Chapter 10 - Daria
The other side of the bed was empty when I woke up, and despite myself, a barb of disappointment took root in my chest.
I didn't know why. It didn't make any sense.
The night before hadn't exactly been a pleasant one—not with Ivan making more demands of me, forcing me to sleep in the same bed as him, and taunting me like he had a right to after everything.
He was the one who forced me to marry him. He kept me around when he didn't need to, yet he was taking it out on me as if it were the other way around.
And as much as he held what I had done over my head, he still forced us to exist in the same house.
I didn't know if he understood how twisted that was, but he didn't leave me much choice.
While the sun streamed in through the cracks of the blinds, letting me know it was getting later in the morning, I couldn't help but replay everything back in my head.
The way he looked irritated when I prepared to go back to the spare bedroom. How he pinned me to the wall with his hand on my jaw and his thigh between my legs. The tension burned between us while he looked down at me.
At that moment, I contemplated how worthwhile my resistance was...if giving in to him would completely compromise me, or if I'd regret it.
Regardless of the consequences, that closeness between our bodies had me internally risking it all. He held me in that limbo, wondering if he'd take that leap or not.
But he never did. He was being an ass on purpose, keeping me on the edge without following through with anything. I shouldn't have expected any different, but the way he teased me and got my hopes up to some degree drove me crazy.
Ivan was toying with me and I knew it, but a small part of me still couldn't deny how tempting it had been.
But either way, he was a problem, and it was in my best interest to remember that.
Just thinking about the way he handled me was enough to shift my faint disappointment into irritation all over again.
He had been cruel, and if he meant to keep his word, then I could only expect it to get worse.
When I got tired of thinking about it, I pulled myself out of bed, went to the ensuite, and showered, letting the hot water ease away some of my tension.
By the time I was done, stepping out of the bathroom with the towel wrapped around my body, I remembered I wasn't in the spare room where those clothes had been. I didn't have anything in the master bedroom.
Sighing, I went to brave the shameful walk down the hall, but the door opened before I could even reach it.
I jumped, but relaxed ones Veronica knocked lightly and poked her head in.
"Oh good, you're up," she hummed, pushing her way in while carrying several designer clothing bags. She struggled slightly from how big they were, but once she was inside the room, she casually set the bags on the bed.
My brows furrowed slightly at the sight, and I took a few steps toward the bed, still holding the towel against me. "What is all of this?"
"They're from Ivan. He figured you could use some new things," she said simply, pulling a tablet out of one of the bags. She held it out for me. "It seems I arrived right on time too...here, he said you can buy whatever else you might need."
My expression shifted to one of disbelief while I took the tablet with my free hand. I lifted a brow instead. "Really...anything?"
"Well, anything clothing-related. He handled some of the basics, but if there's anything more intimate you need, or if something catches your eye, then don't hesitate," Veronica explained while carefully making the bed and organizing the bags on top. "Fair warning, he'll be able to track what websites you visit. I'd advise against reaching out to anyone."
Her words were a cold reminder of my reality, knowing it wouldn't matter anyway. Even if I could, who would I contact for help?
I sighed and placed the tablet on the bed. "Got it...that's not really an option for me anyway."
When I met her gaze, I noticed how her eyes softened slightly as she nodded, then started pulling some of the clothes out, folding them neatly.
A beat of silence lingered between us while I tried to find something to say. While I didn't know her very well, there was something so disarming about Veronica that I couldn't help but feel comfortable around her, and she was the only company I had as of late that I didn't mind.
Pulling in a breath, wanting to get out of the towel, I reached for the contents of one of the bags and started pulling items out.
The bags were relatively full, all with luxury brands I recognized.
While my brother had money and could easily buy similar pieces, he never bought them for me. Instead, I wore ordinary clothes and had to watch while he had name-brand things for himself.
It made me feel strange holding a single shirt worth the same as someone's rent. I couldn't deny how nice the material felt, at least.
"Thank you, by the way..." I managed to say, glancing up at Veronica while she helped lay everything out for me to see. "For bringing all of this. And for the painkiller yesterday."
At my gratitude, she let a small smile settle on her lips, and she nodded. "You're welcome. I just want you to feel a bit more comfortable here."
The sentiment stirred something in me, and I found myself mirroring her expression, even if there was some sadness in it too. "That's a lot more than I can say for anyone else."
