Chapter 4 No Other Choice

• "Sign here, Mr. Bertram." The registry man pointed at a space where Mr. Bertram scrawled his signature on.
• "And you Miss Tanning." My hands trembled but I finally managed to put pen on paper, signing my freedom and quest for genuine love away.
• I had tried but get the money but no company wanted me just as I'd thought. A high school dropout had no hope at all. No one wanted to give me any job even if it was the lowest one. And no one would loan a jobless person.
• I had to come back to him. The doctor had been frequently calling, Lexie's health was deteriorating everyday. And whenever I went to visit her, I saw it for myself.
• This was the sacrifice I had to make to save my best friend. I was twenty two and I had signed the rest of my years to a man I knew nothing about, except what I read on the social media.
• "Congratulations, Mr. And Mrs. Bertram." The man handed us a copy of our marriage certificate.
• "Hear that, Mrs. Bertram?" Blake took the certificate from the man. "Let's go celebrate." He pronounced rather dryly.
• I nodded. "What about my friend?" That was the only important thing to me right now.
• "I don't go back on my word, Mrs. Bertram." Amusement tainted his eyes, he was probably finding it funny that I was now his wife.
• Blake Bertram was known for his playboy life. I wondered if that would end or he would keep doing it. Well, that was not my business. I just wanted Lexie to be fine.
• "There's also another catch." He said, as one of his two bodyguards came to open the door for us.
• My heart skipped. "What is it?" I absentmindedly toyed with the very expensive ring nestled in-between my finger.
• "The thrift store I bought will become yours. You can now chase your dream of being a fashion icon." He stated matter-of-factly.
• Was he joking? How had he known my dream? "How did you know..."
• "That you want to become a fashion designer? I don't think that is necessary, Riana. You're my wife, you will have the best and live your dreams." His tone was unnecessarily cold.
• But my thought was quickly swayed from his cold attitude to the part where I would be chasing my dreams. I was thrilled by that aspect. Maybe this marriage thing was not so bad.
• I could overlook his unstable character and focus on what I would gain from being a Trillionaire's wife. Lexie would live, I would own that thrift store and never have to go homeless again.
• "Okay." I replied in a tone void of emotion.
• "There's something that's imperative that you should know." He gave me a dispassionate glance.
• "Yes, Mr. Bertram." Why was he cold towards me for no reason?
• "As my wife, it's Blake to you. Also, you will not interfere in my private life. You have no right to." His expression seemed even harder.
• "You said I'm your wife, I should..."
• "The day you try to stick your nose into my business, Riana..." His eyes flashed impatiently as he turned to give me a full cold-blooded stare. "You'll end up back on the streets like you always have."
• That made my eyes stung but I swallowed back tears. "Yes, Mr. Bertram."
• "I said it is Blake!" He reminded quite harshly.
• "I know what you said but if I'm going to be treated and talked to like a slave, then I'd better regard you as my master." I retorted, my chest squeezing tight.
• When I realized we had gotten home. I climbed down the vehicle before the men could come around to opening it and fled like the devil was on my heels into the house that I was going to live in desolation for the rest of my days.
• I felt like Rapunzel and this gigantic mansion was my prison tower, only I shared it with the man responsible for throwing me into the prison.
• "This way, Mrs. Bertram." A maid was already waiting for me at the extremely large foyer.
• I dumbly followed, feeling very lost and confused. I sniffled back tears. He had no idea the nerve he'd touched when he had so casually talked about my once-upon-a-time homeless situation.
• "Here, ma'am." She opened the door and made way for me to step inside. "This is your room, ma'am."
• "Thank you." This room is bigger than two average houses put together. Oh my goodness! And everything was a gleaming luxurious blend of white and gold.
• "I'm Phina, your personal maid. If you need anything, there's a bell to ring. It's beside your bed." She instructed kindly and left.
• I sighed. A very luxurious prison. I slipped off the white gown I'd worn to the marriage registry and climbed into bed. I was just so exhausted — physically and emotionally.
• A single rap on the door, before I could make myself presentable, it opened and in came my only-on-paper husband. I awkwardly tried to covered myself with the thick bed cover.
• His gaze was intent on my skin, making it flush. I was just in my pants and bra. I was used to strutting about scantily clad living with Lexie. I had to remember this was not with Lexie but a man.
• I saw a certain something flicker in his eyes but it disappeared before I could make sense of it. His eyes returned to my face, my cheeks were going beet red with embarrassment.
• "I already called the doctor. Your friend will be transported abroad to get a new liver." He informed, keeping his eyes on my face.
• I could not pull the bed cover, so I sat with my hands covering what they could. "Why abroad?"
• "Because I ordered it so." His eyes were daring me to challenge his choice.
• "But there are better hospitals here too." How would I be able to visit her?
• "Remember it's not your money, Riana." He stated coldly.
• I bit my lip, trying to calm myself from acting or speaking based on emotions. "How will I get to visit her and know she's fine?"
• "Are you interested in a girly gossipy visit or your friend's health?" Were his eyes mocking me?
• "That's why I came to you in the first time, was it not?" I shot back before I could control it.
• He stepped closer and leaned over the bed, my face was close and his grey eyes had darkened. I swallowed nervously.
• "Watch your mouth, Riana. Or this wife is not going to like her husband's reaction."
• He eyed my body one more time before leaving my room. I released the breath I had no idea I'd been holding and collapsed on the bed.
• Lexie was getting treatment, she was going to be fine. A thrift store was going to be mine too. But why did I feel so empty, unhappy and wetting my bed with tears?