Chapter 004 Marry Me!

~Rosemary~

"You are having sex with my twin sister while I just lost our baby?" 

Max raised his voice. "What else do you want me to do? How am I even sure the pregnancy was mine? We don’t meet often, after all."

"It was yours! I never cheated on you, Max. And you know it!" I yelled, my chest tightening. 

The slapping sound got louder as Max roared, "I don’t care! Sign the divorce agreement and send it over. I'll send your belongings. Also, don't ever call this number again!"

With that, he hung up.

Tears blurred my vision as I stared at the phone screen in horror. 

What did I do to deserve such cruel treatment?  It was as if history was repeating itself as I used to catch them having sex in our chemistry lab before, in high school. 

But this time, it was more painful. 

Max was inside my twin sister while I was battling for my life and that of our son. Worst of all, he was happy I miscarried and even accused me of cheating.

He used to buy me flowers to beg for my forgiveness.

How did he become so heartless?

It was all because of one person, Amani. Why couldn’t she just allow me to be happy for once?

I always had nothing but love for those two. However, time and time again, they hurt me. 

My blood boiled as Amani’s moans and Max's last statement to me echoed in my ears. That bastard wants a divorce, right? Fine, I will give it to him!

The second I tossed my phone on the bed, I caught glimpse of a movement. 

I looked to the side, only to see that Gerald was still here, my cheeks burned with embarrassment. 

I looked away as the air became very awkward. 

Aw, just great! Now, even a total stranger knew that my dog of a husband chose my twin sister over me...

When I dipped my hand into my pocket, I realized that I wasn’t wearing the dress from that night. 

Alarmed, I stared at the plain hospital gown. What happened to my dress? Did this man undress me?!

“Your dress was soaked with blood. I didn’t change it, the nurses did." He said quickly, forcing an awkward smile at the end. 

"Oh..." I exhaled with relief, but my cheeks continued to burn. 

Had he read my mind? Why could I still feel his intense stare on me?

Shortly after, I heard the shuffling of feet. I finally turned my head and saw him take out my dress from a tiny wardrobe. “Here, I already had it washed and ironed.”

“And here’s the document,” he added, handing over the divorce agreement that I had shoved into my pocket while running after Max that night.

I tucked my hair behind my ears and unfolded the document. "Got a pen?"

He handed me one.

Immediately our hands touched, I felt an electric wave course through me. I quickly pulled away and signed the divorce agreement. Strangely, every sound in the ward was amplified.

Wait! Is that my heart I hear beating like a drum?

"Are you okay?" he asked, leaning over.

I forced a smile. "Never been better."

"You don't look like it..."

I eyed him with a deep frown. "How am I supposed to look? Should I jump for joy after finding out my husband impregnated my twin sister and then asked me for a divorce?”

His worried expression became solemn. 

With a sigh, he said, "Not that it’s anyway worse than what you’re going through. My life is in shambles too: my friend got into some trouble in Mexico, I’ve got some people breathing down my neck, and I don’t even know what to do."

“Why does life have to be so hard?” I sighed too, staring into space.

An hour later, a delivery came in for me. It consisted of two suitcases and a duffel bag. As soon as I saw them, I knew they were from Max. He had wasted no time in sending my things. He also requested the signed divorce papers.

That jerk!

In confusion and rage, I clutched my head with both hands while staring at my stuff. Where do I go from here? How could Max? Did he think he could just throw me away without any consequences? Did he think I would just disappear into thin air while he enjoyed life with Amani?

My anger doubled. I sank my fingers into the mattress, thinking of all the years I wasted loving Max. "Cheating bastard! Piece of shit! Bottom barrel man!"

"Hey, you okay?" A voice sounded.

I turned to find Gerald staring at me with an unreadable expression. An idea instantly popped into my mind as I regarded his handsome face and tall figure.

"Marry me."

"What?" he laughed, pulling back in surprise.

I repeated, "Marry me."

"I heard you the first time, but you are joking, right?"

Snorting, I pointed at my swollen face. "Look at me? Do I look like I have got time for jokes? Marry me and I'll make sure you're compensated for your troubles. Money solves half of life’s problems, you know."

The amused expression on his face deepened at my words. He rubbed his nose and turned to the window. We shared a weird silence. Just when I was about to speak up, he turned to me again. "Okay, let's get married."

"Really?" I couldn't believe it.

He nodded. "You make quite a good offer I cannot refuse, and you are right, money solves problems.  Where do I sign?"

Three hours later, we walked out of the country clerk’s office. Our marriage was registered. 

“Congratulations! You are now man and wife!”

What the official said was still haunting in my mind. 

I felt a twinkle in my heart: How I got divorced and remarried in less than 48 hours was beyond me!

I didn’t know what to feel as Gerald and I walked out of the building. Ever since he signed the license, I hadn’t even looked at him. Finally, I decided to break the ice. I stopped and turned to him. “Where do we go from here now, Mr. Beckett?”

Gerald had filed to take on my surname because the money I paid him had been enough to get his friend in Mexico out of trouble.

With his hands in his pockets, he stopped and smiled. “My place. It’s just around town.”

Since I had nowhere else to go and my stuff were in my car Max had sent, I nodded in agreement. 

As I dug into my bag for my car key, my phone suddenly rang. My heart dropped to my stomach when I saw the caller ID.

Was she calling to laugh at me?

I took a deep breath and answered the call. “Hello, Mom. How have you–”

“I don’t have time for that,” she cut me off. “Amani and Max are getting engaged. The banquet is in two days. Your late father’s friends and business partners will be there. You have to come. And don’t show up looking like a beggar!” 

She hung up the phone before I could reply.