The Gilded Cage

chapter 17

I headed towards the room, yawning sleepily after the effort exerted in tidying up and cooking, and when I remembered his silly joke a while ago and the strange interrogation I was subjected to by his aunt and her husband, I found myself muttering faint words in annoyance. I opened the door intending to enter, but I was surprised when he grabbed me to turn me towards him suddenly and pushed me against the wall forcefully, causing my hair clip to fall to the floor, so my hair cascaded down my back!!

I found myself leaning against the wall in astonishment, staring into his eyes, which made me freeze in my place, startled...

The kind of gleam in them at that moment amazed me! I almost swear they weren't the eyes of the same cheerful person! They weren't those mocking, reckless eyes...

What's wrong with these looks, for God's sake!!

When he blinked, they gleamed with a hazel glint that had become dark, as if indicating anger or impatience! I caught myself, hiding my astonishment, to scream in anger and severe pain: "What do you think you're doing? Have you gone mad to push me like this?! How dare you—"

But I forced myself to stop when I felt an intuition forcing me to be cautious as he continued staring at me with those previous looks, and I found the matter becoming even stranger!!

There's something wrong...

There's undoubtedly something strange!

A look like this cannot come from him! Not from Chris, whom I've gotten used to his sarcasm these past two days!

I don't know how much time passed until he approached me further and whispered calmly: "Don't force me to act violently with you. My mood doesn't allow me to tolerate any behavior! Let me finish what I was going to say and listen without interrupting me, as this is for your own good, and don't—"

I interrupted him in pain and anger: "Not before you take your hands off me! This hurts..."

But he said indignantly, frightening me and forcing a faint gasp to escape my lips: "I don't repeat my words twice! I said we need to talk, so stop wasting time with your objections."

That tone of his made me stand like a statue, rigid, trying to comprehend if this was one of his jokes where he was impersonating a different character, for example! I even forgot the pain I felt in my shoulders because I felt that the person standing in front of me... I don't know him!

As if a completely different person is standing in front of me!! What's the reason for all this agitation in the first place?!

I nodded silently in affirmation, cautiously and expectantly, so he moved away slowly. I eyed him hesitantly and incomprehensibly, so he moved to sit on the sofa, ruffling his hair as he exhaled with obvious annoyance!

Is what I did something that warrants anger to this degree?! Wait... let me recall what happened a moment ago!

He threw his foolish proposal and said, "Marry me..." I laughed, then said I was going to sleep!

Which part exactly is provocative in what I did?!

I moved with confident steps and sat opposite him, hiding my confusion...

— "Did I hurt you?"

He asked in a calm tone. I didn't answer him but turned my face away from him in dislike, so he continued: "I think I overdid it a little..."

A little?!

Does he really not realize what he did? He was about to break my bones just now! I twisted my lip silently and didn't comment on what he said stubbornly as I still pretended to stare at the curtain, which whenever it rose showed through the transparent glass a part of the city's lights and its sky cloudy with dark clouds... Frankly, I didn't realize I had started to immerse myself in looking outside the window until I heard him exhale impatiently!

So I took the initiative to say firmly, directing my gaze towards him comprehendingly: "Okay, I'm fine!"

I said that despite feeling as if my back bones were broken and my shoulders were cramping!

His features softened into a strange calm and kindness, and he stared at me for a long time until he said: "Let's continue where we left off. As I just told you... Marry me! I haven't found a suitable woman to marry during this period other than you!"

I asked him, not understanding and in surprise: "Suitable!! Wait... this wasn't a joke??"

He rolled up his shirt sleeves to his wrists and leaned his elbows forward, bending a little to answer: "I told you I'm serious. I don't mean a real marriage! It's just a marriage of convenience for an important matter. I'm not joking; I mean every word I say!"

My eyes widened, repeating: "A matter? A temporary marriage!"

I added angrily: "What are you saying?!"

— "I may not be able to convince you, indeed, but—"

I didn't allow him to complete his talk, as I said, objecting with great annoyance: "You prove to me that you're just deranged..."

I added sarcastically: "You're undoubtedly mocking me. It's difficult for you to stop your nonsense! Listen... I have no desire to listen to this madness. If this is what you say when you're serious, then return to your empty, sarcastic talk, please! This is much better than hearing similar matters..."

I finished my sentence as I stood up, so he gestured to me to sit down calmly, not hiding his sharp tone: "Stop chattering and close your mouth a little so I can finish what I'm trying to say!"

My eyes widened in astonishment at that tone and firm words, and I don't know how... or why I sat down immediately as if I were saying to him: Yes, sir!!

I really don't know how I sat like this like a machine that only knows how to execute orders...!!

I won't deny that his tone frightened me and made me sit down immediately... But...!!

I eyed him hesitantly and curtly, annoyed with myself, while he looked at me silently, then proceeded to roll up his shirt to his wrist again with a quick movement and said: "I'll get straight to the point because you won't stop interrupting me. I was married a few years ago, but we separated, and now I urgently need to get married..."

My eyes widened in astonishment: "Huh!"

I blinked my eyes several times, trying to comprehend the matter...

I stammered, muttering: "You... you were married! Why did you separate from your wife?!"

He answered me coldly: "Yes, I was, and as for your question, I'm not obliged to answer... I don't want to talk about the matter!"

He continued: "She's on her honeymoon currently, so I have to hurry up and get married... Charlotte!"

He's hurrying to get married because she's on her honeymoon!!?

I asked him with distress and a strange tightness: "Why?! To make her jealous?"

He answered impulsively and with contempt that surprised me: "Absolutely not!"