Betrothed To My Sister's Husband

Chapter- [ 23 ]

[ Rain ]

I flip the pages of a biography of a famous photographer which I already read multiple times but there's nothing interesting which I can do to kill my time. I stretch my lazy body as it got stiff by sitting idly for hours in the same fetal position on a couch.

I wrap my woollen shawl tightly around my torso and padded my way to the balcony of our small private villa in a secluded but romantic village of Switzerland. The far stretched range of mountains with ice caps and coniferous trees in a row is a sight for a nature lover's eyes but all it seems dull and cold to me as my husband has locked himself in his separate room with a 'do not disturb' sign for me.

It has been two days since we landed in Bern. His parents booked us a private villa seeing our current relationship status. They didn't want the outsider to have a sneak peak of our sour marriage.

This country was always a part of my dream destinations with the love of my life. It has always been a dream honeymoon destination for couples but for I and Nicholas, it's similar to our house where we live like two strangers. Sometimes, I laugh on my fate. Not to forget, the diamond mocking at me in every single moment.

I longed to go for sight seeing and paragliding in the valley but I have no dare to go out alone as Nicholas would never allow me to venture on my own nor he'd join me.

It seems like a heavenly prison for me where I can't even contact my family or Candace.

The clock shows eleven in the morning. We still have the day to enjoy and explore the natural beauty of this place.

May be I should try to bridge a civil convention with him and persue him to take me for outing or just let me go alone.

Turning my way back in the villa, I padded my way toward his room which he keeps locked unless he needs something.

I forgot to mention, he only wants me around for his coffee cravings and to order our food. I prepare a cup of coffee for him and knock at his door. After a minute or two, I hear a faint approval from the other side to enter inside.

With loudly beating heart and an anticipation for a positive reply, I step inside his room with his coffee and some cookies. He sits on a chair with his laptop in front of him and three empty mugs on the table. He has his glasses on his nose that gives him more handsome look. I find everything about him intriguing and puzzled that I want to solve but he's shutting me out from him.

"Don't stand there like a statue, Rain." His husky voice snaps me out of my staring session and I feel my cheeks getting heated with embarrassment. He just caught me staring at him like a love sick teenager.

I quickly walk up to him and place the tray beside the other cups. He eyes the coffee and then furrows them on me.

"What do you want?" He asks in a direct and plain tone.

"Actually I was thinking...I was thinking if..we can go out today. I mean look outside. The weather is cool." I try to express my wish but again I fail to form a proper conversation. He'd surely make fun of me.

"We as in you and I? You want me to go out with you?" He raises his brow if daring me to say yes.

"Yes, I want us to go out and make this trip useful of the money your parents spent." I reply with confidence.

He put off his glasses and shut his laptop. A sudden faith leaps inside my heart, perhaps he'd give his consent but it dies in the next moment.

"How could you think that I'd join you in sight seeing?" He asks me mockingly.

It stings badly but I can't give him the satisfaction of seeing me hurt by his attitude.

"I find no problem in us touring around this beauty country, not as a married couple but at least as friends." I try to reason with him but it seems to have a reverse effect on him. His jaws clench tightly and veins on his neck pops out.

"Well, I have an important video call with my friends in less than fifteen minutes. So, I want you to give me some privacy. Go wherever you want, buy yourself anything you like with my card but do not disturb me until the dinner time. Is that clear or you want a written declaration from me?" He says in an annoyed tone while glancing at his wrist watch.

I feel a painful stab in my heart by his aloofness. Why it feels so bad that he feels nothing but hatred for me. I didn't do anything wrong to him. He can't accept me as his wife but he can at least be friends with me.

Right?

But I won't take his shit during our honeymoon.

"I am your wife, Nicholas and we are on our honeymoon. I know you hate my whole existence and I don't complain or want any clarification of your feelings towards me but can't you be a little polite and friendly while we stay on this trip?" I ask loosing the last ounce of my patience with him.

"You want me to ditch my work and roam around with you, how brave of you to think something like this." He taunts me.

