Chapter 1

*RENEE*

*You're such a prude,we've been together for more than a year yet you won't let me touch you.You don't have the right to blame me for having an affair with your sister!*

Those words reverberated in my head over and over again.

I had been with Andrew King for almost a year.Our union had started off as a blind date arranged by my parents.

My parents badly wanted to be connected to the King family,the wealthiest and most powerful family in Chicago.

I had found Andrew likable but I really didn't feel that deep spontaneous love for him but my parents had warned me that I must be with him and I must get married to him.We had been engaged and were to be married soon,just for me to walk in on him having sex with my sister.

Granted,I had never done more with Andrew other than kissing but I felt he understood that I had wanted to wait until marriage.I genuinely felt that maybe then,I would fall deeply for him.

Even if I didn't love him,his betrayal still hurt a great deal and he had the nerves to tell me to overlook what I saw.

He fucking had the nerves to tell me to think of his affair as nothing.

I might not be a perfect woman but I knew my worth.I had a great self-esteem and would never settle for less.

I had bluntly told Andrew that it was over between us.I didn't want to have anything to do with him ever again.

But the pain of the break up was still very fresh in my heart.Especially because I felt that Andrew was going to save me from the Hudsons.

I leaned against the window,devastatingly.I was in a cab when I caught sight of a club.

I sat up and quickly told the driver to pull over.I just wanted to distract myself.Do anything to get over this pain.

I hurried up to the entrance but I was stopped by two bouncers.

"The club's having a mask party tonight.Everyone has to be on masks."They informed me.

Sighing,I bought a mask by the side,put it on and walked into the club.

I immediately went to the counter where I sat and ordered some alcoholic drinks.

I downed bottles after bottles,wanting to drink my sorrows away.

Vaguely,I noticed a man sitting beside me.

He was also on a mask and he was elegantly sipping his glass of wine.

My alcohol-filled senses took notice of how gorgeous he looked in his suit.I instantly had a feeling that he must have a very handsome face.

As I continued to gush over him,I suddenly longed to be in a man's arms.

In all my twenty-two years of life,this was the most I had craved intimacy.

Without thinking twice,not that I would have been able to thick twice in my alcohol filled brain,I got off my chair and staggered closer to him.

"Hello there."I purred."Wanna spend the night with me?"

The man only stared at me for a second and to my surprise,he nodded.

*****************

Few minutes later found us walking into an hotel room.

As the man turned on the light,I closed the distance between us,stood on my toes and kissed him.He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me back, passionately.

As he took nibbles after nibbles of my lips,I gasped.

"Should…should we take our masks off?"I stuttered.

I had never done this before,I didn't know if I’d like to leave my mask on or off.

The man moved back a bit and took my mask off.

I could see his eyes dilate behind his mask.

I expected him to take off his mask too but he suddenly asked.

"What are you doing here?"

I frowned, confused.

Haven't we already established why we were both here?

"Are you always spreading your legs for every guy at the bar?" The man lashed out at me again.

I felt sure this man must be insane; what right did he have to judge me?

I glanced at his abs, admitting a sheer desire between my thighs as I remembered the hardness against me few seconds ago. I wanted him. It was a feeling Andrew had never sparked in me,but that wasn't a reason for him to insult me!

I didn't understand what I had gotten myself into!

“What about you?!Don’t you stick your dick out for every woman at the bar? You think you're a man, so you think you're noble?!" My desire vanished completely; how had I encountered such a chauvinistic man?!

I thought I’d better leave.

"I'll book you a ride. Leave as soon as it gets here!" the man announced as he opened his ride-hailing app.

I didn't refuse; I immediately left the room. He owed me the fare for insulting me! I was so angry I forgot to demand an apology!

***********

*MARCELO*

I stood by the window as I watched Renee Hudson get into the cab I had booked.

Thank Goodness I had removed her mask.

I almost had sex with my cousin's fiancee.I had been furious earlier and had thought that she might have planned to seduce me.

