Christopher returned to the room within minutes.
"The lawyer will come here this afternoon, around 16:00, to discuss this predicament with us further. Seeing as you didn't knowingly sign the marriage contract, I think we should proceed with the annulment." Christopher informed her and Emilia's heart sunk. She barely worked out that they were together, and it was coming to an end. Christopher paused and fidgeted nervously before continuing with his next thought. "I-…" he stuttered. "I wish to apologise to you." He added.
"Why?"
"What Mr Cosby did was unthinkable. Not even once did I consider it to be a possibility. I suppose, if I took greater care it could've been avoided."
"From what I understand, it is not your fault. You thought I willingly signed that contract with the knowledge of what it entailed. I do, however, apologise for the scene I have caused in your company. Not to mention that I feel bad for you. I-… I'm not even sure what effect the last few months had on you."
Christopher smiled gently as Emilia's compassion once again surprised him. She was the only person he would ever consider being truly married to.
"Now that I know what has happened, a lot of things are clearer. But frankly, it was getting a little tedious that you kept calling me Mr Hayden and introducing yourself as Miss Vincent." Christopher leaned on the doorframe.
"I never intended it. I thought I was being respectful to you as my boss. And I didn't know about the change of my surname." Emilia tilted her head in quizzical way. She never once considered that she was now Emilia Hayden. Patrick told her when she had a full meltdown but it never sunk in. She was Emilia Hayden. She sounded it out in her brain and she didn't mind how it sounded.
"It truly shed some light onto a few events from the past."
"Like?"
"The issue in the bank a few months ago as you've tried to withdraw some money. I have opened the account in the name of Emilia Hayden, and I have used the manor as the main address of residence. Which was not the details you have provided, is it?"
"It makes sense now." Emilia nodded.
She laid back against a stack of pillows and she felt peaceful. Christopher's stoicism wore off on her. Her earlier panic dissipated and now she had a confidence of resolution. She had confidence in Christopher. That revelations surprised her. She glanced at him noticing just how much more worn down he was than before. "May I ask you a personal question, Mr Hayden?"
"Of course."
"With everything that has happened and with how I treated you, why did you stay with me? Shouldn't you have considered a divorce?"
"It's a bit more complicated than that, Emilia. I do not see how the reason for me remaining with you will change anything now. All I can say is that I am regretful that you were tricked and lied to. I cannot express how sorry I am that you suffered because of me." Christopher straightened out. The question was the one he couldn't truthfully answer. It wasn't even his father's last Will that made him stay with Emilia.
"Why did you marry me?" Emilia didn't care for his apologies. Her curiosity piqued and she wanted answers.
"You were the best candidate there was." Christopher smiled sadly. It has not changed since but rather he was more sure that Emilia was for him. He hated the feeling of powerlessness as she slipped through his hands. He hated the reminder of how she demanded the divorce when he tried to break the wall and change their relationship type.
"I see."
"Would you ever consider marrying me?" Christopher asked in return, the question haunting him since he learnt that Emilia was with him unknowingly.
"No." Emilia shook her head. "I would have never married someone who uses a multi stage selection process to pick a wife." She chuckled. "Besides, I am an unsuitable candidate for a wife of someone like yourself."
"Why do you think so?"
"I do not move in the same circles as you. My social status alone would be an issue as I have nothing to my name. I-…" Emilia tried not to show how worthless she truly was to Christopher.
"You did just fine in the last few months." Christopher remarked, which made Emilia realise that it was true. She infiltrated Christopher's social circles and not only because of him.
"I suppose."
"And my downfall was the way I choose my wife? Is that why you think I'm a psychopath?" Christopher's tone of voice was slightly challenging and he crossed his arms.
Emilia looked up in shock. He heard her when she was angry at Patrick and he remembered her words. She didn't truly consider him a psychopath, of course. But he heard it and he hung onto it.
"Mr Hayden…?" She whimpered in fear and shame.
"It's alright. I wouldn't have married myself either." Christopher looked down at his hands.
Emilia looked at him in silence, unsure what to say. She would have likely married him if she met him under different circumstances and if they dated for a while. He made her laugh. He listened to her babble about her work and experience. He shared a lot of similar values as her. He was breathtakingly handsome. And he had a much softer heart than what he let others believe.
Emilia was concerned about his words and why he believed to not being quite the person she would have chosen. Beside the odd way of choosing his wife, there was absolutely nothing Emilia hated about him. She disliked his occasional drinking and that was the only thing she could think of.
Christopher gave her a nod before leaving the room not giving her much time to collect her thoughts and respond.
For Christopher, it was difficult to see her. It was difficult to know that she was hurt because of him and equally difficult to know that soon she will be gone, and it was all of his fault. And the truth was agonising - she would have never married him out of her free will. He wasn't surprised. He wondered for a while why she chose to be with him. Everyone sane questioned it.
It only made sense that someone like her wouldn't have chosen this. She was too smart to marry a stranger, even if it were for the money.
Emilia managed to have a nap before the time of the meeting came. Her body was still exhausted enough that it didn't matter how much her thoughts were racing, she was still falling asleep easily.
Once awake, she attempted to brush her hair and prepare herself for what was to come. She walked slowly towards the study where she hesitated in front of the dark heavy door. She didn't remember ever being inside this room, and she still felt a very conflicting emotions about what was about to happen. Part of her wondered what would happen if she didn't go ahead with the annulment that Christopher was proposing.
A deep breath before she raised her hand to knock, but the door swung open. Surprise flashed through Christopher's face before he invited her in and pointed at the armchair in front of his desk. Emilia's eyes darted around the room, trying to take in every little detail, the titles of the books on the shelf, the awards and certificates scattered around, a beautiful plant in the corner which had deep green leaves.
Emilia sat down in an armchair but even then, her focus was on her surroundings.
"Would you like a coffee or a tea?"
"No, thank you, Mr Hayden."
"Mr Thompson should arrive shortly."
"I thought that he was your father's lawyer."
"He was. He also dealt with a few things around our marriage. He will be the best in informing me on how to proceed so this annulment has minimal effect on both of us."
"Uh-huh." Emilia nodded, her eyes wandering again. She looked everywhere beside Christopher. His dejected looks made her feel guilty, but that is what he wanted. For whatever reason, he wanted the annulment. Whether it was guilt or him realising that she was too much liability and effort, she couldn't tell.