Chapter 5

Threats

Adrian's POV

I sat in the car, waiting patiently for Miguel to get done with the brief introduction, but it seemed he was taking things too far. I had to stop him.

The expression on her face when she set her eyes on me was indeed priceless. Astonished at the way she looked at me, I couldn't help but wonder if she had thought it was all going to pass away like that.

If she had thought so, then she was dreaming and needed to wake up. As the prideful man that I was, I sauntered right to where my assistant stood.

"Hello, Mrs. Gonzalez" I greeted, emphasizing the name so she could realize what she had gotten herself into.

Her silence made the atmosphere awkward, and a moment passed before I realized that we weren't going to make any progress if I didn't take the first step.

"Miguel" I called, walking towards the door and pushing it open. "Let's go in."

"Alright, sir" Miguel replied and followed me in.

It was then she snapped out of her daze and tried to block our path, but it was already too late. I made sure I sat comfortably on the sofa before putting my full concentration on her.

"You can't just claim to be someone I don't know and barge into my house like that" She shouted, her bloodshot and her face etched with anger. "I don't know who...."

Before she could complete that sentence, I waved the marriage certificate before her eyes, and she kept shut immediately.

"You forced me to marry you at the courthouse yesterday" I began, my voice low and firm. "I've thought about it and I've accepted my fate. So, as the legal wife of the Gonzalez family, you'll have to live with me. I came here to take you home with me."

"No, no, no" She refused, shooking her head vehemently. "I'm sorry, but I wasn't myself when I did that. I was hurt and I was searching for a way to vent my anger...."

"So you chose me," I said, cutting her off again. "You chose me to vent your anger and forced me to get married at a time I never planned to."

"It was a mistake, and I'm sorry" She cried out and clenched her fist. "We could sort this out without having to do things this way."

I chuckled amusingly and said. "The only way you can make up for this is by taking responsibility for your actions."

She couldn't utter a word for a while, and I didn't plan on giving her the chance to refute my words. Most certainly, I had come prepared to win the case.

"Being forced into marriage affected my mental and emotional state" I continued. "You'll have to remain as my wife till death do us part."

"No way!" She screamed. "I didn't sign up for this."

I waved the marriage certificate before her eyes again. "You did. You signed up for it with your actions and hands."

"But I already told you I wasn't myself when it happened" Luisa argued, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry about your health. I can pay you to get yourself treated."

Without warning, Miguel burst into laughter, clutching his stomach hard. I let him laugh all he wanted until I detected the displeased look on Luisa's face.

"That's enough, Miguel" I ordered.

"Yes, sir" Miguel replied. "I'm sorry. It's just so funny how you believe you can pay off the money bag himself."

"Miguel" I called, and glared hard at him. He shut his mouth up and sat back properly on his chair.

I returned my gaze to Luisa, who was drawing an imaginary circle with her toes.

"Luisa" I called, and she looked at me. "You're coming home with me now. As your husband, I have the right to make such demands."

"Mr. Gonzalez, you don't have to keep dwelling on being forced. We can still annul the marriage since nothing has happened between us" Luisa argued, her voice full of urgency. "We can go to the courthouse now, and we'll both be free."

"I disagree" I retorted almost immediately. "I want us to remain married."

"And I'm saying it was all a mistake" Luisa shot back. "Annulment is still an option."

Damnit, I cursed inwardly. She was quite stubborn. I wanted an obedient and submissive wife, but I guessed she could be tamed. I didn't want to use my ultimate card to deal with the situation, but since she was so bent on annulling the marriage, I was going to have to use it.

"If you refuse to move in with me, I'll have no choice but to call the cops on you" I stated, my tone full of conviction. "You'll rot in jail for your actions. I'm sure that won't be good for your career."

Yeah, I had made my findings, so I knew she was a TV personality and a model. That was another problem. The Gonzalez Family detested picking a wife from the entertainment industry, but that was then. I was the one in control now, so the choice was mine to make.

Luisa stared at me for a while with a blank expression on her face. I could tell she was thinking about my threats carefully.

"Unless you agree, you're going to spend the rest of your life in jail" I added with a tone of finality.

"You don't have to do this" Luisa pleaded, and clasped her hands. "What about my career? What would people think of me?"

"You don't have to worry about that" I replied. "I'll protect you from them. I don't make such promises unless I have the power, which I do. Your safety is guaranteed and your fame will remain intact."

"No, I don't want that" Luisa disagreed, and inhaled sharply. "I don't want the public to know about us. I want us to keep our marriage a secret from the public. If you can accept that, then I'll accept my role as your wife."