Chapter Ten. #2
I felt a pang as I drove home. Four days had passed, and Alicia hadn’t come crawling on her hands and knees for forgiveness.
In fact, Alicia outright ignored me. Worse, she’d not cooked dinner, organised my clothing for the following day, or had coffee waiting.
Alicia hadn’t let me return to our marriage bed either.
My plans for punishment were backfiring.
Alicia should have been pleading for forgiveness by now.
My wife had only me to depend on; I’d made certain of that.
So why wasn’t Alicia crying and begging for attention?
Somehow, I’d managed to keep Alicia from seeing those women lately.
Because I was damn sure they were behind her flash of independence.
But something was amiss, seriously wrong.
Plus, on two nights, Alicia arrived home after me.
Where had she been? Alicia claimed she had taken some stuff to charity one night.
The second, she alleged she’d been stuck in traffic.
Had Alicia been with Cain? A sinking sensation hit my stomach.
Alicia was the perfect housewife and business wife.
Was Cain looking at her for himself? Could Cain be courting Alicia with the intent of stealing her?
Damn! I might be in danger of losing Alicia.
Worried, I swung my car around and headed to the mall.
Too much effort had been spent turning Alicia into the ideal wife.
I wouldn’t lose her now. It was time for jewellery; Alicia adored that.
I’d woo her back and then reinforce her place in my life.
Alicia loved me; she was already mine and just needed some reassurance. After all, Alicia was delicate.
Alicia
Oliver’s car pulled in, and I ignored it, and kept making lunch for myself. Heavy footsteps rang out as he walked towards the kitchen where I was.
“Darling,” Oliver called, and I refused to answer. I was still stewing over the fact that Oliver had intended to give my dress to Eve. He entered and, out of my peripheral sight, I saw him move towards me. However, I didn’t respond, but kept slicing the salad.
Oliver’s hands cupped my arms and ran up and down them, like he was soothing me. What had Oliver done now?
“What do you want?” I asked as I moved the tomatoes aside and began cutting a cucumber.
“Put the knife down, darling,” Oliver murmured.
“Oliver.” I sighed as I did as he asked and faced him. “What?”
“Alicia, I was wrong,” he murmured, and my jaw dropped open. Those words had never crossed Oliver’s lips. Oliver was never in error.
“About what?”
“How it would be perceived between Eve and me,” Oliver said softly.
I stiffened and turned my back again.
“Alicia, don’t do this. Honey, I never meant to hurt you.”
“But you did mean to buy my evening gown and give it to Eve? Yes, Mystique informed me,” I ground out. Tears clogged my throat.
“That bitch needs to stay out of my marriage. Darling, I didn’t know it was your dress,” Olive soothed.
Liar, the word shouted in my mind. Oliver had known. Mystique had told him. Oliver wasn’t sorry. I didn’t know what this was about, but his actions were confusing me. Oliver was acting contrite, and I didn’t believe him.
“Honey, I bought you something,” Oliver murmured as he pulled me back against him in an embrace.
“Thank you, I don’t need anything.”
“No, you never demanded pretty things, Alicia. It’s one of the things I love about you,” Oliver said.
“Do you? Love me? Because lately it doesn’t feel like it,” I muttered.
Oliver turned me around with a panicked expression. “What do you mean? Alicia, you’re the love of my life. I can’t imagine living without you.”
“Eve seems a viable replacement. She’s pretty, intelligent, and a valuable member of society. At least according to you.”
Oliver looked stricken. “Darling, those words were spoken in anger. Cain is playing games because he’s jealous.
You can’t see that because you’re so sweet, but Cain’s using you to one-up me.
Cain’s a vile man and loves power trips and schemes.
It scared me that he targeted you. You’re the light of my life.
I’m crazy about you, Alicia, and that won’t ever change.
Sweetheart, you can’t believe Eve would ever replace you? ”
“Why not? You’re always with her. I don’t want jewellery, which is what you’ve likely bought. Eve has been getting all of your time and attention lately, and that’s all I want. Some quality time,” I whispered.
I didn’t understand what was happening anymore. One moment, I was convinced I was right, and the next, Oliver had me scrabbling. I was probably being a bad wife, but I couldn’t stop what I did next.
With that, I picked up the chopping board and threw lunch in the small bin for food scraps. “Don’t want my ass to get fatter and shame you further.”
Oliver
I was stunned at how Alicia had spoken. She’d not been so forthright since college.
Obviously, damage had been done, and I needed to put a lot of effort into restoring her to perfection.
Although I had to admit, was it worth it anymore?
Alicia was twenty-nine, and while she looked as beautiful as always, she was marching on in age.
I pursed my lips. No, Alicia wasn’t finished until I said so. This was Alicia acting out; she’d soon be under control again. Time to up my game.