FLASHBACK
The carriage shook as it rode, on its way to Blackthorne Manor. The weather was gloomy and way below the usual sunny temperature in Valemere. But it had nothing to do with the coldness in the carriage of the Lord of Valemere.
Lord Lucian Blackthorne, Lord of Valemere, sat with his legs crossed and a cold look plastered on his face as he stared at the girl before him.
The girl sat with her head low. Her posture seemed like she was crying or at least sobbing or something, but it was definitely not that.
She was beautiful. Her chestnut hair cascaded in gentle waves, catching the light with a warm, honeyed glow that seemed almost magical. Her emerald green eyes, though hollow, had this hidden glow in them that made you feel lost.
Her pink plump lips that....
Her beauty was ethereal. And the red dress she was wearing simply added to her beauty, skyrocketing it off the charts. She looked beyond magical.
But the man across her sat unfazed by it all. After all, it was nothing but a facade. A deception. A pretense. That he fell for!
Only the thought of him falling victim to such made him so mad that he just wanted to....
Lucian sighed heavily before looking at her, his gaze geavy with hidden anger. "Did you plan this too?" He asked, expecting her to look at him pitifully and deny her despicable acts, trying to gain his sympathy. That's what they all did, right?
But to his surprise, she simply glanced at him with those dark empty eyes, leaving him momentarily lost, before returning to her initial position.
Lucian blinked. What the hell was that? Was that a new strategy? Was this what she was planning all along? She was planning to seduce him with those eyes of hers?
And he fell for it for a second there. But who could blame him? This temptress was wearing the face of the woman he loved! And his woman is off in a carriage on the way to her matrimonial home with another man!
Why were the sisters of fate being so cruel to him?! Was this the punishment for all his deeds?!
Lucian frowned at the thought.
Rhia, who was trying her best to ignore anything and everything around her, couldn't help but sense the displeasure coming from across. She looked at Lucian only to catch the unpleasant frown on his face as he looked at her.
Why was he frowning? Was it because she had ignored him before? But that was only because she didn't feel the need to reply to a question she had answered a thousand times before. And to the same person.
Should she clear things up? It would be better if she did. She would be living with this man for the rest of her life and she didn't want to mysteriously die in her sleep.
"Ahem, Did I -—"
"Whatever gain you think you're getting from this marriage is nothing but an illusion".
Rhia frowned. What gain? What was he talking about? "Excuse me?"
"The title. It's benefits. All the things you think you'll be getting from this marriage. It won't happen", Lucian explained. But his explanation only made this more confused.
Since when did she talk about benefits? Or the title? She didn't even want things marriage. She was forced into marrying this cruel man. All she wanted was a normal life and a normal family.
But all she got was a rented life and a shameless family who wouldn't hesitate to sell her if they were broke. And that's exactly what they did. They forced her into this arranged marriage all so they could keep up the reputation as the perfect parents with amazing daughters.
One daughter was marrying the Lord of the land and the other a well respected Duke. The Harcourt family seemed like the perfect family to be in.
So, why appreciate this marriage or even think of benefits when she should be thinking of ways of escaping this prison.
"You are the Lady of the Land in name only. And even that can only be temporary. The true title belongs to someone else. Someone you forcefully pried away from me.
So, don't think you've stolen what rightfully belongs to her. Just deem yourself lucky that I haven't cut off your head and ripped out your heart", Lucian spat.
Rhia simply looked at him blankly before turning her face to the window.
At least today, even the world felt her pain.
.....
PRESENT TIME
"Is that where the Lady of the Land sits?"
I closed my eyes as I pulled myself away from my memories. Did he just say Lady of the Land? What a weird title to give someone who stole it.
I scoffed in my mind as I rose from my chair and went to his side. He stood up and pulled the left chair beside him out like a true gentleman so I could sit. I smiled at him in response.
My son blushed at the gesture as he looked down at his food so as to avoid the adult scene playing out in front of him. Using this moment to his advantage, Lucian leaned in and whispered,
"Enjoy it while it lasts".