Courage is grace
under pressure.
-anonymous.

•••

I woke up the next morning curled up on a couch in one of the empty rooms upstairs.

I stretched my body rubbing by eyes.

My heart was heavy with guilt, I wanted to apologize to him for what I had said. I didn't mean a single word, they were just a reflex to his actions. But I didn't know how to confront him. I was scared. Shitless.

How did I get so unlucky?
I chuckled bitterly at myself.

Fate, I thought closing my eyes again. I wanted to fall asleep again but instead my sleepy eyes scanned the room adjusting themselves to the sunlight coming from the window.

It was simply lifeless. It seemed like nobody had used it in a while. The walls were plain white, the windows were bare,without any curtains. The room smelled of paint and wood and of course, the signature smell of alcohol and smoke that surrounded the whole house.

I walked to the attached bathroom and splashed some water on my face. I looked around in the cabinet for a toothbrush but as unfortunate as I was, I didn't find it, but I did find toothpaste.

Tying my hair up in a messy bun, I squirted some toothpaste on my finger and rubbed it against my teeth. Ugh.

It felt ridiculous. I've never done it before but I had to clean up before facing Asher.

I was reluctant about leaving him yesterday. I tried to apologise again but as he took a step towards me, I knew it was no longer safe to stay around him. I fled up the steps immediately and locked myself in the first room I saw.

After cleaning my mouth. I tried to straighten my dress. My chest was hurting because of my extra small bra I had on which was pinned and kept in place with a safety pin. Wasting my money on things like lingerie was always the last thing on my mind. I adjusted my bra, my breasts were literally popping out for the world to stare. God, what was happening with me? I ran a hand on my dress, straightening the creases and walked out of the bathroom.

Bare foot, I slowly and very cautiously started moving down the stair. I made sure not to make any noises, I did not want to wake the beast up, atleast for sometime.

I huffed in relief when I didn't find any figure looming around. But still my heart thudded loudly it was partly because of being in a new place, which was expensive and I didn't want to break anything, I was already in trouble, I didn't wish for more.

I walked in the kitchen and headed in the direction of the fridge.

In a blink of an eye, I found myself tumbling forward. My eyes widen in utter shock while a loud squeal escaped my lips.  what the hell! I lost my balance as my foot got stuck on something. Shit! I landed straight face first and my knee hit the ground really hard.  I groaned scowling at my bad luck.

What the hell was that!?

Gritting my teeth I pushed myself up from the floor and turned around to see the source of my great fall.

To say I was shocked would be an understatement.

There he was slumped against the kitchen wall his chin resting on his shoulder, his long lean muscular legs sprawled in front of him blocking the entrance. I eyed him with up and down my mouth slightly open.

God no!

Without thinking I rushed towards his body.

Is he dead!

"Asher!" My hands cupped his shoulder and shook him back and forth. He was unresponsive.

"Please don't die."

I begged trying to straighten his heavy body. I hooked my hands under his arms and tried to pull him up "Asher..." I let out through gritted teeth and with all my strength tried to move him but he didn't budge. I huffed and ran towards the faucet cupping both my hands under the running water, with the water filled in my cupped palm I ran towards him and splashed it on his face. My eyes started to sting when I didn't get any reply.

He can't leave me, we haven't even been together for a whole day!

"Asher," I slapped him softly "Asher please..." My voice was shaky.

Nothing.

My eyes flicked to something on the side of his shirt. I blinked my eyes trying to get rid of my blurry vision.

Blood.

The area looked moist. He was still bleeding.

I can deal with blood. I thought looking at the red patch.

Panic rose inside of me. Gulping the lump in my throat I quickly pressed my fingers against patch of blood on the shirt.

"Ah.... Fuck!" I jumped back startled by the loudness of the voice. A traitor smile made its way up to my face, I let out a breath of relief, he was still alive.

Snapping out of my thoughts I found him groaning in pain his hand tightly clutching the side of his waist.

"Asher!! "

"I'm right here stop screaming and get lost!"

"No! You are bleeding" I reached forward and brushed his hands away from his waist and tried to lift up his shirt, immediately he gripped my wrist and threw it away

"No, you can't see it, just leave.  I'll be fine." He stood up grimacing and groaning in pain.  He was a mess, his raven hair were disheaveled, sticking out. His eyes slightly swollen and red. But still he somehow managed to look breathtaking.

"You need to be cleaned and bandaged, where's the first aid box? "

"I said leave! I will help myself."
He held onto the counter and tried to move. He rubbed his face and ran a hand through his hair and sighed loudly in defeat.

"Where is the first aid box?" I cajoled

"God forgive me I married a witch. " he hissed glaring at me.

I narrowed my eyes at him, my mouth set in a thin line.

Nothing can be done, he is impossible!

With that thought in my mind
I started moving around the kitchen to look for the first aid box. Once in a while I looked at him to see if he was still alive or long gone.

I saw him leaning against the kitchen counter, his face wearing some painful expressions, he looked so tired.

"Please tell me where it is?"

