Chapter Seven
1026 Words
Denise's POV
The entire day passed in a haze, not because of being busy or distracted, but the happenings of this morning kept on repeating in my mind. Lucas's words cut more than those of any blade in existence, and his actions left a scar that in my opinion, may never heal.
I sat in my room looking at the damned bruise that was going to develop on my wrist where he held me. I backtraced it repeatedly; my mind is a storm with emotions- anger, fear, sadness; even regret. Regret for agreeing to this sham marriage, regret for not standing up for herself enough to play a crucial role in her life's affairs, and regret for ever thinking Lucas Benjamin might have a shred of humanity left in him.
The magnificence of my surroundings was weighing me down. The glimmering white walls of my bedroom, the lavish silk sheets of my bed, and the chandelier that glittered like a million stars- all this mocked me. This was not my world. It was Lucas' world- cold, calculated, and made for show rather than comfort.
I had to leave that room. The air was so heavy, drowning me with thoughts. I stood up, took a cardigan from the closet, and left the room, determined to find some semblance of peace, however temporary.
I drifted through the mansion corridors, amazed by the dimension and grandeur of it all. This was a place I could have seen in shows or magazines, but now, trudging through its halls, it felt empty and dead. The staff fluttered like ghosts, their presence usually not noted. They were possibly trained to be invisible, not to disturb the so-called masters of the house.
"Madam, do you require any assistance?" A soft voice jerked me from my thoughts.
Turning around I saw Olivia, the maid who brought me tea before. She stood with hands clasped before her, her expression kind but cautious.
"No, thank you," I forced out a polite smile. "I just needed some air. Is there a garden or something outside where I can go?"
Her face lit up slightly. "Yes, madam. The garden is just past the dining hall. It's a lovely place, especially in the afternoons."
I thanked her, followed the path she laid for me, and stepped outside into the garden.
It washed over me like the tide, and with it cleared my lungs and mind. The garden was breathtaking-a symphony of colors with roses, tulips, and lavender blooming in perfect harmony. A cobblestone path twisted through the greens and went to a small fountain, which sat in the center of the greens.
I plopped myself on a bench close to the fountain, trying to get the sound of tumbling water soothing my nerves. For the first time since the wedding, I felt a small rustle of calm. But even that didn't last for long.
In my head rang Lucas' words. "You're worse than a maid. You ought to be quiet when I speak and keep your mouth shut when I give instructions."
Tears stung at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them away. Crying wouldn't help. I needed to be stronger than that. He shouldn't break me, no matter how hard he tries.
Sitting down gave me time to think of possible options. Running away did not make sense-not from a family who had put all its future fortunes on this marriage. But living like this, at the mercy of Lucas, would not work, either. So this needed a plan. Something to reclaim some part of my life.
Thoughts were broken into as I heard footsteps approaching. Turning, Olivia was there holding a tray with the glass of lemonade.
"I thought you might like something to sip on, madame," she said with that small smile of hers.
"Thanks very much, Olivia," I said and took the glass.
She hesitated as though desiring to utter something else, but she nodded and walked away.
I sipped the lemonade, the sweet-tangy flavor occupying my mind. In fact, sitting there, I resolved that I would not let Lucas dictate my life. If I was to be an ideal wife, I would be-nothing more, nothing less-in theory, at least.
By two that day, I was back in my room, prepping for whatever occasion Lucas had concocted. I picked a dress-simple but elegant, pale pink, modest neckline, and fitted waist. My makeup, however, I kept subtle; I permitted just enough of it to enhance my body contour while avoiding any extra attention.
I was ready when Lucas knocked on my door.
"Come in," I said, voice calm and composed.
He entered looking just as undeniably suave as ever in a fitted suit, and his expression remained unreadable as ever, with only a coldness in his eyes that I had witnessed earlier.
“Let’s go," he clipped.
I followed him into the waiting car that would take us to the destination. The ride was in silence, that almost tangible tension crackled between us. I stared out of the window watching the city drift by while Lucas typed on his phone as though I did not exist.
I realized we were at a charity gala when we arrived. The grand ballroom was filled with society's elite, all wearing the most beautiful of clothes. As we entered, Lucas put a hand on my lower back and guided me into the crowd.
"Smile," he whispered. "People are watching."
I managed to smile against the current of his touch, even though it sent frozen fire shivers down my spine.
The night blurred by with false smiles, nice conversations, and people that would never see the light of day in my memory. All the while, Lois made sure he had everyone completely charmed by his act. To the world's eyes, we were the best couple formed from the heavens. But deep down, I knew the truth.
At one point, Lucas left me alone to talk with a group of businessmen, leaving me behind by the bar as the only person around. I decided to treat myself with a break while sipping from the glass of champagne.
"Denise Castillo, right?"
- Writer
