Cassidy performed the duties of a good wife to the best of her knowledge.
She cleaned up the entire house, made sure her husband had the best meals and made sure to not argue with her husband again.
She had read in a book that a wife was supposed to be calm irrespective of what the situation was.
A wife was supposed to respect her husband irrespective of what he does.
This made her feel that the world was unfair.
Or was it nature that was unfair?
' Never make your husband angry ' they say... but what if he was a total jerk? Wasn't she at least allowed or permitted to speak for herself?
Life was really unfair.
She resolved within herself to be mindful.
And for the past two weeks, everything seemed to going on well, except for her husband still returning home late and destroying things in fury, and not telling her things about his family or hers when she had demanded.
She had learned to keep her cool this time.
****
" Jasmine, what flavour do you think he will love?" Cassidy asked as she hurriedly pinned the sash to the other side of the sitting room.
She stood on a stool.
Jasmine pinned the balloons and ribbons.
" Chocolate flavour."
" Are the presents in order?"
Cassidy affirmed.
" Yes. I placed them on the other side."
She smiled at her hard work.
A lot of transformation had happened in the sitting room.
Purple balloons dominated the entire room as the dim lights that had different colours shimmered.
The colourful ribbons held some wraps in them.
" Jasmine," she called; she climbed down from the stool slowly.
" What if he doesn't like them? What if he tosses them away violently like he always does?"
Jasmine sighed softly and drew closer to her.
" You've to be positive. Positivity is the magic if you want this to work out fine for you two."
" I think it's time to get dressed."
" Isn't it too early? I mean..."
" It's best to get ready now. Don't forget to wear the red dress. Use peppermint because he loves it. Go on and dress, I'll do the finishing touches," Jasmine assured her and went about to place the other balloons in the right places.
***
Jasmine helped Cassidy adjust her jewelries.
The sapphire earrings dangled on her ears and they matched her blue eyes. The red gown had no sleeves and she found herself pulling it up to cover her cleavage.
She pulled it down too because it was slightly above her knees.
It had a large slit at the left side and a large bow attached to the abdominal region.
Cassidy complained.
" Jasmine, I don't feel comfortable in this. This necklace is heavy.
" This gown is tight... it's like a second skin and my feet are aching from this heels."
Jasmine scoffed mockingly.
" Your complaints are so much that I don't know which one to listen to first."
She let out a deep breath.
" The master will love it if you dress this way. It'll just be for tonight.
" You smell nice anyway."
Cassidy gave an uncertain smile.
A momentary look of discomfort crossed her pale face as her heart stumbled over its own rhythm.
She breathed in air and let it out in a shaky exhale.
The clock ticked endlessly.
She hastily snuggled some cards under the table covers and sat down on the couch patiently.
Jasmine did the same.
She was going to wait for her husband no matter what happens.
When the clock stroke 10pm, the door knob turned.
Cassidy held her breath unconsciously.
Lucas walked in.
He hissed in the darkness.
The lights came on and that was when he saw Cassidy sitted with a remote control in her hands.
The coloured lights came on spontaneously.
He gaped wide-eyed.
Cassidy looked at him intently.
This was the first time she saw another emotion in his eyes ( although his gaze looked inexplicable) apart from anger.
Was he surprised ( because his eyes widened at the sight of all the decorations?)
Or was he shocked ( because he slammed his eyes shut as if that would protect them?)
Her words came out soft and tender. She rose from the couch.
" Happy birthday."
She had found out about his birthday from Jasmine, and she had worked endlessly to create this surprise.
Lucas felt overwhelmed ( and maybe confused and angry.)
He had even forgotten about his own birthday?
He had even forgotten about his own birthday!
Earlier, he found himself thinking about Cassidy.
She was lying freely in his mind and interrupting his thoughts.
He wasn't even able to concentrate on the deals he had to seal with some clients.
It refused to go away even when he tried to distract his mind.
He had even aggressively thrown Jane out of his office because he was seeing Cassidy in his mind's eyes.
Cassidy was simply transforming him into something he didn't want to become.
" Thank you," Lucas said in a soft but cold voice.
He remained motionless.
He didn't clench his fists or grit his teeth.
Cassidy could even discern the coldness in his voice.
Although he stood at the door, she could see his cold eyes throw icy gazes at her and everything in the sitting room.
Lucas' steps were sluggish and heavy as he walked towards her.
What was she even thinking?
He would come to embrace her?
Those butterflies in her belly came alive.
Lucas just walked past her and trudged towards the stairs.
His sluggish steps disappeared as he walked in haste.
Cassidy looked at Jasmine whose eyes urged her to go after him.
Her heartbeat thudded wildly.
She felt suffocated inside.
Why didn't he like it?
" He never likes anything I do," she said inwardly.
She felt crushed and conflicted by her rejection as she kept her gaze downward.
Disappointment shook her violently to the core.
Just where did everything go wrong?
Cassidy scurried backwards and turned around again.
She would go and talk to him about everything.
Her impetuous rush to the stairs startled Jasmine.
She knocked on the door and pushed it open.
It wasn't locked and she entered the room.