The Unholy Bride: In God's Name, I Kill

Chapter 15 : Replacement

"Why are you so wealthy?" I asked Roman unexpectedly as we both looked at their mansion.

I had grown up in a prominent, influential family and knew that my husband owned a multi-million dollar company, but I still couldn't fully grasp how someone—or a family—could accumulate such vast wealth. How was it even possible to preserve and pass down this fortune across nine generations without it faltering? Were all the heirs so smart at managing such enormous wealth?

My husband chuckled, slipping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me closer. "I really love your innocence, hon," he said with a smile. "But you know what's more important than all this?" He glanced at the mansion before meeting my gaze again. "You and Scarlette."

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. The air seemed to get caught in my throat, and it felt like I also forgot how to look away from his eyes. "What do you mean?" I asked when I finally found my voice.

He shrugged, his eyes seeming to roll in mere annoyance. "I love your innocence, honey, but not your stupidity in not understanding things easily."

I bit my lip in embarrassment, choosing not to speak again until he broke the silence with an addition to what he had said.

"Speaking of material wealth, this is one of the things I cherish," he said, holding up a small wooden figurine to show me.

"What is that?" I asked, drawing my face closer to the figurine in his hand, trying to make out what kind of creature it was. It looked like a mix of a moose, a goat, and a human.

Tilting my head, I studied it more closely, a strange sense of déjà vu creeping over me. It felt oddly familiar, like something I had seen before—perhaps in my dreams because ever since I moved in here, my nights had been plagued by nightmares.

"It was given to me by my father," my husband replied. "This was his first toy, personally carved by his father, so it's the only one of its kind in the world. He called it 'Beatrice'."

"Wooah.." I uttered in amazement, then I looked up to him to meet his eyes. "Can I have it?"

He lifted my chin and kissed my lips. "I love you, but no. I can give it to our future child, though."

For the second time, I was taken aback. His voice was filled with hope and anticipation as he spoke. A child? Who the hell was he kidding? There was no way in this world I would bring a child into this messed-up life. I've been torturing myself living this life; it would be cruel to drag another innocent soul into it, making them suffer the same fate.

I didn't realize how long I had been staring at my husband's face until a voice interrupted, snapping me out of my thoughts. The labyrinth of selflessness gave way to annoyance and a slight sense of anxiety as my eyes traced each line of Mason's smiling face.

"Mary, my best friend-in-law!" I was the first one he greeted, his tone sly and full of mischief.

"Best friend-in-law?" His actual best friend snorted, making the man turn his attention to him.

"Oh, Roman. Didn't see you there, man," Mason retorted, giving my husband a playful shove on the chest.

They laughed while I shrank into the corner, doing my best to avoid the spotlight, but Mason wouldn't let me be, clearly enjoying the discomfort my anxiety caused.

"Have you found Noa?" he asked my husband, stressing each word to ensure I heard it.

"Not yet. That fucker is hiding," Roman answered, his voice laced with annoyance.

"Maybe we can ask Mary? She might have seen Noa," Mason suggested, clearly provoking me. Then, they both turned to look at me—my husband with a confused expression, while his best friend wore a grin.