Twelve

Raven's POV

It's been three weeks since that night with Mason, and each day felt like a slow burn. The memory of us together still lingered in my mind, but what hurt me more was his sudden behavior change. He's gone from distant to practically avoiding me altogether. It was as if we didn't live in the same house anymore.

After graduating from college a week ago, I threw myself into my designs, trying to start from scratch, and also distract myself from the emotional turmoil going on in my head. I used my savings to get everything a fashion designer needs to create amazing clothes and bags. I spent most of my days sketching and sewing, trying to create something beautiful despite the chaos in my mind. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about Mason.

His indifference was driving me nuts. Every morning, I wake up with no sight of him anywhere. Mason would leave for work before dawn and come back long after midnight, ensuring we never crossed paths. But tonight, I was done playing games. I needed answers.

I decided to wait for him, refusing to let him avoid me like he had for the past three weeks. After making myself a cup of tea to keep my nerves in check, I headed to his room and lay down on his bed. It felt strange, the sheets were unfamiliar and I realised I'd never slept on his bed before. As I waited, my eyes grew heavy, and I almost drifted off to sleep, but then I heard the familiar sound of his car pulling into the driveway.

My heart pounded as I sat up, checking the time. It was way past midnight, just as I'd expected. The sound of his footsteps approached the door, and I took a deep breath, trying to steady my breath. I was getting anxious.

When Mason walked in, his surprise was evident. His brows shot up, and for a moment, he just stared at me, as if unsure whether I was real or just a figment of his imagination. I forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil brewing inside me.

"Welcome back," I said softly, rising from the bed. "How was your day?"

He didn't answer right away, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in my appearance. I knew I looked a mess... probably just as much as I felt inside. I didn't put any effort into trying to look good; the last thing I want is to push him further away from me. Not that I wouldn't want a repeat of what happened between us, but that's what caused this distance in the first place. I approached him, reaching for his blazer.

"Let me help you with this," I offered, sliding it off his shoulders and hanging it on the back of a chair.

"Why are you still awake?" His tone was flat, almost weary.

"I was waiting for you," I  replied, trying to sound casual, though my heart was racing. "We need to talk."

Mason sighed, running a hand through his hair. "As you can see, I just got back from work, and I'm exhausted, Raven. Whatever you want to talk about, can wait till tomorrow."

"No," I said firmly, stepping closer. "I want to know why you've been avoiding me. Why have you been acting so distant?"

"Why would I avoid you, and what do you mean distant?" He asked, avoiding my question. "I don't remember us being close. In case you've forgotten, I'm a busy man and don't have time to banter words with you."

"We've been more than just close, Mason. You started avoiding me ever since we had sex." I was tired of his attitude.

For a moment, he didn't respond. His gaze dropped to the floor before meeting mine. "What happened between us... it was a mistake," he said finally, his words were like a punch to my gut. "It wasn't part of our agreement, and it shouldn't have happened."

I stared at him, disbelief washing over me. A mistake? I wasn't prepared for the answer I got. My heart clenched painfully, but I forced myself to remain composed.

"So, you regret it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mason didn't hesitate. "Yes. It wasn't planned, it just happened. So I suggest you forget about it and pretend it never happened."

A bitter taste filled my mouth, and I struggled to keep my emotions in check. I couldn’t believe how easily he dismissed that night, how he acted as if it meant nothing. Instead of letting him see how much his words hurt me, I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a tight smile.

"Fine," I said, stepping back. "If that's how you feel, then I'll drop it."

He reached for his drawer and pulled out a document before handing it over to me. "Here, just like we agreed. You’ll get the rest after we get divorced."

I took the documents and recognized them as the deed to the house he promised me. I know I should be happy I got what I wanted but happiness eluded me. "Can you at least tell me why you're acting this way?"

Mason's jaw tightened, and he let out a heavy breath. "Raven, we made a deal. This marriage is just a business arrangement, and we both agreed to that."

"I know what I agreed to, Mason." I snapped, my frustration bubbling over. "But you didn't have to sleep with me if you didn't feel anything. Why did you do it, Mason?"

He looked at me then, his expression became unreadable. "Because you were upset, and you said you wanted me. I was just trying to make you feel better."

His words stung, and for a moment, I was speechless. Did he sleep with me out of pity? How could I have been so stupid? I'd thought maybe, just maybe, that night had meant something to him, that it wasn't just about comfort or a distraction. But I was wrong.

Anger and humiliation warned within me, but before I could say anything, a wave of nausea hit me out of nowhere. I turned on my heel and rushed into the bathroom, barely making it in time as I emptied the contents of my stomach into the sink. I gripped the edge of the counter as my body trembled, I hated how weak and vulnerable I felt.

Mason followed me, he began rubbing my back and held my hair out of the way.

"Are you sick?" He asked, his voice softer now.

I shrugged off his touch, and my anger rekindled. "It's none of your business," I muttered, rinsing my mouth. This is the third time I've thrown up since yesterday, and I hated it. I hated being sick because that meant I'd need to go to the hospital and it's not my favorite place to be.

"I'm sorry for making a big deal out of the whole situation," I said bitterly, turning to face him. "I'll focus on our arrangement, just like you said, but you need to be fast about whatever it is you're doing so we can get divorced, and I can finally get the hell out of this place."

Mason's eyes darkened, and he ignored my words, his expression growing more serious. "Did you remember to take pills after that night?" He asked suddenly.

His question threw me off guard, and I felt a fresh wave of irritation. First, he tells me what happened was a mistake, and now he's bringing it up again. The thought of taking any precautions never crossed my mind until now, and suddenly, the realization hit me hard.

I hadn't taken any pills. I'd been so caught up in everything else that it had completely slipped my mind. My heart pounded as the possibility of being pregnant flashed through my mind, but I couldn't let him know that. I'm not pregnant, I can't be.

"So, did you?" He asked again.

I did the only thing I thought was best, I lied. "What am I, twelve? Of course, I did."

He seemed to relax a bit, but I couldn't help but notice the slight frown on his face. Was he expecting a different answer? I wanted to scream at him, to ask him why he cared so much now after dismissing me so easily. But I held my tongue.

Mason's phone rang, breaking the tense silence between us. He answered it quickly, turning away from me. I realized he was talking to Julie.

I watched him for a few seconds before leaving the room. All I wanted now was to get this sham of marriage over with and move on with my life.

As I walked back to my room, I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I can't afford to keep on letting myself get hurt by men, I would never cry over another man. Not again. As I climbed into bed, the only thing that echoed through my mind was Mason’s cold words.

It was a mistake.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring myself to hate him.