The Virgin Wife

Episode 2: The Mansion

The car was silent. Too silent.

Emeka drove like the devil was chasing him. One hand on the wheel, jaw clenched, eyes straight ahead. He hadn't spoken to Amara since she signed the contract 3 hours ago.

Amara sat in the passenger seat of his black Range Rover, clutching her small bag. She still couldn't believe this was real. 2 million naira was already in the hospital account. Baba would live.

But at what cost?

The gate opened automatically. Tall. Black. Electronic.

And then she saw it.

The Daniel Mansion.

White marble. 3 floors. Fountain in front. Cars that cost more than her entire street lined the driveway.

Amara's mouth went dry. "You... you live here?"

Emeka finally spoke. His voice was ice. "Don't touch anything."

The driver opened her door. Amara stepped out and her slippers touched the marble floor. She immediately felt out of place. Her faded jeans and simple top looked like rags here.

Inside was worse. Crystal chandeliers. Paintings that were probably older than her grandfather. Maids in uniforms who bowed when Emeka walked in.

"This is your room," Emeka said, pushing open a door. "Don't come to my wing. Don't cook in my kitchen. Don't speak to me unless spoken to. And for God's sake, don't embarrass me in public."

He turned to leave.

"Wait," Amara said.

He stopped but didn't turn. "What?"

"Thank you... for saving my grandfather."

Emeka scoffed. "I didn't do it for you. I did it for my father."

And he walked away.

Amara stood in the middle of the biggest bedroom she'd ever seen. King size bed. Walk-in closet. Bathroom bigger than her old kitchen.

She was now living in a palace.

With a husband who hated her.

For 1 year.

She dropped her bag on the bed and whispered to herself:

"7 days to save Baba. 365 days to survive him."

Down the hall, Emeka poured himself whiskey. His phone buzzed. His father: "How's the wife?"

Emeka stared at the closed door across the hall. "She's nothing," he typed back. "Just a contract."

But for some reason, he couldn't stop seeing the way she stood up to him at the hospital. The fire in her eyes.

He took another drink.

This was going to be a very long year.