CHAPTER 6

Things had been awkward between her and her husband ever since the night they talked about Cleo. It's been a couple of days and she wasn't seeing much of her husband. It really hurts but she wanted her husband to make a choice. She grew up in a family that showed her a lot of love and she wasn't going to blackmail her own husband for some. Forcing someone to love you was just one immoral act she couldn't do.

She took his pillow and sniffed it. That was the only thing she could do for now. She missed being around him and lot and she just wanted to be in his arms but he was proving to be hotheaded. Selena picked up her satchel and headed outside. It was another day for school and she wasn't going to miss it simply because she wasn't talking to her husband and was pregnant.

When she came outside Richard was there to drive her to school. Ever since they started sleeping separately, Richard had been driving her to and from school. She could drive herself but it seems like her husband was being cautious.

'Morning ma'am,' Richard said as he took her bag from her.

'Good morning to you too, Richard; you know you don't have to send me to school, I can drive myself now,' she said as she entered the car.

'I am just following master's orders. He cares for you a lot, so please solve the issues between the two of you and return to be a happy couple,' he said as he drove away.

She wanted that too but there was nothing she could do since her husband was quite about it. Maybe she was no longer in his heart, maybe she wasn't there to begin with.

She sighed and closed her eyes as Richard drove her to school. She bided the old man goodbye and walked towards her faculty. She was happy to see a smiling Vivian so early in the morning.

'Why are you smiling like that? Did something great happen to you?' Selena asked out of curiosity.

'I have come up with a great plan and I am going to execute it tonight,' Vivian said as the two of them walked into the building.

'What scheme are you plotting now?' Selena asked as the two walked towards the hall they will be holding their first lecture.

'It's not a scheme, trust me. My brother will be bringing him to the house tonight for dinner, so I decided to do it,' she explained.

'Aren't you scared of your brother? You are trying to woo his friend.'

'That is a problem for another day. Just wish me luck,' Vivian said with a smile and she smiled too.

'I hope all will turn out well for you dear,' Selena honestly wished her well; it will be tragedy if the two of them suffers the same fate.

The two girls went to class and took their seats and waited for the lecture to begin. Just like any other day, it was going to be a long one and going back home was something she didn't want to do but what else could she do? Vivian had plans for the night and Sean will definitely be home late, she had to think of something quick or else she was going to end up depressed.

...

Things had been pretty tough ever since Selena learnt about Cleo, she didn't know the whole truth and yet it was killing him and her. Their sham marriage to begin with was hitting the rocks and he didn't love the way it was headed.

He had to do something but what was he supposed to do at a moment like this?

Sean called his friend Victor, even though they weren't that close, he was much better than the other people who called themselves his friends. Victor agreed to meet, so Sean drove to the designated club that Victor was currently at.

When he arrived Victor welcomed him with so much happiness. He was overwhelmed and he felt at peace.

'Welcome my good friend, seeing how depressed you look, it must be true that something awful happened,' Victor said as Sean at down.

'Did Vivian say that?'

'Yes, you know she and your wife are pretty tight. She can't stop talking about her. You didn't cheat on her, did you?' Victor asked as he poured him a glass of scotch.

'I didn't, my past surfaced and it's crazy,' Sean answered.

'There is one way to deal with the past friend, you have to face it and overcome it. The past belongs to the past and we should always move on,' Victor said sipping his glass.

Sean listened to Victor and found his words very meaningful.

'Thanks for saying that, I guess it's time I face it,' Sean said as he gulped down his scotch.

'It is not a secret that you used to have that woman you loved so dearly but she betrayed you and left you. We have known each other for long and I can see the difference between the old you and the current you. I don't know for what reasons you married that child but anyone will be a fool to not realize that she makes you happy and humane. So as a dear friend, I will advise you to look deep into your heart. If you have an ounce of feelings for that little wife of yours, please just be honest with her and end things once and for all with that ex of yours. We don't want things to get out of control anymore, think about how that little wife of yours might be feeling right now,' Victor threw another bomb at him.

Sean sat there and let the whole thing sank. He looked deeper into himself and everything started to sink. He abruptly stood up and Victor looked at him surprised by the sudden move.

'Thanks but I have to go now,' Sean said and ran out of the club.

He had to go and the sooner the better. He got into the car and told Richard to drive him to Selena's University. When he arrived he tried to call her but she wasn't picking up any of his calls so he tried Vivian's and she answered.

'What do you want?' she boldly asked him the question when she came to where he was.

'Can you go inside and call your friend for me?'

