Amy

It has been a week since our wedding. A week since my dreams crashed. A week since the devil showed his true colors. A week since the torture begin. No, his torture didn't stop at cooking and cleaning. Making me run around for stupid things does not satisfy that Dracula's thirst for my blood.

Since that afternoon, he has suddenly decided that he wants me to sit with him while he eats what I have cooked. If you think the reason behind it is some stupid cheesy romance, you are as wrong as I was in the first place. He doesn't give a damn about if I have eaten or not. He wants me to sit in front of him so that he can tell me how bad I cook. The whole time he is complaining about what is wrong with whatever I have made. I am just happy he doesn't ask me to get up and get anything for him while we both are eating. I am always on my foot around him all through the day. I swear I will break the dishes on his head if he doesn't even let me eat peacefully. Maybe that will wipe the smirk off his handsome face.

To top this, the idiot doesn't even let me go out of the house. Neither does he go out and disappear somewhere nor does he let me go anywhere. His reason being, it is too soon for his newly married wife to be seen in public. After all, we are supposed to be on a honeymoon period, his words not mine. We were not even planning to go for a honeymoon in the first place because Aaron had told me that he had some major project to oversee right after our wedding. How did all this nonsense about a honeymoon period come up then? Honeymoon Period, my foot. This is more like a Torture Period.

Why? Why did I have to ever tell him that I love my sleep? This is why you shouldn't trust people, Amy. Look, now he is using it against you and has made it the mission of his life to disturb your sleep as well.

At night, he plays video games on his gaming laptop, puts on head phones and then yells. He is so bad at it. He doesn't even like video games. He told me himself when we were dating. How do I know if what he said was true? Because Daniel had told me too. Daniel loves video games and he always brags about how bad Aaron is and how he can defeat him in minutes.

And if you think it ends in the night, no. Every morning at bloody six a.m. instead of letting me sleep, that irritating, arrogant, sadist of a man is working out in the gym with music blasting so loud that I can fucking hear it in my room. Why does he have to work out at six a.m.? It is winters. Don't you want to snuggle under the duvet and sleep till late in the morning? He already has a perfect body. He just wants to ruin every last strand of peace in my life.

"What the fuck is your problem?" I yelled as I walked into the gym and lowered the music.

"What? I am just working out? Oh, did I ruin your beauty sleep again, darling?" he smirked.

"And you need to blast music in the whole fucking penthouse for that? Put on some earphones, dumbass", I yelled back.

"You sure are chirpy in the morning", he smiled sarcastically as he got up and took the towel off his neck.

I would have swooned looking at his sweaty broad chest, but I ain't in the right mind to even think like that. I am damn sleepy.

I sighed and I said, "Look, I haven't been able to rest for days. I haven't slept for more than five hours a day since before our wedding. First it was the wedding, then your stupid plan to torture me for reasons unknown to me. I can hardly sleep at night because of all the yelling that you do. The some remaining hours that are left I-"

"Go on, I am listening. Remaining hours you what?" he said as he got on the treadmill to walk.

"The remaining hours I cry myself to sleep." I whispered to myself as the bastard just continued looking at me without a word.

"Look, if this continues I will fall sick. I am already doing every nonsense task you order me to do. Can you not give me this much? Please, stop disrupting my sleep." I told him sternly.

"I will think about it." he said nonchalantly.

"What do you mean you will think about it?" I scowled at him.

"If you behave nicely today at the lunch at my parents house, I will stop one of the things" he replied.

"So, you will stop the gaming. Finally, I will get some of my sleep time back. Wait, what lunch?" I asked.

"How do you know that it will be the gaming and not the gym? My parents invited us for lunch today afternoon."

"You hate gaming and you suck at it too. I know you are doing it only to torture me. And you decided to tell me about the lunch right now?"

"What are you talking about? Torture? I am just trying to be better at it so I can beat Dan one of these days. About the lunch, I did tell you six hours beforehand, didn't I? It is not like you will take that long to get ready. What are you so upset about?"

