Chapter 10: Who Are You?

I coughed and sneezed when dust particles wafted my nose. The room was a complete mess and was loaded with dusty furniture and cardboard boxes and dirt. I scanned the other side: a wardrobe, two dressers, and a small bed. I crossed my arms over my chest as I looked around the room. I had to clean all this mess alone.

After an hour, I wiped away a bead of sweat that was rolling down my forehead. I was working like a machine for two hours. My body was aching because of the carrying of heavy boxes and my stomach was rumbling due to hunger. I hadn't had a proper breakfast except for a cup of coffee since morning.

After cleaning, I headed straight to the kitchen. Since Henry was throwing his shitty dinner party, I had to prepare for dinner. I had never cooked for dozens of people before, but I would try my best to cook good food. I would be feeling bad if his guest ended up in hospital. I didn't have the slightest idea whom he was going to invite and to be honest; I didn't want to know.

Sighing, I looked around the huge and tidy, and luxurious kitchen with dark hardwood flooring, green walls, a hanging rack with pots and pans dangling from it, and a lot of modern appliances which I didn't know how to use. I could take Jessica's help, but where was she…? She was nowhere to be found. Henry might have shooed her away because he didn't want me to take anyone else's help. He wanted to give me a slow and painful death, didn't he?

I hate him and I wished I could claw his handsome face with my nails and let him feel the irritation I was feeling for a few days. God knows, how would I be able to endure him for three months.

Since he didn't tell me the meals that were going to be served, I opted for roasted chicken, roasted cauliflower, lasagna, and brownies. Without wasting a second, I started searching for ingredients. After thirty minutes of searching, I was able to gather everything on the kitchen counter and started to cook.

After a while, I glanced at the clock and gasped in surprise. I didn't know when three hours had passed. That meant I spent the rest of my evening in the kitchen to make sure everything would be perfect even though my husband didn't give a damn.

I jumped back when the doorbell rang out. A frown crease between my brows when I checked the time: it was seven and dinner time was eight. When another doorbell rang, I abandoned everything and approached the door.

I fixed my hair and smoothed my wrinkly dress before answering the door. My eyes widened in surprise when I found a beautiful woman standing across the threshold. When I heard another voice, my eyes fell on the two kids who were standing on either side. One of them was a girl like her mother and another one was a boy with jet black hair.

"May I come in?" she asked, and her scarlet lips curled into a small smile.

"I-I’m sorry. Please, come on in," I said and stepped back, welcoming her.

"You probably don't know me. Let me introduce myself first. I'm Clara Clifton, your husband's youngest and prettiest aunt," she said with a wink.

I broke into a smile. "Alice," I said. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Clifton."

"Call me Clara…" She cut me off. "And nice to meet you too."

"Hey, I'm Kesha," the little girl blurted and raised her hand for a high-five.

"Hey, nice to meet you too, Kesha." I grinned and slapped her small hand. "You're adorable."

"Thank you," she mumbled, blushingly.

I looked at her brother, who didn't even bother to smile at me, and he reminded me of Henry. Rude!

"Hello, Mr. Handsome," I said to him and he rolled his eyes.

"Please, have your seats." I gestured to them in the living room.

"Alice…" Clara called me before I disappeared into the kitchen.

"Yes." I looked at her.

"What kind of clothes do you wear, honey? No designer clothes, makeup, and jewelry. What is this?" She eyed me from head to toe.

I winced at her rough tone.

She crossed her arms over her chest, looking into my eyes. "Do you know who you are married to? Does Henry let you wear those thrift store's clothes!" I winced again when she pointed at my clothes. I had worn denim shorts and a black tank top. I had no jewelry except for my huge diamond ring on my finger.

I licked my lower lip, lowering my gaze as humiliation took over me. I thought she was different, but I was wrong. All she cared about was expensive clothes and jewelry.

When I didn't speak, she sighed, shaking her head and softening her eyes. "I'm sorry if you've taken my words to your heart. I didn't mean to hurt you," she said softly and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Listen, it might hurt you, but you have to understand where you are. You're the wife of a person who has millions of followers. Everyone follows his designs, his styles, and the way of his living. You're connected to him, Alice. If people follow him, it means they follow his wife. Wherever you go, the paparazzi will always follow you. So you'll have to adopt this kind of lifestyle."

I didn't understand whether she was advising me or insulting me.

"I'll keep it in my mind next time." I forced a smile, and she gave me a nod before joining her children in the living room.

When dinner was ready, I put everything on the dining table with bottles of wine. I hoped everything would go smoothly because I didn't want Henry's excuse to torment me again. He was a real pain!

Another doorbell rang, and I made my way to the door. When I opened it, happiness overtook my chest. Sarah! She looked gorgeous in a black dress.

"Hey!" I chirped and was ready to pull her into a tight hug. "You're here."

