Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
“They say all castles have some kind of history attached to them.
After all, they were built in a time we can only read about in books.
Except…
Some are so cold and dark that there is nothing left but the loneliness and misery that threatens to swallow you whole.
And the only way to escape your unfortunate fate?
Run as far away from it as possible.
Because even castles have souls that might wish to crush you.”
Diana
Diana
The rain taps on the car’s roof as we drive down the empty highway, and I look out the window, barely seeing anything since it’s pouring.
“Is the temperature comfortable, ma’am?” the driver, Timothy, asks, and I catch his reflection in the rearview mirror.
“It’s a bit cold outside, so if you need it, there is a blanket beside you.
We should reach our destination in five minutes.
” Despite his cheerful tone, his stoic expression doesn’t crack.
The guy must be in his sixties, with a gray beard, wiry hair, and various wrinkles marring his features. “Matilda is already waiting for you.”
“Matilda?”
“Yes. She takes care of the mansion. You can say we are all under her rule.” He skims his fingers through his whiskers. “She has a lot of strict rules that keep the mansion running.” He glances over his shoulder. “She despises chaos and has little patience for a mess.”
Matilda sounds like a pain in the ass, but I keep that bit to myself since my emotions have been all over the place for the past hour and a half.
After our short ceremony, where Rafael snapped a few photos and informed us about sending them to a few big gossip tabloids to spread the information faster, we got our marriage certificate.
Orion called for Elizabeth, who happens to be a nice woman, even if she doesn’t smile at all.
In a flash, she had a driver ready to take me to the Wrights’ family mansion.
The woman in a two-piece suit enters, carrying a white envelope, and gives it to the judge, who adjusts his jacket and frowns in confusion. “This is my thank you for helping us out on such short notice.” He grabs the envelope, looks inside, and shakes his head. “I’ve heard you enjoy fishing.”
“I do, but this is too much.” He taps the envelope. “I don’t need an expensive resort to indulge in my favorite hobbies.”
“Your wife might appreciate it. Fishing isn’t her favorite activity, is it? This way, you can both enjoy a little vacation without arguments.”
The judge smiles and nods. “Hard to argue with that. I’ll accept this gift, then.
Wishing you a happy married life, and I expect to be invited to the christening.
” He must read the shock on my face as he clicks his tongue.
“No need to fret, darling. If you don’t want any children, that’s fine too. I’m just joking.”
Rafael places his hand on the judge’s shoulder and points at the door. “Let me walk you out.” He salutes me. “Welcome to the family, Diana. It’s crazy and fucked up, but you might actually like it.”
Blinking in surprise, I mutter, “Thanks.” The cousins share a long look before Rafael and the judge exit the office.
“Elizabeth, please call Timothy. He will take Diana home.” Elizabeth types something on her tablet without missing a beat. “Also, we need to arrange movers to take care of her things.”
I’m so flabbergasted by the order that it takes me a second to react.
“I don’t want anyone going through my belongings.
Why can’t I go back home now and meet you once the movers come over?
” I prefer to seek solace in my own home, even with the landlord knocking on my door every other hour to remind me of the missed payments.
Father promised to cover that as part of our deal.
“You’re my wife, Diana, and you will live in my house. If you want to be there when the movers arrive, be my guest. As long as you’re my wife, you sleep where I do. Is that clear?”
“I have to pay my landlord for a few months. He’s expecting the money today, or he’ll throw my things away.” I wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole to avoid this embarrassing confession, as this man probably has no idea what it is like to struggle for money. “So I have to—”
“Elizabeth.”
“Consider it done, sir.”
His green eyes darken for whatever reason when they land on my hands, and I quickly put them behind my back, wondering if he judges my bare nails or something.
I didn't have time to put any color on them, but he’s probably used to more sophisticated manicures.
“I’ll take care of everything, and tomorrow, you can retrieve your stuff.