But I knew that couldn't be the case.She didn't know that it was me.And I was glad I didn't take off my mask.Else,she would have discovered my secret.

I hoped to never see her again. At that moment, my phone rang, and the butler's voice came through the receiver.

"Master, your mother is planning on getting you a wife."

I shut my eyes,briefly.Doesn’t that woman ever get tired of trying to get me married?

“Pay no mind to her.”I snapped and hung up.

Chapter 2

*RENEE*

When I got home that evening,I found my parents and my sister,Catherine seated on the couch,it seemed as if they were waiting for me.

My father,Rocco stood up to his feet.

"Catherine just told us that you found out about her involvement with Andrew."

I was stunned."So you all knew she was having an affair with Andrew?"

"Well,they both seem to like each other.It's only natural they got together."

That made me speechless.I knew the Hudsons never took my side but this was the height of it all.

"What about me?"

"We have other plans for you,Renee."

They always had other plans for me and that was why I badly wanted to escape from their hold.

“Jessica King is searching for a wife for her son,the prize money could change our life forever."

"What…what are you saying?"

"You are going to marry Marcelo King."

I almost laughed at that."Marcelo is Andrew's cousin.I was Andrew's fiancee until few hours ago and now you want me to be the wife of his cousin?!"

"Yes.I already spoke to Jessica.I told her you and Andrew ended things and she said she's okay with it as long as you are capable of taking care of her son."

"Why should it be me who has to marry Marcelo?!What about Catherine?!"

"Oh shut up!"My mother,Grace yelled as she stood up to her feet."You would have been dead if it wasn't for us!And now you expect my daughter to marry a cripple when you are available?!”

Tears pricked my eyes.

This was the saddest part of it all.I wasn't related to the Hudsons.I didn't even know who my birth family was.

Grace and Rocco only told me that they found me close to their home when I was a baby and they know nothing about me.

I had tried to find my biological family on my own but they were no clues and no answers.The Hudsons was the only family I knew but they never treated me as family.

Sometimes,I wondered why they even took me in.

Grace moved closer to me."If you can't do this for anyone.Then do it for nana.We need money to pay for her medications to keep her alive.You know that if things were up to us,we'd have stopped funding her medication,she's old anyway and it's time she dies…"

"Don't you dare say that!"I yelled,tearfully.

Nana had been the family's housekeeper for years.She had fallen sick a year ago.Nana was the only person who had ever showed me genuine love.She had made my childhood bearable as she often protected me from the Hudson's abuse.

My fist clenched.

Maybe this wasn't a bad idea afterall,this could give me the freedom I needed from the Hudsons,I could also foot Nana's medical bills.

I just had to take care of a cripple,right?

"Fine,I will marry Marcelo King."

******************

And that was how I found myself in a wedding dress.

My groom wouldn't be present at the small wedding because strangely enough,he wasn't informed that there was going to be a wedding.

His mother had arranged everything,she had even found a way to get his original signature to be stamped on the wedding certificate.

My phone rang out and I saw that it was Andrew calling.I ignored the call but he sent a text.

Andrew:I heard you're going to marry Marcelo.Is this perhaps your revenge against me?It's very laughable,Renee.That man can barely function.

I deleted the text,immediately.I had never imagined myself ever marrying a cripple but I had no choice.

At the very least,the Hudsons had no control of me anymore.

After the wedding certificates had been signed,I was sent off to Marcelo's mansion.

I tried not to fidget as I sat on the back seat of the car.I sat up when she saw big gates opening,automatically.

As the car drove into the mansion,I looked out the window.Everywhere looked so spooky and unnerving.

When I watched movies on TV,the billionaires' houses were always littered with workers.

I took a deep calming breath as the car pulled over in front of the mansion.

I saw a man walked out the mansion and opened the door for me.

"Welcome,Mrs King."

Mrs King.

When I had thought about being Mrs King before,I had thought I’d be married to Andrew.I never imagined marrying his cousin.

I wordlessly followed the man into the house.I had heard a lot about Marcelo King.

It was said that he had a temper of a demon which only became worse after he became crippled.

