The Mistress's Daughter Chapter 2

I had no idea how much Kael loathed the idea of marrying me.

From the moment I moved in, he never gave me anything but icy glares. He couldn't stand my touch, let alone share a bed with me.

On our wedding night, he exploded in our bridal suite.

"Get away."

"Don't be in my room."

"Get out. Just get out!"

I stood there, humiliated, my head bowed as a wave of shame washed over me.

Later that night, Grandpa Pierce found me. He explained that Kael had always been withdrawn, that he struggled with human contact. His long-time nanny had just passed away, and his condition had worsened. He asked me to be patient, to give Kael time.

I nodded and agreed.

From that day on, I took over his care, juggling my college classes with my new duties at home. I made sure he took his medication on time, drove him to his doctor's appointments, planned his meals, and laid out his clothes.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, Kael began to respond. He wasn't a block of wood, after all.

He stopped telling me to "get out."

He’d find me asleep on the couch and awkwardly drape a blanket over me.

Once, when I had terrible cramps, he even made me a warm mug of tea.

But he never, ever shared a bed with me.

The Pierce family line was thin; Kael was the only male heir of his generation. Grandpa Pierce was desperate for a great-grandchild and pressured me constantly. But what could I do? He didn't want me.

Finally, after five years of this, Grandpa Pierce lost his patience.

Without my knowledge, he drugged Kael's drink.

Then he led him to my bedroom, locked the door, and trapped us inside.

I will never forget that night.

The pain.

It was a tearing, brutal pain.

Drugged and disoriented, Kael moved on pure instinct, his eyes glazed over. He had no idea what he was doing, his movements clumsy and violent. I felt like I was being ripped apart, hot tears streaming down my face.

Just before dawn, I finally blacked out from the pain.

The next day, around noon, I woke to the sound of shattering glass.