CHAPTER 4
We drove for hours before arriving in the city of Toronto. This was my first time in Toronto. I heard stories about this city and the beautiful places but I never visited.
"Finally, I'm here!" I didn't know when I said that out. Liam looked at me before turning to the other side to laugh.
"You haven't been here before?" He asked.
"If I had, I wouldn't have shouted, 'Finally, I'm here!' You ask very annoying questions at times."
"Do you get scared of me?" His question sounded strange. Why would he ask me such a question? Yes, I did. I got scared of him only when he was upset.
"Do I look like I'm scared of you?" I was trying to sound confident. Since we got married, I understood the true definition of self-confidence. The only way to survive with this jerk is to be confident.
"We are going home." He said calmly. "Where there are no paparazzi. I do not have to act. I'm not a perfect husband and I don't intend to be one to you."
"Jeez." I scoffed. What exactly did he think of himself? I would be grateful if he didn't even try to be a good husband to me.
"That act you put on at the hotel. Standing by my side, I'm grateful." When I stood up for him it wasn't an act. My heart hurts whenever someone said something bad about him but again he considers it an act. He wasn't to blame. After all, our relationship is based on a lie.
"I didn't do it for you" I lied. I couldn't let him know that I cared for him or else he would have the wrong impression that I love him. "I did it for myself. My name is already attached to your name. Whatever anyone says about you, will affect my reputation."
"Reputation? You should have thought about that before taking your sister's place."
"She ran off!" I screamed back at him. His accusations were getting too much and I couldn't tolerate it anymore. "Lisa ran away with her lover."
"For a family that lies too much, I'm surprised they are obsessed about their reputation."
"What about your dad?"
"Enough." He wasn't willing to hear anything negative about his dad but he was ready to insult and belittle someone else's parents.
The car drove into a big compound and stopped. Liam got out of the car first. I alighted the car with my bags.
"Give those bags to the helpers." He instructed. Two servants ran up to me and carried my bags from me. He took my hand in his and walked towards the house. He already told me in the car that we were going home and there was no need to pretend, so why was he holding my hand? I pulled my hand away from his and increased my pace before he said anything.
When we arrived at the door, I pushed it but it didn't open. It was the same door I saw his servants enter and come out without much stress so why was it difficult to open.
"What's wrong? He had a way of mocking people when they were helpless. I closed my eyes for some time before opening them. I have already hurt this family by taking Lisa's place. There was no way I could let them see me argue with Liam.
"Please open the door."
"Now you understand why I held your hand. For you to enter, your fingerprint is needed. Only the members of this house can enter."
"You should have said so. You can't just hold my hand like that. It's disrespectful."
"You are impossible." He opened the door and entered.
His parents had already arranged the house. I was expecting a quiet home with just Liam, that way I won't have any reason to pretend but this house was full of people. I couldn't tell visiting guests from family cus they all looked the same.
His house was very big with at least 15 rooms. It was painted white all through. It was just like a hotel. Liam's parents walked up to us with two other couples.
"How was your trip?" His mum asked calmly.
"It was good, mum."
"Hannah," I didn't wait for her to finish. I apologized.
"I'm sorry, aunt. Everything happened so quickly. It wasn't,"
"Thank you." She sounded so relaxed. I looked around to know if I was the one she was referring to. "If you hadn't stepped in for your sister, I don't know what would have happened to my family. The press would have made a big deal out of it. I heard your sister fell ill a day before the wedding. How is she doing now?"
Oh, my parents had already lied to them. Sometimes I felt bad that I came from a family of liars.
"Meet my sister, Sophie, and her husband, Dan. Sophie, meet my daughter-in-law, Hannah." She introduced us.
"She Is beautiful. You made the right choice." Sophie complimented.
"Aunt, what did uncle tell you about lying to people?" Liam teased.
"Liam!" He walked past us ignoring his mother's call.
"I'm sorry about that." Mrs. Smith apologized. "Liam can be a jerk at times. Come, let me introduce you to everyone.
The introduction took at least 30 minutes before Mrs. Smith joined her friends. Liam had a very beautiful family. Everyone interacted with each other. There was no negative vibe. Sometimes I felt like I didn't want to leave but other times, I remembered that Liam and I don't love each other.
"Your room is this way, ma'am." A young lady in a white gown said softly. I'm guessing she was one of their staff.
I followed her upstairs. We walked past several rooms before we arrived at Liam's room. She placed her index finger on the doorknob and it opened.
"I'll leave now."
"Wait," I hollered at her. "Is there any way I can get a separate room? You know, for comfort."
"Don't be silly, ma'am. Sir is your husband. Couples should sleep together."
"She's right." Mrs. Smith said as she made her way up the stairs. She had with her a few accessories and clothes. She handed them to me and hugged me. "The staff doesn't know anything about your marriage so please don't rattle everything out." Her voice sounded more stern than before. I wondered if she was the same lady I met downstairs. She moved back a little before signaling to the young girl to leave.
What trouble had I gotten myself in? This family was weird. The nice and friendly family we knew on tv was only a lie. Mrs. Smith looked nice on the outside. I wasn't sure if she was actually wicked or just strict. I walked into the room and glared at the atmosphere of the room. It was very big. It had a huge bed and big piano by the side. There were pictures of nude women on the walls. His room was messy. His clothes were littered everywhere. The room was painted in black and had a huge TV on the wall.
I rolled my eyes in agitation. Obviously, they knew they were going to get Liam married. So why didn't they clear all this mess up.
"Liam, why did you leave your wife downstairs?" His mum asked.
"Why? Haven't I done enough acting? Do I also have to carry her upstairs?"
Oh, so I wasn't the only one he was always rude to. I smiled at my thoughts.
"You are no longer a child. You are a married man. Soon you will become a father."
Father? My mouth dropped at her last word. I was going to leave him after a year so how could I even give them an heir.
"Mum, you and dad forced me into this marriage and I didn't refuse. I don't feel anything for her. Look at her mum. She's not my type. I've given her enough and that's it. Plus, Lisa wasn't....."
"At home on the day of the wedding." I interrupted." Liam was about to tell his mum the truth. What would happen to my family if they found out Lisa turned down their offer. "That's why she couldn't attend." Liam gave out a frustrated laugh before entering his bathroom.
"You will get used to it." That was it. That was all she had to say before walking out and leaving me in this grumpy guy's room. I picked up his clothes and arranged them neatly on the bed.
Once I was done cleaning the room, I climbed on top of a chair and brought down every nude picture of a lady.
"What did you do to my room?" Liam yelled. He was shirtless. I stared at the water that dripped from his chest. He had only his boxers on. The shape of his cock could be seen from his boxers.
I immediately turned my eyes away when he looked at me.
"Were you checking me out? Unbelievable. I was starting to think you were not like other girls but I was wrong." He grabbed the pictures from me and placed them on his table. "I'll sleep on the bed. You'll stay on the couch."
"What? I can't sleep on the couch." I argued. "I've never slept on a couch before."
"You are welcome to come join me on the bed. Let me tell you one secret. I get very horny at night. You are not that bad."
I grabbed the pillow from his head and laid down on the couch. I was only doing this for my family. I was willing to tolerate everything till 1 year. I dozed off on the couch while thinking about my family and how my parents would be worried about Lisa's whereabouts.