"You need to cheer up a bit, there is more to life than reacting this way sweetheart."
Ava cringed hearing Ethan address her in that manner. She did not even know him, but could tell that he is highly frustrating and annoying at the same time.
They arrived at the mansion minutes later and Ava is in awe seeing the huge building towering up almost to the clouds.
Never had she seen any structure this huge and beautiful.
"Welcome to the Holmes's manor" Ethan announced as he stepped inside the gates.
They came to a stop at the parDamon spot, where other cars were parked out as well. When Ava stepped out of the car, there are soldiers already in front of her to welcome her.
"Welcome Mr. Ethan, it is great to see you once more." A middle aged man mentioned, as soon as they got to the entrance of the mansion.
"It is great to see you to Bowen. Meet my wife." Ava is uncomfortable at the title.
"Oh my dear, you finally got married. Your father will be proud." Mr. Bowen expressed with delight on his face.
Ava walked behind Ethan as they stepped inside the living room. She stood at the entrance in awe at the large interior designs of the room.
"You like it?" Ethan asked seeing the admiration on her face.
"Your family has a nice place." Ava admitted, taking steps forward and having her sit.
"Is that the voice of my son I hear?" They both rise to their feet, Ava looked up at the stairs. An old man with the support of a rather much younger woman walked down.
"It is me father." Ethan announced.
He walked up to his father and embraced him in a warm hug. Ava noticed the young woman beside Ethan's father has a frown on her face, when their eyes connected.
"Who is this low life that you brought with you." She asked.
"That is not a good way to speak to my wife!" Ethan replied, stretching his hand forward. "Father, I want you to meet my wife."
Ava took his hand and respectfully bowed her head to the old man, who seemed elated to meet with her.
"She is gorgeous." He said chuckling.
His eyes indicate to Ava that his vision could be slowly fading, but she could see the uncanny resemblance with Ethan.
"I thought you had a model girlfriend, what happened to her." The woman beside Ethan's father asked.
"Allow the young man rest Priscilla. It must have been stressful travelling down here." Ethan's father interrupted. "The rest of the family will join us in the dinning table soon. We should be able to discuss better."
As they are leaving, Ava is uncomfortable with the glare she is getting from the woman, whom she had come to know as Priscilla.
"Why does she hate me that much?" She asked Ethan when they are out of sight.
"Priscilla does not like me and so whatever I do does not sit well with her." Ethan revealed.
"Why doesn't she like you?" Ava finds herself asking.
"We will talk better about the dynamics of my family. We need to freshen up and prepare for lunch." Ethan revealed, holding her hands walDamon out of the living room.
*
The dinning table is filled with several strange faces and from what Ava had deduced, these were all the members of the Holmes's family.
"So Ethan, how come you did not invite any of us to your wedding?" One of the much younger ladies asked, breaDamon the long silence.
"You should understand how I love keeping things private."
"..Or you probably found out that she is pregnant for you and chose to wed her and save your name." One of the men said.
"That is enough Damon!" Lord Christopher declared. "The good thing is that you are now married and I am proud of you."
There is silence again as everyone continues with their meal. Ava looked up to notice Damon staring in her direction, a discreet smile on his face.
"How is my shipment in Los Angeles?" Lord Christopher asked, looking at Ethan.
"Father, don't you think it is bad talking about business in front of a total stranger?" Damon asked.
"She is my wife and by implication a part of this family." Ethan replied.
Ava, who has been watching the back and forth between the both of them realized there is an existing tension in the family from their behaviors,.
"We just hope that she doesn't end up like the last one."
Ethan is triggered by his comment; he slammed his hands on the table and stood up to his feet. "I have had it with you Damon; it is not my fault that you don't have a woman in your miserable life!"
"That is no way to speak to my son." Priscilla replied.
"Then tell your son to learn to keep his mouth shut!" Ethan attacked her.
"I said that is enough!" Lord Christopher roared and the atmosphere becomes quiet.
After some time, Ethan pulled his chair backwards and gently taps Ava's shoulder. "Lets go." He said.
"Are you walDamon out on your father?" Priscilla asked, making Ethan with Ava stop halfway to the door.
"It is obvious I am not welcomed here." He said and before anyone could say anything else, they were out of the dinning room.
When they arrived in their room, Ava noticed Ethan is furious as he dropped to the bed. She did not know what to do or say and so, she leaned by the door.
"My mother died a long time ago and this allowed my father get a second wife. Priscilla and her son has been a pain in my neck since their arrival and now I have to deal with them again." He explained, while still laying on the bed.
"Are they the reason you decide to get me into this contract marriage?" Ava asked out of sheer curiosity.
Ethan rose up from the bed and walked over to her, keeping a good distance but staring down at her.
"My father will not give me the much respect that I deserve if I don't have a wife. I got you into this contract marriage to help me save my place as the next in line to the head of the table."
Ava tore her eyes away from him, thinking about what he had said.
"So this is business to you then?" She asked.
"If that is how you see it, then yes."