Chapter 10 - The Legal Wife

“She’s my –” Kirsten interjected, not letting him finish and greeted him nonchalantly. “Good evening, Mr Roosevelt.” 

“Good evening, Mrs Roosevelt,” Matthew answered, throwing Kirsten into confusion. 

Except Matthew, everyone was shocked. 

Taking advantage of Monalisa’s shock, he freed his arm from her grip and pulled Kirsten from James' side to his side. Now, Kirsten was standing beside him with his hand resting around her tiny waist, displaying a possessive gesture. 

“Hi, I am Kirsten's husband,” Matthew said to James, whose lips were pursed into a thin line. He reached out his hand for a handshake. James accepted the offer and shook his hand. Only the two of them knew how much force they used in the handshake. They were trying to crush each other's hand. None of them winced and the handshake was broken after a while. 

‘No wonder why she was wearing a brand that only wealthy people could buy.’ James thought. 

James felt as if his heart was being wrung like a washcloth. He had been secretly in love with Kirsten since they were highschool but he couldn’t let her know because his grandma was against it. 

If he only man up and didn’t give in to the pressure his Grandma put on him, he and Kirsten would have been married today and that would leave Matthew no chance. Regret ate his heart up. 

He planned to confess to Kirsten after he gained total control of Lincoln Group. He thought he had all the time in the world as Kirsten never showed any interest in any man as she was focused on her goal to become a lawyer thus he was confident that Kirsten would not involve herself with a man. 

Who would have thought that she would get involved with a man. To Matthew Roosevelt, one of the most desired bachelors in the country, at that. 

“Matt! Don’t joke!” Monalisa reprimanded Matthew and got a hold of his arm again but Matthew looked at her coldly and she let go of his arm. 

No, she didn’t believe it. It was a lie. The only person she thought would be her rival was that woman but was confident that Matthew would come begging her to be together again because it was impossible for him and that woman to get married. Matthew's dad and grandpa made sure that woman would have no place in the Roosevelt. 

“Do I look like I'm joking? Do you want to see our marriage certificate?" he said, the corner of his lips twitching as he talked and he drew Kirsten closer to his body. Kirsten cheeks were tainted red at the moment at how close their body was. Though they did more intimate things than this, Kirsten couldn’t help but blush being held by Matthew intimately in public. 

"Go to your suite as I have to take my wife home.” The taciturn Matthew seemed to have said a lot tonight. So, Kirsten looked at Matthew in utter disbelief. 

“Wife, why don’t you introduce your friend?” Matthew said with a smile but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. 

Kirsten knew that he was angry as his hold tightened. 

“Mm,” Kirsten paused as she was hesitating and she continued shortly after his grip became even more tighter. “Hubby, this is James Lincoln, my best friend. James, this is my husband, Matthew Roosevelt” 

“Did you call me, hubby just now, wifey?” Kirsten nodded her head in response. 

They have been married for a week now but not even once did Kirsten call his name even when he was making love to her. It did not cross her mind that she would call Matthew's name let alone call him hubby with other people around. 

Monalisa huffed and went away stomping her feet. Her heels wiggled and she almost stumbled but was able to regain her balance. 

On the contrary, James stood there, unrelenting. He scrutinized his love rival, looking at him up and down. 

He and Matthew belonged to the same circle but they never met. Each of them were heading large companies and the only difference was that Matthew was the one who brought his company to its position at the top while James took over an already big and established company.   

“Thanks for the dinner, James,” Kirsten could no longer stand the growing silence between the three of them and spoke to cut through the thick silence. 

“Always my pleasure. Counting for another dinner with you,” James replied which brought a palpable tension between him and Matthew. 

“We were in a hurry to get married so we didn't have the time to invite friends. My wife and I will surely invite you for dinner. That is to celebrate our wedding." Matthew fired back. Even when Kirsten was his pawn, he didn’t want her to be involved with another man while they were married. But when they were divorced she could be involved with any man she wanted. But this thought didn't sit well with him, making him frown. 

Incredulity colored Kirsten eyes. Is this the man that she married? She heard him say more words in just under an hour than the whole week they have been together. 

Did she make a wrong assumption? Or was he drunk? Kirsten sniffed to check if he was intoxicated by wine. They said that a quiet man when sober would become talkative when drunk. 

"You really enjoy smelling my scent, wifey," Matthew's remark startled Kirsten and she accidentally bit her tongue, making her cry out in pain. “Aw!” 

"What's wrong?" Matthew’s face ashen in panic. 

James stretched his arms but soon retracted them when Matthew cupped Kirsten's face. His hands hung on either side of his body, clenching and unclenching as he watched another man touching Kirsten’s face. 

"Tell me, what's wrong?" He wiped the single tear that ran down her cheek. 

"Can we go home now? I'm tired," Kirsten said, looking down. 

"As you said my wife," Matthew said, bending, he swept her in his arms. 

Startled, Kirsten squealed and reflexively reached out for his neck to prevent from falling. "Matthew!" 

Matthew chuckled, surprising Kirsten. 

Kirsten's already leaping heart due to shock, jumped wildly as her sight settled on his handsome face. The smile plastered on his face brought his handsomeness to a greater level.

James' lonely figure stood in the middle of the huge hotel lobby as he watched his beloved taken away by a man. It was not just a random man but her husband. It should have been him who was in that position if he didn’t let his grandma control him.

How he wished he could bring back time. But that would never happen. His opportunity to be with Kirsten had already sailed.

Inside the car, a suffocating silence pervaded the air. The presence of the driver restrained the two from having a confrontation. 

Curious that the couple were silent, the driver stole glances at the two through the rear view mirror.

Matthew was looking ahead with a grim expression while Kirsten was curled up at the far end of the backseat, her back facing Matthew. 

'Did the missus see her husband with another woman? Who won't get angry? If I were her, there would be war,' he thought. 

Though he knew that Monalisa was Matthew's fiancée. That was in the past, Matthew was married now.  The legal wife was Kirsten and she had all the rights to be jealous and get angry. 

Kirsten went for another round of coughing fit and she almost peed on her pants because of it. 

Couldn't ignore her despite his anger, Matthew pulled her and lifted her on his lap. 

Kirsten struggled but he cooed while he gently patted her back while she was coughing. "It'll help when patting your back." 

Kirsten gave up struggling and hugged his neck and coughed once in a while. Kirsten was not aware that she was enjoying her husband’s care. And loved being pampered by him. 

"Drive to the hospital," Matthew instructed the driver as he kept patting her back. 

***

"Being drowned made Mrs Roosevelt's lung weak thus she could get coughs and colds easily," the doctor explained, looking at Matthew. 

Realizing how stupid she was for letting her emotions unchecked, Kirsten lowered her head. 

She brought it upon herself. And she couldn't blame anyone. 

"Is there a way to strengthen her lungs?" Matthew asked, wearing a grim expression. 

"Stop smoking," the doctor said but Matthew replied, "She doesn't smoke nor drink." 

"Get regular exercise. Staying active makes lungs and heart stronger. Eat healthy," the doctor continued after Matthew spoke. 

After Kirsten had been vaccinated and given a prescription they drove home. 

Matthew had her take her medicine before going to bed. 

"Mr Roosevelt?" Kirsten wanted to talk to him about what happened in the hotel. 

"Yes, Mrs Roosevelt?" Matthew said with a cold tone. By calling her Mrs Roosevelt, she will be forced to call him by his first name. 

Kirsten covered her mouth and coughed. Matthew embraced her and patted her back. 

"Why did you let others know that we are married," Kirsten assumed that their marriage should be kept secret since none of their relatives were present during their wedding.