CHAPTER 23

Lisa's POV

The trip today is only partially successful.

Grandma is still upset with me despite the fact that she flung wide the door for me to enter after I had been sitting still on the porch where I had fallen for many minutes with tears in my eyes.

I was hesitant to get up and go. I needed to speak with her. I want to explain everything to her and how it occurred.

She was distant.

She sat down without facing me when she let me in, and I continued to yell until I fell asleep.

Grandma didn't say anything to me at all.

I didn't bother to seek her when I woke up since lunch was already in front of me.

Up until this evening, I waited for her to arrive before deciding to simply go home.

Damien contacted me to inquire about my decision to postpone the scheduled shopping trip with his assistant.

I have no idea why he wants to go with us. Is this because he doesn't have enough faith in me to handle his credit cards? Is this because he wants her to keep an eye on my finances?

I just intend to buy a few outfits since I am not a frivolous person. I won't be in public often, thus I won't require many outfits.

I don't have a friend to visit or a pal to go shopping with anymore.

I didn't let Damien know I was leaving. I'm not sure whether it's essential since we are simply husband and wife on paper and nobody should care about what we do on a personal level.

I just went right home instead of responding to his text.

When I get home, I see that my clothes are all over the place, so I discreetly fold them back into my suitcase so I can ask Paulina to assist me in carrying them to my room.

Since coming home in the morning, I haven't even familiarized myself with the room. When I finish folding my clothing, I'm hoping to run across Paulina.

This morning, I was rushing to go to Grandma's house. Damien left home at about six in the morning, so I hurriedly took a bath and looked through my little clothing to choose a dress to wear.

I should have my clothing organized in the closet next to Damien's king bed if I were a genuine wife. In my whole life, I have never seen a glass closet. In actuality, I have never in my life seen a walk-in closet.

Damien's sort of closet alone serves as enough proof of his filth and wealth. Because the closet has two compartments, he puts on clothes in front of it. Both the clothing part and the mirror portion are there.

I've only seen him in suits and tuxedos, so I'm puzzled as to how a guy can have so much clothing stacked in his room. The closet is just stunning and enormous.

I too would like to have a closet like this. I wish I had a closet like Damien's, but it didn't have to be as enormous. I no longer need a dresser if I have it.

But now that I think about it, it doesn't seem feminine. I suppose it was primarily designed for a man.

When my thoughts return to what occurred this morning, I sigh. In order to avoid disappointing Damien's Assistant, who was eager to see me, I would have left ever since my mother slammed the door in my face and went shopping if I had known that she wouldn't speak to me.

I'm not giddy. Just interested as to who will be taking over for me.

Grandma was silent the whole time, but I'm pleased we've moved beyond that stage with her. the stage of strong dislike and rage.

If she was still furious with me, she wouldn't have changed her mind and opened the door for me.

Tomorrow, I intend to go there as well. To persuade her to leave the home, if for no other reason.

I don't want to be embarrassed by the impatient building management since the rent is about to expire.

When I hear the horn, I stoop to pick up the final piece of clothing that is lying on the ground. Damien comes returned, and my heart starts to beat quickly out of concern for his reaction if he finds me still here with my belongings.

If only I had been present, I ought to have moved since the morning.

In addition, I'm not sure what his opinion of my trip will be.

He rushes in with his briefcase swinging beside him and enters the room before I can finish with the clothing and zip up my bag.

He says, "Mother is here." Damien has never shown this much agitation before, so it surprises me. He says loudly, "Drop those and change into nightwear quickly so she won't notice a thing."

I never even considered that.

My pulse is racing so wildly in my chest that I quickly drop the cloth I was holding and start looking through the luggage for my nightgown.

My grandmother and now Damien's mum were there yesterday. We are pretending to be in love because we don't want anybody to know that our marriage is really for our convenience, even though Grandma already knows the truth.

I must ask Damien the reason behind our marriage. I want to know his motivations even more now.

There may be more to it if his mother is not aware.

He urges me to get dressed as he heads back to the door, saying, "Be quick, she'll be here soon."

