The Billionaire's Redemption

Chapter 6

To every woman, their wedding day should be the best day of their life. But to me, my wedding day was the worst. Though it was the talk of the town, I had little or no joy in me. Everyone talked about how expensive my wedding dress was and how elegantly dressed I was, but none was able to notice the sadness in my eyes. They could not notice the sad face behind the beautiful make-up and fake smiles.

To them, I was the luckiest girl to have won the heart of the most handsome and elegant bachelor. To them, I was lucky he choose me over them and most of them could not hide their anger and jealousy. I scoffed. If they knew what it feels like to be closer to him, they would rather choose to be single than to spend the rest of their lives living in the shadow of their selves.

As I walked down the aisle with him, I knew the phase of my life that I once knew is about to end, and a new phase was about to begin. The church was filled with people, smiling so brightly at me. I looked around and could only see a few people who had come on my behalf. My mom was at the wedding to hand me over and two of her friends.

I don't know how Damian was able to convince my mom to come. Even when I told him not to let her know. I was afraid my mom will be devastated when she finds out I wasn't going to get married to Daniel again. She would scold me for leaving Daniel, without hearing me out.

Andrea was my maid of honor, while Hunter was Damian's best man. As I stood in front of Damian to say my vows, I shivered. Why would he choose to have a church wedding when he knew the wedding wasn't real?

"It's a real but contracted marriage"

My subconscious mind corrected and I sighed.

The smirk on his face as I tried to open my mouth to speak, was worrisome. Is he happy that I couldn't say a word? Or does he smirk because I now belong to him?

His smirk suddenly disappeared and he glared. I opened my mouth slowly to say the first thing that came to my mind. When it was his turn, I only watch him speak but I could not remember a word he said. My mind was far gone. Far gone to the day before when I had to sit and think about my life.

The flicking of his finger across my face, made me blink back to the presence. The rest of the rites were carried out and we marched out of the church.

The reception followed immediately after the church wedding. Everyone who attended our wedding seemed happy. I watched them chat with each other. Damian made me follow him to greet some people and I tried to smile as much as I can, which was tiring. Pretending to be happy is far more tiring than letting people know how sad you are. I couldn't wait for the celebration to be over so I can go home and have some rest.

When everything ended and Andrea hugged me goodbye, I could feel I was about to be alone in my world.

"You will be fine"

She had said when she hugged me.

"I wish you could go with me"

She held my hand.

"Trust me. You will be fine"

As I watched Andrea leave, I wiped the tears off my eyes and sniffed. I was left alone all by myself to carry my cross.

Damian walked up to me.

"Let's go"

I sighed.

"Ok"

**

The chauffeur announced our arrival home, and I breathed a sigh of relief. The drive home was awkward and I was not comfortable sitting beside him. I couldn't stare at him either cause he had told me right before the car started not to stare at him.

The door opened and he stepped out.

"Are you not going to come down or you'd rather sleep there?"

He said and I quickly step down. I trailed behind him with two of his guards. We got to one of the living rooms and he sat down while I stood.

"Sit"

He ordered and I sat down. He gestured for his guards to excuse us. He stared at me and I looked away suddenly feeling strange. Though I wasn't looking at him, I could tell he was still staring at me.

He cleared his throat and I looked at him.

"Though you are my wife"

He began and I held my breath. I knew his next words won't be friendly at all.

"There are some rules and boundaries that will be set for as long as you want to stay here"

He raised his hand and one of the guards appeared with a file and handed it over to me. I held it wondering what to do with it.

"Open it"

Slowly, I opened it and brought out a few pieces of paper.

"Go through it and read it carefully"

"Ok"

He stood up.

"The guards will take you to your room"

He said and left. One of the guards showed up to take me to my room. I was too tired to check out the room. I washed up and retire to bed without reading the rules Damian had given.

**

The ringing of the bell woke me up and I hissed loudly. I had thought I was in my house and the neighbors were at it again but when I opened my eyes, reality struck me. I realized I wasn't in my room nor on my bed. I sat up quickly, realizing I am now a married woman, married to the man I don't love.

The bell rang again and I wondered what was going on. The door opened and Damian walked in looking so angry.

"G-good morning..."

I tried to greet but he cut me short. 

