The Gilded Cage

chapter 18

He continued, annoyed: "It's a long story... I'll summarize it in a few words. I want to take care of Jamie, but the matter won't be easy for me, and Clara won't stop trying to insert herself into our lives again even if she marries another man. I can't leave him with a woman like her or even—"

— "Wait, wait! One moment, please! Who is Clara, and who is Jamie?"

His hazel eyes gleamed with calm as he straightened up in his seat and twisted his lip a little, then answered: "She's my ex-wife, while Jamie is my son!"

I gaped and felt my jaw about to drop from astonishment, trying to comprehend every letter he said...

Is what I heard correct?

Chris... a father!!!

What a shock this is! This reckless, frivolous, and reckless person is a father? It doesn't seem true at all... His appearance doesn't suggest this...

Regardless of his appearance, I couldn't even imagine him being a father! I'd believe he takes care of a stray cat or a poor dog or even a lost sheep, but...

Taking care of a child!!

I pointed my finger at him in astonishment: "You're serious now, aren't you? Do you swear you're not joking with me?"

He tilted his head, so I continued, my hands hanging in the air: "You... a father! Someone like you is a father!"

He exhaled boredly: "How many times do I have to answer yes for you to be convinced!"

Then he stood up, moving away from his armchair to head towards the sofa I was sitting on.

He sat next to me, so I looked at him in bewilderment tinged with intense caution until he said: "He hasn't passed the age of five yet..."

I moved away a little until I sat in the corner of the sofa, holding the small pillow, placing it on my lap, wondering: "So? Do you want to get married to gain custody of your son? Is that all! You're strange. I've seen you surrounded by many girls, as I recall, so why don't you propose this crazy idea to one of them?!"

His answer came simply: "You're my choice. That's all... Now tell me... what do you think?"

He reaped my impulsive answer quickly and in less than a second after his question: "What do I think? How can you ask such a question! Okay, then, listen to my opinion if it matters to you! I think you have a very loud and broad imagination. It's impossible for me to agree to something like this. It's better to propose something like this to a crazy woman ready to sacrifice her youth, her life, and her precious time for someone like you! And you're very strange. Why do you propose this marriage to me as if I'd agree immediately? You even said it's a marriage of convenience, and I see that the convenience will be in your favor only and—"

But I cut off my talk when he approached, putting his hand over my mouth, preventing me from speaking in annoyance: "For God's sake, how talkative are you! Be quiet a little and listen to me! Doesn't it tire you to move your tongue constantly?!"

I pushed his hand away resentfully: "Let me hear what you have. Come on, I'm all ears! Hurry up..."

He took a deep breath as he moved away, then said annoyed: "I'm frank with you. You're right; it's a marriage of convenience, and this convenience won't be beneficial for both of us... Rather, the marriage will only be useful for me to take care of Jamie. But I won't force you to imagine yourself as a wife for a long time... I want you to go through it for only a few months... let's say only three months, and after that, you have the freedom to choose!"

— "Huh! And you say it so simply! How selfish are you?! And you admit it as if it's a normal thing... I can't believe you!"