Chapter 6

Matilda

I stare at the bouquet of flowers and something breaks inside of me. Grace hisses under her breath as she shakes her head and I then hear her curse her son.

“Wait here for me, Matilda. Let me go and speak with my idiot of a son...” Grace turns towards the staircase but I stop her immediately. The last thing I wanted was for Michael to be in another fight with his mother because of me.

Grace looks at me but I immediately smile at her, acting like I wasn't affected at all by Michael getting my sister's favourite flowers just for her.

“Let's just go, Grace. You were the one who said we were already late for yoga class.” I smile wider this time and I don't know if I was able to fake it but I want her to believe that I was fine and perfectly okay with it.

“Are you sure, my dear?” Grace looks at me with worry and concern which makes me feel so loved and cared for by someone.

I nod and link my arm with hers. "Let's go now.”

Grace smiles at me and agrees. “Yes, dear. To hell with my son!” Her voice was loud enough for the entire staff to hear and I'm guessing Michael must have also heard his mother as well.

“Good riddance to him!”

Now I can't help but laugh with her. This woman's sense of humor is definitely contagious. We both laugh as we leave the living area with my arms link to one another.

My mother-in-law and I had a field day from jogging around the park, to practicing yoga with other women her age and only two of the women were around my age. I even tried mind therapy which did work for a short period of time in helping me forget about Michael and how he always knew everything about Seraphina and absolutely nothing about me.

Grace takes me to have some breakfast at a small cafe. We chatted a little about my masters and how I'll be helping my father's company with a new business plan I had been working on for a while now. Our conversations never once drifted towards Michael or my sister and I was more than relieved that it didn't.

I know that if he got Seraphina's favorite flowers, it meant he was going to visit her at the hospital. I wouldn't deny that it still hurts how much Michael still knew a lot of things about my sister and knew nothing about me.

Sure, we got along in the two years we were married but that was it. Michael never once brought me any gifts or even a single flower, let alone an entire bouquet of flowers. He doesn't even know what my favorite flowers are or what I like to eat and wear. But I knew everything about him, from his likes and dislikes, to his true passion which was to help fund foundations and charitable events that dealt with fighting many diseases and seeking out a cure for those diseases.

It's been a few days since my sister came out of her coma and I have only visited her once with Michael. I couldn't face her at the moment, not after I had broken my promise to her before getting married to Michael. I betrayed her and slept with her boyfriend for two years.

I'd promised my sister that I wasn't going to come close to Michael. Of course I had made the promise of not getting close to Michael because I believed it was Michael who couldn't stand the sight of me but I was wrong and the night Michael wanted me, I couldn't resist and ended up in bed with him and at the same time breaking my promise to Seraphina at the same time.

“Are you feeling okay?” Grace talks to me.

“Oh, I'm fine.” I smile almost instantly and she clearly doesn't believe me but she also doesn't ask me anything.

“Alright then, why don't we go shopping then.” She suggests and even though I don't like shopping, I don't refuse her and agree.

I take it back, we have a blast at the mall and Grace treats the both of us to some manicures and pedicures along with a spa massage. I feel different but I was happy I chose not to stay back at the house with myself locked up in a dark room as I didn't want to see Michael's face.

We leave the mall after Grace changes my entire wardrobe. According to her, I should change my outlook and completely ditch the boring office pantsuits I always wear out and try to look and dress more sexy.

I laugh because I wasn't the kind of woman to wear sexy clothes but then after Michael made me sign on the divorce papers, I knew I had to change myself. Not for him of course, but for myself and securing my self-esteem.

“You have to catch all of the attention, my dear.” Grace tells me and maybe she's right.

As far as I can remember, I have only had an interest in one man, Michael. I didn't feel the need to look very pretty or sexy to get other men's attention, because Michael was the only man I wanted to get his attention.

But now things between Michael and I were over. Our contract marriage has come to an end and he's soon going to marry my sister and it will be out of love, not out of an agreement or deal to benefit both parties.

“You know what? You're right, Grace. I want to feel different, more pretty and definitely sexy. Michael isn't the only man available and I certainly don't want to end up all alone for the rest of my life.”

“Now that's my girl! I'll have my stylist Raquel set up an appointment for you tomorrow.” Grace says excitedly. “You just wait, my useless son will surely bite the dust once he sees the new you.”

We continue to giggle as we approach the car that Grace had called to come and pick us up and a few minutes later, my dad calls me. Grace walks on ahead to give me space to talk.

I answer the call and my dad is a little upset that I haven't come to visit Seraphina again at the hospital. Before I can say anything he interrupts me and then informs me that Seraphina's going to be discharged tomorrow and that he's also planning a lunch party to celebrate my sister's recovery and to welcome her back home.

“You must be present, Matilda. No excuses. This is very important for your sister.” My dad gives me an order.

“Of course I will be there, dad. There's no way I would miss welcoming my sister back home.” I reply and he hangs up just as quickly without even a goodbye or to ask how I was doing because whether he admits it or not, I was going to be affected because I would have to leave my husband...

- But Michael was never yours in the first place, he always belonged to your sister.

My brain screams at me and I only sigh heavily before catching up with Grace and get into the car.

But even though I did wrong with Seraphina, I don't regret the nights I spent with Michael in his bed. Though Michael doesn't love me, I can't forget the pleasures I felt by his side and how good it felt to be wanted by a man like Michael and have him look at me with raw hunger and desire.

“It was my dad,” I say the moment I settle down in the backseat.

“Was it about the lunch party he's planning for Seraphina?” Grace asks and I look at her with a little surprise before nodding. “I just got off with phone with Michael and he informed me that his dad and I are invited to the lunch party tomorrow.”

“Oh, that's fine.” I mutter.

“I think tomorrow's lunch is perfect. Raquel will take care of dressing you up nicely and you'll be sure to turn heads.” Grace smiles.

I know that deep down Grace is doing all of these for Michael to notice me and to forget about my sister. But she doesn't understand that her son only loves Seraphina and not me. I can never be in Michael's heart as that place has already been long occupied by my sister. So me changing my looks alone wasn't going to change anything with Michael but still, I was going to allow her stylish change my hairstyle and the rest.

“And with that out of the way, let's go to the club for a few drinks, dear.” Grace says and I widen my eyes.

“No way, Grace. I... I can't,” I respond a little nervous.

“And why not, dear. We can end this day with a few drinks and be happy that we exist in this world.” Grace tells me with much enthusiasm. “Look, dear. This is what's life's about. We have to always make every second count or life will just eat you up alive before you ever realize it.”

“But...”

“Plus, I know my son has hurt and humiliated you and no matter how much you try to hide it, I know you feel pain deep inside, dear. But then you have to show him that you aren't affected at all and that his choices don't rule your life.”

It's true and she does have a point, but I'm more nervous because I haven't been to a club before. Only Seraphina secretly snuck out at night and went to nightclubs with her friends. All my life I have always focused on my studies and worked hard to become worthy enough to work in dad's company.

I now stare at her with a nervous and yet, determined look.

“Okay, Grace. I am... going to take your advice.” I tell her with a smile. “You're right, life waits for no one. Let's have some fun.”