Chapter 39 — Contract Marriage

I was sitting in the backyard alone with my thoughts. I looked at the sky. The stars were brighter than the rest of the days, looking like diamonds in the night. When I was a child, I used to sleep in my backyard so that I could see the beautiful stars and figure out their shapes. The wind outside was cold and fresh. I rubbed my bare arms while hugging my knees together.

It had been three days since Ava woke up from the coma and she was recovering quickly. I was happy for her; she got a newly gifted life. Henry was happy, he got his childhood sweetheart back. Vivian was happy. He got his sister back. Sarah was happy she got her best friend back. I was feeling down. I was feeling insecure. I was feeling like I’m losing something, I’m losing him. Henry.

He was never mine then why was I feeling like I’m losing him.

In these three days, I and Henry didn’t talk properly. Our conversation was barely more than ‘hi, hello, and good morning.’ He barely joined me for breakfast or dinner. When he got free time from his work, he went to Ava and spent time with her. He didn’t tell me I heard it from Sarah. I hated myself for falling in love with him. He would never be mine and it was very painful to accept.

“Don’t you think it’s too late to be outside here in cold weather?” I heard his deep voice. I could feel his footsteps coming towards me.

I straightened my body and sat straight, not wanting him to see me sad. I didn’t care that my husband went to his girlfriend. I didn’t care that he cared about her so much more than me. I didn’t care that he would never love me. As long as he was happy, I was happy. I drew a long breath. “I came here to get some fresh air,” I said, looking at the sky. I didn’t glance at him once.

He stood in his place, waiting for my invitation, but when I didn’t invite him, he took a seat beside me, pulled out his jacket, and put it on me. “I don’t want you to get a cold just because you want some fresh air.”

I clutched his jacket around me, feeling his warmness. That was what I had been missing.

We didn’t talk for a few minutes, but I spoke first, "How is she doing?"

He looked across the garden. “She has been doing great.” He completed his conversation in just a few words like he didn’t want to talk about her.

Again, dead silence. Why were we behaving like strangers?

“Why did you tell her the truth? I mean, she recently woke up from a coma and she is still weak. It could have affected her brain injury,” I said.

His eyes fell into sadness. “Because I didn’t want to hide anything from her. I didn’t want to keep her in the dark, Alice.” He sighed. “I wanted to clarify that I got married to you. And if I hadn’t told her then someday, eventually she would come to know the truth, which would become very hurtful for her. She has already suffered a lot and I don’t want to hurt her anymore. I can’t see her suffering.”

“She loved you, Henry. She must have broken. She will hate me.” I love Henry, but it doesn’t mean that I could see Ava in pain.

He moved closer to me and wrapped his arm around me as rubbing my shoulder slightly. “She is broken right now, but soon she will understand it. And she won't hate you, Alice.”

I sighed and kept closer to him. “Henry, can I ask you something?”

“Yeah sure.”

“What will you do next? I mean, Ava is now fine and I…” I closed my eyes and swallowed the pain inside me. “Will you divorce me?”

Minutes passed but he didn't speak. His gaze fixed on some point on the wall, his expression entirely unreadable. It seemed like he was thinking something deep. I shook him. “Henry, I’m asking you something?”

“I see, you’re keen for divorce, huh?” I could feel a hint of irritation in his voice.

I dropped my gaze on my palms, refusing to look at him. “I was wondering. I-I mean, there is nothing between us. Ava is fine, I don’t owe you anything and me…” I didn’t complete my words and let it die before he could sense the pain in my voice.

He held my hand and showed me the diamond ring which was fixed on my finger. “You own this ring, Alice. This is our wedding ring. If this ring is in your hand, you won’t be able to divorce me. I haven’t thought about it. Oh damn! I forgot to give you something.”

He dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. He opened it, revealing a thin black band graced with small diamonds looking so beautiful. “Wow! What is this?” I asked excitedly.

He didn’t say a word and wrapped it around my left wrist. “I customized it especially for you. Never remove it. This is very important to me. Just consider it as a gift.”

I frowned in confusion and didn’t understand. “Can you tell me why you are wearing this? Today is not my birthday or anything special?”

