Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Chapter 22 – Just Five Things (Anj‘s POV)
“I want to give my son a lesson, and if you decide to stay married to Sky for a year, I will support you and your family, give you everything you want,” Steve Mars said. “Tempting,” I smiled, wanting to tell him I was not born yesterday to fall into the pit of his great offer. Staying married to his son without love or even desire, except when we were drunk, was like digging my own grave to make my life miserable. “Just five things.” It was almost a whisper when I said it.
Steve crossed his arms to his chest and narrowed his eyes on me as he pursed his lips, creasing his forehead as he thought.
“Did you know that the quilt is important to my family?” he asked, and when I nodded, he continued, “My grandmother made it herself when Sky was born,” he informed me.
“Yes, I know. Sky told me,” I smiled sheepishly at him. “As I said, I‘m an orphan, and when my mother found me in a carton box, there was nothing to identify my family or me. Let‘s just say I had a thing for some sort of family heirloom since I never had one like that.” He pursed his lips, nodding in agreement. “And a book? I have tons of books in the study room, but which one will you get?” Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
“Yes,” I smiled again. “The Art of War.”
He smirked at me, closing his eyes as he whispered the title. “The Art of War...” He opened his eyes. “Did you know that it‘s my favorite book? Why don‘t I just buy you a new one?”
I shook my head. “I preferred that one because of your own notes, Mr. Mars,” I remembered how he carefully underlined the words and wrote some notes on the white spaces of the book.
He went quiet, causing me to worry that he would not give that book to me, but then he nodded. “I understand why you wanted a clean slate, but a taxi fare and a card to use on a public phone,” he squinted his eyes. “I don‘t understand.”
I rose to my feet and returned the chair to its place before turning to him again. “Your son made me walk in going here, Mr. Mars. It‘s not that I‘m complaining because when he asked me to get out of the car, we were almost near the hospital building, but I don‘t think I can walk that far in going back to your house,” I explained. “Sky...” He clucked his tongue, obvious that he got disappointed.
“I need a card to call my mother and tell her you‘re now okay and I‘m going home soon. Elenita bought me things I don‘t need, Mr. Mars, so when I leave, I will not bring them, except for the pairs of T–shirts and jeans, and maybe...” I looked at the shoes I was wearing. “If it‘s okay, I wanted to borrow these shoes for a while.” “What happened to your clothes and shoes?” He asked, looking at my expensive white sneakers
I knit my eyebrows as I think. I maybe drank or got insane with him, but I could remember everything that had happened that night, except for my clothes and shoes. My eyes half closed as I shook my head, recalling that when I woke up that morning, even Sky‘s clothes were not on the floor.
“I like you.” A remark that surprised me. Steve looked at me with sadness in his eyes. “If I had not lost my daughter, I want to think it‘s you. How old are you, Angela?” He asked in a hopeful tone
“Nineteen,” I answered, lying with my age again.
“You looked the same age as my Finn. Did Sky tell you Finn has a twin sister?” he heaved a deep sigh, losing himself in a painful memory. “Have you met him?”
I shook my head, hoping to tell him I was not interested in knowing them all after what happened this morning. All I wanted was to get out of Sky‘s life and go back home to my foster family
“Don‘t you want to fight for Sky?” He asked again. “Other women would love to switch places with you, but you‘re throwing your chances to be wealthy instantly, Angela.” “I know that,“l uttered in a low voice,
lifting the corners of my mouth, showing a half–smile. “But Mr. Mars, although our marriage life has not yet begun, I was already losing the battle.” I closed my eyes, remembering how Sky kissed Lalaine. Even with the memory, I could feel tiny needles piercing my heart as I recalled him pulling her to him like she was the most important person in his life. He had kissed my lips the same way and put his arms around my body, but we were drunk, and the spirit of the alcohol had played in our brains, letting the desires of our bodies decide for us. I did not recall our hearts participating in our nights of madness.
“If you have decided already, then I will inform my lawyer to prepare your divorce papers,” said Steve, taking his cell phone. “Can you please call Sky?” I nodded, turning my back on him as he made a call and opened the door for Sky. As if he was expecting my conversation was over, he was already standing outside, waiting to be called. I glanced at his father, still talking to someone over the phone, when my body jerked, startled when Sky took my hand and put the wedding ring on my finger. “The next time you threw this on my face, I will make you swallow this ring,” he warned, stepping inside the room. I clenched my fist, looking at the emblem of our insanity and remembering the night of our wedding as he put on the gold band on my finger.
“Isaac will drop by later at home,” Steve said, informing his son. “He is now preparing the divorce papers for you to sign later.” “Thank you, Mr. Mars. After signing the papers, I will leave your home immediately,” I said, gazing at Sky and forcing a smile on my lips as I prayed and hoped my tears would not betray
1. me.
“I like you.” A remark that surprised me. Steve looked at me with sadness in his eyes. “If I had not lost my daughter, I want to think it‘s you. How old are you, Angela?” He asked in a hopeful tone.
“Nineteen,” I answered, lying with my age again,
“You looked the same age as my Finn. Did Sky tell you Finn has a twin sister?” he heaved a deep sigh, losing himself in a painful memory. “Have you met him?“.
I shook my head, hoping to tell him I was not interested in knowing them all after what happened this morning. All I wanted was to get out of Sky‘s life and go back home to my foster family.
“Don‘t you want to fight for Sky?” He asked again. “Other women would love to switch places with you, but you‘re throwing your chances to be wealthy instantly, Angela.” “I know that,“Iuttered in a low voice, lifting the corners of my mouth, showing a half–smile. “But Mr. Mars, although our marriage life has not yet begun, I was already losing the battle.”
I closed my eyes, remembering how Sky kissed Lalaine. Even with the memory, I could feel tiny needles piercing my heart as I recalled him pulling her to him like she was the most important person in his life.
He had kissed my lips the same way and put his arms around my body, but we were drunk, and the spirit of the alcohol had played in our brains, letting the desires of our bodies decide for us. I did not recall our hearts participating in our nights of madness.
“If you have decided already, then I will inform my lawyer to prepare your divorce papers,” said Steve, taking his cell phone. “Can you please call Sky?” I nodded, turning my back on him as he made a call and opened the door for Sky. As if he was expecting my conversation was over, he was already standing outside, waiting to be called. I glanced at his father, still talking to someone over the phone, when my body jerked, startled when Sky took my hand and put the wedding ring on my finger. “The next time you threw this on my face, I will make you swallow this ring,” he warned, stepping inside the room. I clenched my fist, looking at the emblem of our insanity and remembering the night of our wedding as he put on the gold band on my finger, “Isaac will drop by later at home,” Steve said, informing his son. “He is now preparing the divorce papers for you to sign later.” “Thank you, Mr. Mars. After signing the papers, I will leave your home immediately,” I said, gazing at Sky and forcing a smile on my lips as I prayed and hoped my tears would not betray me.