Sophie POV:-

It's almost midnight and my stomach growled. My dried lips formed a thin line as I was starving and also in a desperate need of sleep but I was waiting for Christian. Seems like he forgot that there's a wife waiting for him.

But, Why am I waiting for him? I can eat alone too but somewhere in my heart, I don't want to. More like I can't since he expects me to have dinner with him.

I sighed and put my head on the dining table and closed my eyes.

I wonder why his eyes always flicker with compassion as if even if he wants to hurt me, he can't. Something is pulling him to not to do that. I find it funny, nothing can stop that cold guy, he can break me miserably any moment, there are no restrictions, he can do anything and can induce such fears in me that my vulnerable form will be deluged in them forever. The pity of his is just his wicked way to tear me apart, to make my soul burn in his malevolence.

I remained like that as I slowly drifted to sleep waiting for him.

My eyes slowly opened as I felt a hand around my waist as my back was firmly pressed against his hard chest. I pressed my cold fingers against themselves to calm myself. I turned my face and my lips brushed against his cheeks as my heart skipped a beat. My eyes widened for a second. Not liking this closeness, I removed his hands and got out of the bed.

Giving him a last cold look, I walked out of the room. Since my hunger is too much, I decided to have something for myself. I know he has eaten, why would he wait for me or bother to wake me?

I scoffed at my thoughts and made mac n cheese for myself. I was leaning on the counter, waiting for the cheese to melt so I could enjoy my meal. I closed my eyes and remained like that.

But then I felt someone's presence. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Christian leaning on the door-frame. Our eyes met as he looked at me with those pitch-black eyes. I averted my gaze and he walked closer.

My heart began to beat faster as he stood in front of me. I didn't dare to meet his lethal gaze as I stared at the floor. He put his hands on either side of me as I stilled in the trap of his arms. I released a shallow breath as he leaned in.

"What are you doing?" He asked in his usual deep voice. I curled my toes and bit my cheeks to lower the feeling of terror. Does he have to be intimidated every time?

"I am starving," I said, rolling my eyes off from him. His hand moved from the counter to my waist as he pulled me close, I gasped and put my hand in between, not wanting this feeling of repulsion. Our body met as the heat diverging from him made a shiver to emerge from me. Liking my horror, his one hand moved to my hairs and twirl his fingers in my hazel lock. I continued to shiver in his scary presence. Feeling extremely distressed that I can't even have a single moment of solace here. He leaned in and moved to my ears, "Are you going to eat alone?" He asked huskily but his demeanour is suggesting something else which I hate from the bottom of my heart.

"I am sure you have already eaten." I tried to say monotonously but failed as the convulsion of dread was visible in my voice.

"If I say I didn't, will you feed me?" He asked as I looked at him with pleading eyes. Please let me eat in relief. With those unfathomable eyes, he pinched my cheek and said before leaving,

"I am waiting for you in the dining hall."

I stood there dumbfound. What happened? I was perplexed by this. I remained motionless as I shook my head and regained my posture.

I walked out with two plates of mac n cheese as I served one to him and took a seat and began to eat mine.

He looked at me for a second as my attention was fixed on the food. He let out a sigh and began to eat his food. I sighed mentally, thanking he didn't force me to do what he said earlier.

As we were eating in the silence that always crushes me, he said,

"I didn't eat too." Taken aback but decided not to show it as I hummed and replied,

"I don't care.." His words were far too good to be believable, he doesn't care and there's no reason for him to starve himself. Unlike me, who has to eat with him.

I felt his sharp gaze but still not moving up, I tried to remain stoic but failed, letting an ominous chuckle, I shivered in ultimate terror upon hearing this terminal voice as he began to eat too.

After eating, we went to our room. I bit my lips, fearing his desires were not awakened. We entered as he closed the door behind him as I startled in dread. I turned and looked at him timidly. He noticed my distress and sighed. He put his hand on my shoulder as I let out a heavy pant.

"Sophie..." He called my name softly. I looked at him with my frightened eyes.

"You.. don't have to be like that all the time." He said, trying to reassure me. But I don't feel assured, I feel like he wants me to be terrified of him. Like he wants me to be afraid of him. Still, I gave him a hesitant nod. And how much a deceiver he can be as he leaned in and completed his sentence as it drowned me in apprehensions,

"Because I love evoking this myself." He pulled away and laid on the bed leaving me numb. Swallowing hard, I laid on my side. The moment I closed my eyes, He turned to me and smirked at my horrified form. Fearing the worst, I shut my eyes tightly and move my head to my side, preparing myself for the dreadful moment. I felt his lips brush against my skin as I shivered and bit my lips not to feel the pleasure given by his tender touch. I let out deep breaths as he kissed my neck and whispered,

"So pure..." Pure?! I am not pure anymore, I am defiled by you! I mentally shouted as I felt him pull away.

I let out a heave of relief as I turned again and felt his back against my back again and fell asleep with those feelings of aversions in my heart like always...

The next day, I was swinging my legs while sitting on the couch in the library because I am alone in the house and the devil has gone to work. His absence feels like a reprieve from chaos, A short-lived freedom to me.

After reading, I leaned back and closed my eyes and remembered him consoling me for the nightmare and later intimidating me about it. I just don't understand him. Why does he pity me? Why does he show little gestures that made me feel like he cares? When there isn't any love then why does he refrain himself? There's no need for him to confine himself.

He doesn't have to make things so complicated.

His eyes are always clouded with his lust and compassion. I wonder what lies behind those unfathomable clouds. As I was lost in my thoughts, mother called,

"Hello.," I said.

"Hello, love, how are you?" I always feel elated whenever I hear her voice.

"I am fine. And you?"

"Just missing you. When you are going to pay a visit?" She asked sadly.