"Getting better, my foot. You can't beat Daniel in this lifetime. Of course, I am upset about the lunch. With the amount of sleep you have allowed me to have for last few days, I will look like a zombie."

"Don't talk like that, people will assume something else." he chuckled and got off the treadmill.

"What something else?" It is too early to think and this man makes no sense anyways.

"You, me, bed, naked. Need more description?" he smirked and walked towards me.

"Eww. Eww. No." I took a step back.

"What? As far as I remember, not a week ago, you were very much wanting it. I assure you, you will have fun." he pulled me towards him and snacked an arm across my waist.

"N..no..tha..thank you. I wanted the man I loved not a psycho like you." I am sure I am blushing beetroot. My heart beats were racing so fast as if a while ago I was on the treadmill and not him. I struggled to free myself.

I am just shy about such topics in general. It is supposed to be discussed within intimate settings with your lover. Not a jerkass.

"Stop struggling and think about it. I am still the same man. You still love me. "

"Let me go. The man I loved was a myth. You are not him. Why are we even discussing this? After all, you did have your share of fun that night, didn't you? Maybe you should just go to her if you want more." I looked away from him blinking back my tears.

Even though he disgusts me now, I still loved him back then, and it hurts to think that he cheated on me.

Say it, Aaron. Say that I am wrong and you were not with anyone that night. Please, give me this much peace.

I know it is absurd and too much to ask, but my heart still wished for it.

He suddenly let me go and looked at me for a moment. "Get ready by twelve. We leave at twelve sharp", he said and left the gym.

He will be the death of me. Bloody cheater. I sighed.

After a while I had completed a few more hours of peaceful sleep, I got up and went to the kitchen. Aaron had already taken a shower and was sitting on the living room couch, drinking his coffee, that was obviously made by me, while watching business news. I was glaring at him while mixing the batter for a cake. I decided to bake a cake for Diana and Josh. If what Aaron says is true and they are indeed not a part of this plan, it would not look nice if I go empty handed and if they are a part of this madness, I will have something to smack on all their faces.

"Stop glaring at me" he said still looking at the television.

How did he know? Of course he knows, he can read your mind perfectly from anywhere, remember?

"I..I am..I am not glaring at you. I am just thinking hard" I lied.

"Really?" he scoffed "What are you thinking about so hard that it makes you look like you are glaring?"

"I am thinking if Daniel's gonna be there too." I just made up something. Anything to not give him the satisfaction of being correct.

"Maybe. Maybe not." he answered.

"Thank you so much for the help." I retorted.

He just rolled his eyes. I put the tin with cake batter in the oven and set the timer. I decide to take a shower and get dressed in the meantime. I looked at the clock, still had about two hours.

Looking at him, I sighed. Still can't believe he is the same man I met at the funeral.

A year and a half ago..

"My father was the most amazing dad out there. He was always there for his kids and family whenever we needed them. He was a man of his words and a great businessman. I still remember the last dinner we had together just last week. He was laughing and pestering me to give him grandkids." Marcus said as I zoned out on whatever he said after that.

It is just a show. The speech is not even written by him. His secretary, Claire wrote it. Last week? Marcus hadn't seen him for more than two months before he died. That is Marcus. He does everything just for showing off. I won't be surprised if someone tells me that he is dancing in his head about the fact that now he has the sole control over Lawson Enterprises. Everything related to family and emotions is just an act to him. So is it to a lot of people standing here displaying fake sorrow and condolences.

There stood the tombstone of Arthur Lawson. Beloved Father of Marcus and Amelia.

After the burial, everyone passed by saying "Sorry for the loss." I mentally scoffed. It is not like they knew him well personally. It was just business relations. I couldn't take it anymore so I excused myself from there and sat on a bench near the pond away from the crowd.

I sat there and cried. I felt short for breath and I took a few deep breaths.

"Do you need some water?" someone asked behind me.

I looked behind me and saw a man in a black tuxedo.

"Do you mind if I sit?" he asked again and I just shrugged.

