The Unwanted Wife

I never imagined finding myself in this situation—forced into a marriage with a stranger to fulfill my parents' wishes. The idea was entirely unreasonable. Two years ago, Abi's parents tragically lost their lives in a horrific accident, and it was on the day of their funeral that I first met her. I must admit, she displayed remarkable resilience. She didn't shed a single tear throughout the funeral proceedings. Instead, she stood stoically by their graves, silently enduring the pain, undoubtedly attempting to maintain composure for the sake of everyone present.

My parents, knowing that she had no other family, willingly took her under their care. Our parents had been close friends, and they saw fit to arrange our marriage. I initially protested the idea, unlike Abi, who simply agreed due to her lack of alternatives.

And now here we were, bound in matrimony, devoid of any love. We entered into this union solely to please our parents, particularly to honor Abi's deceased parents. I had to come to terms with the fact that I had married a stranger, someone I knew nothing about. She wasn't even my type. She remained a stranger, and that's precisely how it would stay.

Abi'S P.O.V

"You can start next Monday if you'd like, Mrs. Turner," Weston said after our interview.

My face lit up with joy. "Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this job means to me," I expressed my gratitude, relieved that I had finally been accepted.

He smiled warmly. "You're very welcome, Mrs. Turner."

"Please, just call me Abi," I insisted.

He chuckled. "Sure thing, Abi." Weston walked me out of his office, bidding me farewell. I headed toward Bennett, waiting for me in the car.

Bennett glanced at me with curiosity. "You seem happy, Ma'am. I'm guessing you got the job?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! And guess what? I can start next week!"

"Congratulations, Ma'am. You deserve it," he complimented.

"Thanks, Bennett!"

As we arrived home, I entered the house with a wide grin plastered across my face. Finally, I had secured a job and could break free from the monotony of this place. I couldn't wait to start working on Monday.

Passing through the living room, I was taken aback to find Maverick sitting on the couch, watching TV. Shouldn't he be at the office? Well, I didn't really care. I was halfway up the stairs when I heard him call my name. I turned to see him standing near the staircase.

"Where were you?" he inquired.

"Wandering," I responded curtly.

"Where?"

"Somewhere."

"Where exactly?" Irritation tinged his voice.

I furrowed my brows. "Why do you want to know?"

"Answer me," he demanded.

Rolling my eyes, I retorted, "Why do you care?" He glared at me, clearly tired of my attitude. "If you must know, I went to town to secure a job. And guess what? I got it!" I cheered, intentionally aiming to annoy him further.

Continuing my ascent up the stairs, I was called out once again.

"A job? Where? And why do you even need a job?" Maverick's questions persisted.

I turned to face him. "You ask a lot of questions, don't you?"

He groaned and advanced towards me, positioning himself a step higher. "Don't play games with me, Abi. Just answer my questions."

Well, hearing my name roll off his tongue sounded surprisingly good. But back to the matter at hand.

"Why do you think I need a job? I want to escape this monotonous existence. I want to work and not be confined to this house, doing nothing," I responded, frustration seeping into my tone.

"You're not working. Quit your job right now," he ordered before heading to his room.

This time, I halted his departure. "Pardon me? I didn't ask for your opinion. My job has nothing to do with you. You're not my boss of mine!"

He remained composed, though his eyes emanated a chilling coldness. "I am your husband. I have control over every aspect of your life. Your job is my concern too. Therefore, you're not taking that job."

My anger flared. "My husband? Since when? Oh, right, only on paper, considering you don't even value this marriage as an honor to my deceased parents!"

I practically yelled at him, surprising not only him but myself as well. He appeared taken aback by my outburst, but he quickly composed himself. I was never one to raise my voice, especially not toward him. However, his mention of our marriage reminded me of my parents.

Attempting to calm my anger, I sighed. "I apologize for raising my voice. I didn't mean to yell at you. But please, I truly need this job. I want to work."

He remained silent, his gaze locked onto mine. For once, my heart skipped a beat. I wasn't accustomed to him staring at me like this.

Finally, he sighed. "Alright, you can work."

Excitement flooded my being. "Really?"

"But only for six months, initially. We'll reassess the situation afterward," he added, still observing me intently. Six months would suffice. As long as I could escape this suffocating house, I didn't mind.

"Now, go before I change my mind," he concluded.

Without a second thought, I rushed to my room, bursting with happiness. For the first time in a while, I felt a genuine sense of joy, knowing that something new was about to unfold in my life.