Edensville

The morning rain drizzled on the roof creating a soothing symphony.

This time, Lorraine's natural body alarm got her up at precisely 7 a.m. She walked into the kitchen and made herself breakfast; coffee and toasts were her favorites on a rainy day. Sitting down and eating her homemade sandwich, she remembered everything that happened the previous day. It still felt like an episode of a terrible nightmare or a bizarre dream.

She dialled her best friend Maia to tell her about the mysterious man she met at the gallery, and even more strange, about her decision to marry him

"Do you think it's wise to get married to a man you barely know?" Maia's voice sounded over the phone,

"I know you're a romantic, but this is a crazy idea, Lorraine" "What if he's a psycho? I mean, who asks a stranger to marry them?"

"He's not a psycho", Lorraine interrupted Maia,

"He gave me a cheque of five hundred thousand dollars and said it's mine if I married him", Lorraine replied

"Five hundred what?!" Maia's shock could be heard over the phone

"Maia, I can save Jordan" "the doctors say he hasn't been doing so well lately, and this new edge treatment could save him" "Trust me, if there were any other places I could get five hundred thousand dollars from, I wouldn't be doing this", Lorraine reasoned her voice almost breaking

"Who knows, maybe this could be my happily ever after", she added, trying to reassure her friend, but her vote of confidence was more for her than for Maia; she needed all the motivation she could garner to go along with this plan.

Maia's voice softened, filled with understanding. "If it's for Jordan and you, I'll support you" "I can't believe you're getting married!" She squealed

Lorraine hurriedly dressed and took a cab to the city hall. She was not sure whether the man would show up. What if this was all a huge prank, and the cheque wasn't real? These thoughts occupied her mind until the car stopped outside the city hall. She stepped out and saw Clay, his right hand casually tucked in his pocket as he checked his wristwatch. It was a few minutes past ten when she arrived, and she feared he might have left

"Sorry I'm late" "Traffic", she said, rushing towards him

"You actually came", her voice was filled with relief and surprise.

Clay did not respond, his countenance had changed this morning, almost as if he did not want the marriage.

He snapped his fingers, motioning for his assistant to bring the car around in a few minutes, and they walked into the registry's office,

"We'll take a couple of pictures, sign the document and then we're done",

"Just like that?" Lorraine asked

"Just like that", Clay replied. He had a thousand experiences signing deals and contracts, it was part of his life, and to him, this was just another deal to close off, or so it seemed.

A few minutes later, they got their marriage license. Lorraine stared at it, still finding it hard to believe it was real. Just yesterday, she was crying over her failed engagement, and today she was married. She had often imagined getting a grand wedding with a beautifully decorated venue, jealous girls who'd wish to be her, her parents in the front pew seats smiling harder than she would, and her brother miraculously cured of cancer. But now, instead of warmth and happiness, a sudden sadness engulfed her. However, she found relief that at least her new husband was a treat for the eyes.

"Here's my contact number. I have a business meeting to attend. If you need to reach me, you can text me" "Also, that reminds me, we'll be having dinner with my grandmother this weekend" "Be a happy wife", Clay said, jotting down his phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to her

"I'll order you an Uber to get you home," he said and walked off. Lorraine couldn't believe his arrogance; he seemed charismatic and thoughtful when they first met but quickly turned icy and distant since she had arrived to get their marriage license signed. She sighed, utterly repulsed by her choice in men but knew she had to make this work, she didn't fully comprehend the terms of their agreement yet, but she knew a divorce would nullify her arrangements with Clay.

"Wait!" She called, hurrying after him,

"Now that we're married, should we live together?" She asked, seeing an opportunity to fix her living situation. Clay stopped and turned towards her. Reluctantly, he reached inside his trench pocket and brought out a bunch of keys, removed one and handed it to her. Whether he wanted to or not, he knew it would sell a better image for him and his marriage if they lived together

"I have a home in Edensville" "You can move in there, but the master bedroom in the east wing is off-limits", he stated sternly and walked away without further explanation.

Elated that she wouldn't have to return to her parent's home, Lorraine got into the Uber and returned to her apartment. When she walked in, she found Maia sitting thoughtfully on her couch as if waiting for her return.

"Did you do it?" she asked. Lorraine brought out the marriage license and shook it before her friend. There was no effort to fake happiness; she knew she couldn't conceal her expressions from her best friend, and neither could Maia, as Lorraine quickly took notice of her friend's grave look.

"What's wrong, Maia?" Lorraine asked, pulling a chair next to her. Maia covered her face with her palms, took a deep breath and then looked into Lorraine's eyes

"Okay, I don't know how else to tell you this, so I'll just come out with it" "Shawn is dating again" "Lorraine, he's dating the girl he cheated on you with," Maia said briskly and exhaled feeling unburdened with the heartbreaking information

"I'm so sorry, Lorraine".

Lorraine remained quiet for a few minutes, mustered a smile and shook her head. She lifted her gaze and stared at her best friend. Placing a hand on Maia's thigh, she spoke calmly

"It's okay" "I'm married now anyway," Lorraine said, jerking up from her seat; she walked over to her closet, pulled out her suitcase and started packing her clothes without saying another word. Maia hesitated for some time, then followed her friend into the room, finding it hard to believe her little act. She knew Lorraine had a knack for acting strong when it came to dealing with her pain,

"How can you be okay?!" She hastened towards her, gripped her hand and turned her around. Lorraine snapped and shook off Maia's firm grip, with tears forming in her eyes

"I said I'm fine, Maia!" She bellowed

"Now, can you help me pack?" She said, placing her clothes into the box. Maia wrapped her arms around Lorraine's waist and hugged her, she knew what Lorraine needed, and if she chose to deal with this by ignoring it, she would allow her just that.

"Yes, sure" "Where are we going?" She asked

"I'm moving out," Lorraine said "He has a house in Edensville. I could stay there for as long as I want since we're now legally married" As Lorraine uttered those words, Maia gave her a confused look. She still couldn't believe she had gotten married to a stranger,

"Edensville?" she asked

"Yes," Lorraine replied absentmindedly, piling her clothes in the suitcase. Maia had heard about Edensville but had never entered it before. Although being in the same city, Edensville was nothing like The Bay; it was a neighbourhood reserved for the Upper society. The gap in the socioeconomic classes was wide, and the gated neighborhood was kept from the public eye. The only things people knew of it were tales and rumours about it and its residents. Maia was comforted that at least her friend had married a successful man.

Meanwhile, during the board meeting, Clay's phone buzzed incessantly, and he finally decided to pick it up, seeing that it was his grandmother. Excusing himself from the board meeting, he went into the lobby,

"Grandma, I'm in a meeting",

"Oh hush, child", Grandma Edith voiced her impatience. The old woman was brisk and fond of her grandson but believed he worked too hard

"Do you remember our dinner this weekend Pookie?"

"Yes, Grandma", Clay's husky voice came through

"Alright" "Will you be bringing Celeste?" The old lady enquired

"The family is excited to see her" "The Newmans will be a good fit and merger for this family and our business" "I heard they are starting a new fabric company East of Wellshire", Edith veered off topic.

"Grandma, I was in a meeting, remember?"

Clay reminded her. He knew that once she started talking about something else, she could go on for minutes on end

"Okay, back to your meeting" "but don't miss the dinner this weekend", Edith instructed

"I won't miss it, Grandma" "I have a surprise you'll all hate," Clay said and hung up.