TILL CONTRACT DO US PART
***********************
NARRATORS POV
***********************
Caleb continued to endure the disregard and insults from some members of the Fernandez family, especially from David and his wife.
They hated him for no obvious reason known to him. Caleb sometimes blamed Zoey for his woes, if only she had not betrayed him. He had really loved her, their time together was never boring and he didn't suspect her at all, he had thought she was happy, but she was not.
Caleb scooped some water and splashed it on his face, he didn't want to remember the past, it hurts too much. He stared at his image in the mirror, he wasn't happy with what he saw. He was slowly losing himself, he regretted agreeing to this marriage with Sophie, even though she wasn't mean to him like some of her family members, he still felt emasculated by all that was going on. The other day the matriarch of the family had insisted that he follow her to the salon with her friends, they had mocked and belittled him in the presence of all present.
His arms gripping the washbasin he stared hard at himself in front of the mirror, he regretted agreeing to the marriage each day, he should have just pleaded with Zoey, to tell the truth, she might have changed her mind and shown him mercy. The humiliation from this family was getting out of hand.
“Are you having a baby in there,'' Sophie yelled from the room. “I haven't got all day and I need to take my bath.” she was getting impatient.
The door opened and Caleb strode into the room, he looked worse for wear. He would have engaged her in a war of words as he normally did, but he ignored her, took his shirt lying on the armchair, and started towards the door.
Sophie wanted to ignore him, she knew she had no business to be bothered by how he was feeling but her conscience pricked at her, she had never seen him so moody and for a second she felt pity for him. “Are you okay?”
“I'm fine.” he left the room without looking over at her. What she didn't know was that he did not want her to see how vulnerable he was at that moment, he felt so lonely that it hurt.
She watched him leave the room, his back was hunched over in defeat, Sophie made a silent vow to stand by Caleb against the humiliation he was facing from some members of the family. “Even if our marriage is faux, Caleb wasn't, he was human just like she and blood ran through his veins.'' With a newfound purpose, Sophie went into the bathroom making a promise to herself to be kinder to Caleb and also to defend him against the poor treatment he was getting from his family.
**************
“Where is that good for nothing husband of yours, he was supposed to take me and my friends to the mall today.” grandma rosaline cursed, she fanned herself with her hands while calling out for Caleb
“Grandma, you have a driver to take you anywhere you want.” Sophie tried to reason with her.
“Are you questioning my decision?”
“No granny.” she had to tread with care, she knew how her granny reacted when angry, it could cause her the chance to become the heir of the family business.
“You called for me, grand... I mean ma'am.”
“Where have you been.” she handed over her small purse to him and walked towards her car.
“I have some shopping to do too, I will tag along.” Sophie grabbed her grandma's bag from Caleb and started walking away.
Kim met Sophie as she was about to come into the house, she was on her way back from lunch with her friends, she insisted she wanted to join them and they all piled into the car and left for the mall.
Caleb understood what Sophie had done for him, he noticed she had become nicer to him lately. He only hoped that somehow he would be in a position to help her, especially on her quest to become heir to the Fernandez business, one thing was sure, she deserved it better than David and his awful wife Ella.