Falling For My Husband

Mulan's POV

Muttering incoherent words to myself, I continued to pace about on the fifth floor as my heart rammed against my chest in quick succession.

At this point, I felt like I was losing my mind.

The call from my mother's caretaker came in about half an hour ago but I have been unable to act on it.

Denver Smith, my boss, had refused to grant me an audience despite knowing how urgent my meeting with him was.

Snapping my eyes shut, I pushed my hand into my hair and then began to tug on it.

"Mom, you just have to hang on, I will save you." I muttered, rubbing my hands together as tears rolled down my cheeks.

For a few years now, mother had been living with a tumor in her brain which kept increasing by the day.

All the money I had worked for had gone for our basic needs and her medicine which was expensive leaving no one for her surgery.

When Eliana called earlier, I knew there was a problem but I never thought it would be so serious that mother had to be rushed to the hospital.

Just when I was about to barge Denver's office and confront him, the door creaked open.

He must have seen me in the hallway and wanted to shut the door on my face but I was faster than he was.

With my foot acting as a wedge, I cried, "Please sir I beg of you, pay me the money you owe."

"Go back to work, we will sort your payment by the weekend." He replied in his usual snobbish manner.

This had always been his response each time I requested for my three months arrears payment.

"My mom is currently at the hospital, please don't delay this any further." I cried. "Her life is at stake here, please." I added, hoping he was going to be moved with my pleas.

After what seemed like forever, he let me in, shutting the door for privacy.

"Please..." The rest of my words went down my throat when his hand brushed against my breast.

Taking a step backwards, I sent my teeth into my lips in a bid to hold back the anger threatening to tear through me.

"We both are going to enjoy ourselves but you will get the greater benefit." He smacked his lips.

Counting on his fingers now, he said, "You will get a double payment and mouth watering tip."

Disgusted with the man standing in front of me, I let out a low sigh, clenching my fist by my side as my eyes burned with anger.

"What if I refuse?" I snapped, my voice firm and unwavering.

"Then you will have to wait until the weekend." He huffed, going around the table.

The moment he fell on his seat, I grabbed the ball point pen on his table and then lunged towards him, grabbing his shirt.

"What did you just say?"

The terror in his eyes made a satisfying smile spread across my lips but at the same time, I was careful not to push my hand further to prevent an accident.

"Fine, I will pay you all of your money." He yelled in fright only then did I release him.

Thinking he was smart, he tried to double cross me but I was quick to snatch the pen knife he had pulled out.

With the tip of the knife right on his throat, I asked, "Where is the money?"

When he wouldn't give me a response, I pushed the tip of the knife into his skin causing blood to gush out.

"In the drawer." He yelled in fright.

Satisfied with the amount of fear I had instilled in him, I let go of him and at once rushed towards the drawer.

Pulling out three fat envelopes, I took one last look at him only to dash out the next second before he did something drastic to me.

Luckily for me, a taxi had just dropped someone off and at once I jumped in, giving him my destination and tossing some money at him.

On arrival at the hospital, I waddled to the reception and the moment I locked eyes with Eliana, she rushed to my side.

Her reddened eyes made my breathing hitch against my throat as only one question made round in my head.

Is mother alright?

"Where is my mother?" I managed to ask after a long and deafening silence.

"She has been moved to the normal ward, come with me." She led the way while I trailed after her, trying to stop my mind from making up scenarios.

"Thank goodness." I gasped when I finally got to see my mother.

Though she looked weak, I was more than grateful to see her alive.

Rushing to her side, I tried to pull her into a bear hug but the tubes connected to her wouldn't let me.

"I'm fine." She flashed me a smile but that was not enough to reassure me.

"She is not Mulan!" Eliana said from behind me and at once I turned to face her.

"Why is that?" Terrified even more, I added, "What did the doctor say?"

"She needs surgery, the medication won't work again." She sniffed and at once two large tears rolled down my eyes.

"Mulan dear, you don't need to worry about me. I promise I will be fine." Mother said in a sing-song voice but I could sense the pain emitting from it.

Grabbing her hand, I broke into uncontrollable tears as the fear of losing my mother dawned on me.

She was my only relative I could look up to, if anything happens to her, I wouldn't be able to survive it.

"Mom, we need help." I said all of a sudden, wiping my eyes with the back of my palm.

"We don't have anyone..." She was still speaking when I decided to cut in.

"Ethan Waston." I said through my teeth as I dug my nails into my palm in anger.

Mulan's POV

The look on mother's face showed she wasn't pleased with my idea but he was the last hope we had.

