The first thing Regina felt was the pounding in her skull—a dull, vicious ache that sent pain down her spine. The second was the weight of something warm and firm gripping her wrist. A touch too familiar. A touch she already loathed.
Her eyes fluttered open, the room around her swimming in soft, dim lighting. She groaned, trying to move, but the pain in her head made her body weak.
"Stay still."
The voice was sharp, commanding. Daniel like.
Regina's gaze snapped to the source of her misery, her vision still unfocused, but she could see him. Sitting beside her. His sleeves rolled up, his fingers wrapped tightly around her wrist. His face was hard, like stone, but his eyes burned—hot, wild, and raging.
For a split second, she thought it might be concern.
Then, he opened his mouth.
"Do you have a goddamn death wish? Are you stupid or just unbelievably reckless?"
"You—" She swallowed back the sharp sting of pain in her head, her hand trembling as she touched the wet bandage wrapped around her temple. "You do not get to talk to me like that."
"Oh, really?" Daniel's laugh was humorless. "And how should I talk to you, then? Since nothing I say ever gets through that thick skull of yours?"
"I got hit by a stone, you insufferable bastard!" she snapped, eyes blazing. "And instead of making sure I was okay, your first instinct is to yell at me?"
"Because you don't listen!" Daniel roared, shoving a hand through his already disheveled hair. "You never fucking listen! If you had just stayed put like I told you, we wouldn't be having this conversation!"
Regina let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Oh, so this is my fault?!"
"Yes!" Daniel stood, looming over her. "You nearly stormed out of the damn car! You put yourself right in the face of danger, and now look at you!"
Regina saw red.
She threw the nearest thing at him—a pillow, unfortunately too soft to do any real damage. "You selfish, arrogant, controlling piece of shit!" she spat. "I wasn't going to sit there and do nothing while my family's company—"
"Your family's company is the reason you're even in this mess!" Daniel shot back, "In case you forgot, they practically hand-delivered you to me like a damn pawn to save their asses!"
Regina sucked in a sharp breath, her pulse roaring in her ears. "Shut up."
"Oh, no. You don't get to tell me to shut up, sweetheart. You are here, married to me, because your parents gambled with your life and sent you to me as a hostage."
Her chest heaved. "I know that, you son of a bitch!You think I don't know? You think I don't wake up every damn day knowing that I was sold off like some bargaining chip? You have no idea what it's like to be me! To be used, traded, thrown away like I don't matter! I hate this! I hate you! I hate every single thing about this goddamn arrangement!"
Daniel let out a sharp breath, his fingers flexing like he was trying to hold something in. "You done yelling?"
"Not even close." She shoved at his chest, barely making him move, but she didn't care. "You're a heartless bastard, Daniel. A cold, manipulative control freak who thinks he can order people around like they're his property."
Daniel caught her wrist before she could push him again, his grip firm. His breathing was heavy, his eyes dark. "And you are a reckless, stubborn brat who doesn't know when to stop," he bit out.
Regina mashed her teeth together. She was already tired.
"I want a divorce," she screamed, " I'm done. I can't keep living like this."
Daniel stared at her, "Divorce is not an option. You don't get to make decisions like that."
"You think you have control over me? You really think I'll just sit here like an obedient little wife? I want out, Daniel. And you can't stop me."
Daniel didn't respond and so, without a second thought, she got up from the bed and stormed across the room with a strength she didn't recognize herself. She reached the study table and threw all the papers onto the floor, She slammed her palms onto the desk, her body shaking with the effort to contain the storm inside her.
"Do your worst," she yelled, turning to look at him "Just do your worst, Daniel!"
"Y-You will pick that…."
"Leave. Just leave me alone."
Daniel stepped forward, his face void of any emotions. "It's my bedroom. This is my home and I'm not going anywhere."
Regina's breath hitched, a sharp pang of frustration gripping her chest. "It's my bedroom too, I'm your wife after all. So everything you own is mine."
She could see his jaw tighten, his nostrils flaring. But she didn't back down. "Leave, Daniel," she spat.
For a moment, he didn't move. But then, with a sharp exhale, he turned on his heel, his eyes still fixed on her as he stepped out of the room.
Regina stood there, breathless and trembling, her hands clenched into fists by her sides. She had done it. She had stood up to him. But a haunting realization hit her, that she had only won the battle, not the war.
*****
Regina barely slept.
Not because of the pain—though the dull, throbbing ache in her skull certainly didn't help—but because of him. Because of his words.
She was still fuming when the bedroom door creaked open.
She ignored it at first, keeping her back turned, eyes squeezed shut. Maybe if she pretended to be asleep, Daniel would get the hint and leave her the hell alone.
But then, the scent hit her.
Warm, rich, savory.
Her stomach twisted—whether in hunger or irritation, she didn't know.
A soft clatter. The sound of something being placed on the nightstand. Then—
"Eat."
Her eyes snapped open.
She turned her head slightly, glaring at him. Daniel stood by the bed, arms crossed, watching her like she was some unruly child he had to force-feed. In his other hand, he held a spoon.
"Get out," she muttered, rolling away from him.
The mattress dipped as he sat down.
"No," he said simply.
Regina tensed. "Daniel—"
A strong hand gripped her shoulder and forced her upright. Not roughly, but firmly. She gasped, blinking at him in disbelief.
"Sit up and eat," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Regina scowled. "Who made it?"
Daniel didn't even blink. "Does it matter?"
"Of course it matters!" she snapped. "What if you poisoned it?"
His lips twitched into a grin. "If I wanted you dead, sweetheart, I'd pick a much more interesting method."
Regina narrowed her eyes. "Charming."
Daniel dipped the spoon into the soup and brought it to her lips. "Open."
She folded her arms. "I can eat by myself."
"You had your chance to do that. Now I'm feeding you."
She glared at him. He stared right back at her.
Finally, with an irritated sigh, she leaned forward slightly, parting her lips just enough for him to slip the spoon in.
The warmth spread down her throat, rich and comforting.
She hated that it tasted good.
Daniel watched her swallow, then asked, "Does your head still hurt?"
Regina scoffed. "Obviously."
He hummed, pretending to inspect her face. "You can always get cosmetic surgery."
Her hand twitched. "Excuse me?"
He smirked. "You know, if the scar bothers you. A little touch-up here and there. Maybe fix your—"
"Fix what?" she cut in.
Daniel's smirk widened. "Nothing. You're a natural beauty, right?"
"Damn right I am." She lifted her chin. "Unlike you, I don't need enhancements."
His brows lifted slightly. "You sure about that?"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Daniel leaned in, elbows resting on his thighs as he tilted his head at her. "There are rumors."
Regina frowned. "What rumors?"
"That you had double eyelid surgery," he said casually. "PopBase ran an article on it last year. Some surgeon even claimed he 'recognized his work' on your face."
Regina stared at him, then let out a sharp laugh. "You believe that?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Should I?"
She smirked. "Go ahead. Check for yourself."
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake.
Daniel moved.
He leaned in, slowly, until his face was right there—so close she could see the flecks of blue in his dark eyes.
His fingers brushed a strand of hair from her face, and suddenly, the air felt too thick, too warm.
Regina swallowed. Her fingers curled into the blanket.
Daniel's gaze flickered between her eyes, studying them like he was searching for something.
She pushed him—gently, but firmly.
"Back off," she muttered.
Daniel didn't argue. He just smiled like he'd won something and pulled back, grabbing the spoon again.
He scooped up more soup and brought it to her lips.
This time, he didn't say anything.
And for some reason, that silence was even worse but at least, there was a truce…with soup.