Trouble

SHAWN

“Shawn, what are you doing? Why are you drinking?” my mother asked as she stepped into my living room with Miranda.

After my confrontation with Elara’s brothers, I hadn’t bothered to check in with them or with my grandfather. I had instead returned straight to the house. It was only when I entered our room—our wardrobe—that I realized she had cleared out everything that was hers.

She had left only those drab gowns my mother made available to her and some of the gifts I had given her in the past years of our marriage. Her items had been folded into boxes; it seemed she had planned on leaving after the party regardless.

Yet, why would she? Did she find someone else? Doesn't she love me anymore? My fists clenched as I ruminated on this.

“Shawn! Can’t you hear me?”

I looked at my mother blankly, needing none of her tantrums. I just wasn’t in the mood for this.

“What is the matter?”

Her head drew back in surprise, maybe by the coldness in my voice, but I didn’t apologize.

“What are you doing here?” she asked finally. “Where is Elara?”

I bit hard on my lower lip and looked away, instead picking up the cup on the table and taking a sip of the cognac.

“Shawn, stop making me repeat myself!”

I sighed, dropping the glass on the table hard—so hard that the glass broke. My mother and Miranda shuddered in part fear and part shock.

“Leave me alone, mother.”

I stood up and walked out of the living room toward my room—our room. I inhaled deeply as I shut the door behind me, taking in her soft, rosy scent. How could she think of leaving me?

I looked at the divorce papers on the bed, the ones Cassius had sent by a delivery man to the house as if knowing I was already at home. I would have torn them, but he had promised it was null. Therefore, the only thing left was to change Elara’s mind.

It won't be that hard, I thought. She loved me so much that she gave me a kidney. Surely, she could forgive me.

I bit my lower lip. Surely, she would.

I couldn’t imagine the reverse. Her place was in my house, taking care of the home. Our marriage was forever. How could she abscond from her duty—from me?

Because I pushed her into the water?

Surely she could understand... Miranda had a weak heart and couldn't swim.

Cassius’s words filtered through my head again about Miranda being a swimmer, but I shrugged them off. Even if she was a swimmer, she had a weak heart now and couldn't continue to engage in that strenuous activity.

As for my wife... I shook my head. Elara has to return. Firstly for me, and then for Grandpa and the company.

I looked around the house, and her absence made my heart ache. What was wrong with me?

I shrugged that off, too, just as a knock sounded on the door. When I opened it, it was Miranda. She looked weak, and I felt sorry that I hadn't spoken to her since the news about Elara surfaced.

“I’m sorry, my love…” I muttered, taking her in my arms. “My mind is just occupied with the recent developments. My grandfather gave me an ultimatum…”

“I understand… you need Elara’s wealth and standing…”

That’s why I loved her so much. She understood me enough, unlike that Elara.

“Yes, so the divorce…”

“You can marry me as a second wife then…”

My jaw slackened, but I righted myself fast enough. Wasn't that better than having her as a mistress? That way, I won't be tiptoeing around Elara.

“Yes, I will. But I have to get Elara back.”

“As a tool, right? For our future…”

“Yes, as a tool,” I agreed. Yet, why did my heart remain restless?

Just then, my phone rang. I quickly disengaged from the hug, not thinking much of why I was so quick to get away from my lover.

When I picked it up from the bed, it was my assistant calling. “Hello, Mork…”

“Hello, sir, there is a problem in the company…”

I frowned. “What is the problem?”

“Our biggest shareholder just pulled away. They pulled their funding too, and it looks like you sanctioned it… the board members are asking why you would do that instead of convincing Mr. S.N.”

Frustration and confusion mixed in me. “What are you talking about, Mork? I didn’t give any approval…”

A weary sigh escaped from the other end. “And that’s not all…”

I cussed out. There’s more? What could be worse than our shareholder pulling out?!

“A virus has been discovered in our server… it’s threatening to expose confidential information to the public… They…”

“Stop! Just stop! I’m coming over to the company!!”

I ended the call abruptly, my hands trembling, and started out of the room, without acknowledging Miranda’s question of “What’s going on?”