Chapter 5 WEDDING NIGHT

He dragged her inside his room and pushed her on the bed, forcefully pulling off her wedding gown. "It's our wedding night and I have the right to make love to you". He said.

"If you don't let me go, I will tell your dad that you forcefully slept with me on our wedding night".

"Fine! You've won this time around. I hope you know you can't escape all the time. Because of you, I have to go and call one of my girls to satisfy my sexual urge".

"That's none of my business. You can do whatever you want, I don't care. And you seem to forget what we have here..." I paused, gesturing my two fingers between the both of us. Is nothing more than a contract and we shouldn't go beyond that".

He stared at her and walked away angrily. I got up to take a shower as he left. "I miss John so much". I decided to give him a call, but he didn't pick up his calls. I dialed it thrice, he picked on the last attempt.

"What do you want?". He said, angrily.

"I wanted to check up on you".

"You wanted to check up on me? Oh! You wanted to know if I am still sober right?". He smirked. "You know you can be very funny sometimes. You did what you wanted and you still dared to call to check up on me, really?

"I didn't mean it that way. I..". He interrupted me. "Save your explanations, I don't need them". He ended the call.

Maureen's mood for the whole day changed. She kept on crying and didn't have an appetite to eat.

It was raining cats and dogs outside. Michael wasn't back. I checked the time and it was midnight. I was about to go to bed when I heard voices coming from downstairs. "Who could that be?". I thought. I went downstairs to check, and it was Michael. He came home with some streetwalkers.

"Move aside. I'm going to enjoy the night with my baddies here. This weather is the best for it". He said, pushing me away.

"Why are you heading towards our room? I thought you said it's meant for us ? Why are you taking this whores there?". I asked, irritably.

"Since you have decided not to make love with me tonight, they will be having fun with me on my bed. You can sleep on the couch or watch us have fun". He laughed.

"You disgust me!". I walked away. I had no choice but to sleep on the couch because he had locked the other rooms. I wasn't comfortable with it, but I had to manage.

*******

It was morning already. My whole body was aching. Since I was married, I rented my apartment, so I can visit anytime I want. I went to the kitchen to check for food, but there was nothing there. So, I made noodles instead.

"Good morning sunshine! I had so much fun last night". He said, happily.

"I didn't ask you if you had fun or not, Michael. And why are you not putting on your shirt? Why are you on shorts?". I stared at him disgustingly.

"Oh! Nothing. I just choose to. What are you preparing? Noodles?".

"Isn't it obvious?".

"Well. I had no idea you could cook. I'm starving. Prepare mine as well". He said.

"Are your girls still around? I want to shower. I will be visiting my apartment today". I asked, ignoring him.

He teased her. "Oh! They are still on the bed, would you like to join them?". He winked. "Just kidding though, they left this early morning".

I served the noodles on the dining table. I was done with mine before he came downstairs because I didn't want to sit with him on the dining table. It would give a happy couple vibes that I wasn't interested in. I met him downstairs after I had finished taking my bath.

"You said you were going to your apartment, why are you dressed like that? Or are you going to meet your lover?".

I laughed mockingly. "Are you being insecure? Maybe you need to be reminded again". I walked away.

"Who does she think she is? She is so annoying". He sighed.

Maureen drove to her old apartment. Nothing had changed. She greeted the tenants there. They were so glad to see her again. They thought she wouldn't come around for a long time, since she just got married. I checked the wardrobe I kept on the balcony to see if my parents' pictures were still there. How could I have forgotten the important thing in my life?

I miss my parents so much. I wished I could have a word with them. My dad would say Failure is a part of success. Learn from your mistakes and use them as an opportunity to grow and improve. I took the pictures with me and bid the tenants goodbye.

Michael didn't go to the office today. I met him at the same spot where I left him. The noodles were still on the dining table. "Michael!". I screamed. "Why is this place littered? You don't know how to tidy up a place after you've finished eating?"

"You are back! I was waiting for you to come and tidy it. It's your job, not mine". He said, pressing his phone.

I looked at him with surprise. "You were waiting for me? Why didn't you tell the maids to tidy up this place for you, since you are too big to clean up after eating".

"I sent them away. I don't need a maid anymore. I'm married now. So..." He paused. "Get ready for work. Take care of the sitting room and the kitchen". He said, pushing me on the floor.

"How dare you push me, Michael. How dare you!". I yelled at him. "I'm not your maid, Michael. Treat me with some respect".

He laughed. "you should have used your respect to pay back the loan your parents borrowed". He said, walking away.

"Michael, come back here!