As our eye contact lingered, I had the feeling she wanted to say more, but she nodded instead, seemingly shaking it off.
"Anyway, I'll leave you to it. Let me know if you need anything."
After I acknowledged her offer, Veronica made her way out of the room and closed the door behind her.
Once I was alone, I took a deep breath and looked through the clothes until I found a pair of patterned slacks and a cream-colored top that felt vaguely business casual despite how I didn't have anywhere to be. Either way, I wasn't going to deny how nice they felt on, or how it suited my figure.
All the while, my suspicion lingered, wondering what Ivan was up to.
Was he genuinely just taking care of my needs, or was he trying to further some sort of plan of his? I couldn't think of any devious motives he could have in buying me clothes, but it still ate at me anyway.
It was difficult for me to believe it was a gesture of good faith given how furious he had been with me, yet, I wasn't in the position to deny those clothes. Not when I didn't have anything else.
That anger I had for him still lingered in my chest over it all, but with the outfit on and the tablet in hand, I made my way downstairs.
Soon enough, a colorful breakfast was placed in front of me while I scrolled through the various luxury stores I had access to.
Despite it all, I figured some retail therapy couldn't hurt, especially if he was giving me full reign of his credit card. In a way, spending his money felt like the slightest bit of revenge I could manage at the moment.
***
The day passed by slowly while I roamed the house, given the chance while Ivan was out doing god knows what.
While I knew his family were obviously the leaders of a crime syndicate, I was curious about what his day-to-day life looked like when he was gone. What he did and how he contributed to their business.
But of course, I wasn't about to come out and ask him that. He would likely assume I was looking for some kind of weakness to exploit, or something ridiculous like that.
In between trying to keep myself busy with whatever I could find, my mind wandered back to the clothes he bought me and how it still didn't sit right.
Just when it was starting to eat at me, the front door opened and Ivan walked through the foyer with confident, decisive steps.
He rounded the corner, entering the living room where I was sitting idly, half reading a book I didn't really care about. Ivan looked me over while he undid the cuffs of his button-down with a finesse that caught my attention.
"I see the clothes got to you without issue."
With him bringing it up first, there was no way I was about to drop it.
Setting the book aside, I looked at him pointedly. "Why? Why'd you buy it all for me?"
He gave me a look that seemed to say it should be obvious, then a quiet huff passed his lips. "You didn't exactly have anything else to wear, but I don't need to remind you of that fact."
I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Still...you didn't need to buy such expensive things. If I'm your prisoner, then why didn't you get me cheap clothes instead?"
He scoffed at that. "I won't have my wife wearing rags, regardless of you being my prisoner. Consider it a bonus of having your status upgraded."
Despite him using the word 'wife' so casually, his making light of it all irked me.
"You think this is funny?"
"Somewhat, yes," Ivan murmured, crossing his arms over his chest, making his muscles flex shamelessly. "But more so than that, I'm wondering why I can't do something nice without you questioning my intentions."
I couldn't tell if he was playing dumb or if he genuinely didn't understand my suspicion, but either way, I scowled at him. "You can't be serious."
"I'm incredibly serious. You should thank me, not question me."
That only made it worse.
"So what, you suddenly want me to think you're the good guy?"
He really was giving me whiplash. It seemed impossible to try and keep up with him.
Ivan looked unimpressed by my words, and he shook his head before scrubbing a hand over his mouth. "I don't care whether you think I'm the good guy or not. It doesn't matter to me either way."
Even if the response was still somewhat biting, it was more tepid than I expected, like he was holding back.
I forced out a breath, unsure of how to tread. "And what about my phone? Do you care enough to give it back?"
He cocked a brow at that, studying me for another moment. "Alright, your phone...you'll get that back when you've earned it," he murmured, letting the corner of his lip pull slightly as he continued, "If you earn it, that is."
That smugness made me bite my tongue to stop myself from snapping and making things worse.
The gesture of him buying me luxury clothes was surprisingly, and suspiciously, nice. Even if I didn't think I owed him anything, I didn't want to blow it into an all-out fight.
Still, that irritation brewed within me all over again, only given the faintest relief when Ivan chuckled and left the room. At the very least, I didn't have to look at him while I stewed about how ridiculous it all was.
On my own in the living room once again, still not having a clear answer, I didn't know what to make of it, or how to feel about Ivan's vagueness.
He was both generous and an ass, and trying to figure him out was giving me a migraine.