Heart Ache

Darcy

"What?” I stared at the man in front of me with cold eyes . “The hell are you talking about now?”

My mouth felt drier than a desert. The only thing that was keeping me sitting was my clenched fists, tightly clutching at the sleeves of my blazer. I fought against all the emotions and instinctual urges to throw them at his stupid face.

“9” He began again.

“You can't possibly be..”

“8, 7, 6, 5, 4…” Rhys kept going on faster than the first time and I looked around as if a miracle would happen.

“1…” He wasn't kidding and when I didn't say anything, he was already walking away.

I saw my revenge plan slowly slipping away from me.

“Wait!” I said it louder than I had intended to. “I will marry you”  

He turned back to me, smiling like a shark preparing for the feast, “Now.”

I wanted to kill him. I really did. What did he mean by now? “Now?” I repeated after him, feeling my blood pressure rising with every passing second, not quite believing what he had just said.

“Yes now. Shall we?” And as usual, he didn't wait for any response before turning back and heading out of the restaurant.

It took me a few seconds to process this. Then, in a fit of anger, I ran after him, my heels clicked aggressively on the floor.

Rhys was outside waiting for me beside his car.

“Come on, get inside” He opened the passenger door for me and I stared, stunned at the mere act. 

Cold-hearted, manipulative Rhys Madigan could be a gentleman? No, he was definitely pretending.

He was not bluffing when he had said “now”. It was only later that I understood it when we pulled up in front of a courthouse. The exchange of vows was so rusty that I thought even the judge could feel it.

There was no time to buy rings so we made do with the cheap ones we could find and we were done in an hour. 

I didn't ignore the warning bells chiming loudly in my head. What have I gotten myself into? Was I making the wrong decision?

But it was for my baby, I would do anything to get my child back. “I will pick you up by 7” His tone was flat yet there was a tone of authority sprinkled in it.

“Do you even know my address?” I snorted, not caring that my words were hostile.

But he burst into laughter, it sounded so rich and so creepy at the same time and he drove off leaving standing there.

I took a cab home, with my heart beating against my chest. I was scared, I knew what Cory and Vincent were capable of, and with one mistake they could kill me but I had Rhys right? It didn't bring me any comfort.

Just like Rhys had said, by 7 he was already parked outside my apartment. I knew this because I kept looking out the window. This time he didn't open the car for me.

The drive to Vincent’s house made me uneasy, it reminded me of my last visit there and the memories of that day came rushing to me all at once.

Not once did I find Rhys glancing to my side, not once did he look my way.

When we got out of the car, a wave of nausea hit me but I kept walking. The house was still the same way that it had been, nothing changed. I looked around for the child but there was barely enough time as Rhys led us to the dining table.

“Rhys!” Their grandfather Jack Madigan called out, there was excitement in his voice. Of course Rhys was his favorite. They both hugged each other affectionately, he stared at me curiously but of course he was also used to his son bringing different women along.

“Welcome brother” Vincent’s voice held fake enthusiasm and he gave me a smile that did little to hide his true intentions and so did that of Rhys.

“Is this one of your new flings?” Vincent asked again, earning a chuckle from Cory but his eyes glanced at my body in a way I knew was lustful.

“Tessa? She is my wife” There was triumph in Rhys voice as he took my hands into his, pressing them lightly against his lips. I tried to pull my hands out of his grasp but failed and I let out a breathy sigh. 

His touch made me feel weird, like I was shocked from little jolts of electricity.

Jack Madigan stared at us in awe. “You did well with this one” He whispered to Rhys but I heard him. Cory and Vincent look stunned . A strange expression flashed across their faces before disappearing completely. 

I could almost hear Cory whispering something into Vincent’s ears but I couldn't make out the words.

“Where did you both meet?” Cory asked with a thin smile.

“Weeks back in Paris” I lied casually. “It was love at first sight. He is the most good-looking man, don't you think so?” I asked, staring at her straight in the eyes as I spoke. But she didn't return my gaze. She did, but couldn't hold it for long.

“Did he tell you about his past? The numerous women?” Vincent smirked.

Rhys and their grandfather opened their mouths to speak but I was faster. “Of course, I know about all of that, everyone has a past and he does have a history with one or two of them and some with a lot more. Not that it matters anymore since we have each other and that's more important. So what about you both? What is your past?” 

Cory and Vincent exchanged a glance between themselves even though they looked like I had punched them. Before they could answer, the cry of a baby filled the air.

Cory smiled awkwardly but I didn't know what came over me, I hurried from the dining room, past the living room, and to the child’s room.

I picked him up, controlling the tears that almost fell from my eyes. And soon I heard footsteps around me as I rocked the child back and forth.

“If you both were not ready to have a child why have one then? A stranger had to get your crying child first” Jack Madigan, their grandfather said and his tone reeked of disapproval.

That was all it took for Cory to snatch the child away from me, my child.

Leaving me in despair.