His Forgotten Bride

Chapter 13

“It’s unfair, isn’t it?” Mavy turned to me while the stylist ironed my hair.

I looked at him and raised an eyebrow through the reflection of the mirror.

“When we’re stressed, we look like we’re about to start a fight. But when someone like you is beautiful, one touch of foundation and boom, you look like a goddess again,” he stated.

I rolled my eyes and ignored him. It was one of those days when he would never stop talking once he started.

“Are you okay?” he suddenly asked, and the playfulness in his voice disappeared. Concern replaced it as he stared at me through the mirror.

I forced a smile. “Do I look okay?”

“Yeah,” I answered stupidly.

It had been two weeks since that argument.

He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t ask further either.

“Hmm. Will he pick you up?” he asked casually.

I didn’t speak for a second.

For two weeks, I had felt like air to Terrence. He didn’t fetch me or bring me anywhere unless he needed to, and even then, it felt like he was only doing it because he had to. Even at home, I could feel how much he was avoiding being in the same place as me.

I simply sighed and forced a smile. “He’s busy. He has things to handle at the company,” I answered.

It was only half meant. He was truly busy, but mostly with his women.

My manager only nodded and didn’t say anything else. The only sounds inside the dressing room were the stylist’s movements. Even though he didn’t say anything, I knew he had noticed how different things had been lately.

“Mavy?” I called his attention.

He looked at me and waited for me to continue. I avoided his gaze and bit my lower lip.

“Chaos…” I started. “Has he called or messaged you?” I added.

His eyes widened and his lips parted after I asked that. I wasn’t surprised. It was unusual for me to bring up that man.

“No,” Mavy answered once he recovered from his shock.

“Maybe… he left a calling card or something I can use to contact him?” I asked hesitantly.

Azy raised his left brow and crossed his arms. “Alliyah, seriously, what’s your plan?”

I bit my lip and lowered my head. I played with my fingers before carefully lifting my eyes back to the mirror.

“I want to do a shoot with him again.”

This time, Mavy’s jaw literally dropped.

“Make an appointment,” I said without emotion before standing up.

I started walking, but I stopped when I reached the door. I glanced at my manager and forced a smile.

“Even if we do it for free, as long as the two of us can shoot together,” I said before turning my back on them.

If this is the only way I can get my husband’s attention again, then I will endure working with that man.

Just like a normal photo shoot, I acted according to every pose the photographer asked from me. I wasn’t in the mood, but I kept my professional composure. After all, modeling was one of my breathing spaces. I didn’t know why, but I truly loved modeling. Maybe because it was where I could see my worth as a woman. In every beautiful photo and every runway, I could feel people admiring me—something I no longer received from my husband.

“Alliyah,” Azy met me as soon as the shoot ended.

I raised my eyebrow at him while he matched my steps toward the dressing room.

“I called Mr. Hevio,” I heard him say.

I stopped just as I was about to sit on the swivel chair and turned to look at him.

Mavy let out a deep breath. “He’s asking you to come to his company. He said there’s a shoot they’re doing today.”

I exhaled. I knew I had asked for it, but I didn’t expect it would be this soon. For a moment, I stopped moving, still surprised by how fast everything was happening.

“Don’t remove my makeup. Just retouch what needs to be retouched,” I told the makeup artist.

Mavy wasn’t far from me, so I heard him sigh again. I looked at him through the mirror and gave him a raw smile.

“Tell him,” I said slowly.

Tell my husband that I am meeting somebody else.

“Alliyah, are you really sure about this?” Mavy asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry about me, Mavy. I can handle it,” I said.

I just wanted his attention.

Would I ever get it again?

It was two in the afternoon when I reached Chaos’ company with my manager and Glam team. The atmosphere greeted me with silence and suffocating anticipation. I only wanted to find someone who could match the tension surrounding me as I waited for my husband to appear. That was the only reason I kept looking around when my photo shoot with Chaos began, but I still couldn’t find Terrence’s presence anywhere.

