08 Take a peek
Tia.
I was in shock by what had just happened. I was shocked and angry. Caleb had to wait this long before confessing his feeling for me. It wasn’t heartwarming. What did he expect me to do? I could not believe he had rejected me before they passed me on to Luke. I was angry at him. His father was right. He should have come clean to his parents if he cared about me. He should have made an effort. Instead, he made me endure two years of watching him change girlfriends like sheets. Hearing that he had gotten many girls pregnant and forced them to have abortions made me sick. Who was Caleb? Did I know him? How many sides did he have? This was a genuinely dysfunctional family. I wasn’t crying because I was heartbroken; I was crying because I was angry. They were talking about me as if I was an object. Caleb was supposed to be my best friend, yet he played a massive part in making me end up in a loveless marriage.
Luke tried to touch my shoulders when they left, and I shrugged him off. He did not have the decency to stay-in on our wedding night. He had to humiliate me and go to sleep with his girlfriend. “Tia,” he called my name, and I did not want to answer him. I went straight to the closet to get something to wear. “Tia,” he said, following me. I was shaking, but I stood my ground. “Why would you buy me sexy outfits? It is not like we would have sex. You said it yourself. You have a girlfriend, and she will bear you children. Why buy me clothes I will not use?” I snapped at him, and I knew he was speechless, but I did not care. “Please lend me slacks. I will want to go out to shop this afternoon.” I said. “I do not have much money in my account, Tia, but I will receive my salary next week. If you give me a little time, I will buy you new clothes,” he said gently, and I looked at him.
“I wasn’t asking for your money, Luke. I did not come here with a shovel to dig for gold, as you implied. I will make my way. I have some money to buy clothes from a middle-class clothing store.” I said, and I saw him flinch.
“I said those words in anger, Tia. I do not think you are a gold digger. I acted based on what my stepmom led me to believe about your parents. I do not think that low of you.” he said, and I did not know how he expected me to feel about what he had said. It did not change that we were both trapped in a loveless marriage.
“I am going hunting this evening. I would like you to come,” he invited me, and I did not say anything
“Do I have a choice in this?” I asked, and he nodded.
rather go shopping.” I said to him, and his face hardened
during the honeymoon phase. I am supposed to claim you
14
heat. The honeymoon phase ends after heat.” Luke explained, and I
message,” I said. Although I had no feelings for him, leaving me on our wedding night to be with someone was hurtful. He wasn‘t the only one that was wronged. It wasn’t only his life that Stacy messed up. He wasn’t the only unhappy
as handsome underneath his clothes as I had guessed. I walked into the bathroom, and it was scented with cinnamon. I checked Luke’s bath wash, and it was unscented. I guessed the cinnamon was his natural scent. I rushed and dressed up in the
about why we had not claimed each other. I would tell him we were tired, and both slept off.” He said to me, and I nodded.
in silence. Caleb was not at the table, but Stacy was there. She stared at me evilly, and I could not be bothered now that I knew she was the mastermind behind my misery; I had no respect for her. It was all because I had no money. If I were the one pregnant for Caleb, she would have asked me to abort it. Somehow I was grateful I did not end up with her son; however hurtful it may be, Stacy was an awful mother-in-law to have. “Good
me, but I knew it was for display. We sat next to each other, and he stylishly placed his hand on my thigh and squeezed. I was a bit uncomfortable, and I swallowed hard. It would be kind of him to keep his hands to himself. I was a young woman with raging hormones, and I did not want to get
came to join us eventually, and Luke and I stood up to greet him. When he sat, we sat down. I saw Stacy roll her eyes. “Tia, how was your
asleep, you mean,” she said, and I did not know how to explain, “I knew when Luke drove out and when he returned. Must have gone to his girlfriend,” she said,
his mistress’s home,” Stacy said, “He will squander all the money on that gold–digging Elisabeth Barnes…” she said, and Alpha Aesop shut her
time. He should have used protection. We finished the breakfast and returned to Luke’s wing. “Thank you, Tia,” Luke said, and I did not bother to answer him. I could understand why both men were douchebags; they did not stand a chance with a mother like Stacy. She was all fangs and claws; nothing was nurturing about her. I expected they would take out their frustration on innocent people, but I refused to be prey. “I know you have laid down the rules, but please try to be respectful about it,” I said, and he did not bother to answer. There was a knock on my door, and I let the butler into the room. He was carrying four boxes,
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