Five
1364 Words
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ETHAN
A slight crinkle of her nose gave me the answer I needed, but I still waited for her to voice it out. If I was going to be entering this kind of arrangement, I need to know what's expected of me.
“How about you don't touch me until we're both madly in love?” She said, a hint of sarcasm in her tone.
A strange sense of relief washed over me. I didn't understand it. I had willingly agreed to the marriage, but somehow, I wasn't exactly looking forward to consummate the marriage.
“Sounds good to me.” I replied and forced a smile on.
Celia wore a look of frustration the entire time.
“Great. Now let's discuss living arrangements.” She adjusted her sitting posture and smoothened a wrinkle on her dress.
“My grandfather will want to believe we’re acting like a married couple. So, we’ll live in the same house but in separate rooms during the weekdays. You can go to your house on weekends if you’d like. It’s an open marriage, so you’re free to do whatever you want during your time away.”
Her voice was detached, businesslike, as though she were laying out terms for a contract rather than a marriage. I nodded, listening patiently as she detailed the boundaries of our living arrangement. From her tone, it was clear she wanted to establish the dynamic firmly—this wasn’t a relationship, just a performance.
“So… roommates,” I said lightly, trying to mask my amusement. “Got it.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly at my comment but she didn’t refute it.
“Is there anything you’d like to add?” she asked, folding her hands neatly in her lap.
I paused, considering her question. “Not really. I think you’ve covered everything.”
“Good,” she said briskly, rising to her feet. “Then we’re done here. You can leave now.”
I stood too, watching her for a moment. There was something about her that was hard to pin down. The way she carried herself, the way she spoke—it was as if she had built walls so high even she couldn’t see over them.
“Alright,” I said, turning to leave.
But as I walked away, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this arrangement, as straightforward as it sounded on paper, was going to be anything but simple.
The tension of the day followed me home, but I barely had time to process it before I found myself greeted by an unexpected guest. My blind date from two days ago—Mira—stood at the door with a wide smile and a carefully wrapped box in her hands.
“Ethan!” she exclaimed, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “I thought I’d stop by and bring you something. I know how much you’ve been working lately.”
I forced a polite smile. “That’s thoughtful of you, Mira.”
She set the box on the table, her smile faltering for the briefest moment as she glanced around the modest space. “It’s cozy,” she said, her tone laced with thinly veiled judgment.
Before I could respond, my mother appeared, her face lighting up at the sight of Mira. “Oh, it’s so nice to see you again! Ethan didn’t tell me you were coming.”
Mira’s demeanor shifted instantly, her smile growing wider as she greeted my mother warmly. “It’s always a pleasure, Mrs. Hale. I thought I’d surprise Ethan with a little gift.”
“Such a sweet girl,” my mother said, clearly charmed. “Why don’t you stay for dinner?”
Mira’s smile faltered slightly, and I caught the way her eyes darted to the box she’d brought. “I’d love to,” she said, though her tone lacked conviction.
As we moved to the kitchen, the conversation took an unexpected turn. Mira had asked about the watch—the extravagant gift Celia had tried to give me—and when I casually mentioned returning it, her expression darkened.
“You returned it?” she said, her voice sharp.
“Yes,” I replied evenly. “I don’t need something like that. It didn’t feel right accepting it.”
Mira’s composure cracked, her eyes narrowing. “You returned it?” Her voice was sharp, incredulous. “Do you have any idea how much that cost? That wasn’t just a gift—it was a statement of intent.”
“Well, I appreciate the gesture,” I said calmly
Mira scoffed, her polished demeanor slipping further. “Unbelievable. Do you even know how hard it is to find someone willing to invest in you, Ethan? With your… situation?” She gestured dismissively toward the modest surroundings.
The room went quiet. My mom's smile faded
“Mira,” my mom began gently, “perhaps we should focus on—”
“On what? Pretending this is normal?” Mira interrupted, her voice cutting. “I don’t mean to be rude, Mrs. Hale, but let’s be realistic here. Ethan needs someone who can help him rise, not someone content with mediocrity.”
I straightened, my gaze hardening. “That’s enough, Mira.”
It was then I decided to end the charade. “Mom,” I said, my voice cutting through the awkward silence, “there’s something I need to tell you.”
My mother turned to me, her brows knitting together in concern.
“I’m married.”
The words landed like a bombshell. My mother’s hand flew to her mouth in shock, while my sister, who had just entered the room, stopped in her tracks. Even Mira looked momentarily stunned before her expression darkened.
“Married?” my mother echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Ethan, when? How?”
I pulled the marriage certificate from my bag and handed it to her. Her eyes scanned the document, landing on the photo of Celia.
“She’s beautiful,” my mother said softly, her shock giving way to a mix of curiosity and sentimentality. “When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell us?”
“It’s… complicated,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “We met while I was in the military. It wasn’t something we planned; it just… happened. We’ve been keeping it private.”
“And her job?” my mother pressed. “Where does she live? Why hasn’t she visited?”
“She’s a senior executive at a large company,” I said smoothly. “She’s very busy, always traveling for work. But she sends her regards.”
My mother’s expression softened further, a tear glistening in her eye. “My son… married,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I can’t believe it.”
She glanced at the photo again, then at me. “I’d love to meet her. We should invite her for dinner soon.”
The request sent a jolt of unease through me. Celia and I weren’t exactly in a place to meet my family. She’d made it clear this marriage was purely for convenience, and I knew she had no patience for unnecessary social events.
“Of course,” I lied, keeping my tone steady. “I’ll talk to her and see when she’s available.”
My mother beamed, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. I had only told them half-truths, but their happiness felt real.
Mira, however, was not impressed. She stood abruptly, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Well,” she said, her voice clipped, “it seems I’ve overstayed my welcome. Congratulations, Ethan.”
Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed her bag and left, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.
As the door closed behind her, my mom spoke up “She took that well.”
I shook my head, letting out a small laugh. “It doesn’t matter.”
What did matter was the storm I could feel brewing. My mother’s happiness about my marriage was genuine, but her desire to meet Celia would undoubtedly lead to complications. How long could I keep up the charade?
- Writer