“Do I need to wait for a special occasion to gift my wife?”

I shook my head. “Of course you can gift me whenever you want but…”

“Then, keep it.” He cut me off.

I glanced at the band around my hand; it looked expensive. It must cost him a fortune. “Thank you,” I said, and kissed his lips.

“If you want to thank me, then come into my room.” I stared at him. “Naked. I want you naked on my bed. It’s been a long time,” he said without any hesitation.

A long time, huh? It had not been two days, and he thought it was long. I looked at him, seeing the smirk on his face. How easy it was for him, demanding sex, and what about me?

*****

“It smells so good,” Ava chirped and inhaled the food one more time. I and Henry came to the hospital to see her. She was doing well, so she shifted from intensive care to the general ward. I was glad that Henry brought me here with him.

“Tacos! My god. How do you know I like beef tacos?” Ava asked. I didn’t know much about her. Henry was the one who had told me everything about her. He knew everything about her. I wondered if he knew that much about me.

“No, Henry told me,” I said while glancing at him. He was busy on the phone typing something.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed out. “Excuse me, ladies,” he said and walked out of the room.

“So, how are you?” I asked her with a smile.

“Can’t you see? I'm doing great.” Her voice was cheerful despite her weak body. “What about you? How are you, Alli?”

“I’m so happy to see.” We hadn’t talked for a while, but I broke the silence later. “Do you hate me, Ava? I got married to your boyfriend despite knowing that you loved him.” I was curious and wanted to know why she didn’t react?

She frowned. “Why would I hate you, Alice? Henry told me everything about this marriage. This marriage is just contractual. He married you just because he wanted the piece of property from his father. His father’s brand, you know. If he didn’t marry you, then the whole property went to the orphanage. You know it costs millions of dollars. It was a huge amount. How could he bear such a loss? First, I feel jealous of you, but later I thought it was of no use. And I know there is nothing between both of you, so why would I hate you? My Henry is always mine. I have been loving him, and I will always love him.”

My heart shattered into a hundred pieces when I heard her. I felt like she had stabbed my heart with her every word. So that was the reason she didn’t react to the truth. I was only his so he could get his millions worth of property—nothing more than that. Why did I always forget that this was an unwanted marriage. Why did I always dream of being treated as a beloved wife? I just wanted to run away and sob loudly. I just wanted to run away from him. How could he tell her these things? Contractual marriage? Didn’t he ask me to live like a normal couple? What about all those sweet words he told me? I was stupid, wasn’t I?

“Alice.” Henry shook my shoulder and made me look at him. “Where are you?”

“Um, I was thinking something.” I smiled forcefully, even though my heart was crying.

“Henry, feed me,” Ava demanded, and I watched him, waiting for his reply.

He glanced at me for a while, but after a moment he agreed and fed her. Good, very good. “You become too skinny, Ava. I want your old sexy and beautiful body back,” he said with a wink, and I felt the urge to slap my husband.

“Ok.” She leaned forward. “When I get back into my original form, then we will hang out together somewhere in a private place,” she whispered even though I could hear her.

Henry glanced at me briefly before turning back to her.

“Henry, do you still remember my favorite sandwich and salad which we used to eat together in your office?” Ava said while chewing her food.

“Yeah.”

“I want those,” she demanded like a three-year-old girl.

A tiny smile formed on Henry’s lips that barely formed. “I’ll get you everything whatever you need.”

A flood of jealousy swirled inside me, but I ignored it. It was my stupidity to feel such a strong feeling for him, despite knowing that he had nothing for me. I just sat there, waiting for them to finish their food. They laughed, smiled, and mumbled words to each other. I couldn’t tolerate it anymore, so I stood up to leave. “I got a call from the school. I have some sort of work so I leave first,” I said with a forced smile.

Henry looked at me incredulously. “But you told me you’ve taken a day off from school?”

“I’ve changed my plan,” I said firmly. “Now I need to go.”

“But…”

“I told you I’ve got a call right now, so I have to go.”

He held my eyes for a moment. “I’ll give you a ride.”

“No, I’m ok.”

“Alice…”

“No! Joseph will ride me there,” I said and rushed out of the room before I burst into tears.