Charlotte snorted “Go ahead and take Miss Nobody home with you,” she said mockingly, while her mother giggled beside her “I’m going to go out and celebrate my marriage with Johnathon. You’re becoming a boring homebody Grayson” she added viciously “but then again, with a wife like yours, I can’t blame you for not wanting to go out and show her off.”
“Why you little” Grayson exploded, reaching for her.
I quickly placed myself between him and my wife. “Grayson,” I said warningly.
“Charlotte apologize” John thundered, his voice filled with rage while Charlotte smiled teasingly at Flair.
Flair reached out and touched Grayson’s shoulder, her eyes soft and calm. She was unbothered by Charlotte’s comment, I saw with some surprise.
“Grayson,” she said quietly, causing him to glance over his shoulder “Please. Just leave it” she pleaded, her voice cracking slightly at the end “Those that insult others generally do it in order to feel better about themselves. I just want to go home and see Roscoe,” she said as I wondered who the hell Roscoe was.
“Fine,” Grayson said tightly, sensing Flair’s distress as much as I was “We’re going, Grandfather. Next time you have something to request of me, make sure it’s not going to personally affect my wife, else I’m going to refuse” he warned him, causing John to grin as he nodded.
The grandfather seemed pleased by Grayson’s protectiveness of his wife instead of affronted by his attitude.
“It was nice seeing you again Flair,” he said sincerely as Flair nodded and Grayson ushered her towards the door.
They left, and I was left alone with my new wife, her mother, and John who was beginning to quietly gather up his things.
“I must take my leave now,” he said gruffly “and leave you newlyweds to go do what you do” he exhaled “I have some important business to take care of.”
Charlotte looked relieved. Karen took the hint and began to walk with the Grandfather towards the door. “I’ll come too,” she said, humming under her breath while the grandfather looked resigned “Give these two some privacy.”
The door shut. Charlotte looked at me and squealed, flinging herself into my arms “Can you believe we’re married” she shrieked, as I struggled not to drop her “Let’s go party” she shouted, and it was all I could do, not to call out for Karen and John to come back as Charlotte wriggled free and grabbed my hand, dragging me towards the doorway. The very last thing I felt like doing in that moment, was partying, let alone celebrating our marriage.
Flair POV
“Are you prepared for what you might lose if you win?” the old man had asked and I had known, instinctively what he was really asking, even as Charlotte and Grayson had looked at him dumbly, confused by the simple question.
By winning the company, they risked losing us. By winning, Grayson risked losing me. That was what the Grandfather had meant and yet, neither Charlotte nor Grayson had realized the true extent of what the Grandfather was alluding to. I didn’t know if it was heartbreaking or if I was being sentimental over nothing. After all, hadn’t I known what I was signing up for when I agreed to this marriage? What right did I have to want to change the conditions now?
My mood was downcast. Forced to watch as my ex-husband married the woman he had an affair with behind my back, could hardly be called inspirational. It had felt like a knife was thrust into my chest when they uttered the words ‘I do” and the deliberate way Charlotte had looked at me, had been smug and victorious. As though to tell me she had won. She had no idea what I was thinking. Yes, it had hurt to see Johnathon marry someone else and yes, I was filled with nostalgia as I watched them speak the words and the vows but I was also filled with regret.
Regret that I had married a man with such loose morals and ethics. Regret that I had married a man who had not treasured me for the diamond I truly was. Three years spent doting on somebody who did not reciprocate my feelings. Bittersweet memories had entered my mind, of a fresh-faced and eager Flair who had been so excited to marry Johnathon in the past, to this Flair who was no longer confused about what love truly felt like. As I stared at Johnathon, I felt nothing. I felt the hurt and the pain fade, the bitterness leave me. All that was left was regret for the last three years. I was able to finally let go of the past and say goodbye to the man who had no idea of how little he had changed my life in the time we spent together.
Charlotte Deluca could have Johnathon Rourke, I thought satisfied. She could have him and she could keep him. Perhaps they might have a better marriage than we had, I wished her luck. But I suspected that once a cheater, always a cheater. Leapords did not change their spots and Charlotte was not the easygoing type of woman to live with. I glanced out the window of the car as it sped along, feeling emotional.
Grayson’s words from earlier still stung. His callousness in making me come here, the cold way he had spoken to me. It hurt. His words had the ability to make it feel like my heart had been ripped out of my chest. My eyes shimmered with unshed tears. As it was Grayson sat beside me, a frown permanently on his face. He wasn’t speaking either. It was silent in the limo, the driver glancing over his shoulder occasionally and frowning to himself.
“Flair” Grayson spoke, ending the silence as I turned to face him, my expression stony.
He looked concerned. “About earlier” he began.
I interrupted “You mean when you reminded me about the contract and how I agreed to help you, no matter what?” I gave a bitter laugh “I remember Grayson, trust me, I remember.”
He looked frustrated “I didn’t mean what I said, or the way I said it” he tried apologizing “I think you did Grayson. I think you meant exactly what you said” I told him miserably, as he sat there, stiff as a board “And you’re right” I added, seeing the crestfallen look on his face “I should never have forgotten that this was a contract marriage. Thank you for reminding me” I said bitterly.
He exhaled “Flair it’s not like that…” he trailed off.
I hunched my shoulders. He touched me and I flinched. “Damnit Flair” he growled and I felt his hands gripping both sides of my face and turned my head to face him “Listen to me” he barked “What I said was mean and callous. I shouldn’t have said that to you. Yes we have a contract,” he said it softly as I tried not to glare at him “but you’re so much more than that. This marriage, it’s better than what I thought it could be” he tried to explain while I stared “and I don’t want us to be angry at each other. I don’t like you angry at me” he said “and I don’t like seeing you so upset. I should never have made you go to that ceremony today.”
He let go of me, looking out the window moodily. “Yes, you should have” I blurted out, glaring at him “I’m glad I went.”
He looked shocked. “You’re glad?” he stammered “but you begged not to go.”
“So I was worried about how I would behave seeing my ex-husband marry that tart,” I said icily “but you know what? If I hadn’t gone, I would never have realized something important like I did today.”
His eyes fixated on me “What would that be?” he asked looking a little shell-shocked.
“I realized that I don’t have feelings for that ex-husband of mine anymore. I’m not even angry at him anymore” I confessed as Grayson’s eyes began to brighten “I just feel regret for the years I spent with a man who never truly loved me for who I was.”
“But you were upset” he protested thickly, neither of us noticing the limousine had stopped in the driveway.
“I was nostalgic. I remembered how excited I was to get married and how much hope I had for the future” I told him with a shake of my head “so I got a little upset. It’s difficult to admit that you were wrong or that what you felt for your ex-husband isn’t how you imagined love should feel.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.