The Gilded Cage

chapter 12

I opened the door quickly without asking due to my severe fluster, and there I saw a somewhat plump woman who appeared to be in her fifties. She looked at me in surprise, and so did I. I was forced to smile at her and said calmly: "H...hello?!"

She eyed me appraisingly for a moment, but she soon smiled kindly: "Hello, I haven't seen you before, dear. Could it be that you're Chris's friend or his wife?!"

I furrowed my eyebrows in surprise at her question. Why did she mention the word "wife"?! And then the question crossed my mind...

Is Chris married, contrary to what I expected?

I wanted to clarify the matter for her, but I was surprised by his hands encircling my shoulders as he said cheerfully, addressing the lady: "Oh, hello, Mrs. Amanda, I didn't expect you to arrive before tomorrow! How are you?"

I stared at them, puzzled and surprised, and I almost pushed his hand away, hiding my anxiety and annoyance, but the lady said in a tone similar to his cheerfulness: "I'm fine, dear. Yes, I came before my scheduled arrival... It seems she's your wife, if my guess is not wrong!"

I shook my head, trying to deny that, but he laughed, muttering: "She must have won your approval!"

I quickly raised my head towards him and stared at him in astonishment and surprise. What is this fool saying?

The woman let out a soft laugh, tilting her head: "She's very beautiful! Were you hiding her from us?"

He exchanged jokes with her amid my astonishment, and when he gestured for her to enter, she refused: "No, dear, I'm a bit busy. All I wanted was to check on you..."

Then she looked at me, so I flustered a little and eyed her silently until she asked me kindly: "I don't know your name yet!"

— "My name is Charlotte, and by the way, Chris and I are not marri—"

— "We're not used to this apartment yet, so I didn't know you were here previously, Mrs. Amanda!"

He said it cheerfully while she tilted her head: "I understand that. Well, my dear, I have to go now. See you later..."

She added, smiling: "Take good care of her, and if you need anything, don't hesitate!"

When she left, he closed the door, and as soon as he did, I pushed his hand away, looked at him agitatedly, and said firmly: "Have you gone mad? You must have indeed gone mad!"

He arched his eyebrows, surprised, and asked, puzzled: "What did I do?"

I held my breath angrily, then said annoyed: "You... you said we were married..."

He shrugged coldly and said: "Not at all! I never said that, and I don't remember uttering anything like that!"

I twisted my lip and suppressed my fury: "Well, it's true you didn't say that, but you implied it indirectly and interrupted me when I wanted to clarify the misunderstanding for her, so you're the reason she thinks I'm your wife!"

He seemed indifferent to what I was saying! He pushed my forehead with his finger forcefully and laughed sarcastically softly, then sat on the sofa, grabbing the remote control boredly!

I screamed, running my hand over my forehead in pain: "Hey, you, go and fix the matter now... Tell her it's a misunderstanding so she doesn't think that I'm—"

— "And what should I tell her? That you're living with me in what capacity?!"

He interrupted me with that sentence, so I pursed my lip for a moment and stopped talking!

When I didn't answer, he smiled and looked at the TV again, so I approached and said impulsively: "It doesn't matter, tell her something else! I won't be here tomorrow or the day after, so there's no need to make her think badly..."

He looked at me this time carefully and muttered, wondering: "Miss Charlotte, are your parents alive?"

I nodded, puzzled by him, so he continued: "Then... if you've—"