Chapter Forty-two
Hazel
It’s been a week since the scandalous article was released, and a week since I last stepped out.
Rain released a public address that has gotten the whole country talking. The objective was to change the narrative, and it kind of worked. From a supportive headline like; ‘ Rain Dacosta sets record straight; Hazel Wilmer revealed as wife. ’ to a skeptical headline like; ‘ Rain Dacosta tries to spin live-in escort scandal. But marriage of convenience or true love? ’
It’s clear that some were convinced and some were not.
My social media page still blows up like crazy. I went from 200 to 16k to 24k followers—all in one week. I had to set my account private as people dropped different comments on my old posts.
They’re either telling me to get the bag or get a shame.
User456378 even told me to kill myself and then followed me. Not sure what the follow was for, because if I take her advice seriously, my account will be useless.
On the other hand, everyone around me has been so supportive. Angela makes sure I’m well fed—even when I refuse to leave the room sometimes. Su-mi and Reina visit daily to make me laugh, and Rain has been so loving to me—even when I avoid him.
I wake up after he leaves for work and pretend to sleep when he’s back, but he has never held it against me. He makes sure I don’t miss my morning forehead and night shoulder kisses, and sends me text messages when he’s at work.
Sometimes I reply, sometimes I don’t.
He’s the one I need the most during this time, but it’s hard facing him. Angela tells me that he thinks I’m mad, but I’m embarrassed instead. What if he’s convinced by some of the comments that said I’m using him as a ladder to success and popularity? After all, it’s been four months since we met, and I’ve achieved a little of those—successful in getting a seat in Henri Leclair Foodcademy, and acquiring thousands of followers from just one scandal.
Ysabelle’s name has flooded my phone with hundreds of missed calls and frantic texts. I’ve sent her a text telling her not to worry and that I’ll reply once I’m in a better headspace, but she isn’t having it.
Of course she must have seen it all—the large surge of following on my social media account and the frenzy of comments on my posts. The curiosity would have driven her to investigate and see the dramas circulating around my name. I can’t imagine how she feels. Her twenty-three-year old sister left Jamaica for four months and now she’s married. With how dramatic Ysabelle is, she must be thinking she failed in my upbringing.
I sigh and Angela peers at me. “Thinking about the comments again?” Some of them haven’t been able to leave my head, and Angela and Su-mi are surprised that I remember them word for word.
I shake my head in response as I drop the batter mixture on the kitchen counter. Angela insists we make muffins, so here we are … making muffins.
“You need to let it go,” she says again. “ And you need to see Rain. My boy asks about you every time, he’s so worried. It took him a lot to fall in love again, don’t punish him.”
My face falls. I miss him too, and I scoot close to him whenever he falls asleep. I feel guilty for making our newly-developed relationship suffer for what we both have no control over, but I lack the self esteem to face him yet.
“He has never said he’s in love with me.”
Angela rolls her eyes and scoffs “You or Rain, I don’t know which one is dumber.”
I try to tell her that I don’t want to make any assumptions or get ahead of myself, but the door flings open.
“Hello,” Su-mi singsongs as she walks in with a white box that she drops on the counter before settling on the kitchen seat. “What are we making?”
“Muffins. You love muffins.” I glance into the box and raise a brow, intrigued. “Is that a cake?”
She smirks and tilts her head at it, her eyes sparkling with mischief. That can’t be good. “Open it.”
I follow instructions, wiping my floor-dusted hands on the apron and moving the package closer to me. It’s heavy. I lift the lid and a burst of laughter escapes my lip.
Santa Maria! This girl is crazy.
“Su-mi, you’re ridiculous!”
Inside the box is a pastel blue cake taunting me with its deep blue-colored frosting that boldly says: ‘This virgin is disvirgin.’
I feel my face flush and Angela lets out fit of laughter.
Su-mi giggles at my expression and shrugs. “I figured you needed a pick-me-up.”
“And this was all you could think of?”
“Nope! But this has been on my mind since you told me. It seems like the perfect time for it now.” I shake my head and slice a piece for myself. She stops me as I begin to slice another for her. “No, not me. It’s all yours. I had mine when I was seventeen. I can’t eat my cake and have it back.”
Angela’s laugh gets louder and even I’m stifling my own laughter. Su-mi says some things that make you swear she talks alone in the shower. She has so many impulsive thoughts that she can’t help but blurt.
“Did you hear?” My heart skips a bit. Hear what again? Have I been accused of pregnancy now? Su-mi catches on to my increasing fear and makes a calm down motion with her hand. “Relax, it’s not a bad thing. Your mother-in-law is hosting a party. You and Rain are definitely expected. That’s your chance to prove to everyone that you are indeed a married couple in love. The articles will change after that.”
My face falls and I slump my shoulders. How’s that a good thing? Not only will the press be looking for evidence of our love marriage, they’ll also be searching for a mistake. In fact, a mistake from us is worthier to them than our lovey-dovey moments. A single one, and it’s all over.
“I’ve seen celebrities do it after scandals like this,” Su-mi continues. “Tommy Roberto, Alves Randy, and a lot more. After being accused of marriage for benefits, they released ‘paparazzi taken’ photos and videos of them and their wives being all cute on the streets and at events. But you and Rain don’t need to fake a paparazzi shoot if they’re going to be at a family function you can’t miss.”