"Here." He offered me a handkerchief and a bottle as he sat next to me on the bench.

I didn't take anything and looked at him with caution. He kept both on the bench and gave me a small smile.

"I...I know it is hard for you. I am s-"

"Sorry for your loss. It will get better. He is in a better place now. I know. I heard it from everyone. Don't need any more of these stupid condolences", I cut him off and stared at the pond rubbing my arms.

"It won't", he said.

When I looked up at him confused, he continued looking at the pond, "People just say it will get better. It won't. You will miss him at every point, every turn in your life. Sometimes you will cry at nights missing him. Sometimes you will feel that nothing matters without him. Sometimes you will feel life itself is meaningless without that person. That person is gone from the world, not from our memories. It can only get better if you wipe out every memory of that person from your mind, which is impossible. So, it won't get better." He completed and I looked at him in shock. Is he even talking about me anymore? Were they close too? I have never seen him before though.

"Are you trying to console me or make me cry even more?" I asked him confused.

"Well, you didn't want to hear the fake things so I told you the truth", he answered and smile threatened to appear on my face.

"It is so hard, you know. He was just here with us. Laughing a few days ago and now he is gone. He has done so much for me, for Marcus, for his employees, for his company, for L-loved ones and now, he is just a name. It is all so meaningless. This whole world. We are all striving so hard here to do something, to achieve something and one day when He decides, we are all just gone."

"That is how it is. We can't change it. We just deal with it", he relied.

"Why are you here?" I asked him.

"For Mr. Lawson's funeral", he said with a frown.

"No, no I mean this. Listening to me, trying to console me. Why are you not gone like everyone else?"

"Well, I was leaving when I saw you here crying so, I came to offer you some water. You need a shoulder to cry on and I am happy to offer."

"You look too handsome to be a homeless, jobless man. I am sure you have better things to do than sit here and listen to me cry", I said looking at him with a doubt.

"Did you just call me handsome?"

"Don't flatter yourself. I have called a lot of people handsome. I don't beat around the bush about obvious things."

"You actually are something, Ms. Lawson. Just like I have heard about you."

"I don't care what you've heard about me. I don't even know you."

"Aaron. Aaron Kingston." He offered his hand.

"Aaron Kingston? The Aaron Kingston? Owner of the most prestigious architecture company in the country, Aaron Kingston? Kingston Designs, Aaron Kingston? That's you?" I asked impressed.

"Most prestigious architecture company in the continent since two days ago. But, yeah that's me", he replied amused.

I squealed, "Oh my god. I know this is not the right place or time for this. But, your company is my dream company. One day, I will definitely be a part of it. I am an architect too by the way, if you didn't realize that already."

"Well, if you are really good at your work, I am sure you will make it."

"I will", I said with confidence.

"Great, I think I should leave now. See you around", he said and got up.

"Yeah, I should find Marcus too. Thanks for listening and getting my mind off things", I told him and got up too.

"No problem", he smiled and left.

I realized he left his handkerchief behind but before I could stop him, he was gone.

"There you are. Let's go", Marcus said behind me.

Present...

The cake smelled and looked amazing. It was mom's favorite fruit cake. I decorated it with small pieces of fruits. Just as I kept it in the box, Aaron yelled from the living room, "Are you done? It is twelve."

"Coming", I yelled back and went out. I was wearing a simple yellow sundress with little white flowers near the bottom area. I had tied my hair in a ponytail and applied a little gloss. I was wearing flats as I hate heels.

Aaron was waiting near the main door with his back towards me and looking at his phone. He was wearing a plain light blue t-shirt and jeans.

"Let's go", I said and he turned to look at me and then nodded and opened the door without even giving me a second look.

Amy dear, he is not that Aaron anymore who will look at you from head to toe and compliment you about how beautiful you look. Stop hoping and dreaming.

Once we were on the road, Aaron spoke again. "You didn't have to bake the cake you know. We could have just picked something up."

"No that's okay. Mom loves it when I bake a cake."

"Yeah, all of us do."

