Chapter 21
Alessandra’s brow furrowed with intense curiosity. She wondered why Cade had been living with his parents in recent years despite having a stable job and his own house. She couldn’t find any logical reason for it, so she asked him directly.
“Why, Cade?” she repeated the question.
Her husband scratched the back of his neck and avoided eye contact. “W-Well… there’s a lot of young beautiful women in our village almost the same age as me. But here, it’s all old people. No beautiful view,” he said, causing Alessandra to frown in disappointment.
She wanted to hear something more meaningful from him, and her husband seemed to have sensed it. He lifted her chin and caught her eye, teasingly asking, “Why? What do you expect me to answer you, huh, my little wife?” Despite his playful tone, his expression was serious.
Feeling the electricity between them, Alessandra stuttered, “Y-You’re crazy, Cade! I’m not expecting anything!”
Cade pressed her against the wall and brought her face closer to his, making her body tense. “Tell me what I’m doing to you, Alessandra,” he whispered, attempting to seduce her.
Alessandra tried to hide her feelings by gritting her teeth and asking, “Are you seducing me, Cade?”
He smelled her hair and smiled mischievously, “Why? Don’t tell me you’re being seduced now?”
Alessandra laughed nervously, but deep down, she couldn’t deny the attraction she felt towards him. “Keep on dreaming, Cade! You can never seduce me. I know you just love making fun of me. Even if you’re the only man left in the world, I won’t choose you,” she said, trying to convince herself.
Cade winked at her and said, “Yeah right. But you already chose me.”
Alessandra gritted her teeth, “It’s because I had no choice! I married you to conceal the real reason behind this nightmare! Don’t let me remember you that-”
Before she could finish speaking, Cade let her go, his face turning serious. “You don’t need to remind me of that, Alessandra. I know your selfish love for my half-brother,” he said, clearly angry.
Alessandra didn’t understand why he was angry, but she could see the frustration in his voice. “You know, I’ve accepted for a long time that we won’t get along. But do you hate me so much? Why don’t you want me for Caleb? I’m beautiful and smart,” she said, trying to defend herself.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
Cade let out a dangerous sigh, and his jaw clenched. “Why don’t I like you for my brother Caleb? Because you’re too selfish, Alessandra. Why don’t you just accept that Caleb doesn’t like you? Caleb already has a fiancée! Are you really going to stoop that low just to prove your selfish love?”
He continued, “And what kind of brain do you have, Alessandra? Thinking of yourself with another man while you are married to the father of your baby?” Alessandra realized that her words had offended Cade.
Alessandra took a deep breath before speaking. “We already talked about that, right?”
Cade laughed out loud. “Yes, of course. I forgot that everything was just a show. I forgot that you were just using me. I’m sorry, I thought for a moment you could just be my real wife.”
She looked at her husband with disbelief. “You’re telling me that I’m using you? But you agreed with me, right? Don’t put the blame on me when, in the first place, you agreed.”
He shook his head, as if he wanted to say something more, but didn’t. He seemed annoyed with her, and it appeared that she and Cade would never really get along with each other. Unconsciously, she touched her belly, and it was too bad that they would have a baby soon. She sighed. She doesn’t really want to bring her baby in their messy situation, but too bad, she got pregnant. And she knew it was her fault.
***
Despite Cade’s repeated warnings not to go, Alessandra went to the pet shop. She couldn’t just stay at his house; it made her feel awkward. When Cathryn saw her, she looked shocked.
“Goodness, Sandy! Why did you come here? Now, I’m doomed with big brother Cade!” Cathryn looked scared.
Alessandra frowned. “Huh? What do you mean, Cathryn?”
Her face looked guilty in what she said. “Sandy, my big brother doesn’t want you to get so tired. He wants you and your baby in safe condition. Just follow him because that’s for your own good as well.”
Alessandra snorted. “Gosh! He’s just trying to look good, but the truth is, he’s not even worried about me. He’s just worried that I’m neglecting our baby.”
Cathryn looked at her like she was crazy. “You know what, Sandy? Sometimes, you can be a comedian. My big brother is worried about you more than what you can think. You really think bad of my brother!” She rolled her eyes.
Before she could answer her best friend, the glass door of the pet shop opened.
“Hello, is Mrs. Alessandra McKnight there?” A delivery man asked everyone.
The staff of the pet shop looked shocked. For sure, everyone was surprised that she was a married woman now.
She cleared her throat before speaking. “Uhm… it’s me.”
“Mrs. McKnight, you have a special delivery from your husband, Mr. Cade McKnight.” The delivery man smiled at her and gave her a large sunflower bouquet.
“Wow! My big brother knows how to woo women now. I feel proud! He’s crazy, he must love you this much!” Cathryn said, giggling.
One of their staff members smelled the sunflowers. “Ma’am Sandy, you’re very unfair to us! You didn’t tell us you were already married. Now, our instincts were right. The man who came here last time was your husband. He’s so handsome, ma’am! You’re so lucky!”
“Correct. And I hope my husband is as sweet as he is,” another staff member chimed in.
She gritted her teeth in annoyance. “Let’s all get back to work!”
“Cade… why are you being like this?” She whispered to herself.