Claim by the cold ceo

Chapter 4: shadows

The sunlight fell on Madelyn's face, rousing her from her deep sleep as she tried to get up from the bed but was held back by a heavy arm around her waist. Madelyn was confused by Arthur's behaviour yesterday. Her cold, aloof, and untouchable husband turned into a passionate lover overnight. She shifted slightly to look at her husband, his silver mask covering half his face as usual.

Does he not take it off even while sleeping? A thought crossed her mind.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she thought to take off his mask. She wanted to see how bad the wound was for her otherwise handsome husband to hide his face. Just as her hand was about to touch the mask, a hand came out of nowhere and held her hand tightly.

Arthur opened his eyes. Their gaze mingled with each other. Sunlight shone on Arthur's face, bringing out the pale gold flecks in his silvery irises. His pupils dilated as he took in Madelyn's tousled hair, his love bites scattered across her collarbone, neck, and many more places one can not see. Her naked form wrapped up in sheets, only inches away from him, his fingers twitched to pull her under him, but he controlled himself.

He let her sleep at dawn, utterly tired.

Madelyn's hand remained in Arthur's for a long time. She didn't know whether to shake her hand free or let it hang in mid-air. Her arm ached from being suspended in the air. Just as she was about to take her hand back, Arthur left her hand and got up butt naked to go into the bathroom.

Madelyn was startled by the display of unashamed nudity, she hurriedly turned around and got up with the sheets tightly wrapped around herself and moved to a guest bedroom.

She didn't need to worry about any servant seeing her, as the servants were allowed on upper floors unless Arthur asked them to. Leaving the sheet in a crumpled mess outside the bathroom, Madelyn stepped inside to take a warm shower, her lower abdomen and back were killing her.

She was surprisingly clean between her legs despite the activities of the previous night. As warm water hit her skin, her tense muscles began to relax. Her mind drifted to last night. She never knew her husband could care for her. She lost consciousness after a certain point in time, so she didn't know what happened after.

Remembering the fiasco of yesterday, Madelyn's lips twisted in a depressing smile, asking for a divorce and consummation of her marriage in a single day. What a heck of a day.

After completing her shower, Madelyn returned to her room to get dressed. When she entered her room, there was no sign of Arthur. She took a breath of relief; maybe he went to the office. After getting ready, Madelyn went downstairs to have some breakfast but stopped short on her track when she noticed someone sitting on the sofa in the living room.

She hurried to greet her mother-in-law. ''Mother, why did you take the trouble to come here? If you had something to discuss, you should have called me. I would have visited you.'' Madelyn bowed to Iris in greeting. Respecting her elders was instilled in Madelyn from a young age. Despite their behaviour, she never disrespected an elder in her life.

''Now I have to take your permission to visit my son.'' Iris looked down on Madelyn. Disdain was clear on her face as if Madelyn were not her daughter-in-law but a maid.

''That's not what I mean, Mother,'' Madelyn replied, her voice soft and small. Arthur's mother always made her feel small and insignificant in the absence of Arthur. But in front of Arthur, she is the sweetest lady in the room.

''I know perfectly well what you mean. What were you doing till now? Why were you not in the kitchen? It's ten in the morning; why were you not serving your husband?'' Iris started ranting in an aggressive, loud voice.

''Mother, that's -I had trouble sleeping last night.'' Madelyn's face turned red, remembering why it was difficult to sleep last time.

''Oh my mom, don't be too upset with Madelyn. She must not have been feeling well. It's okay if she is a bit late.'' A sweet, saccharine voice spoke beside her mother-in-law. All the color left Madelyn's face when she heard that wretched fake voice. She was so busy appeasing her mother-in-law that she didn't notice someone else sitting beside her.

Willow Arthur's childhood best friend was dressed in a bodycon dress, hugging her at all the right places. Her makeup was done professionally, as if she were a model ready for the runway. Leave it to Willow to dress up provocatively and innocently at the same time.

''Madelyn, don't take Mom's words to heart. You know how much she cares for Arthur.'' Plastering an innocent yet sinister smile on her face, Willow continued her poisonous talk.

''You should learn something from Willow. Even though she isn't married, she knows how to take care of her in-laws and husband perfectly well. I wish Arthur had married her instead of you.'' The clear contempt in Iris's voice brought tears to Madelyn's eyes. The open comparison and wish to make Willow her daughter-in-law had played a great role in Madelyn's decision for divorce.

''What's that.'' Willow's face turned ugly as her eyes landed on Madelyn's neck. She knew for sure how Arthur treated Madelyn behind closed doors. There was no reason for Madelyn to be supporting a love bite. She stood up on her place and advanced towards Madelyn.

Madelyn, unable to comprehend Willow's action, stood stupified at her place.

''What's that on your neck.'' After close inspection, Willow's anger knew no bounds. She wanted to kill Madelyn right this instant.

''It's nothing.'' Madelyn's hand instinctively reached for her neck. She didn't go out of her way to hide her marks because she always stays alone at home.

''Did you sleep with Arthur?''

Madelyn's eyes widened at the direct question. It took a second for her to regain her composure. ''It's none of your business, Ms. Carlton, whether I sleep with my husband or not.''

By now, Iris also stood up to see what was going on between the two of them.

''You - you, how dare you. How dare you to sleep with him?'' Willow raised her hand to slap her.