Feigned Marriage

chapter 7

Prapai's POV

I hold the door open for him, and he freezes for a moment before getting in.
It isn't until I join him that I understand his reaction. Grandma is sitting in the car, her arms crossed and a deceptively serene smile on her face.

"Sky patheera," she says. "Welcome to the family."

Sky tenses and nods. He's smiling the way he did throughout the day, but I notice the way his hands tremble.

"Why are you here, Grandma?" I ask, weary. Today has been a complete mess, and I'm not sure how much more I can take.

"Everything went as I expected today, but I understand that both of you are confused and uncertain about your future, so I'd like to take the time to ensure you're familiar with the rules you must abide by throughout the first three years of your marriage." She looks at me then.

"You might be aware, but Sky is not."

"I can-" "No," she cuts me off. "It's best that I explain this myself, and it's best for both of you to go into this knowing what is expected of you."

I sigh and glance at Sky, my heart aching. I can't imagine how hard today must be for him, and the last thing I want for him is to be overwhelmed with restrictions and rules.

"Sky," Grandma says, her voice soft and tender. "In order for Prapai to inherit his shares and for you to inherit your parents' stake in the company we'll be merging, there are a few rules you must abide by. I'm not sure how much you know already, so I'll explain everything, okay?"
He nods hesitantly.

"One. Prapai and you may not spend more than three consecutive nights apart."
Sky tenses and wraps his arms around himself, looking uncomfortable. I hadn't given much thought to anything beyond today, and the idea of us sharing a room seems... strange. I can't even imagine what that might be like. While I care for him deeply, we've never spent more than a few hours together, and rarely completely alone.

"Two. When you're together, you must share a bed. You cannot live separate lives, nor can you have separate bedrooms."
I see the way Sky tenses, and I wonder if he's trying to think of ways around Grandma's rules.
I suppose he's about to find out the hard way that grandma is not to be trifled with.

"Three. You must remain married for three years. If, after that time, you decide you truly aren't well-suited, you can get a divorce without penalty. However, there has never been a divorce in the Patheera's family, and I have full faith that your marriage will not be an exception." Sky glances at me, his gaze unreadable. I always said that I'd never get a divorce, but that was with James. With Sky? I'm not so sure. Perhaps a divorce is the solution to all our problems.

"Four. You must remain faithful to each other. If either of you cheats on the other, you both lose everything. You'll lose your parents' company, and Prapa will lose his inheritance. Family is at the core of everything we are, everything we've built. And your family? It starts with each other."
Sky nods, a hint of reluctance in his expression. Surely he didn't think I'd allow him to fuck around while he carries my name? I clench my jaw and look away. Everything about this marriage is a clusterfuck.

"The fifth and final rule is that you must give your marriage an honest chance. Be open to this working out for both of you." Grandma looks between the two of us, a sweet smile on her face. It's odd how genuinely sweet she looks while she's got both of our lives in an iron grip. "Don't cling to the lives you had before marriage. Give each other an honest chance, and in three years, I'll sign the paperwork declaring the company jointly yours, making the two of you the owners of this country's largest media company.

"You'll be handed your inheritance too, Prapai." She pauses, her gaze moving between the both of us. "I know this is all very sudden, so for the next four weeks, I will relieve you from all family obligations. You won't need to attend family dinners or charity events. All I want you to do for now is focus on your marriage. Spend time together, get to know each other on a different level. Soon, the entire world will find out about you, and the pressure will add some additional strain to your marriage. Spend some quality time together before all that weighs you down."