Chapter 13: FIONA

I'm sure he took a shower in another bathroom after he intimidated me in his bathroom. I found him dressed when he came down to the dining room table. He was wearing a black shirt with two buttons left open and black pants. All black, and boring as usual.

Joshua didn’t say anything as I pulled out a chair and sat down beside him. He took the main seat for the head of the family at the long dining table that could accommodate up to thirty people at once. And now it was just the two of us here, trapped in a tense silence.

Sophia came in shortly after I landed my butt on the softest chair I’ve ever sat on. She silently set the dinner in front of us, then hurriedly left the dining room after all her tasks were done.

I must admit that the dinner was very delicious. The roast duck was tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. The shrimp salad was very fresh. It was safe to say that all of the food was made with the best quality ingredients. I ate heartily despite having just been molested in the bathroom. I wasn’t going to give Joshua the satisfaction of successfully intimidating me. I was sure he was hoping I would show up in the dining room with a scared pale face and trembling body, instead of a proud face with my chin up, and eat heartily at his dining table.

“Do you like the food?”

“Yes. It’s very good.”

“Eat a lot. You’re so tiny.”

“It’s not me who’s tiny, it’s you who’s too big. You’re like a giant when you stand next to me.”

The first conversation at the dining table was weird, but it was better than discussing what happened in the bathroom.

“It’s a genetic passed down from my ancestors. All my family members have big postures.”

“Even the women?”

“Yeah, but you’ll never see them. There are no women left in my family. You’re the only woman in the Lident clan now. The first petite Lident woman. My grandmother was the only woman in my family before she died of illness ten years ago.”

I didn’t say anything. If my mother were still here, she would probably scold me for not showing sympathy for his loss. Well, he didn’t even do the same for me. So I guess I didn’t need to either.

Joshua didn’t say anything after that. Dinner continued in silence and ended with a delicious mango pudding. I was very satisfied with tonight’s dinner. At least, this food managed to improve my mood which had been messed up by Joshua’s actions.

“More wine, Ma’am?”

“Yes, please.”

Bertha filled my glass for the third time. Joshua watched me as I took a sip of my wine. Fuck what was on his mind. I knew the way I drank my wine was not classy at all. I drank it like I was drinking cheap beer in a seedy bar on the outskirts of town. After yesterday's bloodbath and what happened in the bathroom an hour ago, I just wanted to get drunk. Well, I guess I'll have to celebrate my wedding by getting drunk. That would make my wedding perfect.

“Bertha, please refill my glass.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“No, you’ve had enough wine tonight.”

Joshua snatched the crystal glass from my hand and drained the contents before I could snatch it from him.

“What are you doing? That’s mine.”

“Your face is red. You’re drunk.”

“Because of the wine? Seriously. I’m not drunk at all,” I snorted.

“You’re just looking for an excuse to take the wine from me.”

Joshua motioned for Bertha to take the wine away from the table. I snorted in annoyance at all his dictatorship.

“Why does everything have to be according to your orders? Even I live here because of your orders.”

“Because I am responsible for you and everyone here.”

“You know, you make me sick.”

I stood up. The chair squeaked loudly as I pushed it back. My steps were a little unsteady as I walked out of the dining room. Maybe Joshua was right, I was a little drunk after a few glasses of wine.

I am a terrible drinker.

“Akkh…”

“Careful.”

Joshua caught my elbow as I almost tripped near the stairs. I jerked my elbow away from him, then walked up the stairs one by one. My legs shook with each step I took. Joshua must have noticed because soon I found myself in his arms. He carried me like I was a very weak and fragile baby.

“You are too drunk to walk up these stairs.”

“No, I am not drunk.”

Even so, I did not try to get down from his arms. My head was dizzy and everything in the room seemed to be spinning in my eyes.

“Stubborn. I don’t want your blood staining my floor if you fall down the stairs.”

“I won’t die easily. Not in your house or by your hands.”

