"What do you mean I can't divorce Magnus?" Eisley sat up, staring at the papers Robert had given her.
"Miraculously, there's no reason to divorce him. He never properly registered the marriage, let's say, he took you against your will and lied about the papers and registration," Robert said.
Dumbfounded, Eisley shook her head. She was sure Magnus had registered the marriage. According to the file that Magnus had, it showed a marriage register.
"I can't believe this," water filled her eyes. All this while, she was free to walk away, but he had brainwashed her to even make a move. If she ran away without divorcing him, she would have been still stuck with him, and one day, he would have found her, and even if she tried to change her name, he would have found her, there was no possibility of her running and getting remarried without getting rid of Magnus.
Irwin sat with his hands resting on the side of the chair, and he glanced at the ceiling, his eyes closed, and a line appeared between his eyebrows. His visions were blurry, and his nose flared. As he was consumed in his thoughts.
"You are not capable of love, nor marriage, get a grip, Irwin, you're mine! I made you who you are. Do you think you would be Irwin Kent today without me?"
Irwin inhaled sharply, opening his eyes. Robert stared at him before pouring him a drink. Irwin's jaw clenched, and he took the drink from the table.
"You're going to marry Miss Eisley?" Robert queried.
Irwin looked at the documents piled up, "Yes, I am. I want the news to get out, since we are here, it would be best to get married and settle down for a while,"
"Marriage isn't settling down," Robert replied. "Besides, your mother wouldn't like such news,"
Irwin slammed the document on the table. He looked at Robert, and he tweaked his ear, looking down.
"So? Do you want us to keep doing whatever we are doing?"
"I'm sorry, I was just saying, Miss Eisley isn't the one to understand your lifestyle. It's a bit dangerous to fall in love with her—"
"Fall in love? Who is?" Irwin cut him off.
"Oh, is this a loveless marriage then? It would only gain you more enemies, Tess, your mother, and Magnus. He is already pissed,"
"Let's prepare for the party tonight, Eisley would need people to help her look, and oh, get the doctor to examine her."
"Yes, sir. I confronted Magnus about the fake marriage registration. He didn't take it too well," Robert said. Irwin took a sip from the drink and nodded.
There was a moment of silence, and Irwin stared at the ceiling. He exhaled deeply, "Did you look into the shooter?"
"Yes, but we still haven't found any trace of him,"
"Betrayal?" Irwin asked.
"Do you think your mother or Tess is involved in this? It could be Charles," Robert suggested.
"Charles, he has been on the low since? Find him for me, do it quietly, and put a trail on Magnus, too. I want to know his every move. The shooting wasn't a coincidence,"
Irwin looked out the window. The shooting was rather a warning than an aim to kill him. If the shooter was that good to aim directly at his side, then there was a chance he could have been dead.
"Yes, Mr Kent," Robert said.
BACK AT MAGNUS HOUSE.
Magnus slapped the door, tossing a file and causing it to scatter on the floor, brimming with rage. He pushed everything out of the dining.
"Finally, you're home," Cecily stepped out of the shower with a towel around her chest, staring at the mess Magnus made. "What? Is she still with Irwin?" Cecily scoffed, "I can't believe this bitch,"
Magnus looked at her. "Bitch? Who do you think you're calling bitch?" He slapped her.
Cecily fell holding her cheek where it burned. "It's because of you! It's because of you Eisley decided to divorce me!!" He roared.
Her eyes wandered around, confusion beaming in her blue eyes, fear washing through her like a bucket of water. "Divorce?" She muffled.
Cecily's eyes gaped, and she slid backwards swiftly. Never in her life would she have imagined Magnus taking his anger out on her. She moved back quickly, but her towel got loose, and Magnus sighed heavily.
Cecily immediately tried to cover up, but each time she tried to, her hand missed to grab it.
"You come here," Magnus grabbed her by her hair, pulling her into the bedroom.
"No! Magnus! No!" She yelled, and the door shut.
Meanwhile, back at Irwin's mansion. Eisley stepped out of her bedroom for a party, she didn't even get full details, nobody said anything, they just gave her the bed jewellery, dress, made her hair elegantly, and that was all. She stared at herself in the mirror, and although her bruises were no longer visible, she was told they could be treated.
"You're going to prove it, and I want to know how much you can do anything if I find out you still love him. I won't hesitate to end your life, Eisley Mercer,"
Ever since that discussion, everything she had done was through Grace. She hadn't seen Irwin for almost a week. She sometimes saw when he left, he could stay put for days, sometimes, he would arrive at night.
"Mercer?" She muttered the name she hadn't heard for five years. Her surname and not Magnus's own. The day Magnus had claimed her was the last day she had ever heard that name.
"I almost mistook you for someone else," Eisley turned around, startled at the intrusion. "I didn't mean to frighten you,"
Eisley's heart skipped, and a small smile curved her mouth, seeing Irwin in a black suit. She chuckled, turning around fully.
"You look dazzling, not bad," Irwin said as he moved towards her.
"It's never bad for me, I look good every single time," he moved closer, extending his hands towards her.
His eyes scanned her gently, head to toe. She looked lovely in the red gown she wore. A halter neck and a sheath-shaped gown hugged her hip, and until the upper part of her body, the halter neckline revealed her clavicle. The hem of her dress was an evening-length
Although her dress covered most of her shoes, there was a D'orsay. Her jewellery was pearls, from her neck to her earrings.
Irwin took out a box, opened it, and stared at her wrist. It was empty and perfect for what he had gotten.
"What?" She asked, staring at him. Irwin took out an open bangle, kept the box on the table beside them, and helped her put it on. It had a gemstone on it.
"Fits mine, perfectly," he looked at her. Eisley hiccupped, biting on her bottom lips.
"Mr Kent? The car is ready," Robert said.
They arrived at the venue. The car door opened, and Eisley got out, holding onto Irwin. As they walked into the building, someone caught Eisley's attention— Cecily.
"Mr Kent, it's lovely to have you here... oh my goodness," a lady said, smiling at Eisley. She looked at Irwin, but he wasn't introducing her either.
Eisley smiled and lowered her head, remembering Irwin's words on their way here. "You don't speak unless I say so. This is a very important event for me,"
"Oh my goodness, she's a beauty, lovely."
"Ah, this is Eisley Mercer, my fiancee," Irwin blurted, leaving Eisley in complete shock. "Eisley, Mrs Winson, my business partner,"
"What! Business partner? You can call me Rosa, I'm a friend of Irwin. We've known each other for fifteen years," Rosa said, glaring at Irwin, who didn't seem to care.
"Oh, it's my pleasure, Mrs Winson."
The event wasn't as grand as she thought it was. It was just a little gathering, Eisley had excused herself because everyone kept telling her how she was the first lady he ever brought to the gathering. She could spot the awkwardness on his face and didn't want to put him in a tight position.
However, that didn't stop her from staring around. Every lady that was present looked so powerful with guards, beautiful dresses, the ones that looked so meek, and the confident ones.
"Eisley," a familiar voice called from behind, grabbing her arms.
Eisley turned around, moving away from the figure. It was Cecily James— Magnus's mistress. At the entrance, she thought she was hallucinating due to the stress Cecily caused for her, but she wasn't.
"Eisley," Cecily smiled. Eisley sized her. It was the dress she had given her that day, her skin was pale, and there was a slight bruise. It could only be caused by Magnus, the hand, neck, but never the face except he was really angry.
A smile whined further across Eisley's lips. Suddenly, something in her made her feel relieved that she wasn't in that position.
"Can you come home, huh?" Cecily's smile shook across her face, and her hands restless.