A Day With The Concubine

Lexi

"Daddy is so sorry, my cupcake," Ryan let out, running toward Isabelle as I carried her down the stairs. "My angel!" He mumbled, halting in front of me and jerking her away from my arm.

"Oh my baby!" He chuckled, throwing her up and catching her. He planted a kiss on her forehead and hugged her warmly.

"Dada misses you so much," he let out, closing his eyes. Dada was the first word Isabelle uttered, and she was referring to Ryan.

"You would have come home if you missed her this much. I can't believe you chose that woman over your own." He sent a threatening glare to my side before I could finish my statement, causing me to swallow the remaining words. With my head lowered, I avoided his gaze.

"Let's go," he ordered coldly, walking toward the door. However, we hadn't taken more than four steps when he abruptly halted. A part of my brows raised in a questioning manner.

"Is there a problem?" I questioned, curious and confused, why he stopped walking.

"I have some harmless advice for you, Lexi. Don't try to create a nuisance out there. You know very well that I do not want you and my child out there. Just know that I am doing you a great favor by taking you out today. At least you get to feel like a real human today," he said in a cold tone. Each word of his pierced into my skin like a blade. It was as though I was wearing a cloak of shame.

Speechlessly, I clasped my lips, fighting the tears that just rushed to my eyelids, and nodded my head. He swayed his last irritating gaze over me and continued his journey to the parking lot.

I couldn't hide my astonishment when we got to the restaurant. It was an expensive cuisine with great scenery and ambiance. Getting inside, a female attendant approached us with

"Welcome....," The attendant tried to talk but was shunned by Ryan.

"Ryan Middleton!" He spurted out arrogantly with his arms akimbo. The attendant locked eyes with me, and I could see a humiliated glint flash across her eyes swiftly. With a smile, she concealed her ambiguous expression and nodded, "Please, follow me, sir."

She led us to a private room and left after taking our orders. Fifteen minutes later, she returned with our orders and arranged the various meals on the table.

"Please click on the button on the table if you need anything, sir. Enjoy your meal, sir." She explained calmly, made a curt bow, and left the room.

A deafening silence enveloped the room we were in as soon as she left. I was tensed and didn't know what to do. Ryan complained at everything I did, so I was scared he would insult me if I tried to pick the cutlery and dived into the meal first.

With my head lowered, I played with my fingers, trying to avoid his gaze. He must be sending daggers to me with his eyes, and I might pee on my body if I see that.

"You should have just stayed back if you are going to act like a pauper." He broke the silence, prompting me to raise my head. What the fuck did he just call me again?

"What!" My brows creased as I glanced at him with surprise. Have I done something wrong again? All I have been trying to do is avoid him and his trouble.

He picked up the cutlery, held the steak with a fork, and cut a little part of it with the knife in his right hand, then tucked it into his mouth with his fork. "I mean... I understand that you are too broke to afford an expensive restaurant like this, but I do not expect you to act like who you truly are. A poor leech. A gold digger," he let out, chewing the steak.

I was forced to tighten my eyes when each statement he made about me pierced into my heart like needles. I felt my chest constricted as tears rushed to my lids. Gulping hard and fighting the tears back, I opened my eyes. "Is this the reason you took us out, Ryan? To insult me and remind me of my low status?" I questioned. My voice was croaky and shaky as I battled with the lump of tears clogging my throat.

His action halted as soon as I uttered the statement. He stared at me for a few seconds and chuckled, "I don't know why you are so pained when everything I said is true. Aren't you just a poor ass looking for someone to leech on?" He repeated it with a mocking smile.

Blinking back my tears, I tilted my head to the side, ignoring him. The last thing I was going to do was shed a tear because of him.

"I didn't ask you to move your face away, bitch!" He yelled, hitting the table and scaring me. My body trembled, startled by the sudden outburst. "You have only one assignment to carry out today, Lexi. Finish this food before we leave." He deadpanned, his eyes and timbre announcing the hatred he had for me. Still, I didn't return my gaze to him, and that increased the anger in him. He flung the cutlery, tossing it over the table with annoyance, got up, and grabbed my chin. He twirled my face in his direction, forcing me to look into his eyes.

"I thought I made myself clear, but it turned out that my wonderful wife is deaf to listen or acknowledge it. I will repeat myself for the last time. You have only one job in this restaurant; do not let a grain of food waste. You've always wanted me to take you out. You have it now. Use it wisely." He growled in a cold voice, jerking my face away.

Tears rushed to my lids. I bit my lower lip aggressively as I blink back the tears and suppress the emotions swirling within me.

"Start eating... NOW!!!" He ordered.

