Chapter 12 (Self-Evaluation)

Chapter 12 (Self-Evaluation)
"Huh?" Callie's green eyes gazed at Grayson's blue ones.

Grayson stared at Callie with such a condescending look, not trying to hide his dislike.

"You expose our secret to your friend, and then, you ask her to threaten me. If that's not blackmailing, I don't know what is," He said, his deep voice calm yet disturbing.

Callie sighed, "If only you understood things like normal people do, you'd realise that it wasn't blackmail; that was a friend sticking up for her friend. You would understand it, your heart is so full of ice that you can't even feel." She said quietly.

Grayson raised his brow at her, his eyes slowly roaming her body, "Why this?" He asked.

Callie frowned, "Why what?" She questioned.

They had just been talking about their situation and he was asking about something random.

"Your clothes, I'm sure there's something more presentable to wear," He said, his hand extending toward her.

"What?" Callie asked, pushing his hand away from her.

"I believe there are dresses, Callie. You're a wife, you should dress in a proper -"

Callie burst out laughing, "I'm sorry, medieval king, but I can't dress in the way you want. I wear only what's comfortable; I don't please anybody." She chuckled.

"However, I really suggest you treat me with respect or..." she gave him a mischievous look, "I'm telling your dear mother how you didn't show up for your own wedding." She whispered.

"Is that a threat," Grayson questioned.

"Try me and find out," She huffed and looked out of the window.

'She's not as easy as I thought,' Grayson thought, a dread and a delight.

He was delighted because she won't be easily bullied or pressured by his family to reveal the truth. He dreaded it because she might not be as malleable to him as he thought. He believed she might start to make extra demands from him, and if he refused, she would blackmail him.

He had to tread with caution around Callie, she might seem naive, but she was actually a mastermind.

For all he knew, she could have tricked him into marrying her just to end up blowing the whole thing up and publicly asking for a divorce, forcing him to share his wealth with her.

He didn't trust Callie. He needed to find something to hold against her, like the reason behind her desperate need for money. Whoever or whatever she was doing it for must be very important to her.

"Sir, we have arrived," The driver announced from the front.

Grayson turned his head and found Callie staring out of the window in awe.

"It's huge right?" He questioned her.

Callie slowly nodded as the car drove through the tall gates and into the large, clean compound.

The tall house stood beautifully in front of them, and unlike Grayson's mansion which looked intimidating, this looked quite welcoming, homely.

"This property is in my name, too. Plus many others across nations and countries," Grayson informed as the car rolled to a stop in front of the stairs.

Callie smiled, genuinely impressed. She faced Grayson with a small smile, "It must be awesome to have such wealth, huh?" She asked.

Grayson smirked, he knew she would get fascinated by his wealth, "Yeah, it is. I'm sure you're plotting on how you could get your hands on half of them." He sneered.

Callie paused, glancing at the driver to check if he was the one Grayson was speaking to. But the driver sat quietly, minding his own business as the car steamed.

Callie chuckled, "You know what?" She questioned Grayson as she pushed open the door, "I'm going to learn to overlook your narcissism and blocked head. Let's just stick to our sides of the deal. You're not someone who holds a normal conversation." She said and stepped her leg down on the ground.

She was about to leave the car when Grayson held her elbow, "Hey." He spoke calmly.

Callie furrowed her brows, turning her face to look at Grayson, "What do you want, Grayson?" She questioned.

"Baby," Grayson said.

Callie's eyes widened in shock, "What's gotten into you? What do you mean baby?" She asked, taking her hand away from him.

Grayson scoffed, "Don't get ahead of yourself. You will address me as that, and I, you." He instructed.

"It's just a front, the moment we're out of my mother's or my cousin's view, you will dispose of that endearment from your mouth. Do you understand?" He raised a questioning brow at her.

Callie nodded, "I understand." She replied and slid out of the car.

"Park the car," Grayson said to the driver as he quickly left the car.

He walked over to Callie, who was standing in front of the car and staring at the house.

"Come on-wait," he grabbed Callie's hand as she immediately started to walk up the stairs without waiting for him.

Callie sighed, exasperated, "Can we just go?" She turned to frown at him.

Grayson moved up the stairs to face her, "Yes, my dear wife. Please, behave." He whispered and gently hooked her arm around his.

Callie wanted to frown so bad, but she didn't. She cleared her throat and followed Grayson inside the open door.

She hated men like Grayson, not because he was rich, but because he was arrogant, proud, and insulting.

He was every characteristic she hated in a man, a huge red flag. Take away his hot looks and she would never have agreed to the marriage deal.

Callie was drawn out of her thoughts as they walked into a cleaner, white tiled passage which arched into a spacious modern living room.

Maids in modest uniforms stood at the corner, as if they were waiting to be called on.

"Someone finally showed up," A young man with blonde hair and blue eyes spoke from a long, white sofa, a beautiful, slim lady sitting beside him with similar eye colour.

Callie slowed her steps, feeling a moment of self-evaluation as she reminded herself that she didn't belong here. Everyone looked so in place, sophisticated and polished.

She was starting to feel like she might just have disregarded she and Grayson's status, trying to tell herself that it didn't matter as long as they weren't really together.

It mattered, she wanted to leave.

She didn't realise she had paused her steps until Grayson gently leaned in and whispered in her ear

"Relax, it'll just be a minute," Grayson whispered.