I arrived at our house, greeted by Aunt Rosemary's awkwardness. "Young madam," she said hesitantly, causing me to pause and look at her. "Young master has moved your things into the guest room. He is in the master's bedroom right now with Kelly."
Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself that I should be used to this by now. "Alright, thanks for letting me know," I replied, trying to maintain a sense of composure.
I made my way to the guest room. After a long day, I decided to take a bath and wash away the weariness that clung to me. I slipped into my nightgown and stood before the mirror, scrutinizing my reflection and ensuring that I looked perfect for the night ahead.
Suddenly, I heard Kelly's voice, deliberately loud and filled with amusement. "That tickles!" she exclaimed, making sure her voice carried throughout the house. A surge of anger and frustration coursed through me as I realized what was happening.
Without hesitation, I flung the door to the master's bedroom open, only to be met with the sight of my husband on top of Kelly, his lips pressed against her neck. They were ready to make love, oblivious to my presence.
"What the f---!" he blurted out, shocked by my sudden intrusion. "What the hell are you doing here? Are you a creep?" He quickly sat on the bed, covering Kelly with a blanket.
"I'm sleeping here," I stated nonchalantly, my voice devoid of emotion.
"Are you serious?" he questioned, disbelief etched on his face.
"You can continue," I said calmly, my gaze unwavering as I took a seat on the nearby couch, watching them.
"This is insane!" Kelly hastily put on her dress behind the blanket and stormed out of the room.
"Wait! Babe!" he called out, scrambling to his feet, only to realize he was completely naked. He shot me a furious glance, and in that moment, we heard the sound of Kelly's car leaving the garage.
"What the hell do you want?" he demanded, his anger simmering.
I looked at him intently, my eyes locked with his. "Sleep with me," I said, my words hanging in the air, shattering the silence that had fallen upon the room.
A heavy silence enveloped us as he was taken aback by my unexpected statement.
"Are you this desperate?" he mocked, his words laced with disdain.
"Aren't you?" I retorted, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.
My words struck a nerve as he remembered Grandpa's ultimatum. The pressure of the ticking clock, the looming deadline to conceive a child, weighed heavily on his mind.
"You surely have your way," he continued to tease me mockingly, his words dripping with sarcasm.
He stood before me, completely naked, his presence meant to unsettle me. But I refused to let his actions affect me. I looked at him with an air of indifference, realizing that Grandpa had orchestrated this situation for my sake. The prospect of having a child with the person I loved should have brought me happiness and contentment, even if it meant eventual divorce.
"I can't believe you could stoop this low," he said, his face contorted with disgust.
Crossing my feet in front of him, I smiled, masking the pain that gnawed at my heart. "Alright, let's stop this," I said, my voice filled with a newfound resolve. "I can't force you to sleep with me. Besides, if I don't bear a child within a month, we would still be married, right?" I stood up, meeting his gaze head-on. "I can spend my whole life making yours a living hell," I whispered into his ear.
I was prepared to leave the room, to walk away from this painful charade, when I felt his hand grip my arm, stopping me in my tracks.
My heart ached as I realized that even if he didn't want me, he would do anything to rid himself of me. The realization pierced through me, threatening to break the facade of strength I had carefully constructed.
"What now?" I asked, my face contorted with a mocking smile, a defense mechanism to shield myself from the pain that threatened to consume me.
"Stay here," he said softly, his voice tinged with a mix of resignation and vulnerability. "I will make love to you every night. Just please, let me go."
Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over. The pain within me was overwhelming, but I fought to keep my composure, to hide the depth of my emotions.
I nodded silently, unable to find the words to respond. In that moment, I understood that even if he didn't truly want me, he was willing to go through the motions to fulfill his obligations. My heart ached, torn between the longing for a genuine connection and the reality of our circumstances.
As I woke up in bed, a soreness spread through my body, a painful reminder of what had happened the previous night. My husband had fulfilled his obligation by sleeping with me to fulfill the terms of our unwanted marriage. The weight of the situation settled upon me, and a sense of emptiness washed over me.
Heading to the kitchen, I was met with the sight of my husband and Kelly having breakfast together. Aunt Rosemary's sorrowful gaze met mine, but she remained silent, unable to find the words to express her sympathy.
"You're here," Kelly greeted me, her tone implying that I should excuse myself. She fed my husband a toasted bread, their affectionate gestures making my stomach churn.
I took a seat at the table, my gaze fixed on Kelly. "That is my seat," I warned her, my voice filled with a quiet determination.
"Babe!" she called out, seeking my husband's help, but I glared at him, asserting my authority. She pouted her lips, attempting to appear cute and innocent.
"Husband," I said, taking a deep breath. "I'll be visiting Grandpa during dinner, so I will be late coming home."
Kelly interjected, her tone filled with disdain. "Does he even care?" she questioned, attempting to undermine our conversation.
"One word from me, and Grandpa can take back the divorce agreement," I declared proudly, my voice laced with a newfound confidence. "You can spend your entire life being a mistress for all I care! Better not provoke me, or I might just change my mind."
