Honeymoon in Hell

Ava

The drive felt endless. The silence was a battlefield, each second dragging like a weight on my chest. Orion’s eyes flicked to me now and then, his gaze piercing, full of unspoken words. I kept my focus on the window, watching the landscape blur past, my mind racing.

"Chloe at the airport?" I finally broke the silence, voice sharp. "You must think I'm as naïve as you are arrogant."

Orion smirked, but there was no warmth in it. "You underestimate her. She doesn’t give up that easily."

"And you don’t understand boundaries," I shot back, meeting his gaze head-on. "But Holly just gave you a lesson in them. Did it sting?"

He leaned closer, his voice low, dangerous. "Careful, Ava. Don’t mess with me. I swear, I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t forget in a hurry."

I didn’t flinch. "Maybe I really want to be taught a lesson then."

The tension crackled between us, every breath charged with the weight of unspoken battles. I could feel the power shift—Holly’s stand had been the spark, and now the fire was spreading.

"You think you’ve changed the game? You think having Holly around makes this any easier for you?" Orion’s voice was a soft threat. "Chloe’s just a pawn. Don’t think this would change anything.”

As he said this, I felt his gaze falter. He didn’t mean that. Chloe is the love of his life obviously. What was he thinking? That I would think she’s a pawn and pity her?

I smirked, leaning closer. "Then you won’t mind if she’s removed from the board. Would you now?”

His jaw clenched, but before he could respond, the car slowed. We had arrived at the airport. Joe opened my door, and I stepped out, feeling the cool breeze wash over me. Orion followed, close behind.

I thanked Joe and told him to look after the mansion and keep an eye out for intruders before walking away from the car.

As we walked through the terminal, my eyes scanned the crowds, half-expecting Chloe to appear, like a shadow ready to pounce. But she was nowhere to be seen.

Orion’s hand found my wrist, his grip firm. "Are you worried she might actually show up? You feel threatened by her don’t you? Because you know that you can never measure up to her standard."

I pulled my arm free, eyes blazing. "No, Orion. I don’t feel threatened. And I could never dream of being in her position. I’m no whore."

His teeth clenched in rage but I looked past him, putting a reasonable distance between us. We reached the gate, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us. As we boarded the plane, I knew one thing for sure—this honeymoon was going to be a war zone.

And I was ready for battle.

The ride to the hotel was as silent as the grave, each moment stretched thin by unspoken accusations. Venice shimmered under the twilight, its romantic allure mocking the war zone I carried inside.

Orion’s presence loomed beside me, his proximity a physical weight. He didn’t speak. He didn’t have to. Every glance, every movement was a reminder of the power struggle we had been waging since we said “I do.”

As we entered the hotel, the opulence of the Cipriani hotel grandeur was wasted on me. Gilded mirrors and chandeliers only highlighted the tension inside me. A staff member guided us to our suite, their polite chatter fading into the background as I relived the flight.

Orion had expected me to sit beside him in business class, as if the charade of a happy couple was still intact. The moment we boarded, I spotted an empty seat in economy and switched with a passenger without a second thought. I couldn’t stand the thought of sharing space—sharing air—with him.

The look on his face when he realized I was gone was a twisted mix of fury and disbelief. He had stormed to the front of the plane, demanding that the flight attendants locate his “missing” wife.

The announcement echoed through the cabin: “Would Mrs. Ava Miller please return to business class? Your husband is concerned for your safety.”

I had sunk low in my seat, hiding my face behind the airline magazine, cheeks flaming. The attendant found me easily. “Your husband is looking for you,” he’d said, exasperation barely concealed.

I had smiled tightly. “We had a misunderstanding. I’d prefer to sit here. The person I swapped with isn’t complaining.”

The attendant’s pitying look burned more than Orion’s glare ever could.

---

Now, standing in the grand hallway of our suite, Orion stepped aside to answer his phone. I didn’t need to hear the conversation to know it was Chloe. His voice dropped, all softness and reassurance, a tone he’d never used with me.

When we reached our floor, I walked straight into the room, heart hammering. The relief washed over me like cool water: a double room. Rose had understood. She knew the weight of this farce. She knew what I had to endure. What I can't understand is why she didn't arrange the private jet for this trip.

I slipped into the connecting room and locked the door behind me, the soft click echoing in my ears. I could hear Orion enter the suite, his footsteps slow, deliberate. He moved closer to the door, testing the handle. It didn’t budge. After a moment, I heard him retreat, the sound of fabric rustling as he undressed.

My mind flashed back to that moment, to the humiliation. To his words. “You’ll never measure up to her standard.”

How dare he? Comparing me to that… mistress.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door that separated us. This was supposed to be a honeymoon, a celebration of unity and love.

How I wish Richard didn't leave that ridiculous clause in his will. I would have probably fallen in love naturally and had a beautiful wedding.

Instead, I got tangled in a battlefield. And I would not be the first to surrender.

From the other side of the door, I heard him sigh. For a moment, a flicker of something softer pierced the wall between us.

But it was gone as quickly as it came.

This was war. And in Venice, all battles were silent.