"You are giving me a compliment? That's new", I said surprised.

"Come on, Amy. I have always given you compliments whenever I felt like it."

"Yes, but those were before the wedding. All for show, remember?" My mouth turned sour as I looked outside the window.

"Mom, dad and Dan really don't know about any of it. Let's keep it that way", he said and we didn't speak a word for the whole ride after that.

We reached after thirty minutes. Mom and dad live in a small cottage outside the city. They are the most down to earth people I have ever met. Even though their sons are billionaires, they do not have even a ting of arrogance or pride. They always say that whatever their sons did was all by their own selves. They have no right to claim any part of it. They are happy in their own little world. They hardly attend any parties or hosted any either. The one's they did were mostly family gatherings.

"Look's like Dan is here after all", Aaron said pointing at the other car in the driveway.

"I knew it. Mom wouldn't have had it any other way. He had to do whatever it took to save his ears", I laughed.

"Correction, to save his poor ears", Aaron chuckled and pressed the bell.

It didn't even take a second before the door flanged open and we had a middle aged lady grinning at us, the one who we all call 'mom'.

"Oh! here you are my darlings! I just told your dad to call you and ask where you had reached", she said kissing our cheeks.

"We are just five minutes late, mom", Aaron said as he walked in.

"That's exactly what your dad said. Well, except the 'mom' part. Come in, Amy. What are you waiting for? It's your home."

"This is for you. Your favorite fruit cake." I gave her the box.

"Oh! You made it for me? This is so sweet. Thank you, child." She hugged me sideways.

"Hey, it was my idea! She said we should have just picked something up instead." That bloody liar.

"You liar. It was exact opposite of this", I scoffed in disbelief.

"Come on, Amy. Are you forgetting? I told you in the morning to bake it."

"You said we could have picked something up in the car as soon as we left."

"It was you. Not me. Are you okay? I think you should sit down. Do I need to call a doctor?"

"Yes please. I need one to check on you." This is absurd. My voice raised as I was getting angry now. It was my idea.

"Stop teasing my daughter, Aaron." I turned around to see dad behind me. I smiled and gave him a hug.

"I hope this man is treating you good. You can always tell me if he is harassing you. I can still kick some good butt," dad said, as we went to the living room and I laughed nervously. Yeah he treats me the best. No one ever treated me like how he treats me. I thought sarcastically.

"I am 'the man' now, huh? I see. I will remember this the next time you come to me with your anniversary gift issues." Arron hugged his father.

"No worries, bro. He will come to me from now on." It was Daniel.

"I thought you wouldn't come today," Aaron fist bumped with Daniel and they hugged.

"Well, I had to do whatever it took to save my poor ears from mom's rant." Daniel joked as always making me laugh.

"How's my favorite sister in law?" Daniel hugged me tight.

"I am your only sister in law", I laughed as he let me go and we all sat down.

Daniel took a deep breath and said with a serious face, "Well, Amy, how do I put this without breaking your heart? You see, Aaron was married before you", he said slowly and I looked at Aaron with shock.

"He is joking", Aaron said with a straight face.

"No, I am not. You can ask dad too." I looked at dad and he nodded sadly.

"He has been married for years to-", Daniel took a breadth.

"To?", I asked holding my breath. Did he have an ex-wife? Or a dead wife? There has been so much Aaron has done in past few days that I don't know what to think anymore.

"To....Kingston Designs", Daniel laughed and high-fived dad.

It took me a second to process it. When it sinked in, I looked at them in disbelief as Aaron rolled his eyes. But, before I could say anything, Mom smacked their heads from behind.

"Stop creating misunderstandings between my son and daughter-in-law, you two."

"That was not funny, Daniel. I almost had a heart attack. You too, dad", I scolded them and Daniel laughed harder.

"Let's go eat", Mom said rolling her eyes.

"I told you he was kidding", Aaron whispered as we walked behind those three.

"I didn't know if-"

"If you can trust me anymore", he completed for me. Perks of being able to read my mind perfectly well.

"You