"This is your room.I'm the butler,I'm Chad."The man introduced.

"Renee."I replied."Where is my hu…I mean,where is Marcelo?"

I didn't know if I should see him as my husband yet since this was a marriage he didn't even know of.

The butler didn't reply to that but instead walked away.

I didn't know what to do with myself after that.I changed out of the wedding dress and remained in my bedroom.

I tried to get some sleep but sleep eluded me.

I just wanted to know what my fate would be like with this husband of mine.

How was he going to react to his sudden bride?

Chapter 3

*RENEE*

In the evening,I couldn't bear being in my room any longer so I decided to take a tour around the house.Afterall,I’d be living here so it was best I get familiar with the environment.

I realized that the house was huge and more complex than I thought.

I felt so relieved when I could finally locate the kitchen.I was staving.

I had not eaten all day.I quickly opened the refrigerator and found some fruits.I took them out and also a bottle of yogurt.

Hearing loud and powerful food steps,I turned around;

I was startled when I saw a man striding into the kitchen.I gulped,taking in his physique.He was so tall and muscular.And his face,I never thought anyone could look so handsome.

He was breathtaking.He stopped on his tracks and let out.

"You're not one of the maids."

And then I saw his eyes widened,he looked shocked to see me.

Those eyes suddenly looked familiar.And his raspy voice too.

"What are you doing here?"

I didn't know who to think of this man as.He was dressed,casually.

Was he a friend of Marcelo?

"I'm Marcelo's wife.Who are you?"

The man then burst into laughter.Suddenly,the laughter seized and he yelled."Get out!"

I found him annoying and rude.

Who was he to tell me to get out?

"I just told you who I am.You're being so rude."

*****

*MARCELO*

"Rude?!"I moved towards her,furiously.

Now she has succeeded in finding out my secret.

Was this perhaps her plan?

Why was she onto me?

First at the club?Now at my house?!

Renee moved away from me but she wasn't fast enough.

I seized her by the throat,pushing her against the wall.

She was so going to regret this!

"Who let you in?!"

***********

*RENEE*

“Le…let go of me!"I choked out.

There were rarely any pictures of Marcelo King online so the only way I thought I could recognize him was seeing him on a wheelchair since everyone knew he was crippled.

But why was this man acting like he owned this house?

"Tell me who let you into my house!"He thundered.

I might not have been the smartest in school but I wasn’t dumb.This could only confirm one thing.

"You…you're Marcelo King?"My eyes moved down to his legs.

He was standing, perfectly.

He had literally walked into this kitchen himself.

Marcelo roughly let go of me and I started to cough.

"I do not know what is it that you want of if Andrew sent you here but you messed with the wrong person."

I knew that he was definitely thinking of silencing me since I just found out the truth of his legs now.

Even if I had so many questions but this wasn’t the time to ask any questions,I had to get him to calm down and not hurt me.

"I understand why you're like this since I was previously engaged to your cousin but I have ended things with him.Not that it's going to make things less weird,but as of today,I'm your legal wife."

"A legal wife.Did you marry yourself?Because I can not recall marrying you!"

"I'm not lying,your mother didn't tell you because…"

Without waiting for me to explain further,he yelled.

"Hawk!Bones!"

God,what a temper!

Within seconds,two bodyguards ran into the kitchen.

"Throw her outside and release the dogs."

"Marcelo…I…I'm not lying,and if it's about your legs,I won't say anything."I begged,frantically.

"Renee,if you can survive being outside with my dogs,then I'll try to see you as Mrs King."

"Let go of me.Don't touch me!This isn't fair!Marcelo!"I yelled as I was dragged away.

*******

*MARCELO*

My wife indeed.

The nerves of that woman!

Chad must have heard the commotion as he rushed up to me.

"Mr King,you can't…"

"I can't what?Were you the one who let her in?!"I thundered.

Chad sighed and then handed me a marriage certificate.

I was stunned to find my signature on it.

“My mother went too fucking far this time."My fingers clenched around the documents.