"How about you make coffee for me, Wife. and then I'll think about it. " The way he said 'wife' always made me feel low, it felt like an insult. I didn't feel proud or happy about being his wife. I frowned at him.

Asher and I have been together for less than a day, he was already getting on my nerves, hurting me with his words, shaking my strong self. But I guess he still hadn't realised that I wasn't going to just listen to him and bear with his stupid tactics.

"You will not think about it, you will tell me where it is." I felt powerful for a moment before I saw the I-don't-give-a-damn
Look on his face.

"Please..." I blinked innocently.

"The table beside the staircase."

That was all I wanted to hear.
My plan B always worked.

I skipped to the table and started digging in for the box. Grinning, I took it in my hand and started walking towards the kitchen.

Asher was still standing where I left him.

"Now, take off your shirt."

He looked over his shoulder and shot me a smug smile "You ruined our wedding night and now you are asking me to take off my shirt?"

Wedding night. 

Only the thought of it made shivers run down my spine. I felt funny in the stomach. Inappropriate images of Asher's
naked body over me flashed in my mind which made me clench my legs tightly together.

Dammit! A Red blush was creeping up my neck.

I looked up to see him smirking while giving me a knowing look.

I groaned feeling my face heat up. "No, it's not like that, I need to clean the wound."

"Give it here, I will do it myself."

"No."

"Callister."

"Grayson."

"GIVE IT HERE AT ONCE!" the box toppled out of my hand as I clumsily threw it at him when he yelled out, my heart pumped loudly and I let out a squeal taking a few steps back. I stared at him with wide eyes.

"Now leave." he stated with a composed voice.

"Please, let me do it, I promise I won't mess up."

He limped, slowly wincing to the sink and leaned his side against it. Great he was ignoring me!
He grabbed a kitchen towel and after wetting it, he slowly lifted his shirt off his hip, I couldn't see the wound but I already knew it was deep. I gulped with wide eyes as he brought the cloth near and dabbed it on the wound, his hands shook violently for a moment before he dabbed again.

My legs started to move towards to him automatically, his head snapped in my direction "I told you to leave." He frowned.

I shook my head.

"You won't Leave?" he asked again after taking a long pause his eyes scanned me top to bottom before they met my eyes.

"No, I won't."

"Okay then. " he paused and left the cloth in the sink, he slid the box against the counter away from him. I stepped back immediately.
"Then I won't dress myself. Let the wound stay exposed, I'm not going to clean myself until you leave."

Stubborn Ass!

"I just want to help" I grumbled folding my arms across my chest.

"I don't need your help. " he looked at me dead in the eyes.

"Okay," I sighed "I'll just leave." I sighed dramatically making a sad face. I thought this would catch his attention but no, he didn't even notice. I rolled my eyes, too much drama,Sophie.

I turned around and started walking.As I reached the door, I quickly ducked my head and hid behind it.

I have to make sure he don't mess up. Was the only thought in my mind.

I peaked my head and saw him dabbing his wound again. It looked painful. An involuntary hiss left my mouth as he hissed. I immediately threw my hand over my mouth and ducked back . Shit!
My heart thudded loudly against my chest.

He didn't see me. He didn't see me.

"I know you are there."

I shook my head slapping my forehead.

I'm an idiot!

"Uh ..yeah? "

He didn't reply, I looked back in, to see him putting some alcohol on the same bloody towel.

"You should use another towel to cl--

"You know?" he asked cutting me off.

"What?"

"I liked you better when you were behind the door."

"Uh, okay." he was by far the only man who knew how to shut me up.

I leaned my head against the door, there was no point in trying to help.

I looked up at the ceiling and sighed

"Are you done?"

"No. "

"Asher" I looked down at my feet

"Hm"

"I'm sorry about yesterday"

"It's too late, we are already married."

It took me a while to soak in what he said and when it finally hit me I was furious. "I'm not talking about that! I'm talking about what I said yesterday"

"What did you say? "

"Uh, you know, don't make me repeat it. " I was ashamed of myself

"I don't remember. "

"You don't? Liar. " I said accusingly narrowing my eyes at him.

He was silent again I poked my head out again, to see him and once more he was not cleaning up right

"Um.. It's not like that, you need to keep--"

"I want you gone before I give you a matching wound." A frown was plastered on his forehead and his lips were set in a thin line.

I narrowed my eyes at him. Asshole!

After he finished dressing himself, he turned back to me.

"Do you know how to cook?"

I nodded, sprinting from behind the door

"Then make something for yourself."

"What about you?" my face scrunched up in confusion

" I'm not hungry--"the sudden chiming of the door bell cut him off.

"Go get it." he thrusted his chin forward. He only knew how to give orders, I shook my head and huffed as I stomped my way out of the kitchen and towards the door.

I opened to see a blond guy ready to knock again.

As he noticed me his hands dropped to his side, he offered me a half smile. "A delivery for Sophie Grayson from Scarlett Grayson." He read from the notepad he was holding while tapping a blue pen at the edge of the pad.

"That would be me." I smiled at the blond.

