Chris' POV
The sun streamed through the window, its rays dancing across Lily's sleeping form. She looked peaceful, her body still and relaxed as she slept. For a moment, I simply watched her, marveling at the way the light played upon her features, the delicate curves of her face, the gentle rise and fall of her chest.
I slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Lily as I made my way to the wardrobe. I picked out my clothes and decided to get ready for the day. I got into the shower the water falling on my skin, the heat a welcome relief after the long night. I let the spray beat against my skin, letting the water washing away all the bad energy.
Drying off, I stood in front of the mirror, my face staring back at me. I reached for the razor, running it over my face with slow, deliberate strokes.
As I buttoned up my shirt and tied my tie...I stared at the tie which stared back at me...Nah not today, I tossed it back into the cupboard.
I made my way downstairs, the house waking up around me. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of the news playing in the background. I guess that was Mum's doing.
In the kitchen, I found Vivian and other servants bustling around, the counters laden with various ingredients for breakfast. She glanced up as I entered the room, her eyes bright and inquisitive. "Good morning, sir," she said, her voice cheery and upbeat...a couple of other servants also greeted.
I nodded, my mind still grappling with the events of the last few days. "Morning," I replied, my voice a bit gruff.
As I moved towards the stove, the smell of pancakes filled the room, a reminder of the pancakes that mum and I had shared just days before.
I poured myself a cup of coffee, the warm liquid jolting my senses. As I took a sip, Vivian's eyes shifted towards me, a hint of concern in her gaze.
She cleared her throat, the sound piercing the silence. "Sir," she said, her voice soft and cautious. "Everything all right?"
I paused, my hand tightening around the mug. "Everything's fine, Vivian," I said, my words a bit brief
She nodded, but her eyes remained on me, a sense of uncertainty hanging in the air. "Just let me know if you need anything," she said. Okay? What was that about?
I made my way back to the bedroom, my footsteps echoing through the hallways. As I approached the door, I could hear Lily moving about inside, the rustle of sheets and the gentle thump of her feet on the floor.
I paused, my hand on the doorknob, my mind racing. She was lost in thought her eyes fixed on the window...I never actually knew what she was always thinking about,
"You're finally awake," she seemed a bit startled as she looked up to see me leaning by the door. Her gaze lingered on me, her eyes searching my face.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I arched my brow as she was still staring.
"I'm sorry....I was just lost in thought....G...good morning," she greeted in a polite yet distant voice.
This girl....I shook my head as I glanced round the room not knowing exactly what I was looking for...then out of nowhere she asked if I had changed her,
"How can you ask me a question like that," I didn't want to tell her that I tried changing her or that j had seen her in her undergarments, if not she would feel really uncomfortable...so I just decided to tell her a white lie.
"I asked one of the female servants to do it," I locked eyes with her making sure my face was expressionless so she couldn't read my eyes...I heard women could tell when men lied and I didn't want her to find out.
"Are you forgetting this is a contract marriage?" I tried to give her reasons why I shouldn't touch her.
"We're not supposed to touch each other....unless it's necessary...just like yesterday," I looked away, I didn't want to her to notice any softness in my eyes. Yesterday, my excuse to hold her close was the photo shoot...I'm pretty sure that'll never happen again.
Her expression remained unchanged, her lips set in a thin line. "I appreciate your concern for my modesty....but I wish you had asked me first" she said, her tone curt and dismissive.
What was the woman even saying? Did she expect me to wake her up so she could change?
"What?! You were sleeping...was I suppose to wake you up and tell you to change?" I glared at her as she quivered in fear.
"I....." Now I was mad...I wasn't in the mood to hear any excuse she was going to bring up.
"Mmm maybe you're right....maybe I was being too nice to you...yeah do me a favour and remind me never to help you again till this whole thing is over," I turned to leave...there was no way this marriage was going to work...I was sure of it.
"Oh and....hurry up and get down...breakfast is ready," I said without looking at her before heading down the stairs.
Who would have thought she'd be so ungrateful...I expected her to say a thank you but all she did was asked me why I changed her. Women, such confusing creatures.
I moved to the dining table, the chairs scraping against the floor. As I sat down at the dinning table waiting to be served, I noticed my mother who was watching the news earlier decided to join me, her hair neatly arranged in a bun and her face a mask of concern, entered the room. She moved towards the dining table, her steps light and measured, and took the seat next to me.
I glanced up, our eyes meeting for a brief moment. "Good morning mum...Have you eaten?" I asked, a faint smile appeared on my lips.
"Good morning," she said, her voice soft and melodic. "No I was waiting for you,"
"Are you feeling well?" she asked, her eyes drifting from me to her empty plate.
I shrugged, the gesture noncommittal. "I'm fine," I said, my voice returning to its previous flatness.
My mother's gaze remained on me, her eyes searching for answers that I was not willing to provide.
As the silence stretched between us, the atmosphere in the room seemed to grow heavier, the air itself thick with unspoken words and emotions.
My mother broke the silence, her voice gentle but insistent. "Something is wrong," she said, her hand reaching out to touch my arm. "Please, tell me what it is."
I shifted in my seat, my gaze dropping to the table. "It's nothing," I murmured, my words a half-truth.
My mother's expression faltered, the lines around her eyes deepening with concern.
As if sensing the tension in the room, Josie....our cook entered with a stack of pancakes, their golden hue and sweet aroma doing little to dispel the thick atmosphere.
She placed the platter on the table, setting out each plate with a practiced efficiency.
"Breakfast is served," she said, her voice steady and professional.
I glanced up at her, my eyes flickering with gratitude, but my expression remained neutral.
My mother reached out, placing a hand on Josie's arm. "Thank you," she said, her voice sincere and kind.
As Josie retreated from the dining room, I heard the bedroom door open and close, the sound of Lily's footsteps approaching. Lily appeared at the top of the stairs, her hair a little damp and her face flushed from the warmth of the shower. She was wearing a simple sweater and a pair of jeans...she looked so casual in that outfit as she made her way down the stairs but that didn't mean she wasn't pretty. Chris! You're supposed to be mad at her, I mentally palmed my forehead.