"I didn't ask you to abandom your work for me. I only asked you to accompany me today. If you don't want to come, then it's fine by me but at least keep your rudeness to yourself. For God's sake, I am a human being with feelings, Nicholas." I finally unleash my frustration.

My response triggers something within him as his eyes turn a shade darker. He slams his fists on the table making me flinch with fear.

"How dare you to talk back at me?" He yells, his body shaking with fury.

My confidence sinks in the bottom of my heart. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes but I've shed more than enough tears since our marriage. This time, he must face this confrontation for better or for worse.

"I don't think I have said anything irreverent here, Nicholas. You and I, both know this. You're only exaggerating our simple conversation." I say calmly but it infuriates him more.

He menacingly storms towards me and grabs me by shoulders. His eyes are dripping only wrath for me. If he's given a chance, he'd skin me alive.

"You're testing my patience, Rain. Get the hell out of my sight before I lose it and do something we both would regret." He whispers dangerously.

If I leave, he'd treat me however he please and always see me as a weak person who can't even stand for her own dignity. I must sort out the invisible knots between us. I know I am about to play with fire but a few scars wouldn't hurt if it means defining my marriage.

With all my force, I jerk him away and balance my weight on the ground.

"I am your wife, Nicholas. Why can't you accept this truth? You're not only hurting yourself but also me. You can't see my pain. I am suffering with you in this marriage which has no future if you do not try to save it." I almost yell on him, the anger and resentment of all these days and numberless insults comes rushing like an avalanche of emotions.

"Do not talk to me like this, Rain Anderson. I am warning you because what happnes next wouldn't be liked by any of us." He warns me in a deep voice.

"And you have every right to talk to me in whichever way you like?" I taunt him.

He suck a deep breath trying to calm down his anger. His whole body is trembling. I should feel afraid but today I want him to clear this uncertain fog between us. If he wants to end our marriage then he must confess it on my face. I am already wound and bleeding, a few more stabs wouldn't make much difference.

"I can't love you, Rain. Hell! I can't even accept you as my wife. Your sister has given me those deep scars which can never be healed by anyone, not even you." He sounds defeated and broken.

"I am not Roselie. Why can't you see the difference between us? I swear on my father whom I love the most in this world, Nicholas that I am not behind your money or your name. I just want my husband and his support. You can't love me, I accept it but at least respect me as a human being. You're nice to everyone except towards me. It hurts a lot, Nicholas." I sniff, my tears forcefully break away the dam I built before entering in this room.

He stares at me for a moment.

"I am sorry if my coldness hurts you, Rain but I won't change. Your sister has killed the man who used to believe in love and trust. I had never loved someone as deeply as I loved her or I still love her in a corner of my heart. You're a good person, Rain but not the one for whom my heart beats." He confesses breaking the last thread of my hope.

I feel my heart being stabbed by the sharpest dagger.

"You still love her?"I ask in a mere whisper.

"Perhaps..yes." He says.

I close my eyes to let the new tears fall.

"Okay then what do you want from me? I can't play the pretended wife for a long time, Nicholas. I have a heart and a life ahead of me. I can't spend it hoping that one day you would feel something for me. No, I am not such great person. I agree, I love you more than anyone has ever loved you, Nicholas. I love you to the extent of sacrificing my life for you but I am not able to bear your hatred or coldness. You want to get rid off me, right?" I ask wiping off my tears.

"Rain, please sorry..I didn't mean it in that way-" He tries to say something but I show him my palm.

"Its okay, Nicholas. I got my answer. Don't worry, I'll ask my Dad to prepare for a divorce in next five months as we almost completed the first month of our marriage. I'll free you from the burden of an unwanted and forced marriage." I say with a sad smile.

A flicker of guilt passes through his face but he doesn't say anything to soothe my pain.

"I am going for sight seeing and capture some pictures. Please do not worry for me. I'll probably have my dinner out. You can continue your important work. Good bye, Nicholas." I say and slam his door shut with force.

I grab my purse and phone before running out of the suffocating air of the place which made me realise the harsh truth of my marriage that-

It is a disaster!