Chapter 3
1141 Words
Archie
Even if I didn’t want to admit it, watching the love of my entire existence freeze at the door, made my chest tighten.
She walked back to me in slow shaky steps like she was approaching a predator, and I was the predator.
The subtle tremor in her hands, the way her lips pressed together.
God help me. My hands itched to reach out and hold her, to make her feel safe around me, to remind her of what used to be.
She was damn beautiful when she tried to act fearless, always had been, but this fear, this fear underneath broke me in ways I wasn’t ready for.
How did we get here? What did we miss?
I held my phone loosely in my hand, watching as her eyes zeroed in on the device like a hawk desperately hunting. I could see the questions forming in her eyes without any word being said.
Without hesitation, she gently took the phone from me, her fingers brushing mine, and I felt the spark I wasn’t supposed to feel. I watched her eyes scan the phone screen, noticing every flicker of expression in them, shock, disbelief, anger, and damn it…hesitation.
They all came at once.
I stayed silent, watching her reactions unfold, knowing that our lives had just changed forever and one wrong move, or word could make things explode even more.
Her hand flew to her mouth as the video played. My lawyer had captured it all, every stupid drunken bet, every laughter, every post we had drunkenly made on the media in the name of our sealed union, every moment that led us to sign this marriage contract, the two of us laughing, grabbing each other, agreeing to a ridiculous dare, and the passionate kiss we had shared to seal the deal.
We had looked so happy, but this moment, the morning after? Is filled with bags of regret.
But only one person hated this predicament, her.
The evidence of our night was neatly wrapped and packaged in one video, as though the universe knew we would wake up without a memory of that moment.
Even though it happened to be the best moments for me now that I see it.
I watched her let out slow gasps at every scene, and then I saw it, a teardrop, and I unconsciously felt my shoulders sag.
Does she really hate me that much?
Moments ago when she said it, it stung. But watching her cry at the mere thought of marrying me? I felt helpless.
I wanted to reach for her hand, I wanted to hold her tight, but I knew better.
“Wha…what does this mean?” I thought I wouldn't feel worse than I already do, until I heard the c***k in her voice, and the disappointment in her teary eyes as she looked up at me.
“I wish there was genuinely a better way to say it, but it appears that we are married, and the news is on the media now, the contract gave us a clause we can't breach, which means that our hands are tied, and we’ve got no choice but to….” I paused, watching her rub her hands across her face.
“There is no way in hell I'm marrying you, Mr. Malcolm.” She said sharply.
“Unfortunately, we don't have a choice. Our family legacies are on the line, I can't lose my 50% and you can't lose yours too.”
“Gosh! I'm so foolish, I shouldn't have…I shouldn't have let this happen.” Her voice was barely a whisper, as she sank onto the bed defeatedly.
“You think I wanted this? I've spent years trying not to make things harder for you. Suddenly you reappeared in my life, yet every day, I walked into that office and pretended I didn't feel anything because you clearly didn't want me to. So how can you sit there and still think that this is all my fault?” I let out a long sigh that I didn't know I had been holding in. I genuinely needed to say that.
I'm tired of getting punished for something I know absolutely nothing about.
A long silence ensued.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think a night with drinks would lead us to this moment.
Now, I probably don't stand a chance of winning her back or finding closure. If she hated me before, it's safe to say this moment has doubled that hatred.
Whatever happened to the one woman who had my whole heart, and I hers?
Hating me is one thing, but being stuck with me for a year as stated in the contract? Wild!
“Mr Malcolm…”
”Mr. Malcolm?” I blinked, confused. Damn it! We’re back here now.
“You’re my boss remember?”
“Oh really? But I didn't hear you call me that way last night when you kissed me in that video, or minutes ago, so we are back to business now, is that it?”
As if hit by the realization of the truth again, she didn’t say any more words, she slowly sat on the bed, like the whole situation suddenly began to sink in again.
Before I could even take in the moment, she burst into uncontrollable tears.
“Why? Why can't you just….let me be, you seem to enjoy hurting me at every given chance.”
My heart cracked.
“Hurt you? Why would I want to do that, why would you even think that?”
Silence. A deafening one.
Damn you Manuel, damn you for signing that contract and sealing it!
Now I have to miraculously find a way to make all the pain she feels go away cause I can't stand seeing her in pain cause of me.
“Gosh! This is suffocating. Now I'm trapped.”
Trapped? She feels trapped?
Marrying me feels like a trap for her. Is it really that bad? I let out an uncontrolled sigh.
And before I could stop myself, I blurted out.
“I would give up my 50%. Whatever it is that would make all of this go away. I don't mind, it’s just 50% of my shares in…”
“That’s not happening, I'm not interested in your riches or wealth, Mr Malcolm.” She cut in.
“What then would you have me do, Rora?” I felt drained and it showed in my voice.
“Don’t…don’t call me that. You lost the right to call me that a long time ago.”
I froze.
“Why? What did I do, if anything I should be the one upset and….”
“The last thing I want
is anything but marrying you, or taking your money…..”
She paused, and I held my breath, fearing the worst.
- Writer