Standing up from the table, I addressed Aunt Rosemary. "Please move my things back to the main bedroom," I requested, leaving them with a smile on my face. It was a smile that masked the turmoil within me, a symbol of the strength I had found in the face of adversity.
As I walked away, a mix of emotions swirled within me. Determination, sadness, and a glimmer of hope intermingled, propelling me forward on this tumultuous journey. I knew that reclaiming my autonomy and finding happiness would not be easy, but I was ready to face the challenges that lay ahead, armed with the knowledge that I had the power to shape my own destiny.
"I want this, and this..." Kelly pointed out numerous items in the store, her demands echoing through the aisles. My colleagues exchanged questioning glances, silently wondering why I was assisting her.
The staff member offered to help, saying, "I can assist you with all of your needs."
"No, I want Andrea to do it for me," Kelly threatened, her tone laced with arrogance. "Or else, I will take my business elsewhere." With a smug smile, she flaunted her VIP membership card, insinuating the potential consequences of receiving a negative review.
She opened her camera and began live streaming, announcing to her followers, "Hi everyone! I'm here at Harmony Home Interiors, making purchases for my new house!" The staff couldn't help but glance at me, their eyes filled with sympathy for the situation I found myself in. I reassured them with a smile, silently conveying that I would handle it.
"I'm thinking of replacing our bed. It doesn't look sturdy," she remarked, her smile wicked.
"I recommend this one," I replied calmly, guiding her through the available options.
"Oh wow, how did you know which size I prefer? This is absolutely perfect!" she continued to mock me, relishing the fact that the wife was assisting the mistress in buying a new bed for her and my husband.
I pushed aside the thoughts that threatened to frustrate me, focusing on maintaining the store's reputation and professionalism. With a smile, I attended to her needs, ensuring that she received the best service possible, regardless of the circumstances. Deep down, I held onto the hope that one day, I would find my own happiness and reclaim the respect that I deserved.
"How are you, my dear?" Grandpa inquired as I delicately sipped my cup of tea, prompting me to place it gently on the table and meet his gaze.
"I should be the one to ask you that, Grandpa," I expressed with concern for his well-being.
"I know my body. I will live long," he chuckled. Adopting a serious expression, he continued, "You know that I will always support you, right? You don't have to be afraid of anyone."
"I know. I am always grateful," I replied shyly, fully aware that Grandpa had a keen awareness of the happenings within our marriage.
"Andrew has never shown interest in a woman before, so I was relieved," Grandpa shared with a sigh. "When he was ten years old, his father left him and his mother for a younger woman. He was so enraged by the situation that he left home for a day."
With a nostalgic gaze upon the garden's flowers, Grandpa remarked, "His mother planted those flowers," pointing out their significance. "She was an ordinary woman with a warm smile and a kind heart."
Moved by his emotions, I rose from my seat and assisted in pushing Grandpa's wheelchair closer to the garden, sensing his desire to touch those exquisite blooms.
"A year after that, she suddenly passed away. She never revealed her illness to us. I believe the anguish in her heart took its toll," Grandpa shared, his voice tinged with sadness.
"Prior to meeting your family for the engagement, I inquired whether he had any romantic interests, to which he responded negatively," he confessed, his gaze filled with remorse. "However, upon investigating your family, I discovered that you had developed feelings for my grandson during your high school days."
Rather than disappointment, my face flushed with embarrassment as memories of my past antics flooded back.
"In truth, I had already set my sights on you as my future granddaughter-in-law," he chuckled. "Forgive my audacity. I simply desired to ensure that my grandson would be cherished and loved."
I smiled reassuringly, wanting to alleviate his concerns. "I was quite persistent back then," I chuckled, feeling a tinge of embarrassment. "I held onto the belief that love could be nurtured, and that eventually, he would develop feelings for me."
"You still have an opportunity," he stated firmly. "Seize this final chance to grow closer to him. Just as you did before, be persistent and leave no room for regrets. You're intelligent, and I trust that you know what needs to be done."
"Let's go to sleep, babe," Kelly muffled her voice beneath the blanket in the guest room.
Andrew, focused on his work at the table, responded, "I'm almost done here." Glancing at the clock, he realized it was nearly midnight. Where had Andrea gone? He wondered. Suddenly, the sound of the gate opening caught his attention. He glanced out the window and saw his wife's car pulling in. Turning off the lamp, he decided to join Kelly in bed.
After half an hour, Kelly was fast asleep. But a noise downstairs caught Andrew's attention, leading him to check it out.
"What are you doing?" his cold voice startled me as I rummaged through the hanging cabinet, searching for instant noodles.
"Why are you here?" I instinctively placed a hand over my chest, fear coursing through me.
"Do you know what time it is?" his face contorted with irritation.
"Go back to your room and sleep. You shouldn't concern yourself with me," I retorted.
"I was never concerned with you," he responded.
How can I get closer to someone like him? His moments of tenderness are fleeting. Now that I know about his mistress, he's reverted to treating me as he did back in high school.