forgotten vows

Chapter 4: His Approach

The only time I can recall seeing her was etched in my memory. She was incredibly shy, barely able to meet his gaze. Throughout dinner, she spoke little, responding to his questions with a soft voice tinted by her shyness. Occasionally, when our eyes met, I caught a glimpse of youthful innocence sparkling in her bright eyes. After all, she was merely a 21-year-old fresh out of college.

What caught him off guard during that encounter was how she surprisingly agreed to his suggestion of visiting the Civil Affairs Bureau after a moment of thought.

It dawned on him then that it wasn't just he who was taking advantage of their marriage; they were both exploiting each other in equal measure.

He remembered telling her that she could ask for anything she wanted and he would find a way to provide it, be it financial support or a boost to her vanity. He should have made it clear that he was willing to fulfill his obligations as a husband, to share a life together, dine together occasionally, and project the image of a happy couple to the outside world. But she never seemed interested in that. For three years, she didn’t put forth a single request to him. Even when he didn't return home, she never called to check on him.

And so three years slipped by in the blink of an eye, with the world unaware of his marital status.

That evening, he drove to the house he had bought for her at their wedding.

Situated at the far eastern end of Bellville Road, the environment was beautiful, and transportation and shopping were convenient. The duplex apartment was spacious and inviting.

When she opened the door to find him standing there, the surprise on her face was palpable.

Seeing him earlier that day at the hotel felt like a dream, but now, here he was at night, a knowing smile on his lips. He studied her intently, as if his gaze could penetrate right through her.

He stepped inside, and she barely had time to speak.

With her arms crossed over her chest, she watched as he casually scanned the room, draping his suit jacket over her fabric sofa, then leaning into her study. He looked like a husband returning from a long business trip, filled with longing for the home he had missed.

But somehow, it felt like he had been away for far too long.

The once-empty model house had been transformed by her touch. The curtains were now a warm brown, cushions were set on the tatami, and her recent reads were strewn about. A few orchids graced the floor-to-ceiling window, and a checkered tablecloth adorned the dining table. Without his attention, she had clearly built a good life for herself.

Finally, she could no longer restrain herself and tilted her head to address him, "Mr. Nathan, what brings you here? Are you here to inspect things?"

He met her gaze. "Is that how you greet your husband when he comes home?"

She looked down and offered a wry smile. Husband? That term never quite sat right with him.

But as she looked up, she noticed how he'd moved closer, his musky scent surrounding her, causing her heart to race. She watched as he unbuttoned his white shirt, a glint of mischief in his narrowed eyes. One hand brushed against the wall, pinning her between him and the surface.

"Looks like you’ve gotten far too comfortable in the last three years! Comfortable enough... to forget you have a husband!" The faint hint of tobacco lingered as he spoke. She blinked and returned his intense gaze, sensing he was a little more dangerous than usual.