Easton Watson was my father but I disowned him at the tender age of five as he never performed the role of a father to me and he despised mother because she was his mistress.

His wife and daughter did nothing but to make our lives a living hell until we were thrown out of the boys lounge a few years ago.

"Mom, I understand how you feel but Easton is our last hope." I said in a breath, giving her hand a soft squeeze.

Leaning close, I muttered, "I will go see him myself, you don't have to come with me."

"Are you sure you want to do this? I mean... Freya, your sister..."

"Leave her to me." I said and with a determined look on my face, I made my way towards the door, not giving mother a glance lest I would be discouraged.

On arrival at Easton's mansion, I took in a deep breath and ignoring the guards who tried to stop me from heading in, I made my way into the building.

"What did mother tell you the last time you came around?" Freya, who must have seen me heading in earlier, asked with her hands crossed on her chest.

"I didn't come for you." I replied with a mild tone, heading towards my father's study but she suddenly appeared in front of me.

"Don't you get it that you aren't needed here?" She yelled, followed by a stinging slap that made me stagger backwards.

Grabbing my aching cheek with a hand as my eyes burnt with tears, I tried to hold back the anger that was threatening to tear me apart.

Before she could start running her mouth again, I returned her slap, causing her to shriek in sheer horror.

Her noise must have attracted father because in less than a minute, he came running down the stairs, followed closely behind him was Sandra, his wife.

"What are you doing here?" He yelled at me while his wife waddled to the side of her daughter.

"I tried to stop her from creating a scene but she hit me in return." Freya yelped but I was unmoved by it.

My business here was different and so, I have no time to worry about them.

"How dare you hit my daughter?" Sandra was charging at me now but before she could get to me, Easton stepped in her way, halting her.

"State your mission and leave." It was Easton speaking.

Pushing my hand into my hair, I tugged on it for a while, trying to gather my thoughts together and also not to sound rude when I was speaking.

"Cat caught your tongue?" Sandra jeered from behind but I ignored her.

"Mother needs a surgery to take out the tumor in her brain." I said and at once the whole place went silent like a graveyard.

Several minutes later, Easton cleared his throat, breaking the silence in the living room.

Falling on my knees with my hands placed together and eyes burning with tears, I cried, "Please father..." I called in a bid to appease him.

Still rubbing my hands in plea, I continued, "Please help us, I don't want my mother to die."

"You think you can just barge in here and request for money because you have a link to an affluent man." Sandra huffed, followed by an eye roll.

"I'm willing to do whatever it takes... mother is going to die if we do nothing." I said in a breath.

Pulling out the three envelopes from my purse, I pushed them forward, "This can only pay for her medicine."

Father looked like he wanted to help but he was contemplating on his decision; maybe because of the presence of Sandra.

Shutting my eyes briefly, I muttered a quick prayer to my maker, hoping he would grant my request.

"I'm not obligated to help you." Father said after a while, causing my heart to fall into my stomach with a thud.

Grasping the edge of my gown, I leaned forward, "Father, please... mom is going to die..."

"I will only help you on a condition." He smacked his lips as he pushed his hand into his pockets.

The look on Sandra and Freya's face showed they were up to no good but I brushed their expression behind me.

"I'm going to give you your inheritance so you can settle whatever you want..." He filtered off as my eyes widened in surprise.

If told that this was going to be the turnout of events, I wouldn't have believed it a bit.

Father offered me an inheritance when he started it clearly that my existence was the least of his concern.

"What should I do?" I gulped, my gaze fixated on him.

"You have a week to get married." He huffed. "You need a husband to aid you in managing your assets, I don't trust you to handle it properly."

His words made my face fall but I refused to shed even a single tear.

He was clearly saying he wouldn't help but to make it seem like he made an attempt, he came up with that.

"You should be grateful that my father considered you... I mean, you have no inheritance before now." Freya huffed.

Trying to wrap my head about what I had just been fed with, I struggled to rise and when I did, I began to stagger like I was drunk.

"Get out, our business is concluded here." Father snarled, turning his back on me.

He was already at the base of the stairs when he halted with his wife and then snapped his head in my direction.

"If I don't see your husband on Sunday, then forget about getting your inheritance." His words were followed by a mocking laughter from mother and daughter.

With my heart lunged in my throat, I made my way towards the exit and the moment I stepped out of the building, I called Tristan, my boyfriend.

"Marry me." I said the moment the lines connected.

Mulan's POV

To my delight, Tristan accepted after a brief hesitation which I fully understood.

