"So are you Willow, so are you." He looked into her eyes reading her soul as if it was an open book.

"You have never talked about your parents though; they didn't even come to our wedding." He asked trying to know more about her.

Willow wiped the tears that she failed to keep inside and looked at her lobster.

"They live abroad, I was raised at grandma's, my aunt was the one who took care of me."

"But you said you hated your aunt!" He exclaimed

"No that's another aunt. My aunt died eight years ago." She said while fixing her eyes on his shoulder trying her best not to cry at the memory of her aunt.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Mother died eight years ago too." He nodded.

"I guess we have some things in common." She forced a smile.

"We do indeed."

"I don't feel like eating anymore." She mumbled looking at her lobster dish.

"No, that's not up for question. I'd like you to gain some weight." He winked making a blush erupt on her cheeks

"I- I don't know how – how to start this." She stuttered both in confusion and embarrassment, she had no second thoughts about how handsome the gentleman sitting across from her is yet it only impacted her now.

"I'll do it for you." He nodded taking her plate in front of him and skillfully working on her lobster before returning it to an amazed beautiful lady.

"Enjoy your food." He smiled trying to lighten her mood after talking about all the misery they've been through.

"You too, Ryker," she spoke softly making him believe his assumption. His girl was putting a mask to scare the world but she was vulnerable and she needed someone to shelter her.

Willow unconsciously moaned in delight at the heavenly taste of the lobster as it was the first time she gets to eat it, which made Ryker clear his throat before focusing on anything else to restrain himself against thinking about all the skills he had in store for his bride.

"It's really delicious" She smiled before curiously looking at a now stiff man across her.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it, eat more." He smiled before sipping his wine.

"Do you have classes this afternoon?" She asked

"No! Why?"

"Then let's go somewhere else after this, please." She pleaded; holding into the knife and fork in her hands, she didn't know if her so-called husband is really nice as he portrays himself to be or she should still be cautious around him and his decisions.

"Don't you have classes?" He asked in a tone daring her to lie.

Playing with the food on her plate, Willow moved in discomfort on her chair. "I mean, I- I do have classes, I just don't feel like attending." She shrugged.

"Whatever you want then, we can go anywhere you want." He smiled at how cute his tigress can be. He has never even imagined that the tough girl turning their household upside down since her arrival can be this adorable and even ask for permission.

Willow grinned in happiness as she continued devouring the lobster.

After desert, Ryker proceeded to put money on their table for the waitress before leaving the restaurant.

Fastening their seatbelts, Ryker looked at his spitfire before vocalizing, "Last time you said there's no next time, we had no idea what fate would bring upon us." He smiled in disbelief.

Willow laughed remembering her words "I can be a handful sometimes."

"Huh! Sometimes? You mean most of the times." He shook his head earning a melody like laughter.

"So where are we going?" She asked looking at the road.

"Wherever you want."

"Hmm! Then let's go to the mall. I want to buy something for my grandma." She smiled at the thought of seeing her grandmother again after all the wait.

"Alright." Responded a happy Ryker; as they have never lived this harmony before.

After a long time spent walking around shops in hopes of finding the right gift for her grandmother; they finally got it and proceeded sitting in one of the cafes around the mall as Willow got exhausted from all of the walking they did.

"I can't believe we spent hours going from a shop to another just for you to buy the item you saw at the first shop." Spoke Ryker in disbelief.

"I thought I might find something better." She laughed sheepishly, looking at the packet at hand.

"Do you want to go home?" She added.

"Do you?"

"Not really! I mean I don't really want to see Silvia nor your father." She spoke; itching the back of her neck as she got a little embarrassed from talking badly about his father and the woman he seems to hate the most.

"That's why I don't like staying at home." He smirked acknowledging her feelings as they were so familiar to him.

"Do you think Mr Damon has a logical reason for this marriage?" She asked now playing with the fabric of her pants.

"I don't know; what I know is that my father is a businessman and he does everything after calculating his moves. So, there should be a reason and we need to find it."

"Yeah, but we have no clue and no hints." Spoke a frustrated Willow

"To be honest this marriage is not bothering me, so we can take forever to figure out the reason." He winked sending a smirk her way.

"Of course it's not bothering you since you're still living your life without any restraints. It's not convenient for me." She glared remembering all the drama he made her go through just for not wearing the ring he gave her or not asking for his permission before going to the club with her friends or even him beating her friend to a pulp and pushing her to go visit him in the hospital behind his back just like a thief.

"Look Willow, I don't know how this is going to go, but I cannot give up my routine just because of your arrival into my life"

"Yeah! Because only my life should change and my routine, yours is sacred Mr Ryker. You freaking abused me just because I went to a club while you never come home before dawn and I'm sure you're having affairs behind my back. I'm the only loyal one in this while I didn't even choose it." She sighed in disbelief as he roughly screwed her mood.

"I admit it, this is not fair for you, I know. But what can I do huh? Give my father the satisfaction of seeing his heir behaving?"

"So you're hurting me just to win an imaginary war against your father?" She asked in bewilderment.

Ryker thought about her words, again and again, he didn't know what he was doing actually was hurtful, in fact, he thought it would be best for her not to see him around her that much as she seemed to dislike him with every fibre of her being.

"Let's move out of the mansion." He suggested as that would be the only way for him to stop partying all night long just for the sake of not seeing his stepmother around the house and not hear his father's bitter comments.

"What? So you never come home?" She glared.

"If we move out I promise to take full responsibility but living with them. I will never change just so I can get on their nerves." He glared back as he thought about his father.

"Ryker. I- I don't trust- trust you." She stuttered.

"What now are you afraid of me?" He asked in disbelief.

"I mean, I really can't live with you, all by ourselves." She vocalized looking everywhere but at him.

"We're a husband and wife Willow."

"Yeah, but it was against my consent." She mumbled trying not to remember what happened, taking a sip from her drink.

"You're right." He sighed, "Let's go home"

That night was nothing special as nothing changed in the household, the same stiff atmosphere reigned.