Unhappily Married by; Rachel N.

Part 3

CHAPTER THREE

Nikita's eyes widened in disbelief as Xavier's words sunk in. He had just told her that their first night together was off the table - forever. She thought he was joking, but his serious expression told her otherwise.

"Come again?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

Xavier's explanation was cold and detached. "We may be married, but we'll never be husband and wife in the classical sense. That's your room, and that's mine. We don't cross into each other's spaces." With that, he walked into his room, leaving Nikita stunned and confused.

For four years, they had been living like strangers, married but virgins. Nikita couldn't understand why she was suddenly flooded with memories, but she suspected it was a sign - a sign that she had endured enough. The humiliation of his public display of affection with his ex still lingered, and now she realized that she had been living a farce. Xavier's rules and detachment had become suffocating, and Nikita felt a spark of determination ignite within her. She had had enough.

Nikita pushed the memories away and got into the car, her driver ready to take her to fashion school. She tried to focus on her studies, but the feeling of embarrassment lingered. As she walked through the hallway, she couldn't shake the feeling that everyone knew her marriage to Xavier was a sham.

Her friends, Temin and Wyatt, waited by her locker, their expressions concerned. "Temin!" she called out, approaching them.

"Oh, Niki, you're here," Temin said, her expression concerned.

Nikita noticed the strange looks from their classmates and asked, "What's going on? Everyone's staring at me like I'm a ghost."

Wyatt checked his phone before meeting her gaze. "It's all over the news. A body was found in your husband's office."

Nikita's eyes widened in shock. "What? A dead body?"

Temin nodded, and Wyatt placed a supportive hand on her shoulder. "Niki, are you okay?"

Nikita hesitated, unsure of how to process this information. "I don't know."

Temin suggested, "Nikita should go to her husband. It would look good for the press, and as his wife, she should be there to support him."

Nikita shook her head, hesitant. "I don't think that's a good idea. He might just get angry with me."

Wyatt agreed, "Yeah, it might not be the best idea."

But Temin persisted, "Come on, Nikita. It's important to show your support, even if it's just for appearances. If nothing else, it'll look good to the public."

Nikita sighed, feeling overwhelmed. "Okay, I'll go. But if I'm not needed, I'm leaving." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving her friends and the curious stares of their classmates behind. Another perfect day to miss school.

*

The atmosphere in the room was tense as the entire family, including the helps, watched the news about the incident at Arterm Enterprise on television. Maxwell emerged from his room, announcing his intention to head to the office, but Helena quickly intervened.

"Listen, Maxwell, I don't think it's a good idea for you to go to the office today," she said, her voice laced with concern.

Maxwell looked at her quizzically. "Why, Mom? I think I should be there with Xavier."

Helena's expression turned serious. "People are going to talk about you and every single thing you do now that this happened. They might just think you're behind this."