After I Knew His Lie, I Followed My Real Husband

Chapter 2

I pulled Leander into an empty room to sort this out.

My phone rang. It was Soren.

"Rhodora, something's come up in the office. Go home without me. Don't wait." He hung up before I could say a word.

I let out a dry laugh, then turned to Leander. "How much did Soren pay you? I'll double it. Let's go get this annulled tomorrow."

He stuffed his hands deep in his pockets, looking like a grumpy little boy.

"No."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. I'll see you in court."

I walked out and slammed the door.

*****

That night, I went straight to a bar and drank until the world blurred.

At two in the morning, Soren showed up, face dark with anger.

"Rhodora! What are you doing out here drinking at this hour? You just got married. Have you no respect for your place as Haverford's wife?"

I blinked up at him through hazy eyes and smiled sadly.

"Soren." My voice shook so badly that his scowl softened just a little, his tone dropping from sharp to uncertain.

"What is it? You're this happy to be married to me?"

Tears spilled over.

'If I hadn't heard what you said in that room, I really would have been the happiest person alive.'

'For seven years, I'd imagined so many reasons, maybe you'd finally grown fond of me, maybe you felt guilty about how my father punished me, maybe you just needed an alliance, and I was the obvious choice since I'd always loved you. But it was never about me. It was all for Vesper.'

My heart ached, sharp and stinging.

"Come on. I'll take you home," he said, his voice cooling back to its usual flat firmness.

'Home?' the word feeling like a knife twist.

"I don't want to go back," I whispered, shrinking away from him.

That house, the room I'd decorated with my own hands, every corner reminded me how foolish I'd been. I couldn't bear to look at it.

Soren's patience snapped. He leaned down to pick me up.

Just then, his phone rang.

"Soren… it hurts so bad…" Vesper's voice came through thick with tears, breathless and trembling.

Soren panicked instantly, pulling back like he'd been burned. "Vesper? What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

"I started my period, and my stomach's cramping so much… everyone's asleep. I don't know what to do," Vesper sobbed.

He looked like his heart was breaking.

"Don't cry, sweetheart. I'm coming right now. I'll take you to the hospital. Wait for me," Soren said, his voice soft and urgent.

He hung up, snapped at the bartender to get me a cab, and left without a second glance, hurrying so fast his coat flapped behind him.

*****

The driver only dropped me at the curb before driving away.

I stood in the cold wind for ten minutes, and not a single taxi stopped.

A group of drunk men stumbled out, snickering when they saw me. Their voices turned leering.

"Hey there, pretty lady, all alone? Want us to walk you home?" one jeered, stepping closer.

I backed away, scanning for an escape route.

Just as one reached for me, a shadow stepped between us, standing tall, furious as a lion, voice like ice.

"Get lost."

The men scrambled away without another word.

I turned to thank him, and froze when I saw his eyes were red and raw.

It was Leander.

My thanks died in my throat. I just stared, quiet and stunned.

He looked like he was hurting too.

"Is being married to me really that terrible?" he asked, voice rough.

I squinted, still tipsy and unsteady, then shook my head.

'No. I should be glad. I found out the truth on my wedding day. That's a gift, isn't it?'

He sighed, sounding completely defeated. "Let me take you somewhere safe."

I lifted my hand to wave him off, nearly falling over before he caught my arm.

"Not going anywhere near that house!" I blurted out, my voice cracking with panic.

*****

When I woke, I was lying in a soft bed in an unfamiliar room. My head throbbed like it might split open, and last night's memories came back in bits and pieces.

A bowl of hot porridge sat on the nightstand, with a sticky note.

Heat this up if it's cold before you eat.

I plugged my phone in and turned it on. The first thing I saw was a post Vesper had made at three that morning.

Warm tea and heating pads in the middle of the night. So kind, so thoughtful.

The photo showed her hand resting on a hospital bed, with a man's larger hand covering it. The ring on his finger was unmistakably Soren's.

I rolled my eyes, liked the post, and commented.

Rhodora: [Ooh, is that your boyfriend? You should bring him home to meet your parents soon!]

Before I'd even finished washing up, Soren called.

"Rhodora, I'm so sorry I left you last night. There was an emergency, are you alright? I've sent someone with a hangover soup. It should be there any minute."

I scoffed. 'Emergency, my foot.'

"Save it, Soren. I didn't go home last night. And this alliance? It's off," I said sharply.