"She's just worried about you.You're almost in your mid-thirties.She said she wishes to brighten the darkness around you."

"There is no darkness!And getting me my cousin's fiancee is far from brightening anything!"

"Sir Andrew and her are no longer together."

"I do not care and I don't want any woman that was once Andrew's!"I barked."Plus,since no one gave me a heads up that there was a stranger in my house,she knows about my legs so I have to take care of her!"

"Mr King…"

"And this should be the last time you plot with my mom and send me someone like her.I do not need anyone!"

"Your…"

"Release the dogs,Chad!"

Chapter 4

*RENEE*

The guards pushed me out the door and slammed the door on my face.

“Marcelo…Marcelo!”I called,knocking hard on the door.”Marcelo,I am your wife.You can’t treat me like this!Open the door!”I yelled.

Seeing that wasn’t working,I decided to beg.

“Marcelo,please.I know this seem pretty sudden to you but we can work things out.Just let me in,I’m begging...”I paused when I heard barking sounds.

I recalled that he had told the guards to release the dogs.

What dogs?

I looked towards the direction of the sound to see two dogs running towards me.

If I hadn’t previously heard that they were dogs,I would’ve called them wolves, big ferocious wolves.

I broke into a run,running as fast as my legs could take me.

No.

I wasn’t ready to die.

I was just twenty-two.

My life might’ve taken different twists and turns that I never wanted.

Still,I didn’t want to die.

I believe that there could still be brighter days ahead of me.

I ran to the courtyard of the house.I could still hear them barking and charging towards me.

It seemed as if they’d rip me to pieces if they caught sight of me.

I saw what looked like a small cottage not far away and I ran into it and slammed the door shut.

I quickly ran to the windows and closed it.

To my dismay,there was a push on the door as if the dogs were trying to break in.

Seriously?

Were they trained to murder people?

Panic filled me as I looked around and saw a table.

I hurried towards it and pushed it in front of the door.

The barking continued outside while I sat on the floor,trying to catch my breath.

I was trembling and I felt so scared.

I was in a dark room.This place was dirty as if it was abandoned.

The windows were old and I was scared that the dogs might break through it.

I moved against the wall and hugged my knees.As I sat there,I tried to murmur encouraging words to myself.

I would survive. I have to.

I have no idea how much time had passed but the barking stopped.I didn’t know if the dogs were still outside of if they had been sent to their cages.

But I didn’t want to find out so I continued sitting there.

I flinched when I heard a knock on the door.

Are dogs able to knock now?

I swallowed and said nothing.

“I know you’re in there,Mrs King.”

My eyes widened.

It was the butler’s voice.

Had he come to send me?

“Are the dogs gone?”I asked,anxiously.

“Mr King wants me to take you home now.”

I frowned.”Home?”

“To your parents’ house.”

He was sending me back?

Back to the Hudsons?

I imagined what that was going to be like.

Grace and Rocco were going to more than abuse me for failing to stay married to Marcelo.

And Nana.

Oh Nana.

I had been the one begging them and being super obedient to them so they could continue with her treatment.

But if I go back home now,they would instantly stop it.

Lord knows what they are going to do to me now.

I didn’t want to go back.

“What if I don’t want to go back?

“You have to.You can not possibly spend the night in there,ma’am.It gets really cold at night in this part of the estate.Also,Mr King said it’s either you go home right now and he’ll keep the dogs out all night.”

I swallowed.

I guess I was spending the night in here.

But was I really ready for this kind of life?

This man literally has no heart.

He released wild dogs on me while knowing that they could hurt me.

What if he does worse things to me if I stubbornly insist to stay married to him?

I sat back down.

What choice do I even have?

I guess I just have to try not to get killed by that mysterious and dangerous man.

“I am Mrs King,Chad.I’m going nowhere.”I replied,loudly.

And that was how I spend the night in that dark room,shivering all through.

***********

I have no idea when I finally managed to sleep through the unbearable cold of that night but I awoke to the door opening.

I quickly stood up to my feet,alarmed when I saw two men pushing the table aside.

