The Devil’s Convenient Wife

Chapter 8

CAEL’S POV

“But you are a little too late. As we speak, Victor is right outside my door. He has been ringing the doorbell for a few minutes, it’s about time I answer.”

“No,” Zara cut in. “It is obvious he is there to threaten you. He will try to sabotage our marriage by whatever means necessary. Do not let him in. I will come over and settle things.”

I scoffed, “I will deal with things by myself. Do not come here.”

Before she could say something else, I cut the call. I dropped my phone on the table and went to open the door. Victor was right there, looking at me tenaciously.

“I’ll enter for a moment,” he muttered and pushed me aside as he came in. He sat on my sofa and gestured for me to sit as well. I smiled softly and sat opposite him. Both of us stared at each other for a minute before he broke the silence. His voice was deliberately low, “I am sure you know why I am here.”

“Right,” I nodded. “It must be about Zara.”

“You can’t marry her,” he told me plainly.

“Why can’t I?” I asked. “Moreover, we already got married. Do you want to see our marriage certificate?”

“A wedding where both parties were drunk isn’t a real wedding if you ask me!” he exclaimed.

“Well, both of us are sober now and neither of us regretted the decision,” I told him confidently. “I am only entertaining this discussion because I have some regard for you. You are my wife’s step-father, I should respect you. However, I want you to understand that your objection will change nothing. Only death can separate us.”

Victor looked away, absorbed into his thoughts. He started to breathe heavily. I watched him, taking in every move he made. When his hands trembled a bit, when sweat started to appear on his brow, when he started to exhale with his mouth… All of this I took note of. Eventually, he raised his head and looked into my eyes.

“I will approve your wedding but there will be terms you must follow.”

“Why would there be terms?” I asked, chuckling.

“I know you are an arrogant little boy and so, you have no respect for elders. But you see, you’d better watch your tone with me,” Victor said threateningly. “You might think you have everything under control but I can flip things in a day if I wanted to. Zara had a boyfriend until yesterday and that was the same day she married you. It wouldn’t be hard to make her out to be the villain in the story. She would be known for two-timing and her ex-boyfriend will gain public sympathy. As for you, you will face public scrutiny as well.”

I clenched my fists in anger. I should have known that Victor would be a hard nut to c***k.

I tried smiling, “If you wanted to threaten me, you should do it with something that actually affects me. With what you just said, it seems like Zara is the one who will face the backlash more.”

“Right, but I don’t care much about her,” Victor replied, smiling. “You claim to love her, don’t you? You should make sure she doesn’t get hurt.”

I began to breathe uneasily and I was afraid he would know. Victor would exploit my weakness if I showed any and I wouldn’t have that.

“What are your terms?” I asked, my voice low.

“Now you’re talking!” Victor started to laugh hysterically. He looked pleased that he was in charge now. “My terms are simple. You and Zara will move into the house I will provide. The household staff would be provided by me. Just enjoy all the privileges and you know… you could tell people about it.”

“What would you gain?” I asked.

“Good question!” he exclaimed. “There is something I’m working on at the moment and it requires me to have great publicity. I am expected to be the head of a happy family and what could be better than my step-daughter and son-in-law being close with me. Both of you will attend family shows with me, speak well of me in public, and attend every family dinner and hangout I invite you to. Zara hasn’t been doing all that in the past, I guess she would change now that she is married.”

Victor stood up now, having laid out all of his terms.

“You don’t have to do this,” he told me meekly. “You can just get a divorce now and you’ll be a free man.”

I stood up as well, “I won’t get a divorce.”

“Then be ready to accept my terms,” he said, chuckling. “Also, I will tell you a secret that you don’t seem to know. You might accept my terms but Zara will reject it firmly, she hates me that much.”

“Are you trying to say I have to convince her?” I asked.

“Of course,” he nodded. “I think I like you, Cael. You seem to understand me, much better than Zara ever did.”

“I don’t need your damn compliment. I don’t like you either,” I cut in firmly.

“You don’t need to like me, you just need to fulfill my wishes,” he replied, smiling. “Zara is a very stubborn girl but you will convince her. If you are unable, her life will… What's the opposite of skyrocket? She will literally take a nosedive.”

“That won’t happen.”

“It won’t, as long as you convince her,” Victor replied casually. He walked to the door and there, he turned back to face me, “You didn’t offer me anything and I must say, that is no way to treat a distinguished guest. Learn to offer your guests water at least.”

“I don’t need your advice,” I told him. “In my house, I offer a drink only to those who deserve it.”

He nodded repeatedly, “I thought we could have been friends. If you ask me, we are alike. We are both men who wish to take something from Zara.”

“No, I’m not like you,” I replied firmly.

“Yes, you are,” he replied, a smirk on his face. “You know that much better than I do.”