"Henry invited me," she said roughly and walked ahead, completely ignoring my presence. She made me feel like I didn't exist in the house and it hurt me really bad. She was the only one with whom I could trust and share my pain. But she was still mad at me. She didn't want me to marry her cousin and I would never have married Henry If it wasn't about my parents.

"Sweetie." I froze when I heard the soft voice of my mother. It took me a while to turn around to face her.

"Mom and dad," I whispered and rushed to them before throwing myself into their arms. They both caught me and pulled me into a family hug. Oh my God! I couldn't believe they were here at Henry's house.

"How are you, honey?" Dad asked, cupping the back of my head. "We missed you."

"I missed you too," I choked, and tears gathered in my eyes. "How did you come here?"

"Your husband brought us here," Mom replied.

I pulled myself back and looked at them with surprise. "Henry brought you here?" I said in disbelief.

Mom and dad exchanged a look before giving me a nod. "He picked us up from our place."

"Does he hurt you?" I scanned their faces in case he threatened them.

"No, honey." Mom broke into a laugh as if I had told her a joke. "We're perfectly fine as you can see us."

"Is dinner ready?" A shiver ran down my spine when I heard his dark and cold voice from behind me.

Twisting my head, I looked at Henry. He stood near the door with arms crossed his chest and a dark scowl on his face. Something twisted inside me when I spotted Lisa next to him, wearing a very short dress and showing off her long legs. My eyes moved to the other two men who were standing behind them. One of them had a tattoo all over his arms and the other was blond.

"Dinner is ready," I said and spun around, walking straight to the dining room.

Everyone took their seats. Henry in the middle, Lisa, and the blond boy on either side of him. The tattooed man next to Sarah, Clara, and her babies across from me and my parents next to them.

Everyone started to eat, but suddenly Lisa spoke out in her seductive voice, "Alice, can I have a cup of black coffee? Because of the spicy food I've already lost my appetite."

"I've also lost my appetite. It seems too spicy and I don't want to eat that shit," the blond one said and made me wince.

Did Henry bring them on purpose so that he could humiliate me in front of my parents?

"Why don't we order pizza?" Henry said, looking across the table at his friends.

"Sounds great!" Blond one chirped out and made my blood boil.

"This is the best roasted chicken I've ever eaten!" Suddenly Sarah moaned and licked her fingers.

"I think you should also try the lasagna. It is really, really delicious," Clara said while munching.

"Mommy, why don't you learn to cook from Alice?" Kesha said and brought a smile to my lips.

"Are you going to bring me coffee or not?" Lissa asked me.

"Why don't you move your ass and make it on your own?" Sarah snapped, glaring at her.

"Who is hosting this dinner party?" Lisa snapped.

"I'll bring it," I interrupted them and rose to my feet before disappearing into the kitchen.

After a few minutes, I brought her black coffee and handed it to her, but she purposely loosened her grip around the cup and let hot coffee splashed on my bare legs.

I yelped when hot liquid burned my legs.

"Sweetie!" Mom and Dad shrieked simultaneously and sprang up.

I bit into my lower lip to stop myself from whimpering. The hot liquid was scorching my legs.

"Alice!" Sarah called.

"Are you okay?" Clara asked.

"I'm okay." I plastered a smile and made my way to the kitchen. "I'll be right back."

"Fuck you, Lisa!" Sarah shouted and followed me.

I walked over to the kitchen sink and poured cold water on my legs. They were trembling.

"Alice, are you okay?" Sarah approached me and examined my wound.

"I'm fine," I managed to say.

"You're not okay!" She said sternly and scanned my legs, which turned red. "You need to see a doctor."

"I'm not going to the doctor!" I said. "Anyway, why do you care? You've been avoiding me like the plague."

"Of course, because I was mad at you, idiot," she said, holding my eyes.

"Are you still mad at me?"

"To be honest, yes!" She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "I can't see you hurt, Alice. Look, what things Henry is doing with you. He is making your life harder and harder. I know him. I'm aware of his anger and hatred. He doesn't spare the person who comes into his path. Now you're his prey. The thing would have been different if you hadn't married him."

"Can we talk about other things?" I said, swallowing hard. "Don't remind me of my mistakes repeatedly. Please…"

Sarah sighed. "Okay!" She glanced at my legs. "Let me put ointment on your legs. It'll relieve pain."

I nodded and smiled. "Ok."

After a while, I went to the bathroom to clean my clothes. After a long time, I was feeling a little happy. Sarah got back to her old self and talked to me. She even cracked a few jokes that made me laugh out loud.

I walked over to the faucet and washed my clothes. Suddenly, all the light went out and darkness spread across the room.

Turning around, I rushed to the door but stumbled back when someone bumped into me. I lost my balance and was about to collapse on the floor, but an arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me into him.

"Hello, Alice," He whispered in my ear and I shivered.

"W-who are you?" I swallowed hard.