Chapter 6 The Bruise And Pain

• CHLOE woke up, feeling a bit of pain in her scalp and her face. Even her arm where Liam dragged her roughly has some bruises from his tight grip. As her skin was white as snow like Elle Fanning, the part where Liam slapped left a tiny swollen bruise. She sighed in front of the mirror. Liam might be harsh on her since day one of their marriage, but there's still kindness in his heart.
• She knew she passed out and Liam was the one who carried her into her room. Though she doesn't have any clothes on, the man covers her with the comforter. And she's happy with it. Maybe she just needs a little time to tame him. She will do everything to please him—even if it means that she has to receive all the punishments he gives.
• She exited the bathroom and get dressed before she went down to prepare their breakfast. Even if Liam despises her to death, the man still ate what she prepared. And she's grateful for that. It might not be easy for her to sink in that Liam knows how to harm other people, but she will try her best to endure everything. He may be harming her, but she believes that he can't kill her. Liam will never go to that state.
• But she feared how he did last night. And maybe because she can't handle the anxiety at that time, thus, she passed out. But why does Liam need to cuff her hands and let her wear a blindfold? At that time, she realizes, as her memory brought her back to the things inside that room, Liam might be a sadist. But why? How?
• Right after she prepared everything, he saw Liam entering the dining hall. Forgetting the things, he has done last night, she greeted him, "Good morning."
• Liam just looked at her and pulled a chair. She knew Liam doesn't want to see her while she was eating—that's what he told her yesterday. 'I need peace when I'm eating. At least, you gave me this chance," he told her yesterday.
• She then went to the living room and get the vacuum cleaner. It was just seven in the morning and it was Sunday. She wonders if Liam has something to do outside or just stays in his office.
• When she finishes cleaning the carpeted floor. She then went back to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
• She's okay with the cold treatment from Liam. And never complained ever since they live under the same roof. But if it comes to Stella, Liam must know that she was against it.
• But what if they will meet outside and do things behind her back? she sighed and shook her head at that thought.
• She was wiping the plates when Liam went near her and leaned on the center aisle. She was surprised at first but later, she got back to her senses.
• "D-Do you need anything?" she asked, almost stuttering.
• Liam gazed at her for seconds. She saw how the man's eyes scrutinize her from head to toe. She looked at herself. She's just wearing a white V-neck shirt and shorts. She saw how his forehead wrinkled when his gaze stopped on her face—particularly at the bruise near her lips.
• Chloe doesn't need to throw complaints about it. It's the fruit of her selfishness. And she can't grant Liam's favor in the first place.
• "Theo will be coming at nine. Could you conceal that irritating bruise on your face?" he asked... more of a demand.
• She nodded. "Anything more, that you want to say?" she asked and put the plate on the dish rack and get a new one to wipe.
• "About Stella. She knew that I'm married but she was willing to wait for our divorce. If you don't want to file for us, then I will be the one to file—"
• "Then I won't sign it," she replied as she looked directly into his green rare eyes.
• A sly smirk formed on his lips. "Then I will punish you until you beg—"
• "Oh. Like the one you did to me in your playroom?" she raised a brow. "Fine. Just don't let your whore step into this house—" she didn't finish what she was about to say when Liam crossed their distance and pulled her hair, again.
• "What did you say?" he asked through gritted teeth.
• Despite the pain in her scalp, she manages to look into his eyes. "Stella is a whore."
• Right after she realizes it, Liam's hand landed on her cheek as he slapped her. Her face moved to the other side as tears started to fall and the plate fell on the floor and gave a cracking sound.
• "How dare you accused her of that word?" He stated and pushed her away from him. She gasped when her back bumped into the edge of the tiled lavatory. "Ugh."
• Liam harmed her again. And she knew it will not be the last. He will repeat it day by day and she has to prepare for everything.
• She wiped her tears and glared at him.
• Liam scoffed. "Now, you're glaring at me?" A sly smirk formed on his lips as he looked at her. "Once Theo left, I will see you in that room," he said and Chloe knows that. "Stella will arrive here on Tuesday and you can't do anything about it," he declared and left her.
• She composes herself and picked up the pieces of the cracked plate on the floor. Her back throbs in pain because of the impact when Liam pushes her but she just ignored it.
• She went back to her room to take a shower again and apply concealer all over the bruises that Liam gave.
• THEO, Liam's friend arrived before nine. Chloe smiled at him when the man went inside their house. The man greeted her and kiss her on the cheek.
• "You look alluring, Chloe," Theo said when he moved away. "Liam's damn lucky to have you," he added.