'I am not going to do that, after the way you treated her. Can't you let that poor girl go?' she sounded angry and he understood her.

'I need to talk things with her and settle this matter, so don't worry. I will not hurt her, I just want to apologize. So please help me out and I will do anything to repay you,' he pleaded with her.

'You said anything?'

'Yes, when you think about just tell me but right now please go and bring your friend here,' Sean said.

'You know we have classes right?'

'Do they matter at this point?'

'I guess, they don't; I will make sure to bring her out so just wait here,' Vivian said and rushed back inside.

Sean waited for twenty minutes before Selena showed up with Vivian. He was glad to see that she had agreed to come. He wanted to solve the issue soon and get things back to normal.

He winked at Vivian who simply smiled and he took his wife back home. They didn't say a word on the road; she was busy playing with her phone, something she had never done before.

The atmosphere was pretty tense and he was feeling nervous. He has never felt like this before but she made him feel these strange emotions he had never felt before.

When they reached home, he scooped his wife up and carried her straight to their bedroom. She kept fighting him off but he wasn't going to let go even for a second.

'Leave me alone!' she cried as he let her on the bed.

Sean leaned in closer and wiped those tears with his hands, he was feeling so sad to see her crying like this. To know that he was the cause of her suffering was the hardest thing he could fathom.

'Baby, I need you to listen to me very carefully. Just sit there and just listen. If you will judge me then do it after but for now I beg you,' he pleaded with her and she looked at him with those teary eyes.

He didn't know where to begin but he was just going to start from anywhere.

'When I was in University I met this girl, she was the most beautiful and kindest person I had ever seen. I fell for her at first sight and I pursued her. She rejected me many times but I never gave up until she finally agreed to be mine. I was so excited and over the moon, I did everything for her. I came from a rich person so I was able to provide for her and give her a life she wanted. I was in love that I was blinded and never saw what was happening. It was only when I had finished all the wedding plans that she left me, I learnt of all the cruel things she did. She was bought to be in y life. I was just another paycheck to her and it really broke my heart. It is not an excuse for the way I have treated you but I want you to know about my history with Cleo. I have no love for that venom, I only have hate for her and I would hate it if she were to keep on destroying the things that I love,' he said and found himself tearing up. Just thinking about the time made him see everything clearly.

If he could turn back the time; would he stop himself from falling for her again?

Selena cupped his cheek with her warm small hand and he looked up at her. She was crying for him, she wasn't supposed to be like that for a man who had hurt her like that.

'It wasn't your fault. I am glad that you separated from a witch like that. If I had known that she was that kind of person I would have thrown hot coffee on her the day we met,' she said with a sense of humor, she was trying to make him loosen up.

'This is not what I wanted to say to you today. I just wanted you to know how I feel for you. It took me so long but I want you to hear it from me. I don't know when it started, how it did but I want you to know that I am in love with you and have been for a while now,' he finally said it, his gaze deep in hers and she just froze.

He smiled seeing how she was reacting. She wasn't expecting it and he was glad that he finally broke the ice and confessed his feelings to her. She began to tear up and he pulled her for a hug. He wanted to feel her warmth again. He didn't want to see her cry again and he just wanted to be with her.

'You are just saying this to make me forgive you, aren't you?' she asked as she cried.

'I will never fool you with words like these Selena. I don't want to be that cruel to you. I know that our relationship wasn't based on love when we started but this is how it is now. I love you and I want you to know that,' he told her as he wiped her tears.

Selena held onto him tight after he confessed again and she continued sobbing. He smiled, he was filled with joy. She was no longer crying because she was hurt but because she was happy.

'I love you too,' Selena said and he tears up in joy. Knowing and being told were totally different. It wasn't a secret that she was in love with him ever since they got married but she never said a word, but hearing her say the words out was just magical. He embraced her in his arms and let the whole thing sink. His marriage was saved after all and the only thing left was to deal with that viper and get rid of her once and for all.

...

Vivian was excited especially after seeing how manly Sean was. She really wanted to have a love like her friend's but with less drama. Would she be able to have that kind of love like that one day too?

She dressed herself up, waiting for her brother to return home with his friend. She was going to find a time and confess her feelings. She had been waiting for this time for a very long time and she was going to try and accept whatever results that were going to come out.

She looked at herself in the mirror once more and left her bedroom. She met her mother downstairs and she looked at her with questioning eyes.

'What is my princess trying to pull this time?' her mother asked as soon as she saw her.

'Nothing at all, why do you say so?' she asked as if she didn't know.

'You look a bit too much for a normal dinner, don't you think?' she asked while she took a good look at her.

