After the vows

Chapter 3 — Drew Jacob's Wife

He wasn’t, in fact, dying to meet me like my parents made me believe

That realization didn’t come on my wedding day because that day was perfect , It came as I became his wife , Actually living with him was hell .

I had been married to Drew Jacobs for two years, and in those two years, I learned that a marriage could exist without love, affection , or kindness and still look perfect to everyone watching from the outside, We just had to play our paths perfectly.

My parents had sold me to him as a flawless woman. A daughter raised abroad, They had told so much lies about me that.

I became who never question him, never inconvenience him, never embarrassed his family.

I tried to become that woman.

I memorized his routines. Learned his moods. Studied his life in just the few months of our marriage . I learned when to speak and when to disappear. Somewhere between playing the part , I fell in love with him.

I hated myself for it because of how he treated me .

Drew was not a man who inspired love easily. He was cold, controlling , and emotionally unavailable. He spoke to me calmly but in a condescending manner, He tried to pretend to love me for the first months of our marriage but you know what they say …Pretense is difficult to keep up with .

In public, he was a perfect husband, One would think he was madly in love with me.

People envied us.

At home? We lived like two people forced to stay together.

His mother despised me openly. His sisters never missed a chance to bully me always reminding me that I was an outsider who had been forced into their family , and when I tried to tell Drew, he always brushed it aside, he never acknowledged my feelings

“They didn’t mean it that way,” he would say.

“You’re overthinking.”

So I stopped talking, I was dying in silence .

He never defended me. Not when his mother criticized how I dressed. Not when his sisters laughed at my accent. Not even when his mother slapped me at a public event and humiliated me in front of strangers.

That night, he told me to apologize.

I slept beside a man who barely touched me. When he did, it felt like obligation, not desire. Like a task he needed to complete because he needed a child out of that marriage.

Later, I understood the truth.

His heart already belonged to someone else , The woman he was in love with before this marriage came into the picture, he still had some of her stuff in our matrimonial home but still I tried because I was in love with him and I wanted to see a future with him .

I didn’t want to bring Liam and Luna to such a toxic home so I wanted to change him before I told him the truth

My twins lived with my parents now, surrounded by comfort, attended the best schools, The life I always wanted , I was doing this for them and it made me happy that they had everything in abundance but…My family presented them to Drew and his family as “ their foster children “

Damn , I was hurt but it was the price I had to pay .

My kids never understood what was happening and why I didn’t want them to stay with their ‘ step dad’

“Why can’t we live there, Mommy?” Luna would ask.

“ Why did you get married to him if we will be separated “ Liam would always object

“Soon,” I always said, forcing a smile.

“Just wait a little while.”

Two years later, I was still waiting.

The sound of the front door opening pulled me out of my thoughts.

Drew was home.

I stood up immediately, my heart betraying me as always. No matter how many times he disappointed me, some foolish part of me still loves when he was around .

“Honey …you’re home ” I said softly.

He didn’t answer.

He loosened his tie, walked past me, and headed toward the bedroom, His normal routine .

I followed him and wrapped my arms around him from behind, resting my cheek against his back. He went still.

After a second, he gently removed my hands.

That was when I smelled it , A feminine perfume and ut was definitely not mine , Maybe a female colleague or business partner, I ignored the ache rising in my chest.

“I made dinner, I have been waiting so we can eat together ,” I said quietly.

“I ate already, I told you not to wait for me , Eat when it’s time “ he replied.

Glancing at his watch, “we have an event tonight. Get ready.”

I hesitated. “Drew… I told you I’d be visiting my parents today.”

The twins birthday was tomorrow , normally I wouldn’t go against him but I couldn’t miss their birthday.

His head snapped up. “What?”

“I reminded you this morning,” I said carefully. “I won’t be able to attend, I am so so sorry “

“ You don’t work , I do everything to make us comfortable, You got married to a millionaire, became a house wife and you can’t do the simple thing required of you ? ,” he yelled at me , Drew had a temper.

“Drew please …It’s urgent , I have to go “

“Change of plans ! I will call your parents to inform them you can’t make it “

I knew my parents , they would agree instantly.

“That’s not fair,” I said. “I informed you for weeks that I will be away tomorrow ! ”

“ I have made my decision, I don’t care what you feel “

He said , I fought the tears and he turned and pointed at me.

“And what was that rubbish my mother said you did, Are you out of your mind?”

“What did she say?” I stuttered

“That you embarrassed her. That you were disrespectful at the last charity event, What is your problem woman !”

. “She slapped me, Drew….Again”

He frowned. “That’s not what she told me.”

“She slapped me,” I repeated, my voice shaking. “In front of everyone. I only raised my hand to stop her from hitting me again.”

“You should have walked away,” he snapped.

“So I should let her hit me?” My voice cracked , my tears flowing.

He looked away. “You always provoke her.”

“I’ve never disrespected your mother,” I said. “Never. I endure everything because of you.”

“Enough,” he raised his voice. “You’re exhausting.”

I stared at him, tears blurring my vision. “Why are you so angry? Did I do something wrong? This feels so sudden””

“ You always make me regret why I put that ring on your finger ,” he said coldly.

The words hit harder than any slap.

Before I could speak, his phone buzzed.

He glanced at it.

A woman’s name lit up the screen.Kirah , I knew her name too well , The other woman , His real love

“Thanks for today. I really miss you too.”

My chest tightened painfully, She was the owner of the perfume .

“ Are you still meeting her ?”

“ Yes…she just came back so I_” He paused and scoffed.

“ Why am I even explaining myself to you “

“ Because I am your wife ! You owe me an explanation!” I screamed out of frustration.

“ I can’t do this right now …You are draining me “ He grabbed his car key and made way to the front door , I rushed to meet up with him .

“ Where are you going? Don’t you dare walk out on me ! “ I was screaming and crying out of frustration but he didn’t care .

“ Drew! Don’t walk out on me !”

“ Watch me …” He said and slammed the door .

“ Arghhhh!!! f**k ! f**k !” I screamed , pulling out my hair with one hand , the other scratching my skin.

This Marriage was killing me.