It felt so unusual for Callum to not reply to my messages when I sent them seven hours ago. It wasn't supposed to be too odd for him to be busy during business trips and when he was at work, but the late replies weren't the only thing I noticed. His replies were becoming shorter and shorter.
When his supposed one-week trip was extended, it didn't bother me at all. But the lack of conversation and the changes in his behavior were starting to bug me. I understand that running a big company meant a lot of work, but I wasn't used to him being too busy to at least let me know what he was up to or how his day went.
I'd appreciate it if he'd at least update me whenever he could, like he had always done before. That way, he wouldn't feel so far away, and I wouldn't have to worry about him. But I didn't even know what he was doing right now or if he had already eaten.
I sighed as I put my phone away. But I grabbed it back as soon I heard it ting. My lips curled into a smile when I saw it was from Callum. But my smile faltered as quickly as I opened his message. It was a single text telling me he was back at his hotel and was going to sleep because he was exhausted.
I absentmindedly called him, hoping we'd finally get to talk. Ringing. . . It was ringing for too long, and then it ended. That was the fifteenth missed call since he left for the trip. I sighed. Maybe he fell asleep.
"Usually, you'd be the first to miss me," I mumbled while staring at my phone.
At least I knew he was back in his hotel and safe. I sent him a text asking him to call me whenever he could and that I loved him.
I put my phone down and looked around the living room. This house felt big and lonely without him, and he was never away for too long because he didn't like being without me too. I just finished work today and was looking forward to telling him about my day. But I guess that could wait.
"Ma'am?" Our guard suddenly popped out of nowhere. I raised a questioning brow. "Sir Callum's mother is outside. She wants to come in, but Sir Callum ordered me not to let his family into your house."
My in-laws hated the fact that I married their son. They hated me for ruining the marriage arrangement for Callum, and they hated me for being poor and lowly--that was the words they used to describe me. Callum forbade them from coming to our house or being near me after they humiliated me at a party at some point.
They probably knew that Callum wasn't here to shield me from them. But I didn't need my husband to protect me each time they tried something.
Even though they hadn't been very kind to me, and all I heard from them were insults. Cecile was still my husband's mother, and I'd feel bad to assume the worst from her every time.
"Let her in," I said.
I walked to the front door to welcome my mother-in-law, and she immediately came in after I excused the guard. Being around her made me feel uneasy because I didn't know what to expect and how to act. But this was my house, and I wouldn't let her walk all over me here.
She wore a black coat and a big hat. She didn't bother to hang them before looking down at me with her eyebrow raised. Her lips curved into a menacing grin, and I had to press mine together at the sight of it.
Although her gaze was sharp, I didn't look away.
"It has been three years. I suppose you've dug yourself enough gold," Cecile arrogantly said. "Isn't it time for a little rat like you to leave my son alone?"
My shoulders fell after she spoke. No matter how many times she proved herself unworthy of the chances I gave them, I still get disappointed each time.
"If you come here to insult me, then please leave."
Cecile scoffed. She stepped closer to me as her hand searched for something in her handbag. She pulled out a stack of cash and then threw it at my face. My lips quivered as the money fell on my feet.
"There you go. Pick it up and pack your things," Cecile said.
Tears pooled in my eyes as I stared at the money scattered around my feet. I wondered if she did this while mom was still alive and we were starving. Would I have picked up the cash on the floor one by one? I felt so small despite trying to grow and be better.
Callum's parents weren't the first to look at me like I was worth nothing. I tried to not look at myself with their eyes and let their words tell me who I was. But it was hard to look at myself differently when I knew I truly had nothing to offer. So, I did everything I could to give myself some worth. After Mom passed, I studied so hard and worked just as much, but something would always happen to hinder me from getting what I wanted.
It was as if someone was blocking my path to a better life. I had a scholarship in college, but my grades for one subject dropped drastically, and my scholarship was revoked. I graduated college thanks to the odd jobs I took, and I thought life would finally get better. However, none of the companies I applied for accepted my application. And every time I fail, I doubt progress.
I didn't even want to live in luxury. I just wanted to amount to something.
"I'm not here for the money," I said. Not anymore. I guess I did at first, but now, I was staying because of my husband. We had buried the contract seven months ago. It was no longer what bound us together. "It has been three years. Is it really that hard for you to accept that Callum chose me? And I love him?"
Cecile broke into laughter. She laughed and laughed like I said something so ridiculous.
"Did you really think you'd live in this house for the rest of your life and indulge in my son's wealth? That tiny brain of yours has a pretty big imagination," she said. She reached into her bag again. Then she flung a file toward me.
I stared at it as it fell on the floor. I went down to grab it. It was a flight passenger list, and Callum's name was highlighted. The date on top indicated that the plane arrived in this country yesterday.
"What's this supposed to be?" I asked.
"My son came back to the country yesterday, and he's staying at a hotel," she explained. "You didn't know?"
My throat suddenly felt dry, and the tears that threatened to fall earlier finally did. Although my husband's behavior felt strange these past few days, I did not expect this.
"You should leave," I said as I wiped my tears. "Or I'll have the guards drag you out."
I took a deep breath as I collected my thoughts. This list could be wrong or fabricated. Why would Callum hide it from me? Why wouldn't he tell me he was already back?
"You should leave before he comes home. I bet my son is already too tired of having you around." She gave me a smirk before she turned to the door.
My knees gave out, and I fell on the floor when she was gone. I shouldn't let her get into my head. She had done a lot of horrible things in the past to break me and Callum apart. This could just be one of her schemes.
I looked for my phone and immediately called Callum. I need to talk to him. The heaviness in my chest was already becoming too much to bear. I was biting down on my lip as I waited. My cheeks were now stained with tears.
Please answer. Another missed call. Followed by another.
There was no way Callum would do anything to hurt me. Those missed calls and late replies must have a reasonable explanation--no, it must only be because of work. I had no reason to doubt him.
I was never the type to call over and over. I even hesitated to call when Callum was at work. So, whenever I did call, he wouldn't miss it. If he did, he would call immediately after.
'Please, answer my call,' I texted him.
It took less than a minute for his caller ID to pop up on my screen, and a wave of relief washed over my system.