Unspoken Vows

Chapter2: In the Shadow of Expectations

After boarding the plane, Liam lay back, covering himself with the blanket the flight attendant had brought, her cheeks flushed. He closed his eyes for a moment to rest but soon remembered the scene at the door when he left.

It seemed that playing the role of the reluctant husband, making a temporary show of softness—was something women liked, or so they said. He could only hope that the Blackwell Family’s so-called ‘hungry-for-anyone’ young lady would stay put and wait for him to return.

The rest he managed wasn’t peaceful. It felt as though something fiery in the air was falling onto him. Every time he opened his eyes, he found himself meeting the gaze of the beautiful, gentle flight attendant in the corridor. She quickly turned away, but her face turned as red as the sunset outside the window.

Liam's eyes darkened, and he subtly averted his gaze. This wasn’t the first time he had received such intense signals. Too frequent, and he had been burned by them countless times before.

But he couldn’t help it.

White clouds were rolling across the sky, and the setting sun cast a golden layer of color across them, the layers beautiful and breathtaking like waves in a sea of light.

Liam suddenly remembered something and fumbled through his pocket. He pulled out a silver banded diamond ring and slipped it onto his fourth finger.

The flight attendant, having just taken care of a customer's needs, turned and couldn't help stealing a glance at the handsome passenger.

"Hello," Liam said casually, lifting his left hand and ordering a glass of red wine.

His demeanor was natural, but the flight attendant's smile froze when she noticed the gleam of the diamond on his finger. For a moment, she seemed lost in thought, before quickly returning to her professional composure, though her face remained dim, offering only a forced smile. "Certainly, please wait a moment."

There were no more unsolicited stares after that. This method seemed to work wonders. For the first time, Liam found an advantage to being married.

After landing, he went straight to the hotel. He didn’t linger long before heading to an international forum. Liam’s schedule was packed. In his two-day stay, he had no time to rest, running from one meeting to the next, barely touching his pillow before he had to go again. By the time he returned to the hotel, he still had a few video conferences to attend to in his room.

He had recently taken over the Hunter family’s business, and he needed to adapt quickly to his new role. He also needed others to quickly adjust to his management style—fast, precise, ruthless, and aggressive.

On the second day of their marriage, Zoe couldn’t stand the silence and ran back to the Blackwell Family.

Vivienne Blackwell stood in the courtyard, surrounded by a sea of vibrant flowers. She wore an odd sunshade on her head and held a watering can in her hands. When she saw her daughter approaching, she instinctively took a step back, as if preparing herself for bad news.

‘What’s going on? Back so soon on your first day?’ she asked, her tone laced with suspicion. She paused, then added with a relieved sigh, ‘You didn’t have a fight, did you? We don’t tolerate such nonsense in this family.’

‘No fight,’ her daughter replied. Vivienne exhaled sharply, relieved. ‘He’s away on business. We agreed to save the arguments for when he returns.’

Vivienne’s expression turned stern again, her voice sharp. ‘There’s no need for arguments. You’re married now. Focus on your life together, no more childish behavior!’ She slammed the watering can down onto the table with a thud, her demeanor forceful. The old servant rushed to take it away, but Vivienne paid him no mind.

‘But we don’t have any feelings for each other.’

‘Feelings?’ Vivienne scoffed. ‘Forget about those silly notions. The most important thing is companionship. As for feelings, they can be developed. Besides, my daughter is hardly lacking—Liam is lucky to have you! You behave well, and he’ll love you in time.’

Of course, Vivienne had no doubts about her daughter. She was a treasure in her eyes, despite what others might say about her naivety. She would never entertain the idea that her beloved Zoe could be anything less than perfect for Liam. But such praises should never be spoken in front of Zoe, lest they go to her head.

Vivienne took a sip from her porcelain cup, her expression softening slightly. ‘Have you decided on the honeymoon destination? When is your father-in-law coming to visit?’

Zoe’s lack of enthusiasm was noticeable, and Vivienne grew impatient. She clicked the edge of her cup down a little too hard. ‘Stop thinking about the past and move forward. You’ve made your choice, now embrace it.’

Zoe casually picked up a fresh cherry tomato and toyed with it as she answered, ‘I did what you asked. I married him, just like you wanted.’

