PMS1: President's Forgotten Wife

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 7: WARMTH OF FAMILIARITY

EISEN is certain. Something is wrong with him whenever this woman in front of him keeps showing up like a mushroom. He knows that he felt hurt, but why? Why does it felt so painful, yet he can't even recognize her?

He knows that deep inside, his heart is shouting in anger and pain. But the worst part is, he's not sure if it's because of the woman? Or something perfectly resembles her?

Eisen has reasons for forgetting everything, including the past, but his heart also has reasons for remembering to beat for someone referring to Jade.

A part of him is grateful for not remembering everything because he knew that his memories were just a pile of garbage in a bin. At least he'll have a lot of time to reflect on things as memories start to come back in his memory lane. But there's this sudden sadness in him that made him so weak, fragile, and so different. He hated that feeling as much as he hated the thought of wishing desperately to remember her.

The more he stared at the woman, the more pain he felt; the more Eisen let her close to him, the more vulnerable he gets. And the more he thinks about it, the more confusing it gets.

His mind may forget about those painful memories; his heart always remembers. He may not know the woman, but he is sure that she has something to do with him. But something's off. He may be able to sense a familiarity with the woman's face, but her actions say otherwise. something is definitely going on.

The woman bowed down at them, and she happily greeted him and his brother with a warm and welcoming smile. After that, she moved forward and reached Eisen's hand as if comforting him. Her touch. Why does it feel so—safe?

"Hello, Mr. St. Clair. I'm sorry if I could not introduce myself properly when we met for the first time. I am Jade Ardante Guevara, and I will be taking good care of you."

"Let go of me. I didn't give you the approval to touch me." Eisen coldly answered as he blankly stares at the woman's hand, touching his skin, before shifting his gaze back to Jade's pensive grey eyes. And as soon as Jade's smile turned into a stern one, she distanced herself from him and straightened her uniform.

"I think. Uhm. Jade, will you be so kind as to help us inside?" Lewis interrupted, trying to break the awkwardness between Eisen and Jade. In response, Jade just nodded her head and opened the sliding door for the St. Clair brothers, followed by three well-built men and very remarkably silent maids.

As soon as they settled inside, Lewis's phone started to buzz, clearing the cold silence inside.

He excused himself as he takes the call outside, leaving Jade and Eisen in the living room. It was a bit awkward for Jade to notice that Eisen's been staring at her blankly. And yet, there she is, trying to avoid his gaze.

Jade is so used to talking to others. She loves to start a conversation, and people love her for being like that. But everything seems to change when it comes to her patient— Eisen. He is so well reserved, so cold, and so mysterious. Or maybe, she's just paranoid?

This is it, Jade! Start a freaking conversation before silence murder you!

"So-"

"Jade!" She almost jumped out of surprise when Lewis called out her attention. He is already standing in the doorway; his left hand is inside his pocket while his right hand holds out his phone. "I need to go."

"Wait, what?" she started walking towards Lewis and pulled his sleeves as they stopped in the stable-like place. "You can't just leave? I got here a minute earlier than you, and I'm not familiar with the place."

"Just don't allow him to enter the third room, beside the room where you'll be staying." Jade's brows furrowed with Lewis's words. But why is Eisen not allowed to enter the room? Is there something that Lewis is hiding? "I need to go. There's wifi in the house, so you would be able to call me online. Call me when something happened."

And without saying a word, he left like everything would turn out just okay. Like nothing terrible will happen to Jade while she stays with Eisen, the cold obnoxious man she ever met!

Jade saw the chopper started to fly along with Lewis. He didn't even bother to look back to assure her that she's doing great. And up until now, she's still affected by how Lewis treated her. They were so close to the point that nobody wasn't able to separate them. But look at them now, been separated by time.

She heaves a deep sigh as she stares at the clear blue sky. Jade raised her hand, covering the brightness of the sun. she closed her eyes as she takes in the heat of the sun to wrap her. It was so cold inside of her. Too much pain cause her trouble breathing, and now, what had she brought upon herself?

She shortly stopped her dramatic moment and started walking towards the house to face another cold creature. Well, another St. Clair, to be exact.

As Jade entered the house, the three guards heavily guarded every entrance and exit of the building like threats are scattered all over the place, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE STAYING IN AN ISOLATED ISLAND!

It was a bit uncomfortable, but what can she do but play along because the ST. CLAIR family hired them to ensure their safety. The maids were also busy systematically placing Eisen's things where he could quickly grab them. They walk past her like she's some ghost with an unfinished business in the world. She just shrugged them off and captured some of her remaining stuff, and placed them inside the room she will be occupying.

However, she was stopped in her tracks when she noticed the third room, just beside hers, slightly opened. Jade noticed the scratches on the already broken doorknob of the third room. The light inside slightly reflects on the doorway's open area, a sign that someone is inside!

"Excuse me." She called one of the maid's attention, but she didn't even bother looking at her. Is she some robot that is programmed to do anything without even talking?

"Miss, excuse me?" she called out another maid's attention for the second time, but still, they didn't answer her. Jade planned to go to her room when a maid, probably the youngest, approached and smiled sweetly.

"Hi. You must be Jade Ardante Guevara."

"Thank God! Someone I could talk to already! But, how'd you know my name?" then raised her pointing finger and placed it on her lips, a sign of telling her not to make a noise, so Jade followed as the maid tugged her somewhere far from where the other maids stayed.

