Chapter 4
1337 Words
The ride to Aaron's house was a long one. An awkward silence filled the car and no one dared to break it. Lyra felt trapped like a bird in a cage as she looked at the driveway, the rain pounded against the windowpane. She sighed and leaned her head against the door.
The car finally pulled to a stop and Lyra took a deep breath, exhaled, and adjusted on her seat.
“We're here,” Jones opened the car door and bowed slightly. “This way ma'am.”
Lyra looked at the littered street. The walls of the building looked shabby like they were peeling off. Lyra could not believe where she was, even her small apartment had more class than this. She alighted from the car and gulped down her saliva nervously.
Mary has promised me the money, you can do this Lyra.
She tapped on her feet and shook her head before following Jones's tracks.
Jones moved closer to the doorknob in the corridor, “Aaron, are you in there.”
Wait, why is he calling Aaron? I thought he was in a wheelchair.
Lyra's eyes went wide open as the door opened slowly. She could feel her legs shaking like jelly.
A man in a wheelchair came into view and Lyra felt a surge of relief run through her. For a moment she thought Aaron walked up to the door and opened it himself.
“Wow!” She muttered, if anyone told her the bastard son of the Bale family was this handsome, she wouldn't have believed but seeing this Greek god right in front of her made chills run through her body.
Aaron sat confidently in the wheelchair, his piercing blue eyes radiating. Lyra could see through his broad shoulders and sexy body even on clothes. His dark hair was slightly tousled, giving him a rugged, yet sophisticated look. His presence was so magnetic and Lyra was lost for words. Lyra gulped down her saliva running her eyes all over his body.
Aaron’s cold gaze met with hers and she averted her gaze and rubbed the back of her head. “s**t! This is so embarrassing,” she muttered.
Jones chuckled and shook his head, “Alright, let's go in then,” Jones stretched his hand to her and they entered the living room. “Have a seat, Miss Lyra.”
Lyra leaned on the sofa in the living room and glanced at the corners of the house. The apartment, although it looked shabby, was a bit conducive compared to what she saw outside. That was a disaster.
“So, this is Aaron your husband,” Jones started, “Aaron, meet Lyra, your wife.”
“Didn't I tell you I don't need a wife,” Aaron shot him a cold look.
Jones shoved him to the side of the window and whispered into his ears, “This isn't my idea and you know it, now be nice to the lady.”
“Why should I? Aren't they after one thing, money?” Aaron narrowed his brows at Jones and glanced at Lyra on the sofa with a low scowl on his face.
“Just be good to her, okay?” Jones widened his eyes at him and faked a smile.
Aaron turned to Lyra and steered his wheelchair in her direction. He shot her a fierce look and moved his eyes around her.
Lyra squinted her eyes at him and a frown formed on her lips. What the hell is his problem? Why does he keep doing that? If not for Lily what would she be doing here and that witch of a stepmother? Well, he kind of looks handsome though, her mind wandered.
“Alright, I'll leave you too now. Everything you need is in that document over there,” Jones pointed at the table and made his way out as fast as he could. The man could feel the tension in the room and he wasn't going to be part of it.
“W-Wait,” Lyra stuttered. “Oh, great, and now he's gone.”
Lyra took a peek at Aaron and averted her gaze. What now? What is she supposed to say to this man? Why does she feel like he hates her already? He doesn't even know her.
The air was thick in the room and Lyra could feel the tension building. She would occasionally look at the man and avert her gaze.
“Are you done?” Aaron's firm voice hung in the air and Lyra jolted. “Are you just going to sit there?”
“Uhm,” Lyra tried so hard to say something but the whole situation felt new to her.
“The document,” Aaron said calmly.
“Oh, right,” Lyra stood up and snatched the document from the table, she raised it slightly and faked a smile.
“Sign it,” Aaron tossed a pen in front of her.
“Wait, what? I haven't even read the content. How do I know I'm not signing my death sentence?” She said with a furrowed brow.
“Your opinion doesn't matter, just sign the damn papers,” there was a brief pause, “Unless, you want your family business to go bankrupt.”
“No way, that would be trouble. I can't risk Lily's treatment for anything, just sign the damn papers, Lyra. You'll be fine,” Lyra exhaled.
“Who's Lily?” Aaron squinted his eyes at her.
“W-What?” Lyra stuttered, “Nobody.” She reached for the pen and penned down her signature on the piece of paper.
Aaron smirked, how desperate can a woman be? They'll do anything for money, bitterness clear in his throat.
“But what does the paper say?” Lyra asked gently with her gaze low.
Aaron scoffed and a mischievous smirk danced around lips, “You don't get to leave.”
“What?” Lyra's eyes widened in disbelief, maybe her ears were playing tricks on her. What has she gotten herself into?
“You can't be serious, is this some sort of prison?” Lyra could feel her body shaking. This isn't happening,g, right? She planned to get a divorce after a year and now she just signed off her freedom. For goodness sake, Aaron is a hardened criminal and is now in a wheelchair. What if someone comes for them one day? Lyra’s legs shook like jelly and a trace of sweat formed on her forehead.
Well, he's kind of handsome though.
“Seeing you react that way only means one thing,” Aaron furrowed his brow at her. “You're all the same.”
“Excuse me,” Lyra cut in.
“Whatever just stay away from me and try not to touch anything,” he steered his wheelchair and settled in the corridor.
Now there was a thick silence in the room. What now? What is she supposed to do if the man she is married to doesn't even want her around? Why must everything be so difficult?
****
The moon clouded the sky and Lyra took a glimpse from the window. She was getting tired and needed some good night's rest.
Lyra didn't know if she should approach Aaron or just sleep on the couch. The man hadn't moved an inch from the corridor since she arrived. She craned her neck to see if he was already asleep but a cold glare sent chills down her spine. Aaron was still awake.
“s**t! Seriously? I don't know what's going on but I need to rest my head, it's been a long day already,” Lyra said out of the blue and gaped at her audacity. “Where is my room?” She said slowly and gulped down her saliva.
Aaron pointed at the room by the side and Lyra sighed in relief, she moved her eyes everywhere and her eyes went wide open.
“Wait, don't tell me it's just one bedroom in here? I'm screwed.”
- Writer
