Published: Aug. 16, 2019----Sept. 30, 2020

Their friends did join them in the same table for a drink, as Blake told them earlier.

Blake intercepted David, who's supposed to sit down beside her. She was told by the latter to exchange chairs with him as he wanted to talk to David. She sat down on Blake's vacant chair with no choice to refuse, in between Tess and Jared.

As the times progress, Jared and Charlize behave like they are the only occupant of the room with their proximity and attentiveness. To see them acts like a lover feels like a slapped to Katelyn as she finally realized the extent of their feelings for each other.

His actions made her think that after the intimacy that they had shared, in his eyes, she is nothing but a temporary wife, not worthy of mentioning or be known.

It is also his silent message to her as a reminder that nothing had changed in their relationship. Because for him, he only loves Charlize, so she should stop her illusion of him falling in love with her.

"Here you are again, complaining. Remember, you already know about Jared's having a girlfriend and been warned not to fall in love with him. Besides, you had gained more in this union," she lectured herself.

So as not to be affected by Jared's flirting to Charlize and be called a masochist, she turned to her side to talk to Tess so that it can divert her mind from the two lovers. But then the latter is also busy with Nicole.

Even Kelly, Charlize's friend, who was busy observing her every move earlier, became engaged with Thomas in conversation. Being left out is what Katelyn felt at that moment. It was then she finally noticed the wetness that made her eyes bulge as the realization hit her.

Her abrupt standing up gained Jared's attention as he asked," Is something wrong, Tori?"

Jared's question surprised her as well as using her pet name. She turned to look at her friends if they heard it, but because they are all busy talking to each other, no one seems to notice it except Charlize, whose one eyebrows raised at the concerned in Jared's voice.

"Oh, I'm so sorry I am really in a hurry to go to the loo." She excused herself while carrying her shoulder bag with her. She was two step s away from the table before she heard Charlize asking Jared to go to his place. She never listened to what his answer as she goes further away from them.

As she suspected, her most awaited period comes.

She took out fresh undies and pad from her bag and change. Because her period is regular, it has been her habit to always bring these two necessary things with her on the days that she is sure it will come.

Once she finished, the feeling of tiredness finally conquered her. She sits down on the covered bowl like a person who has lost its will to move, and eventually, the tears she was trying to suppress wet her face.

No matter how hard she tried to be tough and not care in front of Jared and her friends but inside the cubicle's confinement, she gave in to the truth; she is hurting.

The pain of being in a marriage not loved by her husband eventually caught up with her. To finally know that he doesn't care about her feelings after all that had happened between them. For him, she is just a commodity, there for his pleasure until he can have the approval from his grandmother to realize his love for Charlize added to her already wounded heart.

She wanted to shout, but she can't do that. Only through these silent tears, she can pour her sorrow. For she has no one to blame but herself, her weakness drove her into this situation.

The only consolation in all this is that no innocent child will be involved, and she will do everything that it will remain that way.

She took out some tissues, pat dries her face after her last sniff, and then stood up. She opened the cubicle door, walked to the wash area, cleans her hand, and retouched her face.

The sudden opening of the door and Charlize entrance surprised her, especially when she was forcefully shoved in the shoulder and asked aggressively.

"Miss Darcy, Tori, or whatever your name is, what is your relationship with Jared that he seemed familiar with you? Or, to be precise, did you seduce him?"

Charlize action stunned her for a moment, but then she regained her composure and answered, "I don't know what you are talking about; I only know about Mr. Steele when I started working in the company, and we don't have any relationship except as an employee and employer."

"Tell me another story, then maybe I will believe. Jared is not a man that converse with anyone easily, let alone calls his employees in their name."

"You know what, Miss Phillips; it's your problem if you don't believe me. Ask him his reason, don't ask me." She then left Charlize open-mouthed with her words' incredulity, but before she can go out of the door, a voice shouted at her. "Don't ever think that I will forget this moment..."

She could not hear the other words thrown at her as she walked out and closed the door.

She knows that Charlize got vexed by her answers and expect repercussions from it, but it still did not prevent her from leaving.

She returned to her chair as if nothing happened, and this time ignored Jared while participating in her two friends' conversation.

Charlize came back to their table on the time that Jared and her friends are bidding them their goodbye while she and her friends separated in the lobby after thirty minutes that they left.