"What says your time?"

I looked around for a possible place to find a clock or wristwatch.

"Are you dumb?"

He yelled and I flinched. He folded his arms.

"Did you read the terms I gave?"

I shook my head sincerely and he frowned.

"Did you just nod your head?"

"I-i'm sorry"

He sighed.

"You did not read the terms?"

"I-i couldn't. I was..."

He scoffed.

"Tired to read? Huh?. Do you feel you're my wife and you can go against my order?"

The look on his face was daring and I shook my head quickly.

"N-no"

"Get dressed we are going out"

He turned and made to leave.

"Where to?"

I wanted to ask but I changed my mind. Instead, I rush to the bathroom to take my bath.

I joined him shortly downstairs. Diana was with him and they were having a conversation. She stood up when she saw me.

"Oh, Charlotte. You look so amazing"

I smiled, hiding my pain.

"You look good too, Diana"

Damian tapped his feet and Diana chuckled.

"Don't tell me you can't hold it anymore"

I stared at her wondering what she meant.

"I wanted you both to go to Paris for your honeymoon but Damian said you love South Korea instead"

I blinked. We never talked about our honeymoon and I can't remember telling him I wanted to visit any place.

"Charlotte?"

Diana called, jolting me back to reality.

"Are you ok?"

"Y-yes. Did you say something?"

"I asked a question and you did not answer. Are you sure you are ok?"

I nodded. 

"Yes"

"We should get going. You won't want us missing our flight"

Damian said impatiently.

"I almost forgot. Come Charlotte. Come hug me"

I walked closer to her and hugged her.

"I will miss you"

She cooed.

"Diana let her be. We are running late"

He stretched his hand to me.

"Come, my love"

I stood at my spot wondering who Damian was referring to. He glared at me.

"Come on, Charlotte"

I moved closer to him. It was difficult to get used to the fact that he will call me his love whenever his families are close by. He held my hand and led me to the car.

"Isn't my brother so caring?"

Diana asked out of the blue and I almost got choked up.

"Are you ok?"

She asked, patting my back and I nodded.

"I-i'm fine"

Damian moved closer.

"What's wrong with her?. Are you ok, Charlotte?"

I stared at him in disbelief to see him show so much care.

"He is doing this because his sister is here" my subconscious mind reminded me and I sighed.

"Are you ok?"

He asked and I nodded. I was surprised he did not glare at me or get angry that I nodded at him. Instead, he opened the door for me. Diana waved at me as the car drove out of the compound.

"Have fun"

She yelled after us. I sighed. There is no fun to have with Damian. I turned to look at him. Our eyes locked and I looked away immediately. There was silence for a while until his phone rang.

I listened to his conversation and realized his main reason for choosing South Korea for our honeymoon was to meet a client. He had scheduled a meeting with him and uses that opportunity to pretend that we are going for our honeymoon.

When the call ended, I spoke up. 

"Y-you. W-why didn't you tell me about our honeymoon"

I tried to look at him to see his expression since he decided to ignore me and focus on his phone. He had a straight face and I couldn't tell if he did not hear me or he heard me and had decided to ignore me.

"Shouldn't you tell me beforehand?"

I continued.

"D-Damian"

I called and he frowned.

"Do you always have to show how dumb you are?. Can't you see I am busy?"

The fact that he uses the word dumb to classify me at every slight chance he gets was frustrating but I couldn't get angry and even if I was angry, I could not show it.

"I just thought you should have let me know about the honeymoon"

He scoffed. "What is the use of telling you?. Are you going to spend the money? Or do you have anything you can contribute?"

I stared at him. Why does he have to reply to me that way?

"Y-you don't have to talk to me that way. This is not fair"

He scoffed.

"This is not fair?"

He muttered to himself.

"I-i'm your wife. You should treat me as such"

He scoffed. "My wife?. Did you just say you are my wife?"

I blinked. He doesn't consider me as his wife?

"Who told you, you're my wife?. You are nothing but a tool to me"

Tears dripped down my face.

"You..."

"You're nothing to me. You're a property sold to me and you will remain that way" 

I couldn't hold back the tears threatening to fall. Why does he hate me so much?. Why does he consider me as a tool?. I sniffed. What have I gotten myself into?