Chris' POV
My mother and I watched her, our eyes following her every move as she descended the stairs with a graceful, measured pace, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, followed by the creak of the door as it swung open.
She walked towards the dinning, taking the seat across me, her body stiff and rigid.
"Good morning Mrs Morgan," she smiled faintly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush as she greeted my mother as my mother replied,
"Morning my sweet child...I hope you slept well?" ofcourse she slept well and that was all thanks to me...and did she appreciate it? No.
"Yes Mrs Morgan...and it's all thanks to Chris," What?! She decided to thank me now? In front of my mother? I could sense my mother's gaze but I didn't even bat an eyelid. I didn't want my mother or Lily to know I was moved by her actions. Was this her plan all along?
As my mother filled her cup with coffee, a familiar, comfortable silence settled over the room, the tension from before seemingly dissipated.
"My son you say?" She smiled still staring at me but I decided to concentrate on my meal.
"Yes...your son," I didn't know why but after that the table became quiet. I guess everyone chose to concentrate on their food like I did.
"Mmm, these pancakes are amazing!" Lily finally broke the silence as my mum burst into laughter and some servant followed.
"I'm glad you like them," Josie smiled at her.
"I love them," I couldn't help but steal a glance at her as her eyes sparkled.
"I swear, Lily, you could eat Josie's pancakes every day of the week and still never get tired of them!" Mum said still laughing.
The laughter died down a couple of seconds later and Lily decided to speak, her expression remained guarded, her eyes hard and unyielding.
"You know," she cleared my throat, "I really appreciate this breakfast. It was so thoughtful of you guys to make it. I'm sorry I didn't help." she said, her voice sharp and clipped.
"Don't be silly!" my mother said, a smile breaking across her face. "If you end up making breakfast then what are the servants supposed to be doing,"
"Well I am married into this family after all...so I should be able to perform my wifely duties, shouldn't I?" she said, her voice soft and sincere. Mother was speechless after that.
"I'll be helping out in the kitchen and chores after now," she said before taking another bite of her pancakes.
"Chris my boy...you found yourself a fine young woman," mum whispered to me but judging from the silence of the room I was certain everyone could hear her.
"You know I can hear you Mrs. Morgan," Lily laughed confirming my suspicion.This was so embarrassing.
"Oh dear...stop calling me Mrs. Morgan...I'm your mother in law for goodness sake," mum chided.
"Sorry.....Mother,"
"That's more like it," mum chuckled.
"Ummm Chris..." She called out to me and I lifted my head in reply.
"I....I'd like to go see my mother...." was this about her mother again? It was like she wanted to see her mother every second. It was becoming quite annoying, I didn't know why but I didn't like the thought of Lily leaving the house so I quickly replied
"No..."
"What?!!" She double blinked as if that could sharpen her hearing.
"I said no," I made sure my voice was loud enough for her to hear
"But Chris..."
"...you went to see her yesterday," she couldn't be with her mother every single day? She was a married woman now and she had her responsibilities.
"You didn't even let me talk to her because of the stupid photoshoot and now you can't even let me go see her again! What's your excuse this time? I have to follow you to work?" She got up from the table storming up the stairs. Who did she think she was to walk away from me like that?
"Don't you dare walk out on me!!" My voice echoed in the dinning room as she stood still.
"I've had enough of this," she said with her back to me "You can't keep treating me like this...not everything's about you you know," she said before climbing up the stairs.
I got up about to go after her but mum held my arm, "You know...you could have just let her go see her mother," no mum not now, I sighed internally.
"Please mum," I massaged my forehead trying to remain calm "With all due respect please stay out of this....this is between me and her," I said before going after her.
How dare she walk away from me...didn't she understands what the term respect meant, I will make her pay "Lily...open this door now!! Open it! Unless I'm gonna break it down! And trust me you won't like what's gonna happen next," I yelled banging on the door.
"You can't keep treating me like this Chris...I'm not some slave or robot that's supposed to do everything you want and not ask for anything or ask questions!" I heard her say.
"Then what the hell did I get married to you for," I growled in a very low tone clenching my fists before hitting the door again.
"Lily!! Open this door now or you're gonna regret what happens next!!"
"Don't you think I already regret all of this Chris..." No! She didn't just say that! How dare she say that!!! I couldn't control my self anymore.
Rage boiled in my veins, a primal force that consumed every rational thought in its wake. With a growl that came from the depths of my being, I raised my leg and delivered a vicious kick to the bedroom door, sending it flying open with a deafening crash.
I stormed into the bedroom, the smell of her perfume still lingering in the air, taunting me with its presence. My feet pounded against the hard floor, each step fueled by the fury that burned within me.
My eyes scanned the room and I found her standing in the middle of the room, eyes wide with fear, felt like a punch to the gut. Her hands were trembling, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps as she backed away from me.
My anger faltered for a moment, replaced by a fleeting glimpse of recognition. This was my wife, the woman I had promised to protect on our wedding day. But the fury returned, stronger than ever, overriding any sense of compassion or pity that might have lingered in my heart.
"You think you can just walk away from me? When I specifically told you not to?!" I growled at her, I knew I was loosing my temper but at this moment it was hopeless to control it.
"I....I don't…I didn't mean to…" what? Did she think she could save herself from my wrath by sweet talking me and making herself look like the victim?
"Save your breath," I gritted my teeth. My voice laced with disgust.
I advanced towards her, my hands reaching out like claws, Lily cowered against the wall, her body shaking as she fought to keep herself upright.
But at the last moment, just as my fingers were about to grasp her face, I jerked my hand away, slamming my fist into the wall with a deafening thud. The plaster crumbled beneath my touch, the wall shaking with the force of the blow. My breath came out in ragged gasps as I stared into her eyes, a mixture of fury and confusion swirling within me.