Unhurriedly, I picked up the cutlery and did nothing. Wouldn't it be shameless of me if I ate the same meal I was humiliated? Wouldn't I be affirming his and his family's words that I was a pauper? My hands trembled with the cutlery in my hands, unsure of what to do.

Ryan noticed this and was about to snap at me but was interrupted when the door opened. He tilted his head in the direction of the door, and his stern expression softened immediately, which made my curiosity win me over, and I also looked in the direction.

My blood boiled and anger coursed through my veins when I saw Jasmine Stevenson, the sole reason I wasn't finding love and peace in my marriage, standing by the door.

"Hey, darling!" She mumbled with a smile, darting her gaze from me to Ryan.

As if he were being charmed, Ryan hurried up and rushed to where she was standing. He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her to his body. "My dear, I have been expecting you. Someone almost suffocated me to death with her foul body odor." He let out a soft voice, placing his head on her gigantic boobs and inhaling the scents of her body.

Like a fool, I lifted my arms and perceived the smell on my body, trying to confirm if what Ryan said was real. Was I really smelling? Was that the reason he was always chasing me away from him? Surprisingly, I felt no foul smell. The citrus scent of my perfume and body spray was still sharp and pleasing to the nostrils.

"I am so sorry, darling. I stopped by at the mall to get Isabelle, my darling princess, a gift," Jasmine shamelessly let out, darting her gaze over Isabelle that was carefully placed on the baby chair in the room.

"Do not mention my daughter's name with that filthy mouth of yours," I sharply snapped at her, rolling her eyes and ignoring Ryan's presence. I knew he must be fuming inwardly at the moment, but I cared less.

"Ouch! Lexi. I didn't know that you were here. How does it feel to step out of the house? I know you must be overwhelmed right now." She let out, chuckling and playing with Ryan's beards. My eyes hovered around her hands, and the urge to grab them and twist them until they broke sizzled within me. That witch! Why was she even here?

"My man is such a good man. He let his personal maid out on a special day like this. Use it wisely, Lexi," she teased, scrunching her nose in a mocking manner, causing me to hiss as I sent her irritating gaze.

When I couldn't bear it anymore, I sprung up. "What is she doing here, Ryan? Tell me what this bitch is doing here," I shouted. My voice was croaky and shaky, with tears lingering in my lids. They were brimming and threatening to fall out.

"What! How dare you!" Ryan shouted, closing up on me and raising his hands as though he wanted to slap me, but he stopped himself.

Fearlessly, I pierced my unwavering eyes into his and smirked wryly, "You brought us here to celebrate Isabelle's birthday. I thought we were here as a family. What is an outsider doing here? Answer me, Ryan. Why is your concubine here? Don't you have an iota of respect for me?" I flared up, ignoring the fireballs rolling in Ryan's eyes. I knew his anger must have skyrocketed and he might slap me again, but I don't care.

"Alexandra Lexi!" He growled furiously, peeking into my eyes.

"Ryan Middleton!" I barked back. I didn't know what force was pushing me, but I loved it. I have had enough of him and his so-called love. I am human too, and I deserve to be treated right. An ambiguous glint flashed across his darkened eyes, but they disappeared almost immediately, before I could comprehend what they were. The atmosphere of the room became cold, and a deafening silence fell upon us.

We stood head-on, staring at each other without blinking. It was as though we were in a staring competition. Inwardly, I was already getting intimidated by Ryan's stare, but I refused to back down. Not when I had already started.

Precipitously, Isabelle burst into a loud cry, breaking the silence of the room and jerking us out of our battlefield. Ryan swayed an irritating gaze over me, hissed, and rushed over to Isabelle. Even though he hates me, he doesn't joke with his daughter, especially when she cries.

As soon as he left my presence, I jerked Jasmine's hand and dragged her out of the room before she could make a noise or object.

"Where the hell are you taking me to? What do you want from me, bitch? Let me go, you wench!" She protested, hitting my hands as I dragged her to wherever. I didn't know where I was going, but I didn't stop until I got to a field at the back of the cuisine.

"Get your filthy hands off me," Jasmine yelled, yanking her hands away from my hold as soon as we got beside the pool on the field. Her chest hurled up and down as she glared at me and struggled to stabilize her breath.

"What do you want from me, Jasmine? Ryan is married. Leave him the fuck alone," I roared at her in a shaky voice. My wall of bravery was slowly collapsing, and my vulnerability was gradually showing.

"I don't want to leave him alone. Do your worse, bitch." She simply responded, stuck out her tongue to mock me, and she turned.

Anger coursed through me at his lackadaisical attitude. I snatched her hand before she could take a step and twirled her around. Unfortunately for me, she missed her step, and she fell into the pool.

The worst case was when I sighted Ryan rushing to the field at the same time.