Chapter 44: Chapter 42

Song: ‘One’ by Ed Sheeran

All my senses come to life

While I'm stumbling home as drunk as I

Have ever been and I'll never leave again

'Cause you are the only one

And all my friends have gone to find

Another place to let their hearts collide

Just promise me, you'll never leave again

'Cause you are the only one

Take my hand and my

Heart and soul, I will

Only have these eyes for you

And you know, everything changes but

We'll be strangers if, we see this through

You could stay within these walls and bleed

Or just stay with me, oh Lord now

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

HANNAH’S POV

Sitting beside him in his luxurious BMW, I looked outside the window, lost in my thoughts and tired overall. Since the wedding day, it’s the first time that we’ve been together in a car. It’s the first time we’re going together somewhere as a couple. It is weird, knowing that none of us wants to be in this situation yet here we are. There’s no conversation going on as usual, I’ve accepted the fact that we can never talk unless it is to argue, we have nothing in common, and neither do we want to explore one. We are very different people with different worlds brought together in the weirdest of ways possible.

But I’ve learned to be comfortable in this silence.

Comfortable and you, with silence? What happened to Hannah who was the life of the gathering, didn’t she had the loudest laughter, the nonstop talker, the fighter who won’t back out unless her point is proven?

She’s still there, she just knows the battles she wants to fight.

And this is definitely not one worth of her energy.

She laughed where she was cherished.

She talked nonstop because she knew her words were being listened to.

She was considered a warrior within her own army.

And most importantly, she was a star amongst the people who loved her.

Here she’s none of that, she’s a nobody.

My inner talk stopped as the car came to a halt in front of a gigantic metal gate. The security check didn’t stop us as they obviously knew who he was as we went through. I ran my eyes around to take in my surroundings and needless to say what is saw was a sight to behold.

A huge circular garden with miles of greenery for as far as the sight can go. Beautiful trees and floral plantations adoring the luxurious garden cut within an inch of its perfection, not a single leaf out of order. Elegant sidewalks all around on its outer side, the driveway made with the shiniest pebbles alongside the gracefully patterned red bricks. Garden lamp lights are placed every few feet to create a mesmerizing dreamy effect all around. The car kept rolling smoothly around the semi-circular driveway for the next few minutes and finally came to rest in front of a well-lit staircase that led up to an elegant Italian door.

Know the expression, humble house?

Yeah, it’s anything but that.

It’s a freaking mansion!

Like a Richie-Rich level mansion.

I got out of the car while trying to take it all in but failing miserably. It’s all too grand and overwhelming.

“What are you guys? Rothschild” I blurted out still in awe.

To be honest, it’s my mistake to be ignorant. I mean, come on, what did I expect it to be? Of course, it had to look like this. I’m fake married into one of the country’s richest families, obviously, it had to be like this.

But it wasn’t a fake marriage, was it? You just choose to tell yourself this.

A thought nudged me but I chose not to dwell on it as I have bigger matters to think about.

Like why am I here in the first place, what was I thinking?

I’m clearly not prepared for this and I’m clearly undressed for this. What if I meet the king of England inside, what if this is the place where Jesus comes back and has a supper? Too many ifs, too many.

“Don’t be nervous,” came a low but powerful voice, “you’re looking fine.” tell me exactly what i needed to hear. I raised my head to the source of the comforting words and was shocked to see Him standing next to me.

No, Him is not Jesus.

Him is my husband, Lucifer, Elijah Alexander Norman, the wannabe God.

But what happened next left me dumbstruck before I could recover from the previous statement.

My head which I raised a few moments ago now lowered on its own to the intertwined hands.

OUR HANDS!

HIS AND MINE.

INTERTWINED.

TOGETHER.

His hold is gentle but firm, they’re not oozing warmth nor are they cold. They feel... comforting.

I blinked a few times to make sure I was not dreaming. Before I could pinch myself, I felt a tug on my hand and the next thing I knew we were walking, him a little ahead of me while I followed him like a leashed puppy.

My eyes were still set on our hands as my heart skipped a few beats. My pulse is so erratic I wonder if he can feel it or not.

Why is he doing this, what has gotten into him? Should I ask him to let go of my hand?

Will it look weird, he’s just holding my hand, what’s the big deal in it, right? Couples do hold hands. And why are you behaving like a miss-touch-me-not, you're not a nun Hannah, grow up. So what if this is the first time you guys are holding hands, big deal.

But as you keep saying you’re not a couple. You don’t hold hands. Moreover, it’s about the touch, the feeling. And in your case, this is your first touch. I think you’re lik…

“Fix your face and act natural, for fuck’s sake,” he hissed in my ear, “Do not mess this up.”

Oh!

So, this is what it’s about, acting natural. And here I was think…

What were you thinking, Hannah?

Ah, what else would I be thinking, this is exactly what I was thinking, we’re a pretend couple, and of course, we hold hands.

Did you just lie to yourself, Hannah?

Whatever, focus, Hans, focus, compose yourself. If natural acting is what he wants then natural acting is what he gets.

I’m a method actor, baby!

So I looked up ahead, caught up with him so we were side by side, put up the most natural fake smile, and gripped his hand back. But clearly, I didn’t think that was enough, so I put my other hand on his arm that was holding my hand and walked as if he was Ryan Reynolds and I was Blake Lively at the Met gala.

Now, it was his turn to look at me, I could feel his gaze on me, the same intense piercing gaze. There was nothing different in his expression, they’re mostly blank even if he’s angry, but right now I can sense his surprise.

“Ah, look at you two.” His father exclaimed as we were nearing the door where they were standing.

And by ‘they’ I mean both his parents and his siblings. Everyone was awaiting our arrival to welcome us. Awkward!

“Welcome home, sweetie, I’m so glad to see you.” Her mother was the first to reach out to me. She hugged me with the same warmth as the last time I met her at my wedding.

Next was his father and then it was Ethan with a bear hug.

“Wow, you look hot, Hannah! Much different from last time.” I instantly blushed at Ethan’s compliment.

As for Elena, well, she’s still not my biggest fan.

I was led into the house that’s no less than a Buckingham Palace, an elegant hallway adorned with antique side tables and mirrors. The classic theme of gold and off-white with expensive chandeliers casting perfect light and harmony, the air filled with a light musk making it a next-level experience, something that’ll stay etched in my memory for a long time.

Ethan held my hand and led me inside like we were best buddies while telling me jokes and making me laugh. I think he’s cool, I like him.

By holding hands I remembered that I came here with one husband of mine. When did we let go of our hands?

So I turned around only to find him looking at me already but not like before. This is a different gaze, it’s not only angry but there’s something else too this time. What? I don’t know.

“Sorry, I’ll catch up with you later,” remembering that we’re supposed to be a happy couple I let go of Ethan’s hand and went to stand next to the ever so cheerful husband of mine. To add more effect I again went to hold his hand but he folded his arm like he didn’t notice me.

Ever mind, so I reached for his arm, this time he let me hold it but it was not like before, his arm felt more bulged and stiff. Strange, they weren’t like this a while ago, his whole aura has shifted, for once I felt he was at ease around me but now he feels like he does all the time, stone cold and soulless, bitter and spiteful.

Strange, how a person can give so many different vibes without any expressions or words. He can be happy and look all the same and I wouldn’t know.

But you do know, you can sense his emotions without them ever being there, no?

No, I don’t. But what I do know is that for me he has only one expression, one feeling, one sentiment and that is hatred. And that’s all it’ll ever be.