She’s right. If Rain and I don’t work together on proving the public wrong about our relationship, the assaults are never going to stop. They want a live love show, they’ll get a live love show.
“When is the event?” And why hasn’t Rain mentioned it to me?
Because you keep running away from him.
Right.
Su-mi types furiously on her phone. “Tomorrow night.” The cake gets stuck in my throat at the revelation. Is Rain planning not to tell me about it or is he just letting me alone because I want to be? But it’s a family event. If I’m not present, people will think the article is true. I can’t believe I’m finding out from Su-mi a day before.
Why am I so mad when I’m the one who is avoiding him?
My phone beeps and I check to see a message from Rain.
RAIN: Stay up for me tonight.
RAIN: Please.
A sickening smile appears on my face and I type out a simple ‘okay’.
“See that, Angela? Looks like this house will be having babies running around soon.”
I clear my throat, instead of responding to the taunt. “How’s everyone at Eat Right? What do they think of me now.”
“Trust me, they still think good of you. They’re also part of the public who got Rain’s love story, remember? They wish you well, and they miss you. Greg has been asking of you non-stop. Man was ready to come with me to see you. Don’t worry, I told him your husband would have him killed if he did that.”
My lips form a pout at the mention of Greg. I don’t want to imagine how he feels. This is the worst way to find out your crush is never going to be yours.
The oven dings and Angela claps her hand. “Our first round of muffins is done.”
I spend the rest of the day talking, watching movies, and eating muffins with Angela and Su-mi. This is all I need—genuine love, and time away from social media and the public.
I pace across the room, my fingers fiddling against each other. It’s been one hour since Su-mi left, and I’ve locked myself in the room ever since. Rain’s message still has me on edge. What does he want to talk about? The event? Or our relationship?
I stop in my tracks.
What if I’ve pushed him too close to the wall and now he wants to break us up?
My stomach knot and I bite hard on my lip as my feet resume its pacing. What have I done to myself? Rain is the last person I want to lose.
The door creaks open, and Rain walks in, his eyes scanning the room until they lock on mine. His expression is inscrutable as he marches to me.
He drops a sleek bag with him on the couch, and before I can process anything, he envelopes me into a warm hug.
“Are you done running away from me?”
I melt into his embrace with a sigh, my initial fear dissipating. I miss him so much—the solid muscle of his chest, his sharp cocoa and spice scent, and his sin-like voice that gets to me every time. It’s like it has been a year since I last touched him.
“Rain—” my voice muffles against his chest.
He holds me tighter, his fingers tracing a gentle pattern on my back. “I missed you so much.”
I reciprocate his hug, wrapping my hands around his body. “I miss you too.”
He cups my face and rests his forehead on mine. “Do you still trust me?” I whisper that I do, and Rain’s eyes crinkles at the corners as he smiles, returning my head to his chest. “I’ll fix it.”
Oh God! I can’t believe I decided to run from him. These past few days were choking, and now it’s like a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders. At least I have an idea of what our future fights will feel like.
“I miss you. I shouldn’t have avoided you. I was scared.”
“I know. But don’t worry, I have people working in the shadows. We’re curating a plan, everything will be back to normal soon.”
“A plan like the event your Mom is hosting?”
“How did you know that?”
“You don’t want me to?”
Rain holds my face and shakes his head. “No, that’s not it. I already told my parents I won’t force you.”
“I want to go. The paparazzi will be there. If I’m not present, they’ll think—”
“I don’t care what they’ll think, Principessa . I’m not putting you in anywhere you don’t want to be.”
That’s why he didn’t tell me about it—because he cares enough to know how hard all this has been on me. Since the scandal, he’s been worried about me and me alone, but as the head of a multi-billion-dollar company, I should be the least of his worries.
That’s why I want to do this for him. Despite the fear knotting in my stomach, I’m willing to face the paparazzi and give them the love show they’re craving.
“I want to go, I promise. I don’t want to stay hidden at home forever. Plus, I don’t want to miss an event hosted by your Mom. This will be my first family function.”
He stares at me with pinched eyebrows, as if studying to find a lie, but I keep my face firm. “If that’s what you want. But the moment I feel you’re uncomfortable, we’re leaving.” I accept with a nod.
“So what’s that?” I tilt my head at the black bag on the couch.
“It’s a dress. I bought it as a gift to entice you if you refused my heartfelt sorry,”
“You didn’t need to,” I say between laughs. “I still have countless dresses in my closet that I have no idea what to do with them.”
“You’ll figure it out,” he teases again with a sly smirk. I scoff and twist my lips to hide my own smile. Buying new clothes has been crossed off my list for a few months because of the amount I have, but here he goes, still getting them for me.
“Should I make us dinner now?”
“Will you?” I nod. “Then should we eat in the theatre?”
“Should we?” he nods, widening the grin on my face.
We’ve finally moved past the internet issues, and things are back to normal. Rain has once again ruffled me up in the best way possible. I find myself swaying to an imaginary beat as I cook dinner.