His Last name, My Secret

His Wife by Force

Chapter 3

Zia woke up to the sunlight streaming through her window. Lazily, she opened her eyes and sat up.She suddenly jolted fully awake when she remembered that she had classes today, but she knew she needed to ask permission from Hunter first.After all, she was no longer under her parents' authority; she was now under her husband's care.She felt a sudden nervous upon remembering Hunter's dark face.

She quickly got up and went to the bathroom.

After washing her face, she approached the wardrobe inside the room but found nothing suitable to wear except for some oversized T-shirts.With no other choice, she put one on. Thankfully, she still had her cycling shorts, and the T-shirt hung low enough to reach above her knees.Cautiously, she opened the door and peeked out, seeing the luxurious living room below.

The house was eerily quiet, so she stepped out.She was feeling thirsty and hungry — after all, she hadn’t eaten anything the night before, having been too shaken by the noise she heard from upstairs plus the encounter she and Hunter had last night.

She headed straight to the kitchen, her eyes scanning for a glass.She found one, filled it with cold water from a pitcher she took from the fridge, and drank.A refreshing relief washed over her... until she turned around — and nearly choked on the water still in her mouth.

Standing right in front of her was Hunter, his brow furrowed and his expression dark while scanning her from head to toe.

"G-Good morning, Hunter," she greeted nervously, unsure whether to lower the glass she was holding or offer it to him.

"Where's my breakfast?" he demanded.

Zia blinked in surprise and glanced at the long dining table which was empty except for a vase of flowers at the center.

"B-breakfast? Uhh... I-I'm sorry, I didn’t know you expected me to cook. I’ll call the house—"

She stammered, already turning to call the housemaid she remembered seeing yesterday.

"Are you stupid?" Hunter snapped, making Zia flinch.

She froze in place, slowly turning to face him again. His expression was darker, colder than before.

"There are no maids in this house anymore. I dismissed them all," he said sharply.

"And as my wife, you're the one responsible for everything in this house. You are my wife, aren't you?Then act like one. From now on, all household duties will be your responsibility."

Zia felt the blood drain from her face at his harsh words, as if she had been slapped.

Shame and helplessness washed over her, and she could only swallow hard in silence.

"You want me to tell you the truth, huh?" Hunter said, stepping closer to her.

Zia stood frozen, unable to move, and instinctively lowered her gaze when she realized he was only inches away.

She flinched when he suddenly lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his piercing gaze.

"Your parents sold you to me," Hunter said coldly, staring into her eyes.

"They gave you away as payment for the enormous debt they owed my family.

You have no one else to run to now, even your own family cast you aside."

Zia felt her heart shatter at his words.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she fought them back, refusing to believe what he said — even though deep down, a part of her feared it was true.

"That's not true!" Zia finally snapped, her voice cracking with desperation. "We got married because it was arranged! That’s all!"

She clung to the last shred of hope, that she wasn’t just some object handed over like property.

Hunter let out a harsh, bitter laugh.

Every chuckle was like a slap to her pride, tearing into her skin without mercy.

"Why would I bother lying to you?" he sneered. "You really think I married you because I wanted to? If it weren’t for my mother’s begging — if it weren’t for the company — I wouldn’t have even looked at you.

You're nothing but a pampered little brat , useless, spineless, living off your parents’ scraps."

Each word was a blade, and he twisted it deeper with cruel precision.

Zia wanted to scream, to cry, but she forced herself to stay still.She stared at him, the man who was now her husband , the man she was supposed to trust.

Yesterday, he was cold.

Today, he was a storm like every move he made, he can possibly hurt her.When he caught her eyes in his, she flinched and dropped her gaze instantly.

"Listen carefully," Hunter said, his voice a low growl. "You’re my wife now.

That means you obey my rules under my roof.

You breathe when I allow it.

You move when I say so."

Zia still remained silent and wanted to cry.Hunter took a step closer, his presence suffocating.

"And if you ever dare to disobey me..."

He leaned down, his breath hot against her ear."I’ll throw you out like the trash you are.

Let’s see if your precious parents will even pretend to want you back after what they sold you for."

Zia gasped when he suddenly grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her against his chest.

His scent, clean, sharp, male hit her senses so hard she almost staggered.

His hair was damp, his muscles tense beneath his plain white T-shirt and joggers, but even at his most casually dressed, Hunter Del Tiero radiated dangerous, untouchable power.

Before she could even catch her breath, his mouth slammed down onto hers.

The kiss was brutal, punishing, a cruel reminder of who owned her now.

A small, involuntary moan escaped her as his arms locked around her waist and tangled in her hair, trapping her against him.

"H-Hunter... ummmh—"

She tried to protest, but he devoured her words like he owned every piece of her.

His hand slid roughly to her backside, squeezing possessively, making her gasp in shock.Instinctively, she pushed against him, but it only made him tighten his hold for a moment but before he suddenly shoved her away, disgust flashing across his face.

Hunter wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, as if trying to erase the taste of her.

"The next time you fail me, 'I'll kick you outside my house, This is your first and last warning," he said in a voice so cold it froze her blood.

And without another glance, he walked away, leaving her standing there, feeling small, humiliated, trembling.

Zia clutched at her lips, still feeling the raw, bruised heat of his kiss.

It had been her first her first kiss, her first real touch from a man.

She was his wife.

He had every right to do as he pleased with her.But even so...

even so...

Her heart knew the bitter truth that Hunter Del Tiero would never love her.

She wasn't the woman he wanted, and Zia had known even before their marriage how the man truly felt.

Zia never dreamed of being loved by Hunter, but somehow, she wished that if the day came when he would finally claim her, it would be because he truly wanted to not as payment for the debt her parents owed him.

Feeling devastated by what she had just discovered, she rushed into her room, grabbed her phone, and quickly dialed her mother's number.It took a while before her mother finally answered.

"Zia—"

"Mom, is it true that I was forced to marry Hunter because we owe them a debt and that D-dad offered me as payment?"

Her voice trembled as she confronted her mother.

There was silence on the other end of the line, and Zia couldn't stop herself from crying.

"Mom, answer me," she almost begged while her tears fell from her cheeks.

She then heard someone else take the phone.

"Yes, it's true. And don't you ever think of leaving the place where your husband took you. Even if you come back here, we will never accept you again," said her father.

"Dad? Dad!" she called out.

But there was nothing more. The line went dead.She sank down onto the concrete floor, hugged her knees tightly, and sobbed uncontrollably from the pain she felt.She couldn't help but ask herself —

Why did she have to be the one to pay for her family's mistakes?;Did her sister, Zyra, know the truth? Was Zyra also forced to marry her husband because of a debt?Why did it feel like she had been betrayed, played with by fate itself?

She had dreams.A dream of becoming a Doctor someday.But now, it felt like even those dreams were being stolen from her.

In desperation, she dialed her sister’s number, hoping for answers.But Zyra didn’t answer.

Frustrated and hurt, she threw her phone onto the bed and broke down into heart-wrenching sobs.She cried and cried until exhaustion took over her body, and eventually, sleep mercifully claimed her weary soul.