"You're fully aware that you do look like Alicia. Anyway, regarding your question, we are informed about you before we arrived. Is there something you want to ask, miss Guevara?" she politely asked as they remained standing inside the study room. Who would've thought that there would be a study room inside with tons of bookshelves filled with books?

"I want to know why your friends are all acting weird?" she asked as her eyes roam around the room.

"I'm sorry on their behalf. We are strictly instructed by St. Clair's to do our jobs without talking to anyone. And we are not allowed to disturb you or anything. That's the reason why we're acting like robots. Besides, we will leave after 20 minutes." She nodded in response as she remembered the question Jade was about the ask the first maid she approached earlier.

"I want to know if something happened while I was gone. I noticed the door just beside my room that it seems like somebody opened it?"

"Well, Mr. Eisen St. Clair told one of the guards to open the door because Mr. Eisen thinks it was a bit suspicious. Why?" as she heard what the maid told her, her blood runs cold as she remembered what Lewis told her earlier.

"Just don't allow him to enter the third room, beside the room where you'll be staying." She didn't know what happened, but the last thing she remembered is that she is already walking towards the room, not knowing what she'll find inside. Lewis failed to mention what is inside the room. And whatever's in there, Eisen should not be able to find out.

"Eisen?" her voice is cracking as she made her way in front of the third room. Her hand is shaking as she reached the doorknob. She took an intense breath before pushing the door open, revealing Eisen seated in his wheelchair, as usual, as he was facing a large portrait of a happily married couple.

"What are you d-doing h-here? You're not supposed to be h-here." Jade takes a few steps forward; nervousness started to build inside her as her eyes grazed on the large portrait in front of her and Eisen.

And as she gets closer to the picture, everything became vivid. Right before her eyes is a photo of Eisen and his wife after they got married. And right beside the portrait is another large frame, more petite from the one in the middle, where a picture of the couple, happily dancing as the light from outside reflected the woman's beauty—her look-alike.

"Am I not allowed to be here? As far as I can remember, this house belongs to me." The man bitterly uttered without even looking to where Jade is standing. His gaze fixated on the picture like it would eventually fade once not given full attention.

"And why are you stuttering? Are you that scared for me to find out the truth?" Jade closed her eyes as she walked behind Eisen. The last thing she wanted to happen is to see his face. Lewis's plan didn't work out. And the next time she'll see him, she'll bury the man alive.

"You're not supposed to be here, Eisen. Now, come-" Jade was about to touch the handle of the wheelchair when Eisen suddenly moved the wheelchair clockwise on his own until he was facing her. Jade's hand still extended towards Eisen, and she was almost touching her face.

"Tell me," She didn't want to freak out, but her heart stopped beating the moment he looked deep into her. Eisen's gaze held a deadly force that makes her want to run away, but she fought the urge not to.

And without a single word, Eisen grabbed her extended hand and rested her palm on his cheeks as if feeling her warmth— the warmth of familiarity.

"Are you my wife?" Eisen directed as the pain was evident In his face. Jade saw how he clenched his fist as his other hand that was holding hers lightly tighten. He chuckled lowly at what is happening. Eisen just discovered something that should be kept hidden. And now, Jade doesn't even know what to do or how to respond.

"Who are you?!" Jade was shocked at Eisen's sudden outburst. He instantly tugged Jade towards him with force, almost making Jade lose her balance.

"I can feel it. I may not remember everything but trust me when I say this," Eisen grabbed her by the collar and forced her to be near him. Too near for her to stop breathing.

Jade tried to pull herself away from him, but he's too strong. And he's scaring her.

"You are not-"

"I AM YOUR WIFE!" Her words echoed inside the four corners of the room, stopping the both of them in the process.

Jade collected her strength and pushed him away, and he let her go. Her heart is beating faster, and her hands tremble with fear as she stared at Eisen, who seemed to be waiting for proof that she is the wife. And Jade had no other choice but to hide her hands away from Eisen's gaze as she opened the drawer of the cabinet below the wedding picture and took out a brown envelope, lying beneath it,

"Here. If you don't like my presence, you are always free to sign it. I will be gone for good, and I will cut ties with you. I won't ask for money, but I want my freedom back."

"So, you think a divorce paper can scare me?" She seemed hesitant, but she took a deep breath and decided to tell him what she needs to say.

"No. But since you seem to enjoy knowing the truth now, might as well tell you the reason why I wanted you to sign the divorce paper." Jade took a deep breath as soon as she collected her thoughts before continuing,

"I will never be the woman that you wished you married. And I'm sick of trying to match your expectations. I am tired of being just a mannequin following your orders all day, Eisen. I was once a free bird flying around the open sky, but you caged me and snatched away everything I once had. You broke every bone in my body to refrain me from flying away. And this has to end now."

"What the f**k does that suppose to mean?!" he's mad, but Jade had no choice but to push through the supposed-to-be-terminated-plan to put an end to Eisen's forgotten misery. She's doing everyone a favor: Lewis, their parents, Eisen, and most significantly, the real wife. If Eisen doesn't give his wife the freedom, then Jade will do everything she can to free the real wife.

"It wasn't the real me that you married that day, but the woman you dreamed you had. And I'm sick of being the woman who needed to endure every beating from a man who can't hold on to his promise in the altar."