Chapter 3

Grayson stared at Mavis with wide eyes, obviously surprised at the sudden confession of his wife. Seeing the serious looks in her eyes, he wavered and thought that she must be telling the truth. However, he still managed to compose himself within a few seconds.

“If you are saying this to postpone or not to sign our divorce, then it won’t work. Instead of dwelling in this failure of a marriage, we should part ways,” he said.

“But I am pregnant. Do you think I just went to the hospital for nothing? Do you think I would suddenly bring up the topic about having a child out of nowhere despite hearing you say that you do not want one? Grayson… p-please.”

Mavis could no longer stop herself from crying. It crossed her mind that she may look like some desperate bitch that very moment but it did not stop her from opening up. In a long time, this would be the only time she got the courage to tell what she truly felt towards her husband.

She added, “I-I know that you are supposed to marry my sister before and not me but this is our reality. You married me and we have been in this marriage for almost five years. Please, don’t. Don’t do this to me, Grayson.”

“If you truly are pregnant, then you decide whether to give birth or to abort it,” he said before finally taking his leave, not wanting to speak about the matter any further. But he stopped for a moment and added, “If you wish to give birth, then you must hand over the baby to me to take care of.”

Grayson clenched his fists, his conscience telling him that he should not be doing this, especially that he knew how much Mavis had put effort in keeping their relationship stable even though it had always been on the verge of failure. However, some part of him said otherwise. This time, he wanted to put everything back to how it should have been from the very start. Pretending that everything was okay simply drained him and now that Venice returned, he thought that it was time to stop these pretentious acts.

Mavis could hear her heart and her dream future shattering and just be nothing but a fleeting fantasy. In a span of a few hours just after her sister told her that she will be taking Grayson back, it was indeed happening no matter how Mavis was against it. Still, instead of losing her mind and going hysterical, she grabbed the divorce papers and followed Grayson into their room.

He was about to take off his clothes when Mavis entered and when he saw determination in her eyes, Grayson had no idea how to react.

“I know that you want to get back with my sister,” she said while setting the divorce papers aside on the nearby table before walking towards him. “I can’t blame you since I have known from the very start that you two love each other.”

When Mavis got close to him, she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close to her. She held her gaze on him as her hands continued to slowly unbutton his dress shirt. His scent lingered around her, intoxicating her and making her even more addicted to him.

“You are my husband and yet all throughout the years of living under the same roof, sharing the same meals, and sleeping on the same bed, you never really made me feel like I am your wife. I… I am not asking you to reciprocate my feelings but if you want me to sign the divorce papers, then listen to my condition.”

“What condition?”

Grayson could not tell what Mavis was thinking. Not to mention, this was the first time he ever heard her talk this much to him since he got used to her being timid and soft spoken. In each passing second as they stared into each other's eyes, he could not help but gulp as the warmth she radiated seemed to be a magnet wanting to lure him closer to her.

Mavis, then removed his dress shirt and marveled at her husband’s well-maintained lean muscle. She could feel and hear her heart thumping against her chest as her cheeks started to heat up because, it may not seem that obvious, but she was so close to losing her mind, especially that she was initiating something quite daring. With her hands shaking out of nervousness and anxiousness that he might reject her at that very moment, she still continued. She ran her hands from his well-toned abs towards his defined specs, up until his broad shoulders. Her breath hitched and even though she was the one trying to seduce him, she felt like her plan was simply backfiring on her. And not to mention, her body tingled with heat and mixed sensations.

“What condition?” Grayson asked for the second time after holding her wrist.

“Two months,” she replied. “Give just two months of your time, your attention, and love, Grayson. Even if you have to fake everything, make me feel like I am your wife, not just in name. If you agree to that, I will surely sign the divorce papers.”

“Since two months is too much to ask for… I want to add another thing that you should do aside from that.”

Mavis gulped. “Name it.”

“That wedding dress you showed me the other day… I want you to work on it for Venice.”

A sharp pang of pain shot right through her chest, realizing that he was asking her to make the wedding dress of his next wife even though they were still married. Her shoulders slumped as she took a few steps backwards. However, Grayson grabbed her arm and pulled her close to him.

His warm breath brushed over her ear. “If you do it, I will do anything you like. Be it going on dates everyday, cooking for you every time you want me to… anything, Mavis. For two months, I will be yours and no one else.”