"I don't know..." I trailed off.

"How Christian treat you?" She asked. I remained silent for a while and decided to speak the truth,

"I hate his touch. I hate him. Especially his compassion."

"Compassion? Well, I didn't expect you to say that." Mother was amused with it as it made my blood boil. "Were you listening? I hate everything about him." I said. I heard her sigh and immediately knew that she was going to give me a lecture.

"Look Sweetie, Not as a contract but as a wife, think what your obligations are. He needs you, only you can shine his dark world of hatred with love. If you back away, It will break you both. Remember this." I don't know what to say about it as I felt a flood of questions popping in my mind and I decided to release them,

"Who told you about the contract? Why do you sound like he is your son and you have known him for years?" There was a brief pause and she spoke up again,

"I read those papers when you weren't present at home. And what I said is based on the mere whim of knowing so little of his past."

"Mother.. he divorced her not she." I am even more perplexed. Does mother know him? Well, this is ridiculous, why would he be related to us?

"The depression of being alone, You can understand that." Why is she comparing him to my childhood where I seek attention from the Bastard. Her answer was very convincing but it's not convincing to me at all. I don't want to listen to anything in his favour.

"Okay mom, I'll talk to you later. Bye." I said.

"Bye .." She said and cut the call.

I turned my head to look at the time, it's still a while for Christian to come home.

I then came to the hall as I sat and leaned on the comfy sofa present in the empty hall. I emit a loud sigh to show my boredom. I heard a chuckle from Gwen, I looked at her and pouted.

"Do you know anything fun to do?" I asked.

"How about you watch a movie?" She suggested. I shook my head no.

"Then.. shopping?" I groaned and stood up.

"That's tiresome."

"Then you tell?" She said.

"I want to go and meet my mother.," I said looking away.

"Then do it.."

"I can't... I don't know about her address..because mother shifted to her new home just the day before my marriage.." She made an 'o' face and smiled, "Then ask Sir, he must know." I scoffed when I heard it. I'll ask my mother, I'll talk to her. I searched for my phone but it wasn't in my pocket.

"Gwen, can you get my phone from the library?" I asked as she nodded and left.

I puffed and turned around only to see the master of my fears entering. Our eyes met for a second and I looked away,

"Welcome home... you're early." I said as he smirked, "Too much to your dismay." I rolled my eyes as we stood there.

I remained like that as he stared at me. I lifted my gaze and met his, filled with amusement as usual.

None of us spoke a word as we both had a staring competition. I narrowed my eyes in irk as his smirk grew wider. I opened my mouth to say something but I heard a voice,

"Sophie! I found your phone." Gwen came calling me. We turned our head towards her when she saw Christian her happy expression was turned into horror. She began to quiver and my lips formed a thin line as my heart skipped a beat.

His stare was turned into a glare as he said slowly,

"Gwen, Call all the servants." Her terrified form nodded and left. I remained still due to the dread building inside of me. I can feel the thick tension he created in a few seconds.

After a few moments, all the servants came. They all stood in a line looking down. Strong chills were given to my weak form just by looking at his dominant form who was staring at the servants like a hunter.

As I was lost in frights, he pulled my arm and brought me closer. I let out a yelp as he spoke up in his deep commanding voice,

"Who is she?" He asked Samuel.

"Your wife, Sir." He said without looking up.

"What's her status in this house?" This time, she asked Ross.

"She is the Madam of this house." She said.

He let go of me and lastly, he turned his attention to Gwen who was at the verge of crying. "And how dare you to call her that informally?" He hissed at her.

I bit my lips feeling bad for her. She is not at fault and I can't let her go through his wrath for something she never did intentionally. Christian was about to shout at her but I held his arm, shut my eyes tightly and almost shouted,

"I told her to call me like that! I don't like being called formally. That's why I asked her, She is not at fault, I told her. Please forgive her. It's my fault." saying this in front of him and this tensed atmosphere is something I can consider a brave act. I am almost panting, I slowly opened my eyes. He was looking at me with a bewildered and angered look. My throat dried as I let go of his arm and held the hem of my dress as the terror consumed my body.

"Before calling her by her name ever again, remember the fact that she is my wife." He said taking a rapid step towards me as I took a step back. He raised his hand a little and I squeaked fearing he raised his hand to hit me but he didn't. He did it to dismiss all of them. They all left as only us were left in the empty hall and I know there's no hope to get out of this soul piercing gaze.

To avoid the worst, my trembling lips called him softly, "Christian.." I called his name because I know that it will lower this temper a little although I have to feel the repugnance of it. As expected, upon hearing his name on my lips- what I rarely do in the daytime, his previous amusement came. I took another step back but stumbled upon the sofa and fell on it. He swiftly put his hands on either side of me and continued to look at me with that minatory look. No matter what, I can never relax in his presence he is an epitome of intimidation.

"May I know why you don't like being called formally, my dearest wife?" He said with his lips curved upward wickedly giving me a dreadful feeling. I am anything but dearest to you!

"Coming from a middle-class life, this luxury is quite hard to adopt." I retorted.

"Now, now, You married me to go into that luxury life you are finding hard to adopt." He sneered.

"Our contract never states that I want this lavish life." I sneered back. He held my chin and let out a painfully slow laugh. "Of all your emotions, this is the most amusing one." He said and got away.

I abruptly stood up and was about to leave but he held my arm as my back was facing him.

"Do you know which emotion I love?" Before I could react he moved closer and whispered in my ear,

"That look of disgust and hate when you call my name over and over again while receiving that unwanted pleasure." A shiver went down my spine upon hearing what I never want to. My hairs stood on their edge as I ran away with my shaky form followed by his dark chuckle echoing through the empty hall causing me to fall deeper in those bottomless pits of despair...