Elvish doesn't like interacting with females.

There before me lay a bowl of hot vegetable soup. Whose contents, at the moment, are getting just a little too cold. I stir the spoon listlessly, not moving my eyes from where they are - blankly.

I blink and look down at the breakfast.

The meal table is long and wide. Although there is nobody sitting on it currently except me; except a few plates of food which lay near me, all of the table is empty. Where is my husband? I was informed he doesn't like to eat in anyone's company. Huh. So typical of a mafia boss.

The servants who had brought me the breakfast earlier are now standing with their hands clasped a few feet away from me. Sometimes, I can feel their stare on me. Not a good kind of stare, not 'Oh look at the newly wedded wife kind, it is more of a loatheful look. As though they don't want me here.

Well who could blame them, I don't want myself here either

I was dressed in some fresh clothes this morning when I woke up. Not exactly 'woke up' as I did not get a wink of sleep last night. My body was too much on edge, being in the same room as the man I saw murder someone, to relax. I kept thinking of how he could kill me too. Probably he'd first hurt me like Javi did? By grabbing my hair and throwing me to the ground?

Or shall I be shot like that man Rodrigo yesterday?

Squeezing my lips, I close my eyes and force myself to inhale. I do not want to die. really not.

How can one's life change in a single day? Two days ago, I was just worrying about how to collect some money from the freelancer job to get my brother into a good college, worrying about his life, and getting my Mom regular health checkups at the hospital, worrying about her life. And now. I am worried about mine.

With a bit of an attitude. I don't even know if I'll live to see my brother go to college now.

"The food not to your taste? A male voice says.

I glance up immediately. I am still a little on edge seeing a real human being die right before my eyes yesterday, so pardon me for being so jumpy.

"Ooh." He takes a step back as he raises his palms up towards me. A guy about ten years younger than me, brown hair that was messed like it came directly out of bed, oversized t-shirt, joggers on this long body of his. He blinks to the side and then up at me. "Scared me, did I?" he asks softly.

I am too unsure and suspicious of him to answer him directly right away. Who the hell is this guy now?

"Ah. Sorry, you don't know me yet right?" He nods to himself as he takes a stride forward and offers his hand out. Tim Steven, elvish' cousin brother and your brother-in-law."

I look at him as he grins down at me.

After some moments that I do not respond he lowers his eyes looking down at his hand hesitatingly. "Not a very physical person, uh are you?" he stammers and teases, withdrawing his hand back.

"Sorry for not introducing myself yesterday. You know the wedding seemed too hectic. It was like one moment you were walking down the aisle, another moment you and Elvish were kissing, another you two were signing the contract, and bam! the wedding's finished and you're off to your bedroom." He shrugged. "I didn't even get a chance to say hi. Though I have to admit and tell you, you did look quite pretty in that white dress. I haven't seen such a beautiful bride ever, I swear." He smiles and I see dimples form in his cheeks.

I start frowning at it unknowingly. Beautiful bride?

"Oops." He covers his mouth with a hand. "Sorry uh, I am still working on getting control over my flirty mouth. I uh talked too much didn't I? Not that I am saying I flirted with you! Oh no, Elvish will break my neck if I ever did something like that-" He runs off into ramblings in a language I only partially understand.

His words, however, haunted my mind for a long while. He said I looked pretty in the wedding gown. I did want to look pretty for my wedding but that was when I thought I'd have a choice to marry the man of my dreams too. Like any other girl, I too wanted to look the most beautiful bride there ever was. The night of my wedding would have been something magical to me since I'd walk towards the one I love most.

The reality night that faced me was only dark, and it was only forced. That night smelled only of blood; the worst thing about my life and the most horrible thing about my life-the very thing that nauseates me.

I spent my night of my marriage locked in a bathroom. Pretty magical right?

"Hey uh just a suggestion, Steven speaks and I glance up again, emerging out of my depressing thoughts. "If you don't have anything else to do after this, do you wanna hang out with me?

" He looks at me with eyes that sparkle with mirth. "I just wanna know my sister-in-law better." He grins. And I have to admit. Even though his nature might be flirty, but he grins like a kid. A mischievous kid, who is too innocent at times. He reminds me of my brother.

"Okay." I nod.

As we walk, he doesn't stop talking. Steven must be popular with girls judging by his overconfidence when he talks about his looks. It doesn't take me long to know he's arrogant about his looks and wealth, though who will not be if they lived in this gigantic mansion with real diamonds in the chandeliers that hung around and to decorate the sofas.

I came to know about the diamonds from Steven as he shows me around the mansion. He is mentioning the purpose of each room as we pass by them. This gigantic mansion has it all, a gym, library, a game room, a swimming pool outside, a theatre, a sommelier, even a basketball and tennis court for God's sake, what does it not have.

notice that he missed a room.

"What is that room for?" I ask.

He looks back and blinks. "Oh you don't wanna know." He chuckles.

"Why not?"

He stops laughing. His face darkens. I didn't know somebody could look so similar to the ominous face I saw of Elvish just yesterday. "That room. is actually for killing people."

I shudder. But not wanting to look a weakling or a submissive in front of him, I hold myself straight, with an erect spine, and my face calm.

"What? Didn't it scare you?" Much to my surprise he starts laughing again. The dark ominous look gone like it was never there, replaced by a sunshine grin. He waves his hand casually. "I was kidding. That room's just a spare office for Elvish. He keeps his private stuff there."

"I see," I manage to say but my high pulse rate is still not decreasing.

As we walk through the main hall downstairs, I look around. I see something odd that I have been seeing but didn't realize till now.

"Can I ask you a question?" I say to Steven. He nods. "Why're there only male working staff here? I didn't see a single female person since this morning." "Oh." He presses his lips and scrunches his nose. "It irks you too doesn't it? Tell me about it!!" He bursts shouting suddenly, then calms down as though he realized I was with him. He click his tongue.

"Elvish doesn't like interacting with females, apparently. It was like all so natural for him to hire only male servants and guards for himself. When asked about it, he says it isn't a big deal, just the way he likes to work."

"Work while avoiding females?" I couldn't keep my question in.

Steven snorts. "Something like that. Tell you what, I haven't seen a single young female soul wander these halls for so long." For some reason I see his lips pull down like a disheartened puppy. "You don't know how much I've craved for it." he mumbles something under his breath and I feel an urge to pat his head, to console his teary eyed pitiable face.

"Anyway, ever since his mother's death Elvish never liked to be in the presence of any female. He doesn't like to talk about it either. So be careful." Steven gazes at me with seriousness I have never experienced in his eyes when I first meet him. Here he is informing me to stay cautious while questioning him about those unnatural habits? Like yeah I would even talk to him. I would very much like to sustain my life for as long as I can. And he didn't seem like the type to be talkative either yesterday when he told me how he doesn't love me and will never touch me. Though I was somewhat relieved when I heard those words, still, he knows just the right words to say to a woman on her first wedding night doesn't he?

I grit.

Perhaps it's not me that he hates, it's women in general? Wow, what a shitass I got married to. I suddenly stop in my tracks as my eyes spot the two persons coming from the opposite side.