Marriage Contract With My Ex

SARAH PIERCE 

“Lego house, mummy.” Raya pointed at the red brick building, and my soul shuddered while the sky rumbled in response. “See! Lego house.”

“I see it, baby,” I whispered, wishing it was also possible for me to view the house as an innocent replica of my daughter’s favourite toy. 

But that can never happen. This house was hell for me while growing up. 

However, I have come back to this hell because I want to protect my daughter from the terrible life I have exposed her to. Despite my struggles in the past years, I have been unable to provide a good life for her. Finding a way out of that terrible life was a much-needed solution.

I did weigh my options before choosing to come back here, but no matter how I tried to evade it, approaching the family I ran away from was the best option I had. 

And now, I am about to find out if my foolish choice will turn out to be a good decision or not. 

“Raya.” My tightened lips loosened. I faked a grand smile and bent my knees before my three-year-old, whose eyes always reminded me of myself. “Can you be a good girl for Mummy?”

Raya's curly hair fell to the side. Her eyes widened with understanding, and she asked, “Mummy busy?”

I nodded and spread my fingers. “Five minutes. Can you give me that?”

“Yes.”

Her quick response saddened me because it reflected how much she had gotten used to being lonely among strangers while I had to step out to work for hours. My little angel should never have to be so understanding. One of these days, if she throws a tantrum, I won't get mad at her. I tell you, my heart will swell with joy when that day comes because it will be the first time I hear my baby complain. 

After planting a long kiss on her forehead, I adored her little smile and said, “Thank you, my beautiful baby.”

Seconds later, I pushed the front door open. I dropped our little luggage on the cold floor, and with a firm hold of Raya's hand, we walked down the corridor, which soon ended to reveal the living room. 

And there he was. 

Nolan Pierce, my father.

 He was seated in his usual spot, his eyes sparkling with joy, his words filled with contentment. As I headed into the room, my soul wondered why he never showed such emotions towards me. Why was hatred the only thing he offered me?

Ahh… 

I need to stop doing this to myself. I need to stop allowing the past to torture me. 

While calming the storm in my soul, my racing heart stopped me from taking a step further. So, from where I stood, I loudly called, “Father.”

He looked away from the person he was speaking to, and I caught the grimness that filled his eyes. Without moving, he lashed me with his gaze, did the same to Raya and bitterly asked, “You are alive? I thought you died.”

My heartache worsened, but I twitched my eyes to ensure he did not get to see that his words still had a terrible effect on me. “Father.”

He looked away. “You are dead to me. Leave.”

“I am here to stay.” I will not back down. I don't care if he says worse. I will not back down till I find a way to make my daughter's life blissful. “I am moving back in.”

“Listen to yourself,” his embittered words continued, and our eyes met again. This time, his hatred was boldly stamped on his face. Anyone passing by would be able to tell that this father strongly despised his daughter. “What makes you think you have the right to move into my house? You ran away without a word and clearly…” The disgust in his eyes reached Raya, I had to pull her behind me so she does not get exposed to his vileness. “... you have been whoring around. Why would I take you in?”

“Father.” With Raya firmly pressed against my legs, a shallow breath left me, and I advanced my steps into the room. “I want to-”

“Mr. Pierce, this is not proper,” the other voice in the room said, and oddly, the impatience in this person's voice was very familiar. “I have a meeting by 4.”

So familiar that I whipped my head to see who it was. 

Oh…

Shit…

I shouldn't have turned. 

Or? Am I dreaming?

Wait… Of course not. There is no way I am dreaming. Even with his slicked-back hair, it is evident that he is who I think he is.

But then… How is Nathaniel Storm here? What is my ex doing in my father's house?

Cold sweat built on my forehead, and my bulged eyes failed to fathom his appearance no matter how much I stared. Also, my mind could not understand why Nathaniel wasn't bothered by my presence. There was no flinch in his body, no soul in his piercing eyes and no desire to look at me, the woman he once claimed to love. The only expression he gave was a brief press of his lips while he appeared to wonder if he knew me.

“Mr. Storm,” my father's chilly voice dragged me out of the deadly sea of emotions I was heading into, “please, let us continue from where we stopped.”

Nathaniel’s simple outfit rustled the leather couch as he sat back and asked, “Is she someone you know?”

His question worsened the bleeding in my heart, and the gasp that left me almost took all of my breath. If Raya’s touch wasn't with me, I would have succumbed to the terrible storm inside me. 

“Nathaniel…” I whispered, but I wasn't loud enough. However, the shock in my eyes was something Nathaniel could see. So, when he looked at me, I made sure to convert that expression to anger. With that glare, I dared him to lie that he didn't know me. 

But he remained calm. He remained at peace and unbothered. 

“Mr. Storm, she is just someone. Do not mind her,” my father answered. Then he cleared his throat and faced me. “Sarah.” I blinked and looked away from my ex. “Do as you wish. But do not ruin this special meeting. Mr. Storm is your sister's husband-to-be. Don't -”

“Husband-to-be?” I frowned. “Wh-what is that supposed to mean?” My gaze fell on Nathaniel again, and when I saw that he was not refuting my father's claims, my soul shattered. 

How is the man I searched and waited for for years plotting to get married to my sister? How does that make sense? How is this… How could he do this? How…

“Nathaniel!” I screamed, and his brows twitched in pondering as he folded his arms. 

“How dare you!” My father rebuked my angry utterance before the man I called could respond. “He is Mr. Storm. How dare you call him by name?! Wait? I never mentioned his full name. How do you-” He got up, and I saw fire in my father's eyes. “You have been spying on us, haven't you? You vile, good-for-nothing girl.”

I could no longer draw strength; my father's words were now making me shake with fear, just as it happened in the past. Nathaniel's silence worsened everything. The Nathaniel I dated and knew would not have remained quiet for so long. 

With tears stinging my eyes, I looked down at the ground and tried to find something to say. “I-”

“I have nothing else to say to you. Go inside.” My father harshly pointed me out of the sitting room. “Do not come out unless I tell you to. Leave! Take your bastard and go inside!”

Foolishly, I did as he ordered. 

With Raya walking behind me, I headed into the house, ignored the presence of my sister who walked past me and found the door to my room.