End of discussion. I’ve wasted enough time on this useless conversation as it is. ”
I didn’t even bother arguing, as my reaction to his touches and words caused enough havoc to hightail my ass from there and use the first opportunity to escape his company.
“Do you have a lot of people working at the house?”
Despite his stoic demeanor, Timothy is chatty as hell.
“Yes. Most of us were hired by Orion’s late mother, Miss Angelica.
She was a beautiful soul.” I hear traces of sadness in his words, and it rubs me the wrong way.
“However, we hired some new maids and gardeners. Our families have worked for the Wrights for generations, so we have our houses built on their land.” He winks at me, and I force a smile for him.
“We’re all very close. Don’t worry, ma’am.
You won’t ever feel lonely. Our job is to make your life easier. ”
Right.
I grew up with staff as well, and while they make sure to stay away from you, they always lurk in the background, and you learn that walls have ears too.
It’s also a chess game in a sense since their alliances depend on how you treat them, and some of these alliances might be beneficial and vice versa.
If you cross one of them, they can make your life unbearable.
Judging by the information I have so far, they really loved Orion’s mother, and this loyalty transferred to him, which means they would keep an eye on me for him.
I won’t be alone, but I will be lonely, no matter what Timothy says.
Another thing I decide not to comment on.
“That’s nice to hear,” I reply, just as my phone vibrates in my purse. I snatch it out, groaning inwardly at my father’s name flashing on the screen.
Did you marry him?
Why aren’t you answering your phone?
If you got cold feet at the last minute, I will never forgive you, Diana.
Call me whenever you see these messages, and I expect better behavior coming forward.
Does he really think I care about what he expects?
My father can go and take a hike for all I care.
The car stops abruptly just as the driver announces, “We’re here.
” Through the wipers working furiously on the windshield, I see iron gates and several security guards wearing raincoats.
One of them whistles, and they all step away as a screeching sound follows and the gates open.
Timothy flies inside, getting on the narrow asphalt road lit by countless lamps that seem to glow from the ground.
Rolling down my window and ignoring the rain tapping on my nose, I plaster myself against the door and study the environment opening up to me.
The neatly cut, shimmering grass covers the vast land, filled with various, endless rose bushes scattered across the property, the flowery scent floating in the air and tickling my nose. They all bloom so vividly that they almost don’t seem real. It must be a crime to cut them off.
The magnificent garden exists for the roses alone, it seems, creating a rather magical feeling despite the thunder shaking the sky and casting gloom, somehow only adding to its charm.
As we drive farther onto the property, several marble statues flash in the distance, depicting ancient Greek gods and goddesses by their attire.
The one right in the middle, surrounded by red roses, stands out to me the most—a fierce goddess holding a bow and aiming an arrow straight ahead as the wind blows her hair back.
The sculptor carved her features so well that I can feel her protecting the property, as if sending a warning to anyone who entered.
Artemis.
The goddess of the hunt, wilderness, wild animals, the moon, and childbirth. Fiercely protective of those who deserve it, but she could easily destroy those who cross her.
She’s the beloved daughter of Zeus, who asked him never to marry her off to anyone. And the only reason I know all these facts about her?
My mother was obsessed with Greek mythology, harboring books on the subject and collecting all the information she could find. That’s the reason I got my name.
She named me after Artemis because Diana is the goddess’s Roman name. She hoped that with this name, I would earn my father’s love. I could never understand her delusions, considering they met when she worked as a high-end escort and fell in love with a married man who gave zero shits about her.
“Smile, my darling,” Mommy says as she finishes braiding my hair and runs her fingers over my purple dress, sighing.
“Look how pretty you are. I’m sure he will like it.
” She points at our reflection in the mirror.
“We even have the matching bows on our dresses.” She taps on her hip bone.
“We’ll go to the park today and spend the entire day with Daddy.
Are you happy about this, my darling?” I nod, despite my heart sinking, because Daddy is never happy about spending time with us.
He usually shouts at Mommy, pushes her away, and ignores me. On rare occasions, I get to eat ice cream with the security guards while they continue arguing.