Both of us were not ready for marriage and I clearly told him if we turned out not to be compatible, we could divorce.

At least, I have nothing to lose when my mother is alive, hale and hearty.

Standing behind the mirror in my bedroom, I applied a bit of makeup on my face and after ensuring that I was fully prepared, I stepped out of my room.

We both agreed to be at the registry by eight am for our marriage certificate but I arrived fifteen minutes earlier.

When he didn't arrive at eight, I became worried, taking several glances at my wristwatch and the entrance.

Half an hour past eight am, he was still yet to arrive.

Unable to hold it in any longer, I dialed his phone but it was switched off.

"What am I going to do now?" I muttered, biting my lower lips as I regretted my decision of waiting until Saturday before visiting the registry.

"If I had chosen a date earlier, even if he doesn't show up, I can be assured we will return by the following day." I muttered, my eyes hot with tears.

My belief that I was going to lay hands on my inheritance spurred me to spend all my money on my mother's medicine, pending when she would be moved into the OR for operation.

Blinking my eyes rapidly, I tried to send back the tears pooling in my eyes but it was to no avail.

"Are you alright?" A kind feminine voice from behind me asked and at once I jerked in fright.

Wiping my eyes with the back of my palms, I nodded, flashing her a coy smile.

Not wanting to engage her in any form of conversation, I quickly scurried out the building and then flagged down a cab.

Why was I crying back there? - I couldn't help but to ask myself as I fiddled with my phone.

It wasn't as if Tristan had dumped me, his phone was turned off, that's all.

"He probably had a hectic day at work and overslept." I muttered in his defense, still fiddling with my phone.

The moment the car pulled up in Tristan's alley, I got off and then paid my fare only for a lady to hurriedly rush into the car, pushing me to the side in the process.

Wondering what the issue was, I raised my brow but shrugged the thought off as I proceeded into Tristan's house.

The door was not locked so, I merely pushed it in only to meet him sitting half naked, left for only his shorts on the couch.

Suddenly, the perfume of the lady from earlier waltz through my nostrils and at once my senses become heightened.

"Hey babe, you never told me you will be coming." He said in a jolly voice, trying to pull me into a hug but I halted him.

Picking up his shirt which was lying on the floor, I took in a deep drink of the scent which was a mix of his and the lady's perfume.

As if that was not enough, there were lipstick stains all over.

"Hey babe, what's the problem?" He appeared in front of me, trying to stop me once more but I pushed him to the side.

Hurrying towards the stairs, my eyes were already burning with hot tears as I was slowly getting a hang of what had happened.

All of a sudden I halted when I stepped on a wrapped paper; lowering myself to the floor, I discovered it was a condom pack.

That was the last straw that broke the camel's back.

"Mulan believe me, I can explain." His words were followed by a hard slap that caused him to stagger backwards.

"What do you take me for? A fool?" I yelled, my veins popping out of my neck in protest.

"I'm sorry, please." He said in a sing song voice. Grabbing my shoulder, he went on his knees, "I honestly don't know what came over me last night."

Disgusted, I pushed him to the side and with heavy footsteps, I stomped off in anger barely escaping being hit by a grey Chevrolet Silverado.

"Mulan, please come back, we can sort things out." Tristan yelled, causing me to snap my head around only to see him approaching me.

Almost immediately, I flagged down a cab and then got in before he could get to me.

What have I done to deserve this? - I muttered, biting my lower lips as my intestines churned in protest.

Tristan has always confessed his love for me anytime he got the chance, little did I know what he was making a fool of me.

"Where are we headed?" The cab man's voice broke through my trail of thought.

"Uhm..." Unsure of what to say to him, I filtered off.

After what I did to Denver some days ago, he sacked me leaving me without a job, going home was the least I wanted not to talk of paying a visit to the hospital in this mental state of mine.

Taking a deep breath, I leaned forward, "Any restaurant around."

He affirmed this with a nod and once again only my sniff rented the atmosphere.

It was as if whoever it was that was behind the lighting of the bar was waiting for me because the moment I stepped in, the lights went off.

Wondering what the issue was, I began to dart my eyes around until lights flooded the screen in the bar.

Will you marry me, Elsie? - I read in my head.

"OMG, this is so romantic." I could hear girls chirping around me and involuntarily, a smile spread on my lips.

Just as it came, it disappeared when a sharp sound rang across the room.

"A slap?" I pondered, watching the lady in front of a man seated on a wheelchair seething with anger.

"You must be stupid to think I'm going to get married to a cripple like you."