Chapter 18: Wedding Consummation
1958words
It has been three days since Nathan left the house. He's nowhere to be found. I called his only friend, who is currently out of town, but he claimed not to know where Nathan is. Nathan doesn't socialize much, so where could he have gone? I even searched nearby hotels, but found nothing. The frustration is suffocating, wrapping around me like a cold shroud.
I dragged my suitcase downstairs.
'Where are you going, dear?" Nathan's mother asked, watching her morning program.
'I'm leaving, Aunt."
'Leaving?" she repeated, surprised. 'Why are you leaving?"
'I'm tired, Aunt," I said, squatting in front of her and placing my hands on her lap. 'Nathan left three days ago, and I haven't heard from him. Isn't this marriage as good as over?"
She gently squeezed my hand. 'I understand how you feel, but you can't just move out like that. You are still married to my son. He just needs some time to clear his head," she said. 'Besides, he called me earlier. He is fine, wherever he is."
'He did?" I asked, a bit of excitement creeping into my voice. 'It's my fault he doesn't want to speak to me. Maybe if I hadn't jumped to conclusions and aborted my babies, this wouldn't have happened. I'm so sorry, Aunt. Please forgive me." Tears streamed down my face.
'I understand where you are coming from, and it's okay."
'Thank you, Aunt. Can I at least go see my father?"
'Sure, dear. Give him my regards."
I stood up. 'Okay. Helena?" I called out to one of the servants.
'Yes, ma'am." She approached.
'Can you help me take my suitcase upstairs?"
'Right away, ma'am."
'I will see you later, Aunt," I said, kissing her on the forehead.
'Be careful, dear."
The familiar atmosphere of my father's compound greeted me as I got out of the car. I paused for a moment, inhaling the fresh, earthy aroma.
'Ever!"
'My queen!"
I opened my eyes to see Maya and Lindsay running toward me, enveloping me in a tight hug.
'What are you two doing here?" I asked, pulling away from them.
'Well, after guessing for over two hours, we thought you might be at your dad's house, so we came to see you," Maya explained.
'It's a pity your guessing ability is so poor," Lindsay retorted.
'That's not true. At least we still found her," Maya defended.
'Yeah, but only after waiting forever."
'It's okay, guys. Is my dad inside?" I interrupted.
'Unfortunately, no," Maya said.
Lindsay snapped his bubble gum, surprise etched on his face.
'Oh my God!" He reached out to touch my face. 'Have you been crying, my queen? Look at your puffy eyes. You have got dark circles. Your skin looks dull, and you are not even wearing makeup. What have you been doing to yourself?" he babbled.
His words brought tears to my eyes.
'Oh, no!" Lindsay said sympathetically, and they both hugged me.
'I don't know what to do anymore. I'm just so confused and frustrated," I cried on their shoulders.
'You are going to be fine, Ever."
'She's going to ruin her skin more."
Lindsay's words made me chuckle, and I pulled away from them.
'Let's go inside," I said, leading them into the living room.
'What can I offer you?" I asked.
'Just a glass of strawberry juice. I need to watch out for my skin," Lindsay said.
'How about we take a bottle of rum in your room?" Maya suggested.
'I can't handle drunkards," Lindsay said, running his hand through his hair.
'Such a killjoy."
'Can you two stop bickering? You will get your strawberry juice, Lindsay, and we will have rum in my room," I said.
Maya stuck out her tongue at Lindsay as I instructed the servant to serve us.
'Shall we go to my room now?" I asked, and they nodded, following me upstairs.
'Oh my God! That's terrible! I could have been an aunt!" Lindsay exclaimed after I told them about my abortions.
'An uncle, Lindsay," Maya corrected him.
'Whatever," he said, sipping his drink.
'What made you do such a thing, Ever? What were you thinking?" Maya asked, disappointment clear in her voice.
I downed a shot of rum, tears brimming in my eyes.
'Nathan never loved me. I was so stupid to think he would fall for me after we got married," I sobbed.
'I don't understand," Maya said.
'Me neither," Lindsay added.
I took a deep breath. 'I stole Nathan from Scarlett, my best friend," I confessed.
Maya gasped, and Lindsay nearly choked on his drink.
'I shouldn't have listened to Bianca. She ruined my life."
'Bianca? You two were friends?" Maya asked, surprised.
'She knew I admired Nathan. She also knew he was in love with Scarlett, yet she advised me to use my influence to get him. She said Scarlett didn't deserve him. I thought she was just being a good friend, so I took her advice. I made my father threaten to withdraw his shares from Reyes Legacy Jewels just to convince Nathan to marry me. I forced our relationship. I am so evil, aren't I?" I cried, dropping from the couch to the floor.
'I don't deserve to be happy. I deserve everything Nathan is putting me through. Karma has found its way into my life, and it's slowly destroying me."
They both sat with me on the floor. Maya pulled me into her arms while Lindsay patted my shoulder.
