90-Days Bride

Chapter 2: A Deal and a Heartbreak

“Sorry I'm late” Aiden apologized as he joined the table, only to get a slap at the back of his head.

“Mama Gracie, ” Aiden whined.

“You're never late to business meetings, but you can’t make it on time for a family dinner?” the old woman scolded, adjusting her glasses.

“It's just dinner. What's the big deal?” Aiden said, and another slap followed.

“Grandmother, he is a grown man now,” Nancy butted in.

A satisfied smile graced Aiden's lips. “Thank you, sis, it's so embarrassing each time she scolds me in front of my nephew.”

Mama Gracie rolled her eyes. “You can never outgrow my scolding.”

“Hi, little man” Aiden greeted, stretching his hands to carry Leo, Nancy's five-month-old son. “What about brother-in-law?”

“He is out of the country, so he couldn't make it” Nancy explained.

“When are you going to settle down?” Mama Gracie suddenly asked, making Aiden choke on the food he was eating. Nancy passed him a glass of water, and he gulped it down to calm himself.

Aiden stared at his grandmother in disbelief. “Settle down?”

“Yes. Are you waiting until you start growing white hair?”

“Come on, Granny, I am still very young” Aiden said with a shrug.

A frown formed on Mama Gracie's face. “You are 35. You call that young?” “After Layla, I am yet to see you with another woman.”

Aiden's expression turned sour. “Why did you bring her up?”

“You have still not moved on? It's been seven years, you need a woman in your life”, Mama Gracie continued.

“I am fine by myself!”

A loud bang is heard on the table. “If you are fine being alone, I am not fine. How are you going to handle the rumour of you being gay?”

A sigh escaped Aiden's lips. “If you are worried about the stock price plummeting, I would handle it.”

Mama Gracie rests her hands on her chin. “Since you choose to remain stubborn, then you leave me with no choice. You have one month to settle down. Failure to do so, I would hand over my shares to Nancy, which would make her CEO.”

“Grandmother!” Nancy screamed in disbelief. “I am not even interested in the company, I know nothing about management, my boutique is enough for me.”

“Then consider the shares as Leo's” Mama Gracie said nonchalantly.

Nancy scoffed, “He is not even up to one year…”

“Fine, I would settle down” Aiden finally said. “But on one condition, you would never threaten me with the company, as all your shares would be transferred to me.”

A smile graced Mama Gracie's lips. “Finally! But, I would only transfer my shares once you have been married for three months. We don't want you renting a bride, do we?”

“Aiden, don't make any rash decisions” Nancy said softly, rubbing his palm.

Aiden flashed her a reassuring smile. “It's okay, sis.”

“And, we have a deal!”

*****

Adeline walked toward Corey's room, excitement bubbling inside her. He’s going to be so happy to see me, she thought.

As she approached his room, she started to hear weird sounds that made her curious. Hastening her steps, she got to the door and opened it to the shock of her life. Adeline froze in the doorway, her breath hitching as the scent of sweat and perfume wrapped around her like a suffocating shroud. The bed, their imagined future sanctuary, was now a battlefield of betrayal.

Linda’s laughter rang out, raw and intimate, while Corey’s hands gripped her with a familiarity that tore at Adeline’s chest. She wiped her tear-streaked face, heartbroken at how her best friend chose to ride her man like her life depended on it. The agony of it all made her vision blurry, leaving trembling breaths and a screaming sensation at the back of her throat.

In a time span so short, she began to feel a deep puddle of tears saturating her eyes.

This gross situation spiralled out even more as she witnessed her idol and best friend together in such an intimate manner. They were so engrossed in each other that they didn’t even notice her presence. Taking a deep breath, she decided to announce her presence.

“Why Corey?” Adeline yelled, drawing their attention.

“Adeline?” Corey called out in disbelief, trying to get Linda off him, but she didn't bulge.

“Why should I let her interrupt our fun?” Linda said as she continued with her business, like she was not just caught cheating with her best friend's man.

Adeline scoffed in disbelief. Rage surged through her as she marched to the bed, grabbed Linda’s hair, and yanked her off Corey.

Corey grabbed the sheets immediately, standing up to his feet. “Adel, I can explain…”

“Don't you dare. What exactly do you want to explain?” “The fact that you were cheating on me or the fact that I walked in on you sleeping with my supposed best friend,” Adeline said bitterly, pain evident in her eyes.

“Adel…”

“Adeline! That's my name. You lost the chance to call me Adel the moment you decided to cheat.” “And of all women, why Linda, why?”

“Why not me? I am everything you can never be to him” Linda said, helping herself up, despite being naked, she didn't bother to cover herself up.

“You are both unbelievable.”

A scoff escaped Corey's lips. “Why are you acting like you are totally innocent? This is all your fault.”

Adeline raised her brows, confused. “Excuse me?”

“Ten years together, Adeline, and yet I was not provided access to your body, and you expect me to be faithful? I wouldn't have cheated if you had given me what I needed, I am not a stick for crying out loud” Corey yelled, ruffling his hair.

Adeline runs her hand in her hair furiously. “Oh, that's the excuse. If you have truly loved me, waiting would not have been too much of a hassle.” “And you Linda, aren't you supposed to be my friend?”

“Can you even hear yourself? You left him s*x starved, and I gave him what he wanted. You act high and mighty, but you couldn't even keep your man…” Linda's words hung in the air, Adeline had slapped her.

Corey's eyes widened. “Why did you hit her?”

Ignoring his words, Adeline took off her engagement ring off her finger, sending it to the end of the room, she turned to Corey. “Thank you for wasting ten good years of my life. I don't need to tell you it's over, do I?”

Rushing out of the house, Adeline walls came crumbling, letting go of her tough front, she burst into tears.

Overwhelmed, she stumbled into the street without looking. Adeline's eyes widened as she noticed a coming vehicle on high speed, very close to her.

Closing her eyes, she whispered, "I guess this is where it all ends."