Chapter 4 Trading Life For Blood

“You are married?!” Chase frowned, looking up from the document he was reading as his uncle burst into his home office, a confused look on his face. “Keep your voice down, Uncle, before you wake my bride,” he stated simply. Chase's uncle, Henry Darwin, stared at the young man like he had just lost his mind. “How can you get married without the consent of anyone in the Darwin family?” Henry asked furious. Chase raised an eyebrow at him, “Have I ever done anything according to your family’s consent?” “It’s your family too, Chase,” Henry spat. Chase nodded, “We’ve established that fact already but it doesn't mean that I play by their rules.” “Okay fine, you want to get married without informing any of us to spite us –” Chase interrupted him sharply, “I didn't do anything out of spite, Henry, I do things only for my benefit.” Henry was an elderly man in his early fifties. He sighed as he took off his glasses, wiping his eyes and the bridge of his nose. “Sit down, Henry, I won’t be responsible for your heart attack,” Chase stated calmly. Henry glared at him but sat down regardless as he continued, “Why did you marry a low-class woman? Why didn't you marry someone from a high-class family?” Chase scoffed, “Like I said, uncle, I do what I want.” “Fine, you are trying to play smart with this family. We won't accept your wife!” Henry snapped. Chase shrugged, “With time you will learn to accept her.” Henry stared at him angrily. He has always hated the illegitimate kid’s gut and the fact that he felt he could do whatever he wanted with no consequences. “She’s fighting for her life and the only thing you can do is to get married. You truly are a selfish bastard!” Henry snarled. Chase slammed his hands on the table, startling the man. He narrowed his eyes at him, his body tensing from the anger within him. “Don’t you ever mention her again,” Chase warned. “She truly doesn't deserve –” “If you do, I will cut out your tongue and feed it to the dogs before your eyes,” Chase threatened. Henry gulped softly, clamping his mouth shut as he stared at Chase, terrified. “No need for violence, son,” he chuckled nervously, “All I'm saying is that she's poor and a gold-digger, she's not fit to be in our family as your wife. We can find you a more suitable bride.” “No, she's perfect,” Chase answered curtly. Henry nodded and looked around the office nervously before clearing his throat. “Uh…I’ll leave first,” he shuffled his feet. “You do that,” Chase nodded at him. Chase glanced at the door as Henry walked away, his shoulders sagging with defeat. Chase sighed as he wiped off the moisture that had gathered at the bridge of his nose. “Who was that?” a voice asked. Chase stared at the beautiful woman standing in his doorway. He noticed the way her breasts rose and fell with each breath that she took. The way her full lips curled into a frown as she stared at him with all seriousness. She was utterly ravishing and breathtaking. Chase wanted to do a lot of things to her but he couldn't because that would be breaking his own rules. “What do you want?” he asked with a gruff voice. “I heard arguments and I came to check up on you,” she answered. Chase scoffed, “Why would you do that?” “We’re married,” Mirabel pointed out. She didn't know why he was acting so stubborn but she had heard everything his uncle had said while his voice was raised. “On paper, and there's a reason for that,” Chase stated stubbornly. “What exactly do you want from me, Chase?” Mirabel asked, a stubborn look on her face. Chase stood up and walked toward her as she took two steps back until she was trapped between the wall and Chase. “Get away from me,” she said, shivering slightly. Being so close to Mirabel, Chase watched as her breasts rose and fell again as she panted softly. He stared at her plump lips and for a split second, he lost himself. He kissed her softly, tasting the sweetness of honey and vanilla and the sound of a small moan that escaped Mirabel’s lips left him speechless. “Chase,” Mirabel protested, pushing him away gently. Mirabel hid her blushing face in her palm as she bit her lips. She couldn't believe that she had kissed Chase. He was a hottie but he was also a player and she didn't want to become romantically involved with him. “Why did you do that?” she queried. “I couldn't resist your lips, they were so tempting I just wanted a taste,” he answered. Mirabel frowned, “Is this the something you meant when I signed the marriage certificate? Because I am not about to become your whore, Chase.” Chase scoffed, “Won't you rather be my whore as a married woman than be a mistress to that scum?” Mirabel glared at him, clearly infuriated, “I can't believe you! You are so arrogant.” “That's because I just saved you a life of misery,” Chase smirked. Mirabel desperately wanted to throw a tantrum but she needed to get her act in order. “You are never kissing me again!” she snapped. “Relax, now I've kissed you I won't want to do that again,” he answered. Mirabel frowned, “What does that mean?” Chase shrugged, “It means nothing like this is going to happen between us. At least not yet.” “Not yet?!” Mirabel was mortified, “What do you think I am?” “My submissive wife who would do anything I ask her to do,” he answered. Mirabel opened her mouth to refute his words but she clamped them shut as she realized that he was right. She had agreed to be his submissive wife and she couldn't back out now at least not until her mother was healthy. “Fine, you win,” she conceded. Chase laughed, “Sulk it up, Princess, I always win.” “Will you tell me what it is you want from me? What's this something you want me to do?” Mirabel asked. She wanted to put her fears of being his whore to rest so she needed him to tell her exactly what he wanted from her. “It’s a very simple thing,” he said. Mirabel raised an eyebrow, “Which is what?” Just then the butler walked toward them with a frightened look in his eyes. “What’s the matter, Lee?” Chase asked. “The doctor is here, he says it's urgent,” Lee answered. “Doctor?” Mirabel asked, confused. She saw a panicked look flash in Chase’s eyes before it disappeared as he hurried down the hallway into the sitting room. Mirabel struggled to keep up with his long strides but he arrived at the sitting room faster than her and she was only able to catch the remnants of the conversation. “…it’s now or never, Chase,” an unfamiliar voice was saying. Mirabel frowned as she stared at Chase, “What is going on?” Chase sighed, “You know the something I asked you to do for me?” Mirabel nodded, not liking the turn of this conversation. “Well, it's now. I need your blood, Mirabel,” he said. Mirabel frowned, a puzzled and terrified expression on her face as she exclaimed, “What?!”