Ruthless Billionaire Husband

Chapter 3 — The Ceremony of Silence

Lina walked down the aisle, her heart pounding in her chest. The weight of the moment pressed down on her, each step feeling heavier than the last. The grand hall felt suffocating, the eyes of the guests on her, judging her, silently whispering about the marriage that had been arranged for her, not one of love or choice. She could feel the cold, unforgiving eyes of Demian from the front, watching her every movement, and it made her stomach twist in dread.

The ceremony had already begun, and Demian stood at the altar, an imposing figure. His eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. There was no warmth, no comfort, only the cold, calculated gaze of a man who controlled everything — even her. The words the priest spoke were distant, muffled by the pounding in her ears.

She reached the altar, standing beside Demian, feeling smaller than ever. His hand brushed lightly against hers as he took her hand, but the touch was cold, unfeeling. It wasn’t a touch of love; it was a reminder that she was now his possession, bound by vows that had nothing to do with affection.

“Do you take this woman?” The priest’s voice echoed in the silent room.

“I do,” Demian replied, his voice deep, smooth, and utterly devoid of emotion.

Lina felt her chest tighten. She had been given no choice. This was the moment her life changed forever, and there was no escape. Demian’s eyes never left hers, as if to remind her that every part of her, every breath she took from now on, was under his control.

The vows were spoken, mechanical and devoid of any real emotion. Lina could barely hear the words, her mind too clouded with the dread of what was to come. She had never felt so alone, standing there beside a man who hadn’t spared her a glance of kindness. The ceremony, the promises — they meant nothing to him.

Once the vows were exchanged, the priest signaled for them to kiss. Lina froze, her body stiff, unwilling to be subjected to the physical intimacy that was expected. Demian’s eyes darkened as he leaned in, his lips brushing hers in a slow, deliberate manner, not a kiss of passion, but a simple mark of possession. His grip tightened on the back of her neck, forcing her to stay still as he deepened the kiss, asserting his control over her in front of the watching crowd.

When he finally pulled away, his eyes locked onto hers with an unsettling calmness. There was no tenderness, no love. Only cold, cruel ownership. "You’re mine now," he murmured, just loud enough for her to hear. The words sent a chill down her spine.

As they turned to walk down the aisle together, Demian’s hand slid possessively around her waist, his fingers digging into her side as he guided her. The guests stood, clapping, but all Lina could feel was the cold weight of the world on her shoulders. This was her life now — this man, this marriage, this suffocating reality.

The reception that followed was nothing short of oppressive. Family members gathered around, offering polite congratulations, but the smiles were thin, the eyes too sharp. Lina felt like an outsider, as though she didn’t belong in this world. Demian’s family, his cold, calculating mother and distant father, observed her with clinical detachment. They were already sizing her up, determining her worth in their eyes. Demian, ever the silent ruler, stood beside her, his presence like a shadow over everything she did.

“Demian,” his mother said, her voice sharp like a blade. “I trust you’ll keep her in line?” The words were laced with venom, though they were spoken with an outward air of politeness. Demian’s grip on Lina tightened as he answered her with a simple nod.

“Of course. She knows her place.”

Lina felt the sting of those words deep in her chest, but she dared not speak. She had no voice here. No say in her life. Demian’s presence was a constant reminder of that. He was always watching, always waiting for her to slip up. He was in control — and she was powerless to change it.

Later, in the privacy of their new suite, Demian’s cold demeanor did not soften. He stood in front of the large mirror, adjusting his tie, while Lina sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clenched in her lap. She had no idea what was expected of her now, what she was supposed to do. Demian’s indifference to her was suffocating. He turned to face her, his expression blank.

“Don’t mistake this for anything but what it is, Lina,” Demian said, his voice low and commanding. “You’re here to fulfill your role. Nothing more.”

Lina’s heart hammered in her chest as she fought to keep her emotions in check. Her throat tightened, but she managed to speak. “I… I don’t understand. Why am I here?”

Demian’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of amusement crossing his face as he leaned in closer. “Because you’re my wife now. And that’s all you need to know. Don’t forget your place.”

He turned and walked toward the door without another word. Lina sat there, the silence of the room consuming her. The weight of his words settled heavily on her shoulders. She was nothing more than a pawn in his game, a role she was forced into, and there was no escape.

The night was dark, the mansion silent except for the distant sounds of the wind outside. Lina sat on the edge of the bed, her mind swirling with thoughts she couldn’t grasp. She tried to push them away, but the feeling of being trapped — of being owned — was overwhelming.

The door to the room opened with a soft creak, and Demian stepped inside. His presence was commanding, filling the space with a tension that she couldn’t escape. He didn’t look at her, didn’t acknowledge her presence as he walked past her and went to the window. His back was to her, but the coldness in the air around him was palpable. He was a force of nature, and she was just something in his way.

Lina’s heart raced in her chest, and for the first time that evening, she spoke. “Demian, what happens now?”

He didn’t turn to her, his gaze fixed on the darkness outside. “Now?” His voice was low, like he was speaking to himself. “Now, you learn your place.”

The words cut into her like a knife, but she didn’t respond. She had no right to. She couldn’t even look him in the eye.

For a long moment, there was nothing but the sound of the wind. Then Demian finally turned toward her. His eyes, cold and unfeeling, locked onto hers. “I don’t need a wife who questions me, Lina. Understand?”

Lina swallowed hard, her throat tight. She nodded, though her heart pounded with a mix of fear and confusion. This wasn’t what she had imagined. She had thought marriage meant love, connection, something beyond obligation. But Demian made it clear that there was no love here, only control.

He moved toward her slowly, his steps deliberate. Each one seemed to echo in the quiet room. Lina stayed where she was, her body frozen with the uncertainty of what was to come. When he reached her, he didn’t say a word. Instead, he reached out, grabbing her by the chin and forcing her to look up at him. His touch was cold, unfeeling, as if she were just another possession.

“You will learn to obey, Lina. Every single thing I say, you will do.” His voice was firm, the words cold and sharp. “You’re not here to have a voice. You’re here to serve me.”

Lina’s breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she felt as though the world had closed in around her. But there was no escape. There was only Demian and the life he had sentenced her to.

He let go of her chin, but his gaze remained unyielding, his control over her absolute. “Go to bed,” he ordered. “We start your lessons tomorrow.”

Lina didn’t hesitate. She stood, her legs shaky, and moved to the bed. She climbed under the covers, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. She was alone in her thoughts, her body heavy with the weight of the night.

She couldn’t understand how everything had changed so quickly. One moment, she had been walking into the ceremony, unsure of what to expect. Now, she was a prisoner in her own life, bound to a man who didn’t care about her, only about keeping her in line.

The bed shifted, and Demian’s presence was right beside her. He didn’t touch her, but the air between them was thick with tension. For a long time, neither of them spoke. It was as if there was nothing left to say. Demian had already made his intentions clear, and Lina knew there was no arguing with him. No escape from his control.

She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the overwhelming sense of helplessness that washed over her. She had never felt so small, so insignificant. But even as she lay there, Demian’s presence loomed large, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was just a pawn in his game.