CHAPTER 4_ Humiliation

Later that night, Olivia spikes a fever and she's burning hot. Her petite frame was coiled up underneath the thick blanket over her. This was a result of her staying outside for so long watching the servants clear the rose garden.

She heard the door open but was too lazy and weak to lift her head up. Kelvin who just walked in notices something was off with her, he rushed to the bed and pulls her into his arms. 

“Damn you're burning hot..honey” 

His clothes carried another woman's perfume or to be more specific, her husband was covered with Nancy's perfume. She could only melt in his arms against what she wanted since she couldn't move a muscle in her body.

Kelvin sat there all night letting her sleep in his arms, he never let her out of his sight and even when he fell asleep, his hands never left her.

The next morning, Olivia's lashes fluttered open. She was feeling much better than last night. “You’re awake..God, I was so worried about you. You should have called to inform me about your health, i’d have dropped everything and come back home earlier” 

Olivia helped herself sit up, the moment she laid her eyes on him, the fresh memories from the previous day flooded her mind. 

“I’m fine” she replied curtly taking her gaze elsewhere.

“I’m relieved. And uh..about the roses, why did you order for it to be uprooted? I thought you loved it”

“Sometimes even the prettiest things and views gets boring someday..and then we find another thing to admire..” she said lightly but her words held a hidden meaning. Maybe it was her but she saw how Kelvin shifted his gaze uncomfortably.

He didn't reply to her words, instead he walked to the drawer where a tray of food was placed. He brought her breakfast to the bed. 

“Come on, you have to eat. I heard you didn't have dinner last night..” 

All Kelvin did that day was to stay and attend to every needs of his wife. He worked from home and watched her every move. Whenever she needed something, he's always the first to reach it first then pass it to her.

His actions only made Olivia feel more disgusted towards him, but all these pretense will end soon..just two more weeks and everything will be over.

A week later..

Olivia's gaze was drawn from the magazine opened before her to Kelvin's ringing phone. He smiled faintly and excused himself to answer the call. 

She casually closed the magazine and moved to the terrace where she could see everything that was about to go down. Since the rose bushes wasn't there to obstruct the view anymore, she saw him waiting there impatiently. 

Soon, a shiny pink supercar pulls up. Olivia's brows knotted, she recognized the car instantly, that was the limited edition model her husband once bought for her but never allowed her drive it. Reason?

Technically, he thinks it's too dangerous for her. And she didn't suspect a thing because she was moved by his doting husband image and believed the car just sat there in the garage but.. Voila! There it was. 

At this point, she wasn't even surprised to see who stepped out of the car. The audacious bitch had the nerve to show up to her house, in her car and now she's leeching on her husband too. 

However, from the look of things, Kelvin wasn't pleased to see Nancy at all, he grabbed her by her arm tightly and yanked her closer. Olivia noticed how much Nancy quivered, it was obvious that the latter was receiving some scoldings even though she couldn't hear it.

Nancy was crying at the moment, it appeared that they were arguing about something, a few seconds later, Kelvin pulled Nancy into his arms and kissed her on her head. Olivia was sickened to her stomach.

Even at home too? She was even embarrassed on their behalf. Nothing they did surprises her anymore.

“At least not in front of the servants..” she grumbled with a frustrated sigh.  

When Kelvin returned back to the room, he walked to the bed where his laptop lay open to resume his work but Olivia's sudden appearance from the bathroom stole his attention. 

“I think it's time to resume at the office, I'm fine now..”

“Are you tired of me already?” He feigned hurt with a fallen expression, but Olivia saw right through it. He was making a fool out of himself by acting all loving when she could see everything clearly.

She didn't respond and he froze, just then his phone rang out. He raised his index finger shortly and answered the call. 

“Oh really? I'd love to hang out but as you know, my wife needs me at home. Maybe next time?” 

Olivia lifted a brow, those times he normally gets invitations from his friends to hang out but ends up declining, she naively thought  that he cared and loved her so much. 

“I think you should go” 

Kelvin looked her way “It’s no fun without you around. I'll honor their invite next time unless you're willing to go with me..” 

“No..I don't want to–

“Then it's settled then, I'm not going either..” 

Olivia's face fell in contempt. If she spends all day locked up in here looking at his face she might throw up or get infuriated by his overbearing presence. At least she'll get to see different faces at the club.

“Fine, I'll go with you” 

Kelvin was surprised by her answer almost like he couldn't believe his ears. “Really?” 

***

When they arrived at the club, Kelvin's three friends jeered at his arrival and they were even more surprised to see him come with his wife after he rejected their invitation.

“Look who's here.. it's the lover boy!” 

One of the guys remarked as he watched Kelvin help his wife to a chair. They exchanged their greetings but not without teasing Kelvin.

“Still in honeymoon mood after all these years huh? I'm not even jealous, I swear..” 

The table erupted in laughter at another's words. Olivia forced a smile but felt empty, she felt like a clown in their midst. Kelvin was out here playing the perfect husband role and his friends teased. 

She acted so well to hide her discomfort. Luckily, she received a text from her lawyer asking for a meet up at a nearby cafe, it appears he had a document to give her. 

“Uh guys, I'm gonna step out for a while. Something urgent just came up..” She stood to her feet picking her purse up and surprisingly, Kelvin got up too.

“Oh, let me drop you off then” he turned to his friends instantly. “Till next time–

“No Kelvin, stay back and enjoy your time with your friends. It's not far away..” Olivia refused instantly. This was a perfect chance to breath an air that he wasn't part of. She has been suffocated trying to breath the same air around him.

“You heard that man, your wifey said you can stay. She's not gonna run away from you..” 

Kelvin finally sighed in defeat, he closed the gap between them and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Text me as soon as you're ready to leave, I'll come pick you up alright?” 

Olivia nodded her head, waving at his friends, she left the club.

Mr Miller arrived a few minutes later since the cafe wasn't far from the law firm. He spotted Olivia sipping a cup of latte while staring out of the see through glass.

“Mrs Ashford, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting..” Mr Miller apologized as he occupied the chair facing her. 

He brought out a file from his briefcase and slid it to her across the table. He tapped his fingers on the file and she picked it up immediately.

“I found out that most of your joint assets have been transferred to an unknown account..” 

Olivia frowned, taking a glance through each pages. She knew who the person was instantly. Nothing they do could surprise her anymore. 

“Interesting..” she whispered. 

The sudden screech a car made across the street got their attention. Her jaw dropped when she spotted the pink supercar Kelvin had gifted her pulling over in front of the club she had just left. Nancy stepped out of the car and walked into the club.

“Hold on..” 

Olivia rose to her feet picking her purse, she stepped out of the cafe and crossed the street tailing behind Nancy. 

When she returned back to the club, her lips parted. Kelvin was holding Nancy closely to himself while they giggled loudly. And the part that shattered her the most was his friend's words. 

“Two world balance. Only you can pull a stunt like this and get away with it Kelvin..” 

They all laughed. And it was then Olivia realized that everyone except her knew about this. Her heart ached at the sight. They must have laughed at her foolishness whenever they gathered like this. 

She was the real clown here. She didn't realize she was in tears until the warm liquid slid off her eyes and dropped on her hand. It was all an act, they helped him look like the perfect husband to her. 

The longer she stayed and watched them laugh at everything, the more her heart squeezed in pain. She turned away, wiping her tears away with the back of her palm. 

She walked past a tall figure who stretched a handkerchief to her. Without taking a look on who it might be, she accepted it and bolted out of the club.