It took her a while to decide and knowing that this could be the only time she would feel his love, whether it was fake or not, Mavis came to a decision.

“Fine… I agree.”

“Then, you better prepare for it.”

The next thing she knew, Grayson sealed her lips with his own. Mavis immediately gave in with his soft kisses as she groaned when she felt his hand underneath her shirt. Her grip on his shoulders tightened as his kisses started to get rough and when he seemed to have no plans in breaking the kiss, Mavis had to push him away. 

Almost out of breath, she whispered, “Please… go easy on me.”

Grayson gritted his teeth as he finally unclasped the hook of her brassiere. 

“I can’t promise you that,” he growled with a low voice before biting her on the neck. 

This was one reason why he did his best not to be intimate with her. He simply loses control of his urges, his actions, and his mind was only filled with claiming her… of owning her even though some part of him says that it was all wrong. He lifted her off the ground and laid her on the couch with him in-between her spread legs.

Mavis, on the other hand, let her fingers caressed through his hair, letting herself indulge with his hot kisses and warm touches. Though the times they were intimate with each other could only be counted with one hand, she could not deny the fact that in each time they did it, it made her crazy.

“G-Grayson… p-please…”

He knew she was near, but instead of letting her reach her climax, he stopped and hovered over her.

“T-That was so mean of you,” she breathed while covering her face with hands, feeling all embarrassed.

Grayson, then held both of her wrists and pinned them just above her.

“This time, I want you to reach your first climax of the night when I am inside you.”

From that statement alone, Mavis knew that it would be another long night of lovemaking. She had lost track of time but one thing was for sure, she was too exhausted to move after quite some time… though it still did not help her sleep immediately after. Upon noticing that Grayson had already fallen asleep, she stared at him and cupped his cheek.

“I… I do not want to lose you,” she whispered. “I want to stay by your side. I want to be the woman who will be there for you even in your darkest time so please, don’t leave me.”

Even though she wanted to say those exact same words to him when he was awake, Mavis knew that she would just be turned down again. And even if she wanted to hate him for not being in love with her, she could not bring herself to do it. It was simply because Mavis was fully aware that she cannot force his heart to love her just as how she cannot imagine herself being in love with another man.

“I love you…” Those were the last words she muttered before finally dozing off to sleep. 

The next morning, Mavis found herself alone in the room, which was a usual thing since Grayson was an early person. He was probably already in his office by now so Mavis just took her time washing up before wearing some casual clothes. Going downstairs to check on the progress of the party preparation, she stopped in her tracks when she noticed that everything that was done the other day was gone.

“Mrs. Briar,” one of the workers called out upon seeing that the mistress of the house was already awake. “Sir Grayson had instructed us to take everything away. He said that throwing a party for your anniversary this year is… is not necessary.”

“O-Okay…” Mavis was obviously dejected, but there was nothing else she could do. If she chooses to push through with the party, it may only lead to an argument with her husband. And worse, he might just take back his words and have her sign their divorce papers without those two months she asked for.

Since there was nothing else she could do, she changed into more formal clothes before heading to her workplace. She may have asked for a one-week break but since the party was canceled, Mavis thought that it would just be better to focus herself on making the wedding dress… though it would not truly make her feel any better knowing that it would be worn by her sister when she marries her current husband.

As she started working all by herself, her boss, Gary, came strutting towards her work table. Just by the sight of her, he immediately sensed that Mavis was somehow in a gloomy mood. Instead of letting her be, he simply smiled knowing that the news he brought with him would definitely lift her up.

“Heavens, Mavis,” he started. “If you continue with that negative energy, you might just affect the others.”

Mavis stopped for a while and acknowledged the presence of her boss.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Gary. I… I will try my best to not spread my negativity.”

Gary sighed and waved his hand, dismissing what he just said earlier and simply smiled at her with sparkling eyes.

“I have some good news for you, hoping it would drive away your sour mood.”

Mavis could only raise both of her eyebrows.

Her boss, then, leaned closer to her as if he was about to tell the dirtiest secret on earth.

“Hestia Fiore wants an audience with you next month, after the week of the launching of her new set of designs.”

“H-Hestia Fiore? Hestia Fiore?” she exclaimed in excitement. “The owner of the famous Fiore brand?”