'This is an old dress, mom. Have you forgotten?' she asked, trying to remind her.

'I know but it isn't the type one would wear. Is something going on that I am not aware of?'

'Nothing mother; when is my brother arriving?' she asked changing the subject.

'In about ten minutes,' her mother answered and she smiled.

'Good, I will see you. I need to make a phone call,' she said running away from her mother. She had no phone call to make but she just wanted to be away from her mother before she finds out what she was trying to do.

She waited outside while pretending to look at the flowers, hoping that her brother and her love will arrive pretty soon.

She saw the two cars approaching and she was all over the moon. He was here and she couldn't wait to see him.

The two cars came to a halt and she rushed to her brother's car since she didn't want to make it awkward. Her brother kissed her on the forehead as soon as he got out of the car.

'You look gorgeous, sister,' he said as he made her turn around.

'Thank you brother,' she blushed.

She then turned her head to look at him and all her excitement was flushed in the drain. He came out of his car with another woman. She looked elegant and much older than her. The way these two were looking at each other and smiling broke her heart. Was she already losing before Vivian even started?

'Vivian, you look splendid. I almost didn't recognize you,' her crush Edward said as he walked towards her.

She was hurt by what was happening but she wasn't going to let herself get caught this early. She pasted a smile on her face and looked at him.

'Thank you very much,' she said.

'I can't believe that you are all grown up like this. I still remember when you were just a baby, you were a very mischievous child,' he said and began to laugh, Victor joined in on the fun and she just tagged along.

In his mind, all he saw was a child he grew up seeing and nothing more. He really knew how to hurt her without even lifting a single finger.

'I will go inside now, I bet mom is looking for me,' she lied and wanted an escape.

She rushed inside the house and went straight to her room. She closed her door and began to cry. She had to let it out or else she would break out at the dinner table. She was busy crying when the door suddenly got opened and her mother walked in. she wiped her tears quickly but it was too late, she had already seen everything.

'I know my daughter very well but I never thought that she is in love with Edward. Why didn't you tell me?' her mother asked as she sat beside her.

Instead of answering her, she even cried worse but her mother was there to comfort her.

'Now, stop crying. A big girl that I raised myself isn't supposed to cry like this. You haven't even started to fight the battle and you are crying? I haven't raised you to be this weak!' her mother reprimanded her and she looked at her.

'Mother!'

'Wipe your tears away, put some make up on and smile as brightly as you always do. That other woman in there is not a match for you. Are you going to just give up because of that?' her mother asked her and she made perfect sense.

'I will not give up!' she said with determination and her mother smiled.

'That is my girl. So whatever you were up to, I will help you out after we have dinner. So leave everything to me and let's see where it will go,' her mother said and she hugged her.

Her mother was the best, she didn't expect her to help her with this but she was and she was grateful for it.

Her mother helped her put back her make up on and the two of them left the room together for the dining room where everyone was seated. Vivian kissed her dad on the cheeks before making her way to her designated seat.

The dinner started and she concentrated more on her plate than the people at the table. She listened as her mother questioned Edward and his female friend. It was hectic and exciting at the same time. Her mother was really a crazy person but she adored her.

After dinner, while everyone was busy talking she left and went outside to the garden. She wanted some air and to get away from the gaze of that woman. She could tell that Edward's friend didn't like her and neither did she. How dare she come into her home and try to snatch the only thing she ever wanted ever since she was a child?

She was busy throwing stones into the fountain when she felt footsteps behind her. Who was it again this time? She turned her head around, wanting to discipline the maid or guard who was disturbing her but she swallowed her words immediately.

'What are you doing here?' she asked Edward as he approached her.

'Your mother was worried since you have been out for long, so she asked me to bring you inside since she is busy talking with your brother,' Edward explained and she rejoiced inwardly. Her mother was a pro, she created an opportunity for her and she was going to make use of it.

'Thank you for being worried, I will head in immediately,' she said smiling at him.

'Okay, let's go in then,' he said trying to leave but she grabbed his blazer and he stopped.

'Is something wrong?' he asked her.

'Who is that woman inside to you?' she boldly asked him and he looked at her with total confusion.

'She is just a friend, why are you asking?'

'I need to know but that won't matter anyway. I am sorry to do this,' she apologized first and while Edward was busy trying to figure out what she was talking about, Vivian took quick steps towards him and stood on her toes and kissed him on the lips.

Edward pushed her away but it was too late, she had already done it.

'I like you a lot; I have ever since long back. Will you be my boyfriend?' she boldly confessed and asked him out, she looked at him waiting patiently for his answer.