(Orville POV)
It's our annual Christmas party celebration.
The entire mansion is decorated with white Christmas lights and there are Santa statues and inflatable Nativity placed on both sides of our front porch. Harry picked the largest wreath to hang to our door. The wreath he chose is very beautiful though. There's a cute Santa Head in the middle with little candy canes surrounding the wreath as well as the word "Merry" from above and "Christmas" from below.
Wayne decorated the staircase with colorful garlands, while Eloise and Sofia decorated the Christmas tree. Sofia went a little overboard with the ornaments but it made the tree more vibrant and prismatic.
Meanwhile, I just lurked inside the kitchen where our busy chefs are in a complete harmony, making our meals.
"Is there anything you'd like, Sir Orville?" Our head chef asked.
"No, thank you! I am just going to watch over here."
He nodded his head before going back to what he's doing. I looked at the menu they created for my family and guests. For appetizer, they are cooking mushroom and leek soup with croutons. For entrée, it's going to be a roasted turkey basted with lemon and herb and strawberry napoleon for dessert. My tummy grumbled just envisioning the food to be served later.
"Sir…" Our butler called my attention.
"Yes, Romero."
"There are guests arriving already."
"I'm on my way out." I said before he left.
Now, how do I cover up my miserable husband look in front of my colleagues and relatives? Relax and just act as if you just got married to your ideal lover. I can't seem to get excited when I think about my marriage with Eloise so I am going to visualize Princess Diana as my other half. Yes, Princess Diana is the perfect woman. Prince Charles doesn't deserve someone like her. She is too good for him. I should have been his Mr. Right, not that abhorrent frog.
I meditated for a bit before going out the kitchen doors to face my relatives and friends from work.
--
"So as I was saying, my dad called me in the middle of our orientation and everyone literally looked at me because I forgot to turn off my ringtone." My sister in law has been blabbering all evening long that guests are starting to feel their eyelids shutting.
I looked at my kids to see them playing with their cousins. They look so elated and I have never seen them enjoying themselves this much. Sometimes, I even envy them because they don't have to worry about anything at all. They just basically play and study, that's it, not a care in the world. Also, I wish that even if it's just one day, I can relive what it's like to be a kid again wherein you don't have to make hard choices, you don't have to face a dilemma, you don't have to deal with a cheating wife, and you won't have to be a cheating husband. You are just a kid…young, innocent and carefree.
Suddenly, Sofia pulled at my sleeve to tell me something.
"Daddy, mommy is talking to a stranger outside." She whispered. I stood up from my chair and excused myself for a while. I didn't even notice that Eloise was gone that long. She must have snuck out early when I was deep in conversation with my uncle.
I went to the front porch and eavesdropped for a while.
"I told you, Gillian. It's not your child. It's Orville's."
"Oh really? How am I supposed to believe that, Eloise? We both know that he hardly touches you anymore ever since he found out about us. Second, we do it way more often than usual."
What a filth!
"There's no us, Gillian. Orville is my husband and it will always be that way." She sneered.
"He is your husband but that's my child you're carrying." He rebutted.
"Shut up! If you don't back off right now, I'm going to abort this baby and there's nothing you can do about it."
"See, you basically admitted that it's mine." Gillian said with pride.
"I'm going to have an abortion and that's final if that's what it takes for you to leave me and my family alone."
Gillian then pulled Eloise roughly to him and squeezed her arms, which made her squirm in pain.
"Gillian, you're hurting me." She cried.
"You are not going to kill my child." He growled.
I decided to not be too hasty so I just pretended to be stupid. I came out the door in a very calm manner, which made Eloise push Gillian off her.
"Orville!" She said, surprised.
Eloise and Gillian are both gobsmacked to see me standing in front of them. Gillian put his hands on his hips before looking down.
"Is everything alright in here?" I asked.
"Yeah, Gillian…just…gave me a hug." She said with agitated sound.
"Gillian?" I asked.
"Gillian is my childhood friend and it just so happens that he is in town for a week so I decided to invite him to our party. I hope you don't mind, babe." Eloise stated.
I chuckled due to her convincing lie. Take note of my sarcasm.
"Well then, make yourself at home, Gillian. Plenty of room inside" I said in a pretentious welcoming tone.
Gillian was hesitant but entered anyway and I gave my cheating wife a smirk, which I am pretty sure caused her to be quite puzzled.
Sometimes, it's more fun to play along and stab the enemy on the back.