Chapter 40 — Contract Marriage

“Hello, mom.” I smiled while talking on the phone. I knew why she had called me.

“Today is the birthday of the special person who is spreading love, joy, and positivity all around without thinking of herself. May your birthday and your life be as wonderful as you are! My little sweetie grows up into twenty-four.” I could feel her smile and her eyes must have moistened with tears.

“And this special person is born through you, so you are triple special than me. Stop crying, I know you are crying.” I scolded her because she was really sensitive. Every time she became emotional, even on my birthday.

“Um, I miss you so much, Alice. I love you, honey.”

“I miss you too, Mom. Well, leave all this and tell me what you have prayed for me?” I got excited. She had been praying for me since my second birthday.

She laughed. “This time I haven’t prayed for you.”

“What! But you always pray for me, right?”

She sighed. “This time I prayed for my grandchild. I want to see my grandson or granddaughter soon.”

“Mom, are you crazy?” I said, annoyingly. “I’m not ready for this, and do you know about your son-in-law? He would never agree to be a father. Even he hates children.” She was talking crazy. I would love to have a kid with Henry, but he would never agree with this.

“I’m just telling you my wish, honey. It’s up to you whether you want it or not. You remember Jennifer, our neighbor, she has six grandchildren, and she is also my age. I don’t ask you for three, four, but one is enough for me.”

My lips curled into a small smile. “Ok, enough about me. What about dad? How is he doing?”

“He’s fine, in good health. He misses you.”

“Happy birthday, sweety.” I heard my father’s soothing voice through the phone. “Did you get my parcel?”

“Yeah, I love you dad, and thank you for your beautiful gift. I love those CDs and I went to…” before I could complete myself, someone knocked on the door.

“Alice, Henry wants to see you in his room,” Jessica informed.

“Dad, I’ll call you back soon. Love you,” I said and hung up.

“I’ll be there,” I said, and she nodded and walked out of the room.

After changing my clothes, I headed towards his room, wondering why he was calling me. I stepped into his room. “Are you calling me?” I asked and looked around to find him, but he was nowhere in sight. It meant he was taking a shower.

I sat on the couch, waiting for him. Suddenly something caught my attention: a blue velvet square shape box set on the desk. I quickly stood up and studied the box, which seemed like a gift. I picked up the box and opened it. I saw a pair of huge diamond earrings. It was too lavish and expensive. Henry bought it for me, he knew my birthday. I was feeling really happy as he knew today was my birthday. I just wanted to hug him and spend my entire day with him.

“How is it?” I heard his deep voice.

“Beautiful,” I said and turned around to see him. He was in the towel, looking damn sexy. His muscled body glistened with water and his hair was damp.

“This is for Ava,” he said while drying his hair with a towel. “She was discharged from the hospital and Miller is going to throw a banquet party, so we are going there tonight.”

I quickly set the box on the desk, feeling ashamed, thinking that he remembered my birthday. “That’s why you called me here?” My voice was harsh.

He frowned, looking at me. “Yes, why? Anything bothers you?”

I was angry with him; I was furious at him. “Okay.” I agreed with him even though it hurt my heart, it hurt so much. It was my birthday, and I was going to his ex’s party. It was pathetic.

*****

We arrived at the banquet. I looked around at the people, all women in their elegant gowns and men in their expensive suits. The collective conversations filled in the hall as people were laughing and cheering.

I was in a soft yellow satin gown with a sweetheart neckline, and Henry was in his navy blue suit with a light blue shirt and yellow tie.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and slightly pulled me towards him. “Those people must be envious of me,” he murmured in my ear as nodded to the group of men who were watching us.

I frowned and didn’t understand his statement. “Why?”

“Because I have such a beautiful wife.” I looked at him. “You are looking so beautiful, Alice.”

This was the first time he complimented me directly. “Thank you,” I said shyly, blushing a little.

“Hey, baby.” I heard Ava say. She was in an olive green gown; it fit every curve of her body. Her golden hair was in a loose bun and decorated beautifully. She looked stunningly beautiful like a female model popped out from a Vogue magazine. She hugged Henry and kissed his cheeks. And then came to me. “You look pretty, Alli.”

“Thank you. But nothing in comparison to you,” I said, and she shook her head.

“Henry, come with me. I want to show you something,” Ava said and grabbed his hand, dragging him away.

But he stopped her and glanced at me. “She is alone, and she doesn’t even know anyone here,” he said, without taking his eyes off me.

Ava looked at me, and something changed in her expression. It might be jealousy. “I’ll take only a few minutes,” she said and dragged him to the corner of the hall.

