The Return Of The God of War

3

" Didn't you say that you would do anything to get your face back?" He asks. " I have made your dream come true, now marry me. " 

Melody looks shocked. Her eyes move quickly. From the face is the handsome man that is looking at her and then away. She doesn't know what to think of this. 

" You don't want to?" Duke asks. " You don't think I am good enough to be your husband?" 

Is he kidding right now? He is so gorgeous that she started to have weird dreams about him now, he is every woman's dream. 

He took care of her while she recovered and she has kind of started to fall in love with him too. He is the definition of a good husband. 

She walks towards him and slowly touches his face. Now she can admire him without thinking of her own ugliness, it's gone. 

" Marry me, Melody. " He repeats. 

"Okay. " Fuck it. He is the only one who has been able to come up with a solution to her long problem and for that, she is going to marry him. 

**** 

Melody had no idea that marriage could be done so quickly. 

She had been the chief bride's maid for both of her sisters and she experienced the extra expensive ceremonies that took place both times. 

She is not expecting the same thing for herself –she wasn't even thinking of herself ever getting married, this is even a dream come true for her. 

After the brief marriage at the courthouse, they are now heading back to the house. 

Duke hasn't said a word to her since they left and she hasn't said a word to him either. She is nervous because she knows what follows after marriage. 

Sex that she has never had and doesn't have a clue what it's going to be like. Her sister told her about their magical wedding nights and her eldest is even carrying the evidence of it – a large protruding belly. 

When they get back to Duke's moderate apartment, she sits like a statue on the bed and watches him take off his clothes. 

Just before he takes off his pants, he goes into the bathroom and she breathes out in relief. He soon returns. 

" Um, Duke. " She starts. " Since we just got married I am thinking that maybe we should go visit my family. They are close to me and I want them to meet you now. 

"Closest to you? Are you trying to suggest that they love you?" He laughs in a way that suggests he doesn't believe her. 

" Yes. " She insists. " They would literally kill for me, I know that. You need to see what my parents and grandpa passed through finding a cure for me." 

He isn't even listening to her. He walks to the closet and changes his pants into jeans. He puts on a gray shirt and a black jacket too. 

" If they love you so much, then why haven't they looked for you?" He questions her. " You have been here for ten days now and not even a phone call from them. " 

She goes quiet because he has just said the truth. Her parents or sisters haven't called her to find out if she is safe and okay. 

" Well, if you really want to see your parents, I can't stop you. " He shrugs. 

" Change into one of those clothes I bought for you and let's be on our way to their house. " 

" Today is family dinner." She tells him. " Everyone, including my sisters and their husbands are going to be at my grandpa's place. " 

***** 

Melody's grandfather's house is a palace surrounded by beautiful green plains. 

The expensive cars parked out front and the beautiful fountain that is in front of the house. 

Melody reaches out for his hand and squeezes it in assurance. 

" Don't worry, we are going to be fine. " She smiles. " Just tell me when it gets too much, I will be ready to leave. " 

Duke nods, just to please. His poor wife doesn't know who the hell she is married to. 

They get to the front door and Melody rings the bell. 

An older woman opens the door. She is beautiful and looks like she is Melody's mother. Her neck is holding rolls and rolls of gold pieces of jewelry. 

Melody doesn't say anything. She just smiles and waits for her mother's reaction. 

" You kids are lost, aren't you?" She peers into their faces. " You guys have gotten the wrong house. " 

"Mum, it's me!" Melody shouts. 

Her mother frowns, she doesn't believe her at all. Duke is a bit disgusted. 

Edna pulls the collar of her shift back to reveal a birthmark on her shoulder. She proceeds to put her hand on the fingerprint scanner of the door and it beeps, it's indeed her. 

Her mother screams with joy and pulls her to herself. She laughs as she whirls around with her. 

" Oh my God. "Her mother says. " Joseph! Bella!" 

Her mother doesn't let go of her hand. Melody doesn't forget Duke, she pulls him closer to her so that he doesn't feel alone. 

Two people come rushing down the stairs and it's a lady who looks like the man behind her. She has Melody's nose, which has got to be her sister. 

It doesn't take long for her to be recognized and it's all hugs and kisses again. The happiness is evident on their faces and words. 

Her mother takes out her phone and begins to fumble with it. She is taking pictures of Melody already. 

 " Where is Papa? I want to see him. " Melody laughs. 

" Papa had an emergency meeting, he is going to be back any minute from now." Her sister fills her in. 

Her mother is still snapping, Melody can't ignore it anymore. 

"Mum, what are you doing?" She asks with a chuckle. 

" I'm going to send your pictures to Mister Sean's son. Didn't he say I would take you if your face wasn't that bad?" 

"Mother!" Bella rebukes their mum. " You can't say that, she is right here!" 

Melody smiles and looks at the floor. She is already used to that by now. 

 " Mum, you can't do that. I'm married already, this is my husband." Melody gestures to Duke who has been standing behind her all this time. 

It seems that he has been invisible to them all this time that they are celebrating and it's just now that they are noticing him. 

He is not moved by their demeaning glares, he is keeping his cool. 

"This?!" Her mother gestures. " Who the hell is he supposed to be?" 

" Mum!" Melody frowns. 

" Who are you, son? " Her father asks Duke. " Who are your parents?" 

" I don't have any. " Duke speaks. " They died. " 

They all turn white as if it's a very horrible thing not to have parents. 

"I can't handle this. " Mister Joseph rubs his temple. " Dad is going to be back and he is going to handle this. " 

***** 

Melody doesn't know how to come, but Duke is still so cool despite all. 

Her grandfather is a very intimidating man, even to rich people like them. He is trying to break Duke down with his strong gaze, but Duke is standing strong. 

Her grandfather sips from his cup of tea and lets out a satisfied sigh. 

"Let me get this straight. You went to court and married my granddaughter. " He points. 

" I did. " Duke nods. " We both consented to it. " 

Her grandfather chuckles and drinks another sip from the cup. 

" Do you know me, son?" He asks. 

" Melody filled me with something. " Duke answers. 

" I am Jimmy fucking Futterman. I don't deal with hungry orphans like you. " He huffs. " If you don't understand, I am just saying you can't marry my granddaughter. " 

"Papa!" Melody is disappointed in her family. 

" Well, that's very confusing because it's done already. " Duke reminds him. 

Mister Jimmy laughs and his old shoulders shake. 

" My first grandchild, Nora. Her husband is a lawyer. " He boasts. " Bella here has a husband works in one of the biggest company in the country, so what do you do? Who much are you worth?" 

" I have a house and a car. My satisfaction is worth a lot if that's what you are asking. " Duke looks him dead in the eyes. 

"Okay, I'll tell you what. Name a price for giving her back her face and I am going to pay. You guys dissolve this silly marriage and both of you are on separate ways. " He announces. 

" I'm not going to divorce Melody. " Duke tells him.   

For the first time, he frowns and adjusts in his sit and glares at Duke. 

"Fine. " He breathes. " There is this company that is seeking a big investor to bring in 100 million dollars. I would have gotten this done with the bank, but it seems their new manager doesn't know who I am because they have rejected my application for a loan too many times. " 

Duke doesn't move, he is still listening. 

"I give you ten days to come up with the money, I don't care if you have to go to all the banks in the city, prove yourself to be man enough or you leave my grandchild. " 

Melody's heart shatters to many pieces. 

" Ten days?" Duke raises his eyebrow. 

"Too less? Then just get away from my dear granddaughter. " He mocked. 

“No, why do I need 10 days to complete this little deal?” Duke smiles confidently. 

“Tomorrow and the deal will be finalized.”