Valeria sat in her room quietly. She had questions, a lot of them, but she didn't ask. Why? No one answered when she was a child, when she grew and so, no one would answer her now. Even if they did, she didn't really care anymore.
She threw herself in the soft mattress and allowed her thoughts to wander. It would've been easier if she left this place but she couldn't. This was an order from her grandparents.
It was obvious at this point that she was very obedient to her grandparents and she had her reasons.
She wasn't allowed to work either so she had a lot of free time in her hands. She knew it was a way for her not to get too independent and leave. It was fine, as long as her peace wasn't destroyed.
She looked around the room and frowned at the thought of sharing it with another person. She didn't know why she got married and, she didn't want to know. It would be too tiring to know and not able to do anything about it. So, why bother knowing?
She shifted to the side. Liam knew that she couldn't get pregnant but she didn't know how. Her grandparents wouldn't casually tell such a thing, so how?
"Shall I ask?" She whispered, "But what will I do then? It's better to just ignore it."
"Ignore what?" Liam, who had just gotten in, asked. Valeria was startled,
"It's none of your business."
"Tsk, I'm your husband."
"What does that mean? That just because you're my husband you have a right to know everything?"
"You jump into conclusions just because of your past grudges?" He chuckled, "I meant that we should share our secrets as we are married."
"You haven't shared anything."
"You never asked," he paused, allowing the silence to take over before he spoke again, "I do have a secret, a big one. I'll share it, since you're my wife. But, if you tell me something in return."
"What do you want to know?"
"Do you want to be the next CEO of Riji Corps?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't want to be entangled with those fools."
"What if I tell you I can make you the CEO without you doing too much work?" He smirked, "After all, I married into your family hence you should be our provider."
"It's impossible."
"Just agree to it and you'll see. I have my ways and if you don't agree, one of your relatives will get it and we'll starve to death." It was true. If one of her relatives got it, she would be immediately thrown out of the house with nothing but the clothes she'll be wearing.
"Say I agree, what's in it for you?"
"The chance to live a carefree life. I've been working my whole life, I want to taste leisure."
"Okay then, I'll agree. However, I don't have an heir. They won't be convinced."
"Leave that to me."
"What do you mean? Adoption?"
"Remember that big secret I have?" He asked and she nodded. He sighed, "I can get pregnant."
"Sorry?" She thought she didn't hear right. How could he say he could get pregnant?
"I can get pregnant. I don't know how or why but I can."
"But how is that biologically possible?" She looked at him weirdly. It made him uncomfortable, would she be disgusted by him like all the rest he told? What was he thinking?
"I don't know," he shrugged, his earlier confidence slipping off. He closed his eyes ready to hear her throw insults but instead,
"Wow! Amazing!" She stood from the bed and walked towards him. "How did you find out?"
"I was taken to the hospital when I was two. That's when the doctor made a wonderful discovery." He didn't seem to like this story.
Suddenly, he was pulled into a hug. He gaped, not sure why she hugged him, but then relaxed into the hug.
Maybe it's because she knew the feeling of being belittled since you were odd.
"The doctors have never understood why I can't give birth. They say my reproductive system is different, will it get you pregnant?" It was a weird question from an even weirder topic.
"We'll see," he said and pulled away, ready to give out his plans for taking over her grandparents' company.
When he spoke to the maid, he got her to spill every single detail the servants knew about this family.
In his years of being a servant he knew one thing, servants were the main source of gossip. That's why he approached one and most probably made a permanent 'friend'.
One thing Liam was sure of, he was never allowing himself to get pregnant. No way! The 'we'll see' was just something to avoid more questions, and Valeria could somehow tell.
"It's a good plan but don't put so much hopes in it," she nodded after listening to his plans.
"First, I need more info on everyone since a certain someone avoided them all," he threw her a gaze.
She chuckled before she asked, "How did my grandparents find you?" It was a serious question and she could tell it affected him by his sad eyes.
"It's a long boring story."