I just stood there watching both of them together. She was whispering something in his ear and he laughed in response. Her hand moved to his neck and he placed his hand on her waist. They both were talking affectionately like they were a real couple. Henry never talked to me like that. He never gave me this look. Why was I feeling insecure? He didn’t love her, but he didn’t love me either. Henry dug his hand into the pocket and pulled out the same velvet box and gave it to her. Ava’s eyes fill with the light of happiness.

Looking at them together only gave me heartaches, so I looked away. Two women had been observing me, whispering and pointing at me. I was feeling uncomfortable. Weren't Henry and Ava enough that those women also made me feel uncomfortable? Ugh.

“They are looking great together, aren’t they?” A soft female voice said from behind me, “You know they made for each other.”

I looked at that woman. She was blonde with blue eyes. I knew who she was. Ava's mother. She was in a light red chiffon gown and wore heavy makeup on her face. She looked beautiful but still old.

I nodded in agreement. “Yeah, both of them look beautiful,” I said. She offered me a glass of wine. “Thank you,” I said and sipped my wine.

“So you are Mrs. Robinson. Nice to meet you. I’m Jennet Miller. Ava’s mother.”

“Nice to meet you, too. I’m Alice,” I said with a tight smile.

“You know, I was supposed to meet you months ago when you got married to Henry, but I hate gold-diggers,” she gritted out, narrowing her eyes, and kept sipping her wine. “How easily you can replace my Ava! My baby girl suffered three months because of you,” she accused. “What did you do after she went into a coma? You got married to her boyfriend. You betrayed her. You took away her love. How pathetic it is. This is…” she pointed at my dress and jewelry. “This is what you had been dreaming of! I know people like you.”

I swallowed each word like venom. I wanted to walk away, but I was glued to that spot.

She glanced across at the people in the hall. “Do you think you fit into a high-class society?” She scoffed. “No, you never will fit in our society and you are not fit for Henry’s wife.”

She continued. “He will soon divorce you. You don’t know about him. He just knows how to toy with the girls and you are one of many. When he’ll get bored of you, he’ll throw you out of his house like useless trash. You’re just a toy for him, nothing more than that.”

“Hey, Jennet, who is she?” A woman asked her and approached us.

“Whore! Oh, it slipped out of my mouth. She is Henry’s whore,” she sneered and they both burst into a laugh.

Without thinking twice, I chucked the whole glass of wine on her so-called designing gown. “DON’T YOU EVER CALL ME THIS!” I gritted out as I emphasized every word.

“How dare you?!” she snarled.

I fisted my hands.

“Alice, how dare you!” Ava growled from the corner when she caught the drama and walked towards us.

When Ava and Henry approached us. “Honey, see what she has done to me. I just offered her a glass of wine and she spilled the whole thing on my gown,” she cried while doing her Oscar award acting.

Oh my god.

“Mom, calm down,” Ava said softly and squeezed her shoulder, turning to me. “Alice, apologize to her.” She demanded, glaring at me. “I have seen with my own eyes how you have chucked the whole wine on my mother. It wasn’t an accident. Apologize now!”

I crossed my arms over my chest, looking away. “I won’t apologize to her. She was bitching about me, she called me a wh—”

“Alice, apologize to her…” Henry cut me off, and I shot my eyes to his, shocked. I couldn’t believe he was taking her side. “I saw you. You threw wine on her on purpose.”

Anger seared through me, but anger was nothing comparable to disappointment. I didn’t expect him to go against me. I expected him to take my side. But here he was asking me to apologize to the woman who called me a whore. “Henry, you don’t know anything, still you want me to apologize to her?” I said. I shook my head, biting my lower lip to stop myself into a sob. “I won’t apologize to her at any cost. She got what she deserves!” I growled and hurried out of the hall.

“Alice, stop!” Henry barked and followed me, but I didn’t give a shit. I just wanted out of this house. He had a cruel heart, he didn’t even know anything still, he wanted me to apologize to her. “Alice, I said stop!” Before I could run away, he grasped my hand and pulled me into him. “Alice, look at me.”

I looked at him, glaring at him hard. “Mr. Henry Robinson, thank you so much for all of your greatness. Thank you so much for bringing me here. Thank you so much for making my birthday memorable. Thank you so much for degrading me and thank you so much for my self-dignity. I’ll never forget such a beautiful day. Now let me go!” I snatched my hand from his grip and ran away from him. He stood there wordlessly, looking pained. Why was he feeling pain for me? I was just a toy to him. All he wanted was Ava!