Chapter 6 #2
Papa asked him some questions regarding the prenuptial agreement, and I knew I should listen more carefully, but I couldn’t stop looking at my hand. At the ring.
While the lawyers adjusted the final details, Viktor asked if we could speak privately. A walk sounded harmless enough. Or it would have been if Rafa hadn’t intercepted us in the corridor.
“Look who came here.” He was breathing hard—probably had run here the moment the news of Viktor visiting us reached him.
“Good morning to you, too, brother-in-law.” Viktor’s voice was steady, on the edge between politeness and mockery.
“It’s afternoon.” Rafa huffed, anger simmering in his eyes. “Fifi, I need to speak with this individual alone.”
Frowning, I looked at my now-fiancé. He returned my gaze, as if waiting for me to decide.
“I’ll be on the terrace,” I said.
He nodded, but I could still feel his gaze even after slipping away in the opposite direction.
I stopped at the corner when I nearly ran into Cath and Anne.
“Can we see the ring?” they whispered together.
These girls! Clutching my hand to my chest, I turned around. Rafa was steering Viktor toward the back of the house, but before they disappeared through the door, Viktor turned slightly and gave me a slow blink.
Everything was fine. Rafa wouldn’t kill him. But the nagging feeling in my stomach only grew stronger as we sat on the porch swing and I handed my new engagement ring to Catherine and Anne.
“This is so gorgeous!” Cath said. “I thought he’d give you some great-great-grandma-style thing.”
“At least he had a taste.” Anne smiled.
“Let me have a proper look.” I didn’t notice when Mamma joined us, but the next second, the ring was in her hands and she brought out her glasses, adjusting them. A moment later, her lips became a thin line.
“Mamma, it’s almost the twenty-first century. Not everyone wants ornate vintage pieces,” Cath said, noticing her unimpressed demeanor.
Mamma raised her brow, giving Cath one of her signature stern looks. Then her gaze softened when she looked back at me. “At least you got yourself quite a fortune.”
Seeing confusion on my sister’s face, I recounted the conversation that had happened in there, and when I finished, both Cath and Anne chortled.
“That was very rude of you,” Mamma said. “What if he got offended?”
“Well, it seemed he didn’t.” Cath continued to giggle. “I like him already!”
“Mamma’s right. That was very risky.” Anne turned to me. “I am actually impressed by what he did, considering he refused to let Cecilia take anything except her personal gifts. It was very harsh.”
“Cecilia was an awful stepmother. No wonder he acted so coldly.” Cath shrugged. “But I’m convinced he’s much better than that coward.”
“Stop calling him that…” I protested.
“I agree with your sister on that. Five years of silence, and suddenly he shows up the moment you’re engaged to someone else.” Mamma gave the ring to Anne.
“He was giving me space!” I wasn’t sure why I was even defending him.
“By silently stepping out on you?” Anne briefly looked at me before turning her attention back to the ring.
“How generous,” Cath added. “Now he’s only reaping what his mother sowed.”
“Only she didn’t calculate that he would not reap it silently. Everyone knows they are getting married because of the child,” Anne said.
“Can only imagine how ashamed Alissa’s parents are.” Mamma shook her head.
Cath and Anne nodded in agreement. And I… I froze, my insides burning.
Mamma always said she wasn’t ashamed of me. But wasn’t she?
Her visits to events had become selective, and she rarely invited friends to our home anymore.
And when she did, it was a much smaller circle.
Probably avoiding questions about me, because while no one was impolite enough to say anything bad directly to her face, people knew how to disguise their mockery under concern.
“At least,” Mamma turned to Anne, “the Reniers will have a grandchild!”
Anne shifted in her seat. “We’re trying.”
“So you stopped using protection?”
Anne shrugged, yet red splotches bloomed across her cheeks.
Mamma shook her head, turning to my sister.
“I hope you and Mark won’t wait long once you’re married.
And you…” Her gaze softened, and her voice trembled.
“I know it may be hard. But you know, no marriage is complete without an heir. Especially the one you’re entering.
I—” She looked at my sisters, then back at me.
“I found a good therapist.” She closed her eyes.
“I don’t insist, but think about it. You’re smart. You know how this works.”
I swallowed, trying to breathe more smoothly, while reaching for my ring finger, desperate to twist it.
Empty… Empty… Empty!
My eyes locked onto Anne’s palms, and I stretched to take my ring, merely managing to stop myself from grabbing her hand.
I swallowed. Again.
Then held my hand out in front of her.
“Ah.” Sighing, she dropped it into my open palm.
Only once I’d put it back on did my muscles relax, and I managed to breathe more easily.
“Fifi…” Cath started, but I gestured for her to stop, forcing the corners of my lips up.
“Everything is fine,” I said, looking into my mother’s helpless eyes. “I knew what I was signing up for when I agreed to this marriage.”
They didn’t manage to answer as the housekeeper rushed over. “Edmond Renier is here again.”
I guess I needed to face him at last.