Chapter 4

• Sophia's POV
• Pressure was also mounting on me from Father and I knew I was running out of time.
• The door to my room opened and immediately I realized Selena was the woman Anastasia had sent to get me ready, I was at her side in seconds.
• "How is my mom doing?" I asked eagerly.
• Selena gave me a soft smile, her smile lines visible.
• "Don't worry, she's responding well to the new medication. The Baxters take good care of her."
• Shortly after my wedding to Jerry Baxter, Mom had been clinically diagnosed with Leukemia. It was the reason she had always been winded with so much joint and body pain.
• The Baxters had no problem having her admitted and even paying all her medical bills in advance.
• While I had cried when the doctor told me about the slim chances of her full recovery, I had taken cold comfort in the fact that with her being admitted into a hospital, Father would no longer be able to hit her.
• Now do you see why I couldn't afford to get on the bad side of the Baxters?
• One word and Mom would be dying without any treatment.
• I let out a relieved sigh at Selena's news.
• "That's good."
• Selena looked at me, her gaze lingering on the arm I was cradling.
• "What about you Sophia? How are you?"
• I let go of my bruised wrist and ran my fingers through my hair.
• "I'm fine, Selena. You know I don't care what they say to me, not when they pay for Mom's treatment."
• But she didn't seem convinced by my words.
• "Your mother wouldn't want you to suffer like this."
• "I'm the daughter in law of the Baxters," I shrugged, taking the diamond encrusted dress from her hands. Jerry was right. It was too expensive for someone like me.
• Running my fingers across one of the diamonds, I flashed a smile I could barely feel at Selena.
• "Women would die to be me, I wouldn't call that suffering."
• Selena frowned. I didn't think she believed my words but she didn't disagree with me anymore as she got me ready for the event.
• As I walked down the golden spiral staircase in my diamond encrusted ocean blue dress with chandeliers twinkling overhead, the live orchestra playing and the press taking pictures of a stunning woman who didn't really exist, I really felt like the modern day Cinderella.
• I spent the rest of the night smiling at people who tried to cosy up to me thinking I was a real member of the Baxter family.
• "What is your skincare routine? You are glowing."
• Oh, you know. Just suffering. I wanted to respond but I just smiled instead.
• "Is that a fifty carat diamond necklace? Wow, the Baxters truly really spare no expense."
• Another smile.
• "Please take a picture with me, my followers love you!"
• A broader fake smile.
• "How does it feel to be part of one of the five richest families in North America?"
• Suffocating. It felt suffocating. But once more I didn't say anything. I just smiled until my cheeks hurt.
• When I returned to my room, I took advantage of Jerry's absence to splurge on a hot water shower before I leapt on my bed and fell fast asleep.
• The feeling of my duvet being pulled away woke me up and I opened my eyes to see Jerry sitting at the side of my bed, his cold fingers on my cheek.
• I sat up immediately disconcerted by our closeness.
• "What are you doing, Jerry?"
• Jerry kissed me. I froze, unable to understand what was going on.
• I couldn't scent or taste any alcohol on him.
• Why would he be doing this if he weren't intoxicated?
• My instincts finally kicked in and I pushed Jerry away from me ending our kiss.
• "I still intend to castrate you if you try anything funny with me." I reminded him.
• Jerry smiled. A real smile, not his usual warped smirks and in that moment I couldn't breathe as I realized what all his numerous girlfriends saw in him.
• He was stunning.
• "I know but I can't get you out of my head, Sophia. Believe me, I've tried."
• I was so surprised by his words that I did nothing when he trailed his fingers down my bare arm before he lifted my hand and dropped a kiss on my wrist that he had held so tight mere hours ago.
• His blue eyes met mine and my world stopped when I saw the sincerity in his gaze.
• "I know I am all shades of fucked up, Sophia but please don't push me away."
• Tugging me gently with his hold on my arm, Jerry leaned in and kissed me again.
• This time despite my best efforts, I couldn't help melting against his kiss.
• His lips were warm, soft yet demanding and his fingers, good Lord, his fingers aroused a need in me that I wasn't even aware I had.
• It was sick. Maybe even a little pathetic. How could someone who treated me so badly be able to elicit this sort of reaction from my body?
• How could he make me feel so hot that it felt like I was burning up from the inside out?
• I was running out of air yet I hoped he would never stop kissing me. Was this what Stockholm syndrome was?
• I wasn't sure.
• When Jerry finally pulled off my night dress, anticipation, anxiety and need had built up to a feverish pitch within me.
• He looked down at me like I was the first woman he had ever seen naked.
• "My God, you are exquisite."
• It was my first time and one of the best nights of my life.
• At first, it had been painful, but Jerry was kind, soft spoken and patient and before I knew it, the need was back even more intensely than before and I hit a climax so high, I saw stars.
• When I fell asleep cradled against his chest, it was with the thought that maybe just maybe this would be a fresh start for us.
• Or if it wasn't at least I would have the memory of this night.
• The next morning, I woke up alone in my bed and a wave of disappointment crashed over me.
• What else had I expected from Jerry?
• Breakfast in bed? Stupid, stupid, Sophia.
• I felt stupid but by the time I was done brushing my teeth, I had self-affirmed myself into believing that if Jerry had used me, I had used him too.
• If I got lucky, I would get pregnant and avoid death by Anastasia Baxter.
• I was dressing up when the knock on the door came.
• I opened my door surprised to see a group of maids outside my door.
• "What do you want?"
• Chrysalis, the head maid of the mansion who always looked down her nose at me, bowed fully.
• "Good morning, Ma'am. Mr Baxter has instructed us to return the closet to its former use."
• At first, I was puzzled then realization kicked in.
• Did Jerry want us to share a bed now? We already had the night before but this… this would make things official.
• I had no business feeling as excited as I did at this thought.
• I hated Jerry, I tried to remind myself but it was futile.
• "Where is my husband?" I asked. I needed to clarify what exactly was going on now.
• "He was urgently summoned to the office but he said to tell you that he can't wait for your wedding anniversary party tonight."
• I was stunned. A wedding anniversary party? We had never celebrated our anniversary before.
• What exactly had happened to my cold husband to change him overnight?
• I couldn't wait for the party to find out.