Chapter 60

Lillian

Jade kept running around, packing everything she could lay her hands on that she thought we needed. She had been giddy the whole time after I told her we were going to Paris and that we were going to use Zayden's private jet.

   Nico was against her going but eventually agreed. I understood him; it's quite intimidating if your girlfriend's best friend has a rich husband and she's enjoying privileges indirectly from him.

Nico wasn't poor; he had a stable job to live an average life, and I had suggested that he came to work in Zayden's company.

   All it took was for me to run my hands through Zayden's hair while kissing him, and he'd agree.

  But it was a big, no. He felt intimidated so we all chilled and let him do what he wanted.

 

  "We're going to Paris!" She kept repeating and I just sat at the edge of the bed, watching with a satisfied expression on my face. 

 

"My husband said we could go shopping when we arrive, so you don't have to pack too much," I told her, a wide smile on my face.

I've been smiling lately. It's Been a few days since our hot, mind-blowing intercourse at the office, and since then, Zayden has been putting effort into whatever thing we had going on between us. We've been having a lot of sex lately, at least three times a day and sometimes without protection.

  I'm getting a contraceptive implant in Paris, I can't keep taking risks like this. I'm still surprised that I'm not pregnant yet.

Jade paused. Slowly, she turned around to face me, a couple of dresses in her hand.

" Your husband?" She crooked a brow. An amused expression on her face.

I rolled my eyes. The words came out of my mouth before I even realised it." There's nothing wrong with calling him my husband. He technically is."

She shook her head, dropping the dresses on the floor." Uhh, No! Every single thing is wrong with calling him your husband!"

She placed both hands on my cheek, squeezing them." You have just less than three months left, keep it together."

She released my flesh and went back to packing. We remained in silence until I decided to break it.

" He said he wants to cancel the contract." I suddenly said, my eyes falling to my feet that were folded on in the bed.

Jade shrugged." As long as he gets that jewellery shop done then sure. You've gotten quite a lot from him. Even if he doesn't complete the building, you have enough money to complete it yourself."

I sighed deeply, pushing myself to lie flat on the bed." That's not what I meant. He no longer wants our relationship to be based on a contract."

Jade ran to my side immediately." Don't tell me he already fell for you!"

I chuckled. " He hasn't said the words but the look in his eyes says it all."

Jade puffed out some air." What happened to the cold? I don't do love Zayden. I thought this was supposed to be a loveless, contract marriage."

I shrugged. Honestly, I don't know either. At first, it felt like he was just jealous I was hanging out with his brother, and that's why he brought me close, but then there's more to it. I knew there was more to it from the beginning.

" It's barely fucking six months! Who the hell falls in love that quick." She yelled, shaking me violently.

I turned to look at her." You fell for Nico at first sight ma'am "

Her cheeks turned pink." He's not Zayden, okay."

I sighed again, hugging the pillow." Since he wants to make the marriage official? What's your say on that."

" I told him it's not that simple, he'll have to start from scratch to win me over."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes." Pretty sure he already did." She lay in the bed facing me." So it's going to be like, you two dating and stuff that normal couples do?"

" Probably."

" Do you want this?" Jade asked, and I bit down on my lips.

" I...I don't know." I chuckled.

She ran a hand through my hair." If it's what you want, then go for it, but I don't want you with him. I never liked him anyway and I have a feeling he's going to hurt you, if not emotionally then physically. You said so yourself, he has anger issues."

"He's been working on them, he hasn't lost his cool since then," I assured her.

She sighed." That's because you guys haven't had any heated arguments. If it happens, a man that can't control his anger and is prone to hitting you is not someone you should be with."

She held my hands and squeezed them gently." Think carefully, Lily. You could wait till the contract ends and start afresh, forgetting about him."

A small smile appeared on my lips. Forget about Zayden? Nah, that's next to impossible. Not after our talk at the office. He needed someone, he needed me.

  I'm not going to leave him after learning just half of what he went through. Plus, he trusts me. That's why he opened up. And I could tell he panicked that I'll see him the way others see him- a man who had committed heinous crimes while he was young.

  What I saw was a young boy shut out from the world as punishment for what he did. Growing up in solitude is no joke. I can't imagine it. He had no friends, didn't experience childhood and was just trapped in four fucking walls with the voices in his head.

  The story wasn't completely clear yet, there are some missing pieces I'm yet to dig out. Like Aiden said he killed two kids in high school but Zayden just affirmed that he had his high school inside four thick walls with no one but him in the class.

  I don't want to leave him alone and let him go back to being lonely even if he's already accustomed to it. He doesn't show it but he is. He has no one but me.

   Whatever flaws we had, we would work through them. After all, it's for better or worse.

"I want to give this a try. I know I sounded stupid after all the plans I made of leaving him after the contract but ....he needs someone by his side." I told her, hoping she'd understand, but she wouldn't because she doesn't know the things I know.

" You don't love him, do you?" She asked, her eyes trained on me.

My thoughts went haywire. Do I love him?  I wasn't so sure myself but I do know that lately I felt okay.

  He made me feel safe in his sick way, talking about killing my enemies. I felt happy right where we were, the kind of couple we were

  My life was normal; he made me feel normal.

" No, not yet."

She sighed" I think you do."

I chuckled"Come on!"

Her expression turned serious." Promise me lily. That if he by any chance loses control of himself, you'll leave him."

I nodded.

" No, say it. Promise me! You've gone through a lot. If he so much as hurt your feelings, you're leaving him and never coming back."

" I promise!"

Giving me a tight hug, she went back to the parking. I joined her but my thoughts kept me company most of the time.

I'm giving Zayden a chance. I'm giving our marriage a chance and I just hope I'm doing the right thing.