Bounded by Duty

Husband

Amaya's POV

“Are you sure you are okay?” Nathan asked for the umpteenth time. His voice sounded irritating to me. I don't know if to say he's stupid, or he just decided to turn a blind eye to my body language. I'm almost inside the door of the Lamborghini taking us to our said marital home.

I left the whole seat and moved to the edge of the seat, resting on the car door and looking at the view through the window. He should know I'm trying to avoid talking to him or even sitting close to him.

I feel irritated, not by him but by myself.

And he is not even helping me to help myself .

The city lights were bright, full of colors and pictures and videos played on the billboards complimenting New York nightlife, but contrary to the beautiful scenery, I felt dark.

Like I'm about to lose the little light I was hanging on to, starting a life with someone I know nothing of. A man that's not capable of doing anything himself but depends on a wheelchair__ wait! I'm not responsible for him, right?

I mean, I don't need to take care of him. We are only married on paper.

Never would I think I'd get married to a disabled man.

“You went from grace to grass to spite me, right?” I recalled Edward's words from our last conversation at the wedding when he cornered me in the hall after I changed from my wedding dress to a white jumpsuit.

“You think getting married to that handicapped guy will make me regret leaving you for your sister, huh?” He smells like alcohol, he's been drinking. He looks like s**t, like he was run by a bus. His shirt was not buttoned properly. His hair was scattered like he hadn't washed it in a day.

Seeing him like that makes my heart ache in some type of way, but I wasn't in the mood to pity him or argue with him, I was in more trouble to bat an eye for him.

“Were you seeing him while we were together? You couldn't wait to jump on the next available guy.”

I realized he wasn't aware it was an arranged marriage.

“Well, as you can see”, I waved my now ringed finger to his face. “I'm married, that's all that matters. I'm pretty sure my beloved husband is out there waiting for me. He wouldn't like to see me talking to another man.”

Anger flashed in his eyes and his face turned red. I was scared for a second when he advanced towards me, but luck on my side, I heard Chloe calling out to me, and I was grateful for that.

Back to the present, I wonder how far the said house is. I noticed we'd left the city, and we were somehow on the outskirts of town. There were only a few houses on the road and the streetlights weren't as bright as they should.

Surprisingly, I wasn't bothered about wherever he was taking me to. I just want the ride to be over with.

I need a long shower, then sleep. I need rest. I need to forget whatever happened today, most especially Ethan.

Ethan's words left me distorted in all kind of ways and I didn't know whether to avoid him or seek him out and explain to him that whatever happened between us was a mistake and I would like to keep it a secret.

Thinking about it alone is making my head bang crazily, the thought of having another conversation with him makes my skin crawl in disgust and shame.

How did I find myself in this mess?

A question I have no answer to.

“We are here”, the driver announced. I raised my head that was resting window. My side of the door was opened, and my jaw dropped at the sight before me.

I gasped!

I've never seen anything like this before. I stepped towards the house and stopped. The whole place was literally glowing under the night light.

This is another kingdom on its own. My father's mansion is nothing compared to this.

I was quick to close my mouth which was wide open, changed my facial expression from shocked by a nod, but I'm sure my expression gave me out.

I heard clearing his throat behind me, but I didn't turn.

“Welcome home” he said softly, wheeling himself to my side.

Home?!

Home!! I've never had somewhere that truly felt like home to me. Not even my father's house.

I turned to look at him, he was smiling softly at him. His blue piercing eyes shining under the moonlight, drawing me in.

‘He has very beautiful eyes’. I said to myself in my head.

“Thank you”

“Huh?!” He smiled at me again, showing his dimples.

“You said my eyes are beautiful, and I said thank you”, he explained. I blinked twice.

Realizing I had said it out loud to his hearing.

God! Why do I keep embarrassing myself?

"You're welcome. I moved towards the door as fast as I could_ no, I was trying not to run.

And his chuckle behind me confirmed I was acting crazy.

You'd think the beauty of this house on the outside was the real masterpiece until you see the inside.

Everything here sparkles, they're not gold, but they're all shiny. I never knew black could be this beautiful.

The all-black-themed setting in the living room was everything you'd think black wouldn't do justice to, from the chandeliers to the dim lights, the sofas, the tiles, everything.

I can see the dining area from here. It's a mixture of black and gold.

“I'm sorry it's all black here. I'm sure you can tell already how much I love black” he said behind me.

“No doubt”, I said unconsciously; those were the only words I could find. I was perplexed.

“Feel free to add some colors and touches to it, whatever makes you feel at home”. My heart did a double beating at his words.

Whatever makes you feel at home…. He wants me to feel at home.

I turned to him to find him staring at me. I've only known this man for less than twenty-four hours.

“Welcome back sir and ma'am” we broke eye contact, and I saw troops of males and females in a straight line.

All these people for what?

“These are the maids and servants of the house. "They take care of everything here” Nathan said, his tone different from what I'd heard him use since we've met.

“My name is Joe. I'm in charge of all the maids and servants. And like your husband said, we take care of everything in the place. You don't have to worry about anything”, I nodded at him, forcing out a smile.

They began to introduce themselves one after the other, but Joe lost me somewhere in-between his introduction.

My husband…. Nathan, my husband.

It feels real now! It's real

I'm truly a wife…

A wife to a disabled man…. Just wow!