14

Early in the morning, a phone rang insistently.

"Where the hell are you, Nathan Strong?" roared an old man, making Nathan pull the receiver away and grunt.

"I'm on my way, don't get worked up," he said in a harsh, groggy voice.

"Are you drunk?" his grandfather questioned, annoyed. "Do you have any idea what's at stake? You promised something, and you have to keep it, damn it!"

Nathan sighed, filled with frustration.

He had gone to "destress" at a bar and ended up entangled with a blonde with huge breasts, losing track of time.

He wanted to enjoy his single life before getting married, knowing that he would have to be faithful to fulfill the terms of the agreement.

"What a load of crap, I have to lose my freedom for a woman I don't even love," he had complained to the bartender, drowned in alcohol. "The only good thing is that I'll finally get to fuck Suzanne.”

He laughed out loud, causing a huge scene, but he didn't care. He felt annoyed by this sham marriage, but he knew he couldn't go against his grandfather.

"That old man… he's capable of making me disappear just to fulfill his whims," Nathan spat angrily as he headed to the wedding that had been organized in record time.

It would be simple and discreet, but he still felt overwhelmed, as if he were approaching a torture chamber or something similar, though he tried to focus on the prize: having Suzanne in his bed.

Suzanne, on her part, felt extremely uncomfortable among so many strangers.

When she had arrived half an hour earlier with the chauffeur, she learned that her future "husband" hadn't even shown up yet, making her feel mocked and rejected.

"What a joke, if he doesn't show, it's his problem. Maybe I'll get out of this madness," she tried to convince herself, calming her nerves.

The only person who had treated her like part of the family was the old man who introduced himself as Jarek Strong, Nathan's grandfather and the head of the family, who looked at her with approval as if she were a fine object.

When the door opened abruptly, she started.

Nathan Strong had just entered like a beast, his hair disheveled, his jacket in his hand, his tie missing, and the first three buttons of his shirt undone.

He began pacing like a caged lion, and she discreetly watched him without moving a muscle. His grandfather dragged him off somewhere, leaving everyone stunned.

"You show up late and in this deplorable condition?" the old man reproached, irritated.

Nathan let out a bitter laugh.

"Be grateful I came to this damn farce at all," he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"

"You reek of a dive bar, Nathan."

"Stop criticizing me, damn it! You're not my father!" Nathan had just finished speaking when his grandfather slapped him hard across the face.

"Get ready, go out, and apologize to the guests," the old man snapped coldly, his face red with anger. "I hope this is the last scene you cause, don't embarrass me again, you damned fool."

After swallowing hard and obeying, Nathan left the room, clenching his fists and cursing everyone in his mind for the luck he had and the life he had to lead.

At one point, he threw his jacket to the floor, and his gaze landed on her for the first time. Suzanne felt the urge to run, but she stayed in her seat, nervously swallowing.

He really scared her.

He looked like an enraged demon and apparently wanted to take out his frustration on someone.
However, her grandfather stood by her side, and Nathan apologized for the delay, announcing that the ceremony would begin soon.

She could see he was forcing it; she knew he wasn't comfortable with what he was doing and felt a bit of compassion for him.

"He looks very out of sorts, I never expected to see him like that," she thought, looking away.

Suzanne barely paid attention to the civil judge's words, simply saying "I do," and before she knew it, she was being kissed roughly by her new husband.

She was afraid he would take out his anger on her, and although he seemed a bit more composed at the wedding reception, she soon realized she was wrong.

Nathan had approached her to grab her waist possessively, saying with a fake smile that he needed his wife and practically dragged her away.

Suzanne thought she would have time to confess she was a virgin, but he looked angry again and wouldn't listen to reason.

"Ouch... Mr. Strong, you're hurting me."

"Shut up!" he snapped harshly, making her tremble.

"Please..."

"I told you to shut your mouth," he spat coldly, narrowing his eyes.

She obeyed, and when they reached a kind of very secluded office, she frowned.

"Take off your clothes," he roared, his eyes fixed on her.

Suzanne trembled from head to toe; those cold, empty eyes wouldn't stop watching her.

"What?" she could barely utter.

"You heard me, take off your damn clothes!" he replied, a slight threat in his voice.

She was petrified in the same spot, unable to understand what she had done wrong.

"Fine, I'll do it myself," he hissed. He walked towards her like a stalking tiger and took her in his arms. "What's the matter, dear wife, aren't you going to fulfill your part?"

His tone was mocking. Why was he doing this to her?

She went rigid, and Nathan threw her onto a couch, placing himself on top of her. His hands roamed the fragile young body roughly, while she squirmed restlessly, trying to break free, but it was in vain.

The discreet white dress that had adorned her body just a few minutes ago now lay spread out on the floor. Her bra flew off, and he took one of her breasts in his mouth roughly.

The heart-wrenching scream that escaped her throat finally made Nathan come to his senses. He quickly let go of her as if her skin burned.

She was horrified, and tears streamed down her cheeks like a river.

"P-please... don't hurt me," she pleaded. "Please, Nathan," her voice broke.

She had never been with a man, and the roughness with which he had treated her terrified her.