I'm unable to think clearly anymore. I only have to get rid of any proof that would trigger any red flags. I must take advantage of this and ensure that I remain his wife for a whole year. I may follow my own path and get the enormous benefits he promised.

All I have to do is play my role in addition to what he is doing.

Before I can zip up on the first night that my hands touch anything, there is a tap on the door, and Damien's mother answers it without waiting for a response.

I then see Damien is already seated on the couch where he spent the previous night.

I greet her with a grin as I walk approach the entrance.

We exchange a quick embrace and a "Good evening, Mother" as her face is still as radiant as the day.

My face is stroked by her. "Good evening, my lovely in-law daughter. How did the marriage go?

"It was good,"

"How was last night, too?" She speaks softly into my ears, which makes me grin. She is inquiring about a marriage that was never consummated. I intend to soon have grandkids.

At this point, Damien coughs, maybe to signal his presence or to let her know he overheard her.

"Pay him no regard. Do you promise to let me know if he ever treats you badly? She keeps whispering.

I blush in shame and nod once more.

She gives me a satisfied nod as she fixes her sight on my pajamas. Why do you have such subpar pajamas?

What I have to put up with is this. Damien had described his mother's character and how she would hold me to such high standards. He asked me to go shopping with his assistant because of this.

I reply with a grin while trying not to take offense to the comment. Although I haven't had time yet, I will tomorrow.

"Tomorrow?" She asks, pausing to collect her thoughts before grabbing hold of her dress and walking away from me. "I'll accompany you. Additionally, I haven't gone shopping in a while.

Damien eventually responds, "Mother, there is no need for that; Anna will handle it." I am at ease. I'll never feel at ease with her close by. We are two very different people, and when I go shopping tomorrow, I don't want to draw attention to myself.

I would be happy to do everything to avoid going shopping.

"What? Why?" She gives him a wide-eyed look. "People must see us working together. She is the wife of my son, and I am her in-law. They must understand what a happy family we are, she assures him, refusing to budge.

He wiggles in his seat and says, "Mother, there is no need for that." "Lisa and Anna will get along just fine."

Anna is a new secretary, right? In contrast to how I feel around Damien's mother, I hope I will feel at ease with her. Despite how graciously she treated me when Damien initially introduced me to his parents, I simply do not understand why I feel this way.

This may be a consequence of what I have heard about her.

She firmly says, returning to face me, "We're leaving; this is a woman's conversation so remain quiet. She lovingly squeezes my hands. "You'll accompany me shopping, right?"

I'm not sure whether to answer "yes" or "no." I'm trying not to insult her. I don't want to use up the remaining 363 days I have here by being in her black book.

Keep in mind that I haven't yet given you any wedding presents. The next day, I should complete it.

I answer honestly, "There is really no need for it. I have a valid reason for declining to go on the excursion with her.

"Don't be foolish; it's customary. The decision to go shopping tomorrow is final.

Her long, gorgeous gown rides up as she spins around, dazzling brilliantly. Will you please undress your husband? She demands as she approaches the door.

I remain motionless and look at Damien, who motions for me to approach.

I go over to him and stoop to his level on the couch before grabbing his tie. I don't know how to untie a knot, and I've never done something similar before.

I fumble with it for a moment, droplets of perspiration forming on my forehead. Damien leans forward, and we look at each other.

He takes a gentle grasp of my hair and murmurs, "Continue," into my ear while trying to cover his words.

I clench my teeth and fight the want to shudder as I again struggle with the knot.

I release the breath I'd been holding in and let go of Damien's half-loosened tie as soon as I hear the door slam, signaling that she has left the room.

Does she also have a suspicion? Why was she looking at me while I undid Damien's tie? Why does she insist I assist him with his clothes?

Still inhaling deeply, I get up and make my way to the bed, praying she won't return.

My hands are trembling, and I'm perspiring a lot. I ask myself a lot of questions when I sit on the bed.

Now that his mother has left, Damien isn't getting up to take his clothes off. The sooner we go out, the better for us since I know she will remain for supper.

He is still sitting there with his brows arched when I glance up.

I'm ready to ask him what we ought to do in response to his inquiries. Are you going to complete the task you began?

"What?!" I scream out loud in shock.