Chapter 9

"Why?” I ask but Alexander does not respond and instead walks towards me, his eyes never leaving the gown. Once he was a few metres away, he finally takes his gaze off my dress, but only repeated what he had said initially.

“I want that dress off you.”

I'm about to insist on why he wants me to do so, but he turns around and heads into the car, I follow suite and a crease forms between my brows before I turn to face him. “Why do you want me to change into something else? Is there something wrong with the dress?”

He ignored me and instead faced Jarred, who was handling the steering wheel. "Take us to a boutique."

I didn't utter a word and just gazed out the window, confusion still etched on my face. Why in the world was he so adherent on me changing?

Soon we arrived at the butique and we stepped inside, the opulent interior enveloping us. I see everyone's gaze land on us and gasps soon echoed throughout the store.

“Wait, isn't that Mr Blackwood?”

“Oh my, what's he doing here?”

“He looks even more dashing in person!”

A staff soon approached us, completely ignoring my existence, which I of course paid no heed to, she faced Alexander with a charming smile. “Good day Mr Blackwood, how may I be of service?”

"Change her."

I see the staff's eyes land on me with a sneer and I face Alexander, who had already made himself comfortable on a porche sofa, with a defiant look. "I'm not changing unless you tell me what's wrong with this dress."

Alexander irritated, stands up from the chair and walks towards my direction. He towers over me, his voice loud enough for all to hear. "Because you look like a fucking trash bag, I don't want you following me in this. Now, change."

I hear everyone try to stifle their giggles and some begin to whisper.

“There's nothing you'll say that’ll convince me Mr Blackwood wasn't forced into this marriage with that slut.”

“She thought she could force her way into his life and live like a queen, ha!”

“She's so pathetic.”

My palms clenched into fists by my sides, trying my best not to tear up from the humiliation. It's just a matter of time, they'll all regret it.

I didn't argue further and just quietly follow the attendant to the dressing room. She flings a navy blue dress at me before turning to leave. As I slip into the dress, I hear two women from the neighboring dressing room whisper.

"She actually does look like a trash bag."

I ignored them, and once done dressing, walked out, and saw Alexander by the counter carefully folding the yellow gown I had just removed into a separate bag.

A frown settled on my face. Why was he being so gentle with it if he considers it ugly? Nonetheless, I push the thought aside and walked out with him into the car. Unfortunately, after an hour of being in stagnant traffic, it didn't look as if we'd be getting to Conner's hospital any time soon, the traffic was insane.

I see Alexander groan in frustration before pulling out a tablet placed by the side of the car. He calls someone and I hear the person on the other end of the phone speak.

“Unfortunately sir, I won't advice using the chopper, from what I see, today's weather won't be very good.”

Wait, Alexander owned a helicopter?

“Mm.” Alexander responds before disconnecting the call and flinging the tablet away, clearly frustrated.

I turn and look out the window, a small smile dancing at the corner of my lip. Maybe luck was actually on my side. If eventually the traffic remains unmoving, we won't be able to go anywhere and we'd have no other choice than to head back.

I closed my eyes for while, securing that prayer point.

But it seemed that after an hour or two, I had no idea how long we had spent, the traffic began to get to me. I took my device, to atleast reduce the boredom and began to scroll through reels and posts, untill I came across something shocking.

A near by prison had-had some security defaults leading to a prison outbreak.

"Is that why there's so much traffic?” I asked no one in particular and Alexander's gaze flicked on me, then back to the road.

After almost thirty minutes of scrolling through reels, I'm finally worn out and toss my phone to a corner, my stomach growling loudly for the third time now.

Alexander slammed his fist against the leather chair and faced me. "Get out."

I purse my lips but nonthelesss stepped out of the car into the sweltering heat and I see him step out too and walk towards me with an arched brow.

“Do you also want instructions on how to move?”

I rolled my eyes and follow him from behind and we soon stopped at a vendor's canteen. I sit down on a bench and watch Alexander buy a bowl of food from the middle aged lady in charge.

"I'm only doing this for the baby you claim to bear in your womb."

I rolled my eyes for the second time. “Don't worry, I'm definitely not getting any other ideas.”

“Mm.” He hums and sits opposite me and I begin to devoure the tasty food, the hunger unbearable. As I ate, I noticed three men walk into the lady's shop. Two sat on the bench I was situated on and one sat on the opposite bench, but his gaze with the other two were all fixated on me.

I ignored their stare and continued eating until one of them finally spoke.

"Hey sexy, looking for a sugar daddy?"

“It seems like you're hungry, I have something else for you to eat.” Another one speaks with a disgusting smirk, pointing down at his trousers.

“What do you say about a foursome, huh baby?” The third guy spoke and they all laugh.

I looked over at Alexander, but he just watched, his expression stoic. Their taunts escalated but I just ignore them untill they finally snap.

“Hey answer us you slut, or do you think we're not handsome enough?”

Alexander's gaze flickered with warning.

“Bitch we're talking to you!” One stepped forward, his fist clenched, about to throw a punch directed at my stomach.

I'm about to react but Alexander tightly grabs the man by his wrist before I'm able to say anything.

“I dare you to lay a finger on her.”