Were they bringing the dogs in here?

I frowned when I saw a wheelchair roll in and sitting on it was Marcelo.

I felt like punching him.

He looked relaxed as he gazed at me.

“Were you expecting a corpse,Mr King,sorry to disappoint you.”I snapped.

He smirked.”Hmm,what am I going to do with you?”

I walked closer to him.”Well,I can give you an idea.Start treating me as your wife!You said you would if I survive the night.”I reminded.

I was acting tough but I was genuinely terrified of him and scared that he might stand up and kill me himself.

But I felt acting tough would reduce the chances of me being killed.

He rubbed his temper.”Are you that desperate to be my wife,Renee?It’s amusing.”

I looked away from him.

“Well then,I am a man of my words so I won’t take it back but I hope you are in tune with everything that has to do with being my wife.I especially would like to see how my wife performs in bird.”

I swallowed.

In bed?

That was part of the duties of a wife,wasn’t it?

I shouldn’t be so shocked but I was.

I was upset about having my first time with this man.

Damn it!

That guy at the club should have just taken me instead of insulting me!

“In bed,you’ll be in control,given my disability.”He continued.

My lips parted as I eyed him.

Disability indeed.

Why was he even pretending to be crippled?

And he seemed to be really good at him.

“You’re not answering?Does that mean you do not want to be my wife anymore?”There was mockery in his tone.

I swallowed.”I would do anything you want,Mr King.”

He scoffed.”Anything?You’re more despicable than I thought.”

It was at the tip of my tongue to insult him too but I held myself back.

I do not want to be put in that terrifying situation as last night.

“So…does this mean you would not send me back to my parents’ house?”I asked,tentatively.

I needed to be sure.

“We’ll see about that.”Anf then,he wheeled away.

I walked out of the room and suddenly felt dizzy.

I bent down a bit trying to get a hold of myself but I felt so weak.

Was it the scare of last night?

I felt really hungry too.

I lost my equilibrium and fell to the ground and then,darkness envelop me.

************

When my eyes opened again,I found myself lying on a bed.I closed my eyes for a moment feeling so confused.

When I opened them again,I looked around to see that I was in the room Chad had brought me to yesterday.

An IV drip was connected to my hand.I realized that I had fainted earlier.

Sighing,I flung the blankets aside because I was sweating profusing.

I took a deep calming breath trying to think of the way forward for me.I had no idea what the future held for me or what being married to Marcelo would do to me but I knew I had to be careful.

I couldn’t afford to offend him so I had to ignore his disability.I had to pretend he was really disabled and not ask any questions.Curiosity kills the cat and it might kill me if I do not thread with caution around him.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Are you awake,Mrs King?”

It was Chad.

“Yes.”I croaked out.

“Mr King wants to see you.”

Oh God.

What now?

Chapter 5

*RENEE*

“Do I really need to go see him?I’m on an IV drip.”I let out.

“I think the drip bag should be empty now.”Chad replied as he walked into the room.

I sighed as he confirmed that it was indeed empty.

Chad disconnected it and repeated.

“Mr King wants to see you urgently.”

Taking a deep breath,I sat up.It’s not like I could avoid him anytime I wanted to.

He was my husband.

I got off the bed and followed Chad downstairs.

I found Marcelo seated on his wheel chair.

The luggage I had come with was in the center of the living room and my stuff were scattered all over the ground.I hadn’t had time to unpack but what was this?

“Why did you go through my things?”I asked him.

Chad moved closer to me and explained.

“Mr King is not used to people around him,as you might’ve noticed,he is very skeptical about as you were previously engaged to his cousin so we had to search your things and…”

Before Chad could complete that,Marcelo threw something at me.

It was a small bag.

“You really are even more despicable than I thought.”

I frowned as I opened the bag.I saw a lot of small bottle of pills.I didn’t even know what the pills were,I had to read the label of each to know.

Some were aphrodisiacs,some were made to help with getting pregnant on time while some were potency-enhancing pills.

