Chapter Twenty: Not what it seems

I smoothed my hands down my dress for what must have been the hundredth time.

The baby pink halter neck mini dress suddenly felt too much for dinner.

After my nap that afternoon, Kim had dragged me shopping, insisting I needed something that I actually wanted to seduce my husband.

Even though I wasn't too sure about the seducing part, I bought the dress anyway.

Then I spent most of my evening preparing dinner. Which involves me chopping veggies and the cook doing most of the cooking.

I couldn't bet on my cooking skill. The pancake I made that morning was after a lot of failed practice attempts and more than ten tutorials videos later.

I glanced at the clock. Mason should have been home by now. I picked up the glass of water in front of me and took a sip.

My stomach twisted. Tonight would change things. Our marriage might be a contract or might have started out without love, but it doesn't mean it has to stay this way.

Mason has been good to me all the past three months here.

Better than I have been treated in my parents house.

Maybe this could work . Maybe I could make him love me.

And maybe…

my cheeks heated up.

Having thought about it, sleeping with my husband isn't such a terrible idea.

I set the glass down. So many thoughts ran wild in my head.

Him sitting here, his expression cold, but a little teasing. Our hands would brush across the table.

The candle light flickered. I look at the clock again. The food had gone cold.

He's just a little late Iris, nothing more. I tell myself.

But an unsettling feeling settled in my stomach.

I heard footsteps and my heart jumped. I straightened up immediately, putting on my best smile.

Jason stepped into the dining room. My smile faded.

“Mrs Kingston.”

I swallowed. “Yes Jason, how can I help you?”

“Mr Kingston asked me to tell you he won't be making it tonight.”

For a second I just stared at him. The room fell silent.

“Oh”. That was all I could manage. Jason shifted on his foot uncomfortable, like he would rather be the one not telling me this news.

“He had something important to take care of”.

I forced a smile. “You don't have to spare my feelings Jason”.

“Mrs Kingston—”

“It's okay.” I stood. My legs feel strangely weak. “ It was stupid for me to expect him to come”.

Jason opened his mouth to say something, but I didn't wait for him to say it.

I walked out. Quickly. Because if I stay here any longer I would cry and I'm getting tired of crying for people that don't give a two cents about me.

“So that's why he didn't come for dinner,” Kim said, sitting cross-legged on my bed. I didn't answer. She had come early this morning to hear about the dinner last night.

My eyes moved to the screen of the gossip magazine that she showed me on her phone. My heart stopped.

Mason.

The photo showed him standing in some event. But that isn't what shocked me, it was the woman he had beside him.

She had long ginger hair and striking jade green eyes. She was so effortlessly beautiful.

But that wasn't what hurt. It was the way she was holding him. Her fingers wrapped around his arm like she belonged there. As thought she had every right to.

And Mason. He wasn't pushing her away.

TROUBLE IN PARADISE? NEWLYWED BILLIONAIRE MASON KINGSTON SPOTTED WITH LILLY MAXWELL.

My chest tightened.

“I'm sorry Iris”. Kim's voice softened.

“I shouldn't have pushed you”.

I force myself to look away from the photograph. I shouldn't be feeling like this, I had no claim to him.

“It's not your fault”. My voice sounded strangely calm.

“I practically trapped him in this marriage. If I hadn't asked him to marry me, he could have ended the engagement with Julia and married the woman he loved.”

“Don't do that”.

I looked at her.

“Dont blame yourself for this”.

She pointed at the phone. “You didn't force Mason to marry you. He agreed to it. The only ones to blame for everything are your shit ass parents.” I winced at the mention of my parents.

Kim stared at the photo for some time.

“Although…”

I looked at her. “Although what?”.

She snapped her fingers. “I knew she looked familiar.”

“Who is she?”

“She's Lilly Maxwell. I had seen her at the office a few time. Whenever she came she and Mason always went out for lunch.”

My stomach twisted again. I looked at the photo again. “Is that all”.

“No”. Her eyebrows pinched together. “There were rumors about them being together. Since her father and senior Mr Kingston are close friends”.

“The rumors stopped when ridiculous rumors about Mason being gay circulated.”

“Still… he left me hanging for her, means they must be something there”.

“Iris–”.

Kim reached out to touch my hands.

“Don't worry”. I forced a small smile.

“It's my fault for being delusional, thinking I can get through a man like Mason”. I said quietly.

Kim stared intensely at the picture, squinting her eyes. Then her expression changed.

“You should see this”.

“What?”

She zoomed in on the photo. Turning the phone towards me. I stared at the photo confused at what I am to be looking for.

I stared at Mason. Then at Lilly. Then my eyes went down to his hands. My breath caught, because Mason wasn't touching her. She was the one that clung to him.

Instead his hands were clenched tightly in a fist, which didn't make sense at all.

The next morning I decided to go out and spend my entire day outside. I wasn't going to spend my time looking at the photo or think of his clenched fist.

At least that is the plan.

Kim met me during her lunch break and we ate together at a cafe across her office. She tried her best to distract me, but it was kind of hard to forget when the Kingston corporation imposing structure was across the street from us. I was still grateful for her effort.

Then I spent my entire day at the park sketching. By the time I returned home the sun was beginning to set. I felt relaxed and free.

I pushed open the front door and found Jason waiting at the foyer. He immediately stepped forward to take my jacket.

“How was your day Maam?”

“Great.”I smiled. “I finished a few of my sketches and I would love to show you.”

“I'm sure Mr Kingston would love—.” the sound of clearing my throat came from behind me.

I froze. Jason froze.

I slowly turned around. Mason stood several feet away. His dark eyes settled on me.

For a single second my heart failed to remember we are trying to forget him. I hated how much he affected me. Forcing a smile.

“Oh”. My voice sounded lighter than I felt.

“You're back”.