She has no idea what time Jared went home as exhaustion succumbed to sleep as soon as she touched the bed. It was the hand that pulled her closer to a muscled body, awakened her from a dreamless world.

Realizing Jared's presence and the need not to let him be aware of her wakefulness, she fakes her sleeping state, but it didn't fool him, as he said, "Tori, I know you are awake. Can we talk about what happened during dinner time?"

"What is there to talk about?"

"Well, regarding Charlize and I."

To finally hear Charlize's name in his mouth made her feel the blood supplies on her brain dropped down to her heart; thus, she feels congested that even to inhale is a struggle.

"Is he going to confess about his unwavering love to Charlise?"

Her mind panic as she cannot let him know what she fell. She knows that if he does admit now, she will break down and cry. No matter what happens, she must salvage her ego and continue her indifference.

She removed his hands from her waist, sat in the bed with her head leaning on the headboard, and then told him, "Don't worry, she will never know about our secret from me as I have no plans to break any terms in our contract."

"So everything that you are doing it is because of the contract, not because you have started to have feelings towards me?" He asked as he got up and faced her.

She laughed at him and answered, "Even if every woman treated you like a God's gift, but I am sorry to inform you, I am not in love with you. So rest assured that like you, I am also counting the time for my freedom."

"Are you sure?"

"Do you doubt me? If I love a man, I will not allow him even to be close to another woman, let alone touch her." She told him in her most confident voice.

He cupped her chin and looked into her eyes, questioning.

She stared back at him, with a determination that never falters on her eyes.

As if her expressions lie to him, and still he needed more proof, he lowered his head and captured her lips.

His kiss that brought multiple reactions to her body almost betrayed her. Only her resolve to stand on what she had said stopped her from surrendering into his arms.

Even the intoxicating perfume he wears that usually drives her wild cannot tempt her to loosen her determination not to go crazy and latch on him like a starved sex female.

Katelyn's answer and unresponsiveness to his touch clarified the doubts on Jared's mind.

He immediately let loose of her and got out of the bed before saying anything in anger. Directly he went out of their room only to walk to and fro in the living area, thinking.

So he was assuming all along that she started loving him that they are getting closer to each other, and she already accepted him as her husband.

It was a good thing that before he can utter any words that will give away his feelings to her, she had let him know of her thoughts regarding their relationship, or else he will now be in total humiliation.

For the first time in his whole life, he now feels how to be rejected by a woman. He never thought that Tori never felt anything towards him, which hurt more, the unexpectedness. He felt that his pride trampled, and his judgment was erroneous when he never been wrong in all of his dealings.

"Who is she to put doubts on his capability? Does she not realize that she is lucky to receive his love when there are so many that hanker for it?"

With those questions on his head, he decided to walk back to their room to ask her, but he stopped himself before opening the door.

"She was clear with her feelings, she only married him for money, and it is only because of it, she is still with him. It is also why no matter how much he provokes her to be jealous earlier, there has never been any sign. She looked so composed to the extent that he felt that they are not lovers, only strangers that just met. So what's the logic on demanding an explanation?"

He turned his back on their bedroom door and walked to the sofa.

In the meantime, after the stormy disturbances on her mind, Katelyn finally comes to her senses. She thought of what had happened. Jared's behavior made her confused as she saw the disappointment in his eyes on her answers.

"Does Jared love her?" she mused.

"But then his actions speak differently. He knows her being there, but still, he was so sweet with Charlize. If he loves her, he will be considerate of her feelings. But no, he let her witness his affection to another woman."

"It was just right for her to save her dignity." She said out loud. Finally, calming her mind, she closed her eyes to lull herself to sleep.

She was awakened in the morning by her body clock to see where Jared should be is empty.

"Did he wake up already?" she asked herself and then got out of the bed and walked to the bathroom to do her morning routine and change.

She walked out of the bedroom, curious about where Jared is; she looked around. He was nowhere to insight. The first time that happened that he woke up first on the weekend, but last night occurrence flashback on her that made her stopped walking. "Did he leave her last night and went back to his girlfriend?"

The door opening's sound made her turned to the guest room direction, and saw him coming out of it.

Even though he did not sleep in their bed, she was still relieved to know that he did not go back to Charlize last night.

"What time are we going to go to Meme?" She asked as if nothing had happened last night or that he came from another room.

But to her disappointment, she was just answered by his silence and cold look, and then he continued walking to their bedroom.

End of Part 19

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