“Did you two break up?” my partner suddenly whispered.

I didn’t answer him. I only continued doing the poses needed for the shoot.

“I wonder why you asked for this,” Chaos spoke again as I felt his hand caress my waist.

I looked at him sharply. “Stop,” I warned.

He only smirked and licked his lower lip. “Are you using me to make him jealous, or not?”

I was caught off guard. Is it really that obvious?

He chuckled and moved his face closer to mine. The shutter of the camera continued clicking as everything happened.

“But… will he even get jealous?” he murmured. “He loves you, doesn’t he?” he added.

I gritted my teeth despite the throbbing pain in my chest.

“I will use you for me to know the answer,” I said emotionlessly before pulling the back of his neck.

I felt everyone hold their breath when my lips landed on my male partner’s.

Terrence… I mentally whispered before shutting my eyes as Chaos kissed me back.

I waited for Terrence to suddenly pull me away. I waited for his loud voice to echo throughout the room. But that never happened. My husband didn’t show up.

So… it was really just for show back then?

“Never cry for the wrong guy,” Chaos murmured as I felt his finger on my cheek.

That was when I realized I was already crying. I slowly opened my eyes and stared directly at his serious face. I forced myself to erase my smile despite the heaviness I was feeling.

“He’s the right one for—” I couldn’t finish my sentence because I suddenly felt dizzy.

Chaos quickly wrapped his arms around me to stop me from falling.

“Alliyah!” I heard Mavy shout as he came running toward us.

“Are you okay?” Chaos asked. “Bring the medic!” he shouted after.

“My gosh! Alliyah, are you okay? I told you not to push yourself too much,” my manager said as I felt him fanning me with his hands.

Despite my condition, my lips curved because of what Chaos said.

He said nothing.

I closed my eyes for a moment before opening them again. I finally fixed my posture and gently pulled away from Chaos.

“I’m okay. Maybe I just felt a little dizzy,” I said.

“Oh no. I’m canceling your appointment tomorrow. You need to rest,” Mavy said as he continued fanning me with his hand.

I gave him a tight smile. “I’m okay,” I assured him.

“Are you pregnant?”

I froze the moment I heard Chaos’ question. Even Mavy stopped moving. I turned my attention to Chaos, even though I was still feeling weak.

“W-What?” I blinked twice as I stared at his stern face.

“Are you pregnant?” he repeated.

I knew I should answer him with no, but that was when I remembered my situation as a woman.

I haven’t gotten my period this month.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and composed myself.

“I-I am not…” I answered. “Are you sure about that?” I continued in my low, pitchy voice before biting my lower lip.

“You should go home and rest. Make an appointment with an OB,” he said.

I didn’t answer. My mind drifted to the small angel possibly forming inside my womb.

Can this bring us back together?

I stayed silent while riding inside the car. I noticed Jeremy, our driver, glancing at me from time to time through the rearview mirror.

Maybe he was wondering why I was acting like this.

“Can we… stop by a pharmacy?” I asked hesitantly.

He glanced at the rearview mirror for a moment before nodding.

I bit my lower lip and looked out the window as I held my stomach.

Are you there?

After buying what I needed, I returned to the car. I felt Jeremy’s gaze on the paper bag I was holding, but he didn’t dare ask any questions.

After almost six minutes, we arrived home. I immediately stepped out of the car and went inside. I was surprised when I found Terrence in the living room, sitting and facing my direction.

Nothing had even started yet, but my heart already began racing.

“Y-You’re here,” I said.

“Are you sick?” he asked seriously.

I didn’t know why, but I wanted to cry right then. A simple question from him about my condition already felt too much for me.

“I’m okay,” I answered.

“You stopped by the pharmacy?” he said.

I bit my lower lip and nodded.

“What did you do there?” he asked again.

I glanced at the paper bag in my hand before slowly shifting my gaze back to him.

“I-I think… I’m pregnant.”