MARRIED TO THE MONSTER

CHAPTER4

Eva had never imagined that her mother would take such a liking to someone she introduced, especially after her many failed attempts at gaining her approval with previous boyfriends. But Brian was different. From the very beginning, it was clear that something about him resonated with her mother. A week into the charade that she and Brian had concocted—pretending to be in a relationship for the sake of her mother’s happiness—it was becoming evident that her mother wasn’t just fond of Brian; she adored him. Eva observed, sometimes with a tinge of jealousy, how her mother and Brian could spend hours chatting about everything and anything. Their conversations were often so engrossing that Eva would have to be the one to remind them to go to bed when it got too late.

Her mother would often remark, with genuine admiration in her voice, how Brian was the most loving, caring, and respectful man she had ever met. Eva couldn't deny it either. There was a particular incident that always stood out in her mind. One day, while she was hurrying around the house, she tripped and fell, badly injuring her leg. The pain was unbearable, and she couldn’t walk properly for a few days. It was Brian who stepped in and took care of her during that time. He dressed her wounds, carried her when she couldn't make it to her room on her own, and ensured she was as comfortable as possible. In those moments, nestled in his arms as he carried her like a fragile doll, Eva felt an unexpected sense of safety and warmth.

It was during those tender moments that she sometimes found herself wondering what it would be like to be in a real relationship with him. However, she quickly reminded herself that Brian had made it clear from the start that their relationship was strictly a pretense. He was a private man, and his aloofness left no room for misunderstanding—he wasn’t interested in her in that way. Still, the thought lingered, and what haunted Eva most was the potential heartbreak her mother would experience if she ever discovered the truth about their fake relationship.

Eva tried to push those thoughts aside, choosing instead to go with the flow. For now, she would enjoy the fact that her mother was happy and take things one step at a time. However, that fragile peace was shattered one Saturday afternoon.

Eva had gone to the market to buy food for the weekend. As usual, she left her mother and Brian at home, deep in conversation. It was their routine now—she would go about her errands, and they would spend hours chatting away. When Eva returned home, she headed straight to the kitchen to prepare soup for the weekend. As she was chopping vegetables, she suddenly heard a third voice in the living room. Confused, she stopped what she was doing and strained her ears. "But I only left mom and Brian at home," she thought, her curiosity piqued.

Wiping her hands on a towel, Eva walked into the living room. To her surprise, she saw a young man sitting comfortably on her couch, engaged in conversation with her mother and Brian. Just as she was processing the unexpected guest, Brian stood up with a smile to introduce him.

"Oh, my love, this is David, my cousin. David, this is Eva, my—"

Eva didn't let him finish. Her frustration bubbled over as she interrupted him sharply, her voice tinged with anger. "How dare you invite someone to my house without my consent?"

The room fell silent. Her mother, Brian, and David all stared at her, shocked by her sudden outburst. Eva’s reaction wasn't just about Brian bringing a family member into her home without informing her. It was deeper than that. She was furious because Brian, of all people, knew their relationship was a charade, and involving a family member in their ruse felt like an unnecessary risk.

Without giving anyone a chance to speak, Eva turned to David and ordered him out of her house. Her mother tried to intervene, but Eva was too upset to listen. She couldn’t understand why Brian would bring his cousin into this delicate situation, and her anger clouded her ability to see reason. David left awkwardly, and Eva could feel the tension between her and Brian rising.

Brian, typically calm and collected, was visibly furious. His jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened as he glared at her. Eva could tell that he was on the verge of losing his temper, and she braced herself for the worst. In the heat of the moment, she thought he might end their arrangement right then and there, leaving her to deal with her mother’s inevitable heartbreak. Her mother, who had always been the mediator, suggested they go outside for some fresh air and talk things through. Eva and Brian reluctantly agreed, leaving the house in silence.

Brian didn’t speak a word as they walked to his car. Eva could feel the tension between them, thick and heavy, as they drove to an unknown location. When they finally arrived, Eva realized they were at an unfamiliar apartment complex. Her heart raced with anxiety as they walked inside.

"Where are we?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"This is my apartment," Brian replied calmly.

Eva’s anxiety quickly turned to panic. "To do what?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in fear. The thought that he might harm her flashed through her mind. She had never been to Brian’s place before, and the unfamiliar surroundings only heightened her fear. She began shouting for help, hoping someone, anyone, would hear her and come to her rescue.

Brian quickly moved toward her, covering her mouth with his hand to muffle her cries. "Stop causing a scene," he hissed. "This is my apartment, not yours. You're in my space now, so be careful about what you say and do."

Eva struggled against him for a moment, but as he released her, she found herself feeling embarrassed. His words stung more than she wanted to admit, especially when he added, "Why would I even want to hurt you? What’s in your body that would make me want to do something like that?"

"Really?" Eva shot back sarcastically, spinning around and gesturing to her figure. But Brian wasn’t interested in the game she was playing. He sat down on the couch, clearly frustrated.

She followed him into the living room, still grumbling under her breath. "Why is my mom even making us do this? Aren’t we pretending well enough as it is?"

Brian leaned back, crossing his arms. "No, we aren’t," he said simply. "And honestly, I’ve been wondering—why don’t you just find a real boyfriend? Why drag me into this fake relationship? You’re making my life harder by picking fights with me all the time."

His words hit Eva harder than she expected. She hadn’t realized just how much she had been projecting her own frustrations onto him. When he mentioned a real lover, she froze. Memories of her last relationship, one that had ended in betrayal, flooded her mind. She didn’t speak for a moment, the weight of her past suffocating her.

"Hey," Brian said softly, moving closer. "Why aren’t you saying anything? Did what I said hurt you?"

Eva took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "No," she replied quietly. "It just brought back some memories." She hesitated before continuing, but something about the situation made her feel like she could trust Brian. "I was in a serious relationship once. We had set the date for our engagement and everything. But he cheated on me. He got another woman pregnant." The pain was evident in her voice as she spoke. "I gave up on love after that. I’m only with you because of the pressure from my mom. I’m her only child, and she’s desperate for me to find someone."

Brian listened silently, his expression softening. When she finished, he let out a sigh. "I can relate," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. "I was engaged too. But she…she died in a car crash. After that, I couldn’t bring myself to move on. That’s why I agreed to this whole thing with you—to distract myself."

Eva’s heart ached for him. Hearing about his loss made her realize they had more in common than she had thought. They both carried scars from their past, wounds that hadn’t fully healed. As they sat there in silence, the tension between them slowly dissipated.

Brian apologized for everything, from the incident with his cousin to the way he had spoken to her earlier. Eva, in turn, apologized for overreacting. They held hands, sharing a quiet moment of understanding and empathy. As they hugged, Eva felt a connection between them that she hadn’t noticed before. There was something about the way Brian held her, the way he looked at her, that made her feel safe in a way she hadn’t in a long time.

For the first time, Eva allowed herself to wonder what it might be like to have something real with Brian. But for now, she was content to take things one step at a time, just going with the flow, as they both tried to navigate their complicated feelings and their even more complicated fake relationship.