CHAPTER 5

"The bride is going to sing for her husband." The MC announced and the guests cheered.

Lia choked back a cry of protest, people were watching her, a little too closely at that.

Her mother had loved to sing so she had been the one to add that bit to the ceremony.

Lia didn't want to do it. Not because she couldn't sing, she could after all she was her mother's daughter. She had a beautiful voice that could move people but she didn't want to sing for him.

This was all a sham, why waste her gift on a sham?

"Baby, you don't have to if you don't want to. She's very shy." Fernando said beside her and Lia looked at him. She looked at his eyes, searching to find the truth in his words. "I mean it," he whispered under his breath. "Your mother had included that there despite my refusal."

Lia relaxed at his words glad that she really didn't have to sing in front of all these people who believed this was real.

The MC took the hint and moved on to the next item; cutting of the cake.

Lia rose to her feet accepting Fernando's hand that was stretched towards her and together like a happy couple, they walked towards the cake that Lia had actually picked out.

It was eight layers of cake with a mixture of red velvet, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors.

Chocolate was her favorite, red velvet was her mother's, vanilla was Fernando's and strawberry was just an added flavor.

She stiffened as Fernando pressed against her, his crouch pressing into her butt. She forced a smile as he dug his fingers into her arm, a silent warning for her to behave.

"Spelling the bride's name to cut the cake. J."

Lia gulped and wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Of course her mother's name was the name the MC would call. She wasn't the bride!

She fought back tears focusing on cutting the cake. With each letter, a piece of her broke and she wished she could turn back time. She shouldn't have gotten married to him, she should have fought.

"T!" The final letter and she let Fernando do all the work. She just stood there while he pushed her hand down with the knife.

It was time for the couple's dance afterwards.

The driver pulled up in front of a huge mansion and Lia stuck her head out to stare, her mouth hanging open.

Was this his house? He really was 'the Fernando'.

"Are you awake?" Fernando asked, stretching his neck and Lia closed her eyes hurriedly cursing herself for it.

Why was she closing her eyes?

"Well I guess you'll be spending the night in the car tonight then. I can't carry you, it's not my style since I'm not a gentleman."

Lia heard movement around but she didn't open her eyes or shake. Fernando would know she had been faking if she made a move.

"Liam, help me get the madam into the house." Fernando's words reached her ears and she relaxed glad that he wasn't going to touch her.

She heard her door open and then someone, Liam perhaps lift her into his arms. She relaxed against his chest playing along, not ready to wake up just yet.

She heard a door open and she opened her left eye slightly to peep and quickly shut it when she thought she'd be caught.

She was exhausted so it was nice having her feet up for a while. When Liam placed her on the bed, she stressed and rolled to one side attempting to wake up.

Lia was just about to open her eyes when something cold splashed on her. Alarmed, she cried and shot out of bed staring at Fernando who was standing in front of the bed holding a bowl.

Did he really splash water on her? What did he want now? "What is the meaning of this?"

"I'd watch your tone if I were you." He replied and walked away disappearing behind a door. Lia assumed it was the bathroom and suddenly wished she could take a shower. Surely such a big house would have a stall as elegant as the one in her hotel suite.

"Now, we have to establish some ground rules." He continued as he walked into the room and settled on a couch Lia hadn't noticed before.

Lia remained where she was even though the temptation to go back to the bed was great. "What kind of rules?" She asked, already dreading what was going to come out of his mouth.

"We are only married in the eyes of the world and nothing more. To the outside world, I am your husband and you are my wife. But inside this house, you're no better than my servants." He paused and Lia listened raptly, not sure she could do anything else.

She wasn't surprised by his words, to be honest she had expected something much worse. Or perhaps he still had other things to say.

And he did. "You will cook my meals, wash my clothes, make my bed, iron and prepare all my clothes for the day. I mustn't have to go without a suit simply because you haven't washed it."

"Of course."

"You're not to tell anyone anything. If word gets back to the media, things will get harder for you. By the time I am done with you, your mother will think twice before leaving a man at the altar."

Lia simply nodded, choking back sobs at his words. He was really hurt because she disappeared on their wedding day. No matter what he did or said, he was covering his pain.