Chapter 82

Wait. So her husband's name is Monroe? Cayden wondered. "Heather?" She was the last person he ever expected in his office. Bruh, this is so weird. "Please, do come in…Mrs. Monroe."

In a sleeveless green bodysuit gown that was just above her spotless knees on heels, she shut the door mildly and walked over. Her tinted blue hair was curled and beautifully packed upward with some strands on her white face. She was just so perfect. He couldn't take his eyes off her slim figure. She looks just like a model!

This is his wife for real! He thought. Been a whole while he took a good look at her like this. He recollected how soft and tender she felt when he used to touch her.

But wait! Why is he watching her? What if she's planned to seduce him? Quickly, he lowered his gaze to his laptop as she pulled the chair across from him and sat. Damn! Her glassy brown eyes! "I didn't expect you to come to my office, Heather. Thought we'd sit out…"

She shook her head slightly.

With a shrug he said, "But it's all good. Never thought you'd honor my request though." He shut his laptop and sighed. "How have you been?"

For some reason, a smile pulled one side of her lips. "Really, Cayden? You're seriously asking me that?"

Gazing directly into her brown eyes, he blew out heavily. "That was just the beginning of our conversation, Heather."

She shook her head, biting her red lips.

"Look, Heather," He shifted the laptop and placed both lower arms on his table. "I'm sorry about my action the day we met at Presh Health Hospital. I never meant to hit you. I…I never meant to outburst like that."

And she blinked out tears. "Cayden you slapped me…" She sobbed. "Y…you had the nerve!"

"Yes," He said. "You gave me the fuckin nerve, Heather. You dare not call the woman I married a wretched bitch! It's a slap on my face. Don't you think?"

"But you left me just to marry her," Heather said.

"I left you myself," He said. "It wasn't her that left you…and she didn't ask me to leave you either. So I won't have you talk about her like that cause she's my wife. Don't you get it, Heather? I won't go about calling your husband names for your sake. So, you should blame me if you wish to. But I don't think I'm at fault 'cause life is a choice."

Heather blinked and more tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I know it hurts, Heather," He was gazing at her. "I know…but, girl, I made my fuckin choice. You could have done the same if you were in my shoes. What if you'd met another guy who turned out to be your dreamboat? Won't you have changed your mind about me? Of course, you would. I'm sorry, Heather. I'm so sorry…" He tried to reach for her hands but she pulled away from him.

Her face had turned ruddy as she wept.

"I never meant to hurt you," He arose and walked to her side. "I'm sorry I hit you…I never meant to do that, I swear. Heather, please…"

She was crying, all broken in grief. "I…I love you, Cayden. I love you so freaking much. Look how you defend your wife all the time. I can tell how much you love and care for her…" She coughed. "I just wish I'm Elodre. I…"

He cut her off with his lips pressed against hers. He kissed her for a while, inhaling the mild fragrance of her fragile body. Holding her wrists, he gently lifted her and cuddled her warmly, stroking her back. "I know you're a good woman. A beautiful and virtuous lady. That I chose Elodre over you doesn't mean you're worthless. I want you to let the past slide and move on. I love you so much, Heather."

Weeping on his shoulder, she was trembling in his arms.

"Crying all your life won't change a thing, Heather," He said. "I want you to let go of this burden in your heart, sweetheart. I shouldn't have been mean to you. You did nothing wrong, okay? What if we got married yet divorced in the future? Have you thought about that? Shit happens, darling. Life is unpredictable."

He was cupping her head with one palm and stroking her back with the other. "You're a gorgeous lady, Heather…which is why Monroe loves you."

"He doesn't," Heather said.

Cayden raised a brow. "Are you serious, love? What do you mean?" He gently lifted her face and wiped her tears with his hands. "Gimme a sec, darling."

He went to lock the door and came back to her. Holding her hand, he took her to his seat, sat, and she sat on his lap. "Why did you say your hubby doesn't love you?"

Sniffling, tears dropped on her trembling hands and Cayden held them still. "What's going on?" He asked. He slipped out his handkerchief from his pants pocket and wiped off her tears and she held his big hands still on her face. He cuddled her and rubbed her back. "It's okay, sweetheart. It's alright, okay? You're running temperature…please, stop crying."

She swallowed hard. "I don't feel my marriage at all. It's just so boring…and each day of my life I…I regret being with Monroe. He ain't my husband…"

Cayden smiled at that. He took her hands in his palm and said, "So, who's supposed to be your husband, Heather? Me?" He chuckled softly and shook his head. "You know what, honey, you would never feel your marriage until you heal from this grief. So long as you're still holding onto this pain, you'll never understand how much Monroe loves you…cause I'm sure he does."

"H…how did you know?" Heather glanced at him.

"Because I saw the way he behaved with you at Mitchell's place," He said and she blinked. "Yes, darling. I saw how tender and warm he was while talking to you. I saw the love and wholesomeness gleaming in his eyes when he looked at you. Your man loves you. Honey, I can tell he does. Not all men relate warmly with their partners in public."

"What if he was just pretending?" She quivered.

"Does he lay hands on you?" He asked. "Be honest."

"No," She said.

"Does he yell at you for no reason?" He asked.

"No," She shook her head.

"Aside from not feeling your marriage, what can you hold against him, Heather?"

She scanned her mind but there was absolutely nothing to hold against him.

Upon her silence, he smiled and said, "You see? Your grief has blinded you…and you ain't willing to heal, Heather. I know you're hurt, love." He planted a kiss on her forehead. "But living in agony would only worsen the whole thing. I want you to look at the situation and conquer it. I'm the loser, not you. Get up and show your self-worth. You're valuable, Heather. You are."

His words were like medicine, healing her from the inside out. She's never thought about this for once.

"I assure you that Monroe loves you," Cayden said. "Even better than I do…cause he'd never dump you for another woman like I did. And hey, no one can dump you if you've not dumped yourself already, okay?"

For joy, she burst out crying again.

"Look, I want you to dump me and focus on your husband," He cupped her face in his palm. "Don't give a fuck about me and focus on your man. I want you to be happy in your marriage. That's my joy too. Be happy."

Since when did Cayden become a therapist? She wondered. "Was psychology your major back then in school?" She asked.

That cracked him up and he laughed heartily. "Look, Heather, you deserve better. You are the best therapist for yourself, Heather. You are capable of healing or hurting yourself. Regardless of what happened between us, I love you. I want the best for you."

"I love you too, Cayden," She said.

"Yeah," Smiling, he nodded. "What about your hubby? Is he in town?"

"No," She said. "He traveled for an appointment but would be back tomorrow. Just home with my kids and sister, Daisy."

"Aww, I never knew you'd kids," He grinned. "That's amazing! Wow! You're a gorgeous and virtuous mom! They must be proud of you. How many are your kids?"

"Three of them," She said.

"Aww!" He said. "That's beautiful!" He patted her back. "Cheer up, okay? You didn't lose anything."

Of course, she lost him. She thought.

"Once again I'm sorry, okay?" He said. "You're a strong woman. I want you to try as much as you can to let the past slide, okay?"

Heather lifted her watery gaze upon him and tears slid down her cheeks. "You know I can't. Not when I see you at the building with the president."

He smiled, gazing down into her sparkling brown eyes. "Of course you can, darling. We're still friends." He shrugged. "Best of friends.."

She smiled and shook her head. "You're so silly, Cayden."

"In fact, we are very close friends like two peas in a pod," He was smiling down at her. "I'm serious about this. I want you to move on and be happy for real." He touched her pointed nose with a finger. "And I want you to love and care for your hubby. He loves you so much, Heather and I know that."

He held her face still and pressed a kiss….