"There's a box for you should we bring it in?" I tip toed and looked over his shoulder to see to more men holding a big cartoon and some extra bags along side. I raised an eyebrow seeing a black Gucci bag staring at me.

I nodded at him my eyes moving from the blond to the boxes.

Fuck. Scarlett bought a whole new wardrobe for me. When she told me that she would send my clothes, I thought she was taking about going to my apartment and fetching them from there. But no, she was talking about brand new expensive clothes!

"Bring it in!" he hollered to the men and moved aside for them to come in.

He turned back to me "I'm West
And you are Sophie. " he winked at me.

I rolled my eyes.

"Why don't you live with your mother?" he asked looking past me at the inside of the house.

"She's my mother in law." I cleared my throat.

"Oh," was all he said, his smile dropped a little.

"Aren't you too young to be married?" he raised an eyebrow. He was getting personal.

"Is she?" came another voice which I very well recognised. My gazed travelled from West to Asher. He had changed into a navy blue full sleeves shirt which clung perfectly around his firm torso and light Blue Jeans.

"Who's he?" West ask drawing my attention. " Your Brother?"

"Uh.... Yeah something like that."
My reply came almost immediately, as soon as I realised what I had said, I bit my tongue and looked down letting my hair curtain my red face. I could tell West said that on purpose.

"Hi, I'm West."

I raised my head to look at Asher. "West, I think you should now head to North." he thrusted his chin towards the door and my jaw dropped. How rude!

West cleared his throat, my eyes met his and I gave him an apologetic small smile. "It's my cue then, hope we'll meet again Sophie."

I gave him a wide smile.

As the door shut I turned to Asher. "That was so rude."

"No one flirts with my wife in front of me." he gave me a stern look

"He wasn't flirting, he was just talking, being polite like any other decent man." I defended myself. 

Ignoring me, he walked in the living room and sat on the couch.

I followed him and took a seat opposite to him. When I looked at him again I was taken aback to see a beer bottle pressed to his lips.

Taking a quick swig he placed the bottle on the table in front of him, his gaze settled on me the whole time. I shifted and tugged on my dress ,trying to cover my legs properly and gulped feeling insecurity rising in me.

"Wild sex. "

My head instantly shot up "Excuse me?"

"Your shoulders, neck and..... " his eyes travelled to the neck line my dress. I immediately pulled my hair forward letting them cover my exposed neck.

Well Shit, I realised very late that I didn't wear my scarf.

"Yeah something like that." I laughed awkwardly and stared at my feet.

"Hmm.... Do you have a boyfriend?"

I shook my head still not meeting his eyes

"Just a fling?" he confirmed.

I nodded. I looked up to see the first bottle on the table and second in his hands.

"You shouldn't drink, it's still morning--"

"You can flirt, get involved with other men in any way I don't care, once you're out of the door you are nothing to me and I expect the same from you, I can do whatever I want to, you are no one to point out, just remember that I married you because of my mother. Don't try to become my wife when I don't see you as one. You are just my wife when there are people around, rest of the time you will be a stupid, naive and stubborn girl who has invaded my privacy and who I am forced to live with."

Why was I so surprised and hurt even when I knew I would get something like that from him at some point. I stared at him
throught my blurry vision and nodded gulping down the lump in my throat.

"And now you will leave me alone in peace."

.

.

.

.

I decided to skip classes today. I was tired both physically and mentally.
His word taunted me in the silence of the room. From the past two hours I'd been lying in same position looking up at the ceiling thinking about him, his words, his ways.

Giving up was not an option, fighting it was.

I had to do it for a good future.
For my family. They meant everything to me, I wanted to see them happy. Only the money I would get out of this was going to make it happen.

Shaking all the thoughts away I jumped out of the couch. My shift at the cafe was from 5:00 , which meant I still had two hours left. And I didn't plan on wasting it.

I knew what I had to do.

.

.

.

I sighed loudly dumping the last bit of dried herbs and shrubs in the black garbage bag. From the last one hour I've been cleaning up the lawn, pulling out plants, picking out leaves and grass evenly. My hands were covered with dust and scratches,  sweat lined my forehead, tendrils of hair stuck on my face, my exposed legs had some scratches too. I was tired from all the cleaning.

The thing I loved was the tree, Maple tree, the only thing in the place that blossomed. I smiled and walked up to it.

Wincing I sat down under its shadow and leaned back on the broad trunk.

I rubbed my face. The day didn't felt like the first day after getting married. I always wished for something cliché . A husband who would love me, take care of me, but here it was completely different ,he didn't want anything from me except for my body which I would never give him.

My eyes caught some moment in the corner I turned my head to see Asher leaning against the long kitchen window frame, looking out at me . He must have had taken a shower ,he had changed again into a beige full sleeves shirt and black jeans.

I rolled my eyes at him when he kept staring "Stop staring Grayson I'm not some damn science project." I mimicked his tone to which he let out a throaty chuckle.

"Who said I'm staring at you, I'm staring at the mishap". He said his eyes travelling from my face downwards, something was flickering in those blues.

I looked to where he was staring.

Holy Shit my boobs !

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I love you,

-Garima