched for the light switch.

When the room lit up, I glanced at the wall clock. It was already seven in the evening. I must have slept soundly. Maybe Claude had arrived. Maybe his parents were also looking for me, so I left the room. I couldn't remember where the elevator was, so I descended the stairs slowly. I was almost out of breath when I reached the bottom of the stairs. I realized that Claude's room was on the third floor.

“Good evening, ma'am! Are you going to have dinner?” a maid approached me.

“Have they finished eating?” I asked anxiously. I didn't want them to think I was being pretentious because it was my first day in this house, and I arrived late for dinner.

“They're still having dinner, ma'am. Let me take you there.”

“Okay,” I replied with a smile. I followed the maid to where I was headed. It was good I had someone with me. I might get lost in this house because of its size and the many passages we entered.

“Good evening, everyone!” I greeted when we reached the dining room.

The three people at the dining table turned to look at me when they heard my greetings.

“Come here, dear. Join us,” Mrs. Robinson warmly invited me.

I thanked the maid who escorted me and sat beside Claude. He was already here, but he didn't even wake me up.

“I'm sorry. I fell asleep.”

“It's okay, dear. I didn't wake you up because you might be tired.”

My cheeks warmed at the words of my mother-in-law. When I glanced at Claude, I noticed that he was looking at me seriously. He seemed angry. Why was he angry? What did I do wrong? Is it because I fell asleep?

“Eat, Sia. You must be hungry,” Mr. Robinson said.

I smiled at him and started eating. I didn't pay attention to Claude for now.

Claude was the first to finish. He immediately stood up and bid goodbye to his parents. But he didn't even look at me. It seemed like he thought I was ugly, so he ignored me.

I lost my appetite. And quickly finished my food. But I waited for the couple to finish eating before I bid them goodbye.

“Constance, take Sia to their room,” Mrs. Robinson instructed a maid who was serving them. It was the same maid I was with earlier.

The maid quickly complied. She accompanied me as we walked until we reached the elevator.

“Have you been here in the mansion for long?” I asked the maid.

“I've been here for ten years, ma'am.”

“Oh, you've been here for a long time. Do you know how old Claude is?” I was curious about my husband's age. I knew he was older than me by a few years. I just wasn't sure how big the age gap was.

“As far as I remember, sir turned thirty last month.”

My eyes widened slightly. I am only twenty, there was a ten-year age gap between us. But my husband didn't look his age. He looked more like twenty-five than thirty.

“Did he have a girlfriend before we got married?” I didn't know why I wanted to know that. Maybe because I was worried that might be the reason why Claude avoided me. He has a girlfriend, and maybe that’s why he didn't want to marry me?

Constance scratched her head. “Oh, ma'am, I don't know about that. From the first day I started here until now, you're the only woman he brought here.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Is that so? Are you saying Claude never had a girlfriend? That seems impossible.”

My husband wasn't effeminate to not have a girlfriend. He was very manly. I had proven that earlier when he claimed me as if there was no tomorrow. Even now, I was still enduring the pain between my thighs. I was just trying to move properly because I was embarrassed in front of my in-laws and the other people in the mansion.

“I'm not saying sir didn't have a girlfriend. He just never brought any woman here since then. But…”

“But what?”

The maid hesitated.

“What is it, Constance? Why won't you tell me?” I was really curious now.

“Ma'am, this is just between us, okay? Please don't report me to my employers.”

I quickly nodded.

“I've heard from the conversations between Sir Claude and his parents that he's often scolded because of his fondness for women.”

“Oh, I understand now. Don't worry. I won't tell them what I heard from you.” Maybe Claude didn't bring women home because his parents didn't like it. After all, we arranged to marry each other.

When Constance escorted me to the front of Claude's room, I also bid her goodbye.

“Ma'am, if you need anything, just call me through the intercom.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

Claude wasn't in the room when I entered.

“Where could he have gone?” I whispered to myself as I sat on the edge of the bed.

I scanned the entire room. The motif of the room was a mix of black, gray, and white. It had a masculine vibe and was neatly arranged inside. I couldn't see any pictures or any personal items that indicated Claude owned the room. There weren't many decorations inside except for three abstract paintings, a small bookshelf, a study table, and a fifty-six-inch smart TV. Claude seemed to prefer a minimalist style.

I stood up and approached one of the paintings. That's when I heard a sudden door opening. I immediately looked towards it and saw Claude coming out of the bathroom. He was already wearing pajamas.

"What are you still doing there? Go take a shower. I don't want anyone lying on my bed who hasn't showered. Clean your body well. I'm going to use you now."

My eyes widened at what I heard. Claude's words were so blunt. But what I hated the most among everything I heard was the last thing that came out of his mouth.

He was really going to use me? I would probably accept it more if he said he would claim me. But the word "use" made me feel like a paid woman. The only difference was that he doesn't pay me because it was his parents who paid me.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Are you mad? So am I. I don't want to marry you, but my mom still forced me to. Get ready because your body is the consequence of their coercion. You have no right to complain or refuse. So, what are you still doing there? Take a shower, or I'll do it myself."

I couldn't move immediately. I felt rooted to the spot.

Claude stepped towards me. I wanted to step back, but he beat me to it. He tightly grabbed my arm. I wanted to struggle, but I couldn't. He pulled me towards the bathroom.

"I-I'll take care of myself. I-I can do t-this," I said as I tried to pull away from Claude, who was trying to remove my dress.

My husband raised an eyebrow. "Learn to follow properly. I'm the boss in this house. Mom and Dad can't do anything about what I want to do with you. I've given in to them before, so now it's my turn to be followed. This is also your fault. I have talked to you before to back out of the wedding, but you refused. So, stand by your decision."

Before I could respond, Claude left. The door slammed shut loudly.

I took a deep breath. Was there still hope for Claude's heart to soften? Could I quell his anger? I would try. I hoped that everything between us would eventually be okay. If not, I hoped I could handle him in the days to come.