• Chloe just smiled and nodded. I hope he knew that she thought
• She told him to take a seat while waiting for Liam. What took him so long to went down? she asked herself.
• "So, how're your days with Liam?" Theo asked as he sat down on the couch.
• She then sat in his opposite direction. She let out a smile. "All good. How about you, when will you plan to settle down?"
• The man grinned. "I'm waiting for a girl that will drag me into a marriage like what you did. Just kidding," he said. "Besides I don't know how to love. Unlike Liam who's deeply madly in love with Stella— Oh. sorry," Theo uttered when he realizes something.
• She smiled and said, "it's okay. But when you say you don't know how to love, that's impossible." She shook her head.
• "Trust me. I don't," Theo replied and chuckled.
• "Do you love your mom?"
• "I don’t have a mom. I never meet my mom."
• Her lips formed an O. "I'm sorry about that. Okay, do you love your father?" But Theo just shook his head. "How about your sister? Brother? Your relatives?"
• But Theo just shook his head. "Liam and his mom are the only families I know. And of course," he smiled at her, "you, as Liam's wife."
• "How about Stella?"
• Theo threw a meaningful smile and shrugged his shoulder.
• She was about to talk again when she saw Liam walking towards them. Theo turned to him and stood up. Liam approaches him and they give a bro hug. Afterward, Liam went closer to her and sat beside her.
• She smiled at him but Liam just looked at her before he gazes at Theo.
• "Dude, you look way more handsome now. Seems like married life suits you and the lovely lady beside you seem to treat you beautifully. So, be nice always," Theo said and winked at Liam.
• "Can we just talk about why you are here?" Liam said seeming irritated which made Theo laugh and shook his head.
• Liam stood up and looked at her. "Prepare us some snacks. I will just show him something," he said, calmly.
• She then nodded her head and flashed a smile even if she didn't get one back from him.
• Liam and Theo then left the living area and went to the second floor.
• Chloe's wondering what could Liam want to show Theo but just shook her head and went to the kitchen to prepare their snack.
• WHEN Liam and Theo step onto the second floor of their house. Theo started to talk.
• "I hope you're treating Chloe nicely, dude," Theo said.
• They walked to the left side of the floor and they both stopped at the black door.
• "I want to change the lock into a technical one using my fingerprint and a set of codes," he said, ignoring what Theo stated.
• "Are you being dominant with her? This is your playroom—the room of your weird collections," Theo winced with that, "I hope you didn't bring her—"
• "I already brought her here."
• "Why? You could have just taken her on the bed and made love to her—"
• "I don't love her." He opened the door widely as they went in.
• Theo wanders his eyes on every corner of the place. "You should've not started it. "
• "She provoked me. And it's the only—"
• "No. Dude. If you want her to give back the life you've wanted. You should treat her nicely and you will be shocked one day that she already gave you what you want. Not in the way that you will harm her. If your in-laws will know about it—especially your mom, they may put you in jail—"
• "She already agrees to submit herself to me."
• Theo's eyes widened as his mouth gaped in awe. "W-What?"
• "She's not dumbed not to realize about this place. And I will never change my mind to make her life miserable. Don't worry, she can't talk about this with her parents or to mom—"
• "I saw a tiny bruise on her face and arm. I worked with the FBI for a year now and I was trained to be open-eyed and that was a bruise from you, right?"
• Liam nodded as he sighed. "I don't know, man. But every time I asked her to free me and she declines, my body acted first before I just realize it."
• "I'm working with the law and if you will reach that state that you almost kill her—"
• "I'm not a killer."
• Theo chuckled. "I will be the one to drag you in jail, dude."
• Liam shook his head and they both exited the room.
• "Learn to control, man. Being dominant, you have to control yourself," he said as they went down. "Well, you said that she agrees with you, then I will not stop you from doing it, I will just ask you one question."
• Liam looked at him and stopped walking.
• "Are you sure about it?"
• "It's the only way—"
• "There are lots of ways." Theo shook his head and heaved a sigh, "anyway, I will be on a mission for months and I can't visit you." He tapped Liam's shoulder. "Think about what you do countless times before you act. Chloe's a hot chick, if you can't love her, let me court her—" Theo then received a punch directly to his stomach.
• "What the fuck, dude?" he grunted. "I'm just kidding. And I thought you don't like her? But why do I have this feeling that you don't want to let her—" Theo didn't finish what he was about to say when Liam gave a light slam in his back.
• "You're a playboy, Theo."
• "Said the one-woman man who turns into a sadist," Theo said and grinned.
• Liam tapped Theo's shoulder. "Just the basics, Theo. Just the basics."