'You are going to be fine, Ever. But you, of all people, should know that Bianca is not a good influence. She's a psychopath and a bitch," Maya said.
'I was so dumb, Maya. I was consumed by lust and let my emotions control me," I continued sobbing.
'I'm still not getting it," Lindsay said. 'If Nathan never loved you, how did you end up having five abortions? Do you guys make love with no feelings?"
Maya slapped his shoulder. 'Have you lost your mind, Lindsay? How can you ask such a thing?"
'What did I say wrong? I'm just curious."
I pulled away from Maya and took another shot.
'You have had enough, Ever," Maya said, moving the bottle away from me.
'It's not enough. The pain is still there," I said.
'Your skin is also a priority," Lindsay added, making me chuckle.
I flashed back to one of my nights with Nathan.
Nathan and I were in bed. It was late, yet he was focused on his phone while I lay there, staring at him. He hadn't touched me since we got married, and it had been over a month. I couldn't take it anymore and snuggled closer to him.
'What are you doing?" he flinched.
'Come on, Nathan. How long are you going to keep avoiding me? You are my husband, and I need you to touch me," I complained. I tried cuddling and stealing a kiss, but he pushed me away.
'Get the hell off me. What's gotten into you? Have you lost it?" he snapped.
'What do you mean by that? We have been married for a month, and all you ever do is concentrate on your phone every night. Do I look like a robot to you? I'm a woman, and I need my husband to touch me," I said, my voice brittle.
'I'm not in the mood for your whining, Everleigh. Don't push me," he warned, returning his focus to his phone.
'What's wrong with you, Nathan? Do you have another woman who satisfies you out there?"
'One more accusation, Everleigh, and you won't like what happens next," he growled, casting a dark glance at me.
'What do you want me to do? Do you know how many cold showers I've taken? How can I be married to a handsome man who won't touch me? You are driving me crazy!" I continued, my voice rising.
'You are making a scene. Can we have some peace and quiet in this room?" he said nonchalantly.
I pounded the bed in frustration, groaning.
'Listen, Nathan. I don't care about what's right or wrong anymore. If I have to seduce you, then I will," I said, pulling down my nightgown and jumping on him, aggressively kissing him.
He overpowered me, throwing me back on the bed. 'You have lost your mind!" he shouted, springing up. 'If you want my advice, there are plenty of men for desperate women like you. Why don't you just go out and find one? Or better yet, go to a brothel; they are full of them. You can have as many as your money can get you," he said, grabbing a pillow and heading out.
'Argh! You are so mean! How can you say such a thing to me? Am I a prostitute?" I sobbed.
He slammed the door shut. I took another cold shower and curled up on the bed, crying my heart out.
The next morning, after freshening up, I curled up on the bed again, continuing from where I had left off the night before. Is this how I'm going to live for the rest of my life? I can't cheat on Nathan, but why won't he touch me? Am I ugly? Does he prefer someone like Scarlett? What does he want in a woman?
"Ever? I felt Nathan's touch on my shoulder and recoiled.
'Don't be scared," he said softly, taking a deep breath. 'I'm sorry for my outburst last night. It was wrong of me to suggest such a thing. Do you forgive me?"
His words melted me. He's such a perfect gentleman, so charming that I can't get enough of him. How I wish he loved me the way I've fallen head over heels for him.
'I said I'm sorry," he repeated when I didn't respond.
'I hold no grudges," I said, shifting closer to him and taking his hand.
'What am I supposed to do now? I promised myself I'd never cheat on my husband, and I intend to keep that promise. But I can't handle this constant desire. Cold showers aren't helping much. Is there a pill to make me stop wanting you? I would take it for your sake," I confessed.
'There's none that I know of," he replied, pulling his hand away from mine.
'Then make love to me. What do you want in a woman? Should I dye my hair brown and curl it? Should I change my eye color? Get a star-shaped scar on my temple? I would do anything."
'Stop it," he said, standing up. 'No matter how much you change, you can't replace Scarlett, and you know it."
'Then what, Nathan? I can't stay celibate when I'm married to you. It's your responsibility to make love to me."
'Fine. Stop nagging. I will try to fulfill my duty as your husband, but don't expect any feelings from me," he said.
'Does that mean you will make love to me?" I stood up on the bed, excitement clear in my voice.
'I'm still thinking about it."
'So, you will!" I exclaimed, jumping off the bed and throwing my arms around him.
'Be careful, Scarlett," he blurted out.
The room fell into a heavy silence.
'I mean Ever," he corrected himself.
I nodded. 'It's fine. As long as you will make love to me, I don't care. Thank you," I said cheerfully, stealing a quick kiss before hurrying to the bathroom. 'I'm sorry," I added before closing the door.
'Oh my God!" Lindsay exclaimed, covering his mouth in shock.
'It's such a pity," Maya commented.
'It was like a pact between us. He fulfilled his duty as my husband, but I never got any feelings from him," I said, breaking down into tears again.
