Sun was shining brightly as Isla walked down in her comfy pajama . She saw Leo sitting on the kitchen stool, head hung low as he continued massaging his temples, his expression pained.
Isla made her way towards the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Leo haven't noticed her presence yet. She just wants to get water and go in her room again but it would be weird and rude to greet her husband.
It was their first morning together, in a same house, as a married couple but they aren't anywhere near to be called as couple.
" Good morning." She greeted with low , hesitant voice and was greeted with a curt nod from Leo, barely acknowledging her presence, eyes tightly shut, finger pressed rather forcefully. He was clearly in pain.
He was wearing a grey sweatpants and white shirt, looking effortlessly handsome.
Isla noticed how he was massaging his temples with a pained expression.
" Mom used to make me ginger tea when I had a headache." Words came out of her mouth before she could stop it . Leo glanced at her with a cocked eyebrow. " It helped with headache." She said, voice barely above whisper. " I could make that if you want." She added suddenly finding herself really stupid. Ofcourse he would have medication for hangover.
" It helps?" Leo asked and Isla was surprised that he even considered it .
" Yes." She said with a nod.
" Okay. Make it then." He replied, still massaging his temples. That is why he hates getting drunk, the aftermath is always painful.
Isla did as she was told, you can call her naive but she thinks that it is her fault that Leo has be in a bond called marriage with her.
Leo eyed her, he can't deny that she is beautiful, extremely beautiful. Curvy at appropriate point. Her plump lips are begging for attention. If circumstances were different, then she was surely a catch.
But now that she is his wife, he can't really register that feelings. Commitment is not something he adores, flings are more his thing, which he rarely has. You can say that he is married to his work. He can literally work for days without any break.
Born with a natural business mind he is tremendously good at it , he is not good when it comes to personal relationship. He certainly don't think that Isla, his wife, will ever get closer to his ice cold heart.
The fact that he has promised a dying person is something that bonds him. He has promised to provide a good life to Isla and he will do that, he has enough money anyway.
" Here." Isla said as she placed the cup of tea in front of him.
" Won't you want to continue your study?" Leo asked instead as he sipped the liquid , the spicy taste making him scowl.
Isla was silent for few moments, probably debating on what to say next. She hates that when it comes to Leo, she don't know how to speak words . He aura is so different from all the people she had met before.
" I dropped out of college. Mom was in the hospital and money weren't enough." She said, voice timid.Leo turned to look at her, gaze calculating.
" Would you like to continue studying?" He asked, his expression serious as he stare at his wife. Isla opened her mouth multiple times before replying.
" Ofcourse. I want to study." She replied.
" Then I'll arrange it." Leo said as he sipped the bitter, spicy liquid again.
On other hand, Isla eyes were wide, trying to calm herself. Did she heard right?
" What?"
" I said I'll take care of your study." Leo said with stern face as he eyes her, making her uncomfortable in her own skin.
" You don't have to." She said as she fidgeted with her fingers.
" But I want to." Leo said, again, sternly leaving no room for debate. " I had promised Jennifer to give you a better life and I am trying to do just that." He said.
Isla smiled at him and Leo wanted to admit that her smile is beautiful.
.........
Being intelligent and smart would get you nowhere when you go in the college with all students rich and arrogant.
That is what has happened to Isla. She had gotten scholarship into a amazing College, her dream University, which was immediately crushed into pieces when people around her started judging her for being the odd man out.
She never really had any friends there so she didn't miss going there .
Although, she has one childhood friend ,Mia, who is now happily married and is living a life with her amazingly romantic husband.
Isla misses her. They have been together through thick and thin. Mia was a rich kid that Isla had met in kindergarten. Surprisingly, the said girl was polite and so was her family.
Albeit being from opposite world, they were inseparable, until, Mia went to study in Japan and after months of dating her classmates, she Decided to get married at a young age of 19.
Isla was smiling as he remembered how Mia was happy when Oliver, her husband, finally proposed her with a diamond ring.
Through months , they aren't talking maybe because of completely different time zone or maybe because they both are busy with their own life.
Now that Leo had offered her to study, she can't help but be thankful although it hurts her pride to make someone else do something like this for her.
She is being naive, she knows it. But she can't help it . Even though Isla barely know Leo she can tell that he is a good soul underneath all those layers of arrogance.
As she laid awake on the bed, she can't help but think what her life holds now, will she ever be happy living with a complete stranger with whom she was forced to get married? Will they ever find a common ground or will they be happy with a divorce?
To be honest, divorce seems a reliable option as she doesn't see herself being happy with her husband.