CHASING MY SUBSTITUTE BRIDE

CLARA I sat in the living room, staring down at my phone while occasionally glancing towards the main entrance. I can't count the amount of times I had done that and it was all because of my husband, Adrian. Today was our third anniversary and just like any other anniversary day, his gift laid on the counter still untouched. It was just in a small box I could tell was never even picked by him. The last thing Adrian will care about is the gift he gives me. I didn't bother touching the box all day since his assistant delivered it either. Deep down, I didn't want to be disappointed because I already knew it was probably the keys to one of the endless seas of cars he got from brands, the wrapping was just a curtsey. A soft sigh escaped from my lips as I stared at the digital clock every second. 8:47 P.M. I wondered how long I had to do this for but I couldn't bring myself to stop now after everything I had given and put into my relationship with Adrian. My thoughts were cut short by the flash of light shining across the living room windows through heavy showers I hadn't noticed. I instinctively shot up, walking over to the door hurriedly so as not to keep him waiting. After a few minutes, the door gave way and there he was, his cologne was mixed with the scent of rain as he shrugged off his jacket. “Welcome home.” A smile instinctively appeared on my face, a part of my routine whenever he came home. “You can take your shower while I warm dinner up.” He didn't say a word and just stood there, longer than usual this time staring at me. I looked up shyly at him with a nervous smile. “D-do you need something?” If there was something I learnt from him over the course of our marriage was he never wasted his time on empty admiration. He had something to say. “I want a divorce.” My breath caught, my gaze slowly moving back up to catch his gaze. I couldn't tell if I froze or not but I was pretty sure I did as I felt something crippling into me? Was it fear? I didn't know. I forced a smile as if trying to ignore what he had just said. “I'll get your dinner ready now, Adrian.” A heard a soft sigh come from him, pinching the bridge of his nose as though this was all just a waste of his time. “Forget it, Clara. Sopbia returned to the city today.” He announced as though expecting me to get the cue. Sophia. Three years of being the woman Adrian never wanted, and all it took was Sophia's return for him to finally say what I'd always known but deluded myself from. On this very day, three years ago, Sophia had disappeared during her arranged marriage to Adrian. I could remember the anger and irritation my father had before looking at me, commanding me to get dressed because I will be getting married instead, to save the face of the family. I knew Adrian had swore to hate me from that day forward. I knew how much he loved Sophia despite being in an arranged marriage. To him, I was the villain who took Sophia's place despite her disappearance. He never once loved me. Funny how despite that, I had spent these previous years genuinely loving this man but now that my stepsister was back, I meant nothing to him. While I stood there, my fate till this point tied to him right from the very moment I slipped into the dress of another woman on my claimed wedding day, forced to accept the marriage by my father or it would cost me my grandmother. The maternal family I had left after my mother's death. But he never knew that. “It's our anniversary today, Adrian. Don't you think it could have at least waited for a better time.” I forced a smile, trying to act as though I wasn't really bothered about what he had just said. A soft scoff escaped his lips. “Do you really think I have the time for that, Clara?” his voice came at me coldly. “Let's just stop this facade, Clara. It's all pointless. You should have known I do not love you.” His words stung more than necessary. I felt my weight sink to my feet as though the floor beneath me had given way. I had always the love just wasn't there but he had never admitted this to my face. But I still felt pain. The countless nights I had spent waiting for him to get back from work. In the early mornings I made sure to prepare his breakfast, memorizing everything about him just so I would not displease him. He's right. It really was pointless. “My lawyer will bring the papers tomorrow. You'll receive the settlement specified in the agreement. It should be enough for you to start over comfortably” I forced back a pained laughter before twisting off the ring I had on gently, placing it on the coffee table. “Don't bother yourself about the compensation. You can donate it all. I'll leave tonight.” Adrian didn't say a word. He just walked past me and I pang shot through my chest as I headed to my room to pack up my things. As I closed the door behind me, I sank into the floor, covering my mouth so the sound tears would not escape. I scrambled towards the brown envelope on my bed, fumbling through the content with my hands trembling. Results of ultrasound spilt out due to the trembling of my hands as I searched for the result that spelt positive to my pregnancy. I was meant to tell it all to him, give him a surprise because I know he always wanted a child. But a man who didn't love me from the beginning would never accept my child. My child will have a miserable life trying to win his love and I was not about to subject my child into that kind of life. My phone buzzed, intercepting my tears and thoughts. I glanced down to see the familiar caller ID. Suddenly, I could feel my heart racing in my ears. Why would I get a call from the hospital at this hour for any reason at all? My hands trembled as I brought the phone up to my ears. “Hello?” I muttered. “Mrs Clara? This is your grandmother's nurse from Cliff Hospital. I apologize for reaching out to yoy this late at night but unfortunately it is the demands of our protocol.” “Is everything okay? Is grandma fine?” I forced the words out of my lips, trying very hard to refuse any other thoughts. “I am very sorry to inform you, Mrs Clara. We tried our best to fight for her life but unfortunately, we were unable to. My heartfelt condolences.” Just like that, the grandmother I had desperately fought for. I had always refused the idea of losing her no although I knew the truth. My phone slipped from my hands, hitting the floor. I didn't move. I c ouldn't. The woman I'd sacrificed everything for was dead. Grandma was gone.