I poked his chest with my index finger. It was hard and firm. I wondered how long it took him to get all those muscles. He was hard, but he was warm. I rested my head on his chest and let out a soft sigh as I found a comfortable position. Travis' chest probably wouldn't have felt this comfortable since he didn't have a muscular chest like Joshua. But Travis was tall and had broad shoulders. I loved leaning on his strong shoulders. He was the first man who managed to capture my whole heart. There was no way I would ever fall in love with another man like I fell in love with Travis. He was everything to me. I would only give my virginity to him because he was the only man who deserved it.

“Travis...”

I hoped I could meet him on campus tomorrow. I couldn’t wait to tell him all the horrors that had befallen me. And I hoped he would have a solution to help me get out of this horrible hell.

“Are you sleeping?”

“No. I’m not sleeping.”

My eyes opened as Joshua gently laid me down on the bed. His face was all that filled my vision. At this close distance, I could see all his facial features more clearly. He had a pair of thick brown eyebrows, dark blue eyes with gray spots around his eye circles. He had a strong jawline, a sharp nose, and full lips that looked supple.

I tried to touch his lips slowly. He just stayed still and didn't remove my hand from his lips. I rubbed the surface of his lips gently.

"Why do your lips feel so soft even though you like to say rude things? This is not fair."

"Nothing is fair in this world."

My body trembled as his lips kissed my fingers that explored his lips. He was so warm and soft. His lustful expression was only focused on me as he used his lips to caress my fingers.

God. I must be so drunk if I think he's fucking hot.

I couldn't help but moan as his tongue participated in caressing my fingers. I found it fucking hot, instead of feeling disgusted. His tongue sent tingles of pleasure through my body all the way to my core. My panties were soaked. This was the first time a man had touched me this intimately. Travis had never even done it before because he knew I only wanted to do it after we were engaged.

“Has any other man ever touched you like this?”

“Why? You want to play being a possessive husband, huh?”

Joshua’s chest pressed me to the bed. His thighs clamped my hips and the head of his belt pressed against my sensitive core. My back arched under his grip. This was too much for me, who had never been touched by any man.

“I’m not playing being a possessive husband because I’ve been possessive since birth. No one should touch what’s mine.”

“I’m not yours.”

I groaned as Joshua closed the distance between us and his lips landed on mine. This was our second kiss and I wished I had bitten his lips like our first, instead of enjoying it. But this felt different from the first kiss, which was full of anger and force. This kiss was softer and there was no anger in it. Joshua’s lips moved slowly over mine before he slipped his tongue into my mouth. His tongue found mine and he flicked it.

I groaned in between our kisses. I had to stop this. This was wrong. But as much as I wanted to stop this kiss, my lips wouldn’t let go. My tongue moved with his inside my mouth, and we wrestled wildly.

“He’s been waiting a goddamn long time for this.”

My breath hitched at the feeling of something hard between his thighs. It grew thicker through his pants as he rubbed against mine.

My face felt like it had just been splashed with cold water and I regained all my senses. I panicked as Joshua sank his lips into the crook of my neck. I pushed his shoulders hard and struggled under my grip.

“Fuck. Let me go.”

Joshua didn’t budge.

I smacked his back hard, and used all my strength to push him away from me.

“You’re disgusting. Let me go!”

“What the fuck happened to you?” Joshua growled above me. Anger began to surround his entire body.

“You disgusting bastard. You used a drunk woman to satisfy your animal lust.”

I slapped him hard as Joshua went to kiss me again. His head snapped back. I quickly moved away from him as soon as I got the chance to escape.

Joshua looked angry, shocked, and humiliated. But I didn’t care what he was feeling because he deserved it.

“Get away from me. Don’t ever touch me.”

“I know you like it,” he hissed.

“No. I was drunk, and you are a disgusting man who uses a drunk woman to satisfy your animal lust.”

“I am your husband. I have the right to touch you.”

“No. The marriage is invalid. You pointed a gun at my ribs and you threatened me. You will never be my husband even if you marry me.”

“Fuck!”

I closed my eyes tightly as Joshua punched the headboard next to my head hard. I hugged my knees tightly as I thought his next punch would land on my face. My whole body was shaking and my skin was so cold. I only opened my eyes when I felt Joshua get off the bed. Curses flew out of his mouth as he walked out of this room and slammed the door hard.

Poor door.

Poor thing

my life was even more miserable because I was trapped in a marriage with a cruel and evil man like him.