Vivienne’s eyes narrowed. ‘I still can’t understand you. Don’t come to me with talk of women’s rights, the so-called ‘unmarried’ lifestyle, or anything about ‘liberation.’’’

Zoe didn’t respond. She wasn’t interested in her mother’s rant.

A voice interrupted them, and the butler entered hurriedly, smiling. ‘Madam, Miss Zoe, there’s a call for you.’

Vivienne’s face instantly lit up, and she excused herself to take the call. She was pleased, knowing her eldest daughter—always obedient and responsible—would always keep her proud.

Zoe, meanwhile, filled herself another cup of white tea, its bitter taste lingering on her tongue. The tea was strong, but not unpleasant. She poured herself another cup.

Through the stained-glass window, she watched her mother happily chat on the phone, an image of contentment.

Her older sister Genevieve had always been the perfect daughter: Ivy League education, a respectable position in the family business, and a perfectly matched husband. It wasn’t hard, after all—complete your studies, step into the family company, make a proper marriage, and children would follow. The path was clearly laid out for her.

But Zoe, for reasons she could hardly explain, had veered off that path entirely.

Five days later, Liam finally returned home. There was no sign of his wife. When he inquired, the servants hesitated and muttered something about her being out late every night, busy with something.

His assistant, Samson, asked cautiously, 'Would you like me to look for her?'

'No need,' Liam replied, rubbing his temples. 'Let her be.'

Work had been exhausting, and he wasn’t about to spend time chasing after his wife. When he returned to their room, he noticed that it hadn’t changed since he left. Zoe hadn’t been sleeping there.

It didn’t bother him. He tossed his luxurious wool suit onto the armchair, turned, and headed toward his study.

He had already converted the study into a space with a hidden bedroom behind a screen—a perfect retreat. His marriage to Zoe was never one he had high hopes for, and he didn’t care that she wasn’t at home.

But as he lay down on the bed that night, it struck him: if she really betrayed him, he would make her regret it. Despite living under the same roof, in the next two days, he never once saw her. At least, not in a way that was meaningful.

He rose early, returning late each day. Zoe, on the other hand, was always gone late and only returned in the early morning, sleeping past noon.

This went on for several days until the proposals from the Hunter-Blackwell project and an urgent letter from the gossip columns landed on his desk at the same time. Only then did Liam realize he could no longer allow Zoe to act without consequence.

They weren’t just any couple. Their marriage represented the union of two powerful families, a partnership that needed to be respected.

Even if Zoe was difficult, she was still his wife. And that was something he couldn’t ignore. So he accepted it.

Three days later, Zoe finally confronted him. Standing in front of his study door, she demanded, 'Did you have Lucy and the others take all my shoes?'

Liam glanced at her, unfazed. 'Yes.'

Zoe’s eyes narrowed with frustration. 'You’re so petty.'

'You were out too often, and too late,' he replied calmly. 'You’re a married woman.'

'So, you had my shoes taken, instead of talking to me?'

'Oh, so you were waiting for me to talk to you?' Liam smiled slightly, the kind of smile that held both mockery and condescension.

Zoe wasn’t about to let him get the upper hand. 'Of course, you should have come to find me. Don’t forget, you still owe me a proper wedding night.'

'In a hurry, are we?'

Zoe’s eyes narrowed in silent annoyance.

As Liam brushed past her, he grabbed her wrist and effortlessly pulled her into the study. She stumbled, her back hitting a bookshelf with a dull thud. The pain was sharp, but it was enough to snap her out of her daze. Why had she let this happen?

She quickly reacted, instinctively moving to strike at his vulnerable spot.

The look on Liam’s face was priceless as he recoiled in pain, his body twisting in reaction. He retreated to a nearby chair, trying to hold his composure despite the pain, his fists clenched and his brow furrowed with tension.

Zoe, realizing she had gone too far, felt a twinge of guilt. Seeing her newlywed husband in pain made her hesitate, unsure whether to apologize.

His face was still contorted with pain as he muttered, 'Zoe, we’re even now.'

'Even what?'

Liam shot her a look, the kind that made her feel exposed. 'You ran off for two days. Then you ignored me for another three. Add this kick to the mix. Isn’t that enough?'

Before she could reply, Liam’s expression softened into a mockingly affectionate smile. 'Done with the tantrum, little wife?'

Zoe quickly avoided his gaze. ‘... Yeah.’

That damn feeling of being exposed, the shame.