Chapter 4

Albert’s Pov

It was past 9PM and Brielle was nowhere to be found. I have been devastated ever since I came down for breakfast without seeing her. I assumed she was in her room but she was not there when I lost my patience and went to her room to look for her.

I have called and messaged her, but she has not answered nor returned any. I walked and ran round the whole place like an insane man trying to reach out to her to no avail. I rushed down to the company after calling and learnt that she was seen in the company, but unfortunately, she was no longer there when I got to the office. I rushed back home hoping to see her but I got back to an empty house.

The marriage happened too fast and we didn’t get to know each other well enough, but I'm definitely not a beast nor a troll. I made sure she was comfortable around me just as I’ve always done during work days, owing to her amazing personality.

“Maybe I should report the case to the police,”  I thought to myself. The idea was a good one only that it did not sit well with me.  I scrutinized my mind to think of a possible place where she could have gone to, but none came to my mind.

“She doesn’t even have any friend, not one that I know” I let out a heavy sigh as I soliloquized

“What am I missing?” I asked myself, my hands on my waist. Those words had barely left my mouth when the door creaked open and immediately my heart leaped when she stepped into the house.

“Where the hell have you been Brielle?” I yelled but held myself back when I noticed a little stagger from her.

“What happened?” I asked, my voice filled with care and compassion. I waited for a response but didn’t get any.

The strong smell of alcohol overshadowed that of the sweet scent of her cologne. The room was well lit and it showed that she had cried for a long. Her eye bags were swollen. She stood still when she saw me and pain was written all over her face. I wasn’t judgmental about the situation, everyone has a time in their life when alcohol becomes their solace. 

I rushed to her, looking at those shiny eyes of hers, which used to be bright and cheerful,  but now calling for help. She looked helplessly at me, making me wonder if she felt so bad about marrying me. I felt bad knowing that I was the reason why she stood and looked miserable in front of me.

I wasn’t going to ask her to be committed to me, it was a contract marriage of Five years, all I wanted was for her to act as my wife so that I won’t have to marry Diana. I chose her out of the numerous ladies I’ve come across because of her wit and intelligence. She was a rare breed, many women only care about fashion, but Brielle has a way of lighting up a dark place in one’s life with her smiles and funny jokes. Her intelligence and strength is one to be studied. I chose her to be my personal assistant because of that. If such an amazing person is going to work in my company, it had to be right beside me, but now, I feel bad at how pathetic I’ve made her life.

“You can opt out of this if that will make you happy. I hate to see you like this” I said not knowing whether she heard me or not.

Her bag fell from her hand and just as I was about to bend over to pick it up, she fell on me and just then, I realized she had drunk more than she could take to be sober. Many thoughts ran through my mind. I wondered what would have become of her if she had dropped off at the wrong address or been attacked by thugs at the bar where she had drank.

It was the closest I have gotten to her ever since we got married, we were so close that I could feel her heart pounding; her breath, which gave off the smell of alcohol, was the least I cared about at that moment. I would give the world to have us stay like that for ages.

She suddenly curled up in my arms and I realized that her legs might have been hurting. I lifted her swiftly and carried her to her room. She was quite heavy, but I would carry her everyday if she let me.

I carefully laid her on the bed,  took off her shoes and covered her with the rosy blanket on the bed. Stretching my hand to turn off the lantern close to her bed,  I noticed that she hasn’t set the room yet. She still had most of her belongings packed in her bag. There and then, I made up my mind that I was going to let go of the marriage and let her live her life.

I turned off the lantern and turned my back immediately heading to my room.

“Albert” I heard my name, which was barely above a whisper. I went back to her only for her to fall back to sleep. I switched the lantern on and studied her beauty keenly with so much interest. She looked beautiful even while asleep. How can one be more beautiful?

I watched the sleeping beauty until I started to fall asleep myself, I rose and retired to my room.

****************

Early the next day, I woke up to make us breakfast. She had mentioned it one day at work that she could eat pancakes for years and still want more. That morning I resurrected the baker in me, and baked half-burnt pancakes. No matter how hard I tried, they all came out the same.

I quickly dished the pancakes and sped up to serve them on the dining table when I saw  Brielle standing at the foot of the stairs in a blue nightgown barefooted. She looked at me before throwing her face away, clamping her fingers.

I dropped the plates on my hand and leaned on the dining table for support, scanning my thoughts on which one to let out first.

“What happened yesterday? I asked, looking in her direction.

“Nothing,” Brielle replied, fighting so hard to hide her emotion.

“You came home drunk last night” I paused.

“See, all I’m saying is, if you’re going to be anywhere that late, I have to be aware. What if something bad happened to you?” I voiced, not wanting to sound harsh, but I knew I wasn’t sounding friendly, my baritone wouldn’t let me.

“I’m sorry about last night” she apologized without even trying to defend herself. I didn’t want an apology from her, I wanted to be aware of her whereabouts and deep down my heart, I wanted to know why she had to drink and cry so much last night.

She still looked so uncomfortable around me that morning and I made up my mind to cut off the marriage.

“Brielle” I called her name.

She looked at me and raised up her brows, waiting for whatever I had to tell her.

“You-“

“Albert!” I heard someone yell my name from outside of the house, just before the door opened.

“Diana what is it?” I asked in annoyance.

She had the effrontery to barge into my house like that because my mom already assured her that I was going to marry her, but it still surprised me how she couldn’t read the handwriting boldly written on the wall.

“I am married to Diana, there is no us anymore, there can never be us. I’m sorry Diana, I think you should move on with your life, there are many other men out there who are willing to have you-“

“I think you should keep that advice for her” Diana interrupted me, looking at Brielle with so much hatred.

“Keep her out of this” my voice roared.

Diana let out a wry smile. “Of course, only if she chooses her place wisely” she retorted and handed me an envelope.

“What is that?” I hesitantly asked to collect the envelope.

“Okay, well then, I will help you”. My heart raced at that moment and I raised my hand signaling her to stop. I might not want Brielle to know about it. Diana has never been up to any good.

“Give it to me” I stretched forth my hand and she handed me the envelope.

I was anxious while opening the content of the envelope. I kept looking at Diana and then to the piece in my hand until I sighted the heading of the paper in my hand and then to “Positive” sign boldly written on it. My eyes widened and my heart skipped a thousand beats.

“You must be joking –“

“No, I’m not. Your child is growing inside of me” Diana interrupted me and left the house without saying any more words.