I swallowed hard.

How did this get into my luggage?

“You are so eagered to birth my child already.Is that your plan?You agreed to marry me because I’m the wealthiest man of the King family.You married me even while you obviously love Andrew.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”I slammed back at him, aggrieved.

“That box should tell you what I’m talking about.The box you had brought into my house,the box of your memories with Andrew.”He sneered.

My heart raced as I approached the box for a clearer view.

I opened it to see that there were a lot photos of me and Andrew,it felt as if we had a beautiful love story when in fact,Andrew and I never went out of a date,not even once.These photos were clearly fabricated,photoshopped!

What was going on?

I looked at more items at the box,there was heart shaped necklaces and a bracelet, there were even love letters.

“Did you seriously take me for a fool?Oh,because you heard I was crippled, you thought I could be easily manipulated,I know women like you,I’ve seen a lot like you and you’re so going to regret having the nerve to become my wife!”

I shakily stared at his cold, dispassionate eyes.

Even if this was a loveless marriage,I knew that this keepsakes was an insult to Marcelo,it was something no man would easily stomach.

“I didn’t bring any of this,I swear.Andrew and I were never…”

I paused knowing that he was never going to believe me.

Any explanation would seem like a lie and feeble excuse.

I swallowed hard and let out.”I’m sorry.”

“You are not going to last long in this house.”With that,he rode his wheelchair away.

I stared at the stuff found in my luggage trying to comprehend how it got there.

And that I recalled the night when I was packing up.

When I was done,I had gone to use the bathroom.But when I came back,I saw Catherine leaving my bedroom.

I hadn’t thought much of it because I was simply glad I was leaving that house.

So this was what she came to do?!

Catherine had always been jealous us me since we were small.

I always wondered what was there to be jealous of.

She had everything while I had nothing.

She was always given everything but once she sees me with the smallest of all things,she would want it as well.

She was not just jealous,she was purely evil to me.

That was why I wasn’t too surprised when I saw her with Andrew.

But she clearly doesn’t want Marcelo!

So why would she do this to me?

I didn’t need to think too much of the answer.She clearly doesn’t want me to live a peaceful life no matter where I go.

She wanted Marcelo to loathe me,to think of me as a gold digger and she had indeed succeeded.

I guess there was no way me and Marcelo would ever get along.

*************

Days passed and I didn’t see Marcelo even if we live in the same house.It was as if he couldn’t stand the sight of me so he did everything not to cross paths with me.

I tried to think of it as the best though.At least, he’s not hurting me,physically.

One morning,my cellphone rang out.

It was Sarah,my closest friend.

“Hey, Sarah.”I began,as I answered the phone.

“Renee,things are not looking good.Catherine sabotaged the projects you were working on.They’ve brought in a new stylist.”As a stylist,I often worked in the same circle as Catherine and she had an habit of messing with my business.

Why can she just leave me alone?!

“I’ll look into you.”

Sarah was quiet for a moment before she drawled.

“So…you haven’t given me any update on your sudden marriage?How are you doing?Is Marcelo King everything the media says he is?”

I sighed,heavily as I walked out of my bedroom.I was still on the phone.I just wanted to go downstairs and get a drink.

“He is and worst.He’s so cruel and a total douche…”I paused on the stairs while I saw someone sitting on a couch in the living room.

My skin was littered with goosebumps when he looked my way.

It was Marcelo.

He was clad in a black suit and he looked so impeccably handsome.

He slung me a cold glance and then looked away.

I swallowed the thick lump in my throat.

Did he hear me insulting him on the phone to someone else?

Oh God.

I shouldn’t be doing anything to make him hate me more than he already does.

“I’ll call you later,”Sarah,sigh that, I hung up.

I thought about explaining myself to him.I could lie and say that I wasn’t talking about him just now.

Just as I was summoning up the courage to face him,I watched him stand up to his feet and headed for the door.

Oh boy,he was so tall and so very handsome.I will never understand why he needs to pretend to be crippled.

I never thought I could find a man’s walk so attractive.