CHAPTER FOURTEEN
= BLAZE’s POV =
I heard her scream last night before I leave. I wanted her to go back but I didn’t do. If she hurts I get hurt too. She fooled me. If it was just about Paloma I would understand that she just wanted to play with me. But when I found out that she knew that our marriage was fake but she didn’t tell me I couldn’t accept it. How long will she keep me a secret if I did not discover the truth? How long will I be toyed with by her lies?
“Son of —-” We looked at Jace as he shouted and even stood up while he was talking to someone on the cellphone. We are here in his office today while discussing the company’s last month’s data. “Are you serious, Margot?” he asked while looking at me. I frowned as he stared at me.
“Ok, I’ll just let him know.” He drops the call.
“What happened, sucker?” Zeus asked.
“Your wife is crazy, Blaze.”
“Fake wife,” I corrected.
“Did you know what she did?” he asked.
“If it’s nonsense, don’t tell me.”
“Jace, say that right away.” Dane throws him a pen.
“Maggie burned down their house.”
“What?” they asked at the same time but I just remained unresponsive. Is he said that Maggie burned our house? Our love nest? She had so many dreams in that house. The many happy memories we have there.
“Maggie burned down your house, you idiot,” he repeated.
“I heard,”
“What the fuck,” Zeus hissed and looked at me. “Is that woman still normal?” But I just shrugged.
“Where is she?” Dane asked.
“She was allegedly taken to the precinct, Margot said. But was able to get bail since no one filed a case because no one was affected. Take note, she called the fire department and said she burned the house because there were many termites.”
“She’s not normal,” Phoenix said.
“She’s just looking for attention.” Then I stood up to leave them. Is she crazy? Why did she burn down the house? Don’t our memories there matter? What was that woman thinking?
“Aren’t you worried?” Dane asked before I finally left the office.
“Why would I? We’re done. I mean, I already cut our connection.”
“You wouldn’t even know if she was physically hurt? It’s not bad to be worried.”
“She’s old, Dane, so she’ll take care of her life.”
“Come on, Blaze, you’re not the only one hurt. She’s hurt too. She doesn’t know what happened so why would you be mad at her?”
“She lied, Dane, she didn’t tell me the day she found out.”
“Because she’s afraid you might get lost. And see, it’s happening right now. The way you reacted like it’s her fault what happening. It’s like you’re the only one hurting. You put all the blame in her.”
“Because it is. You don’t know what I feel, Dane.”
“Why, if you get angry with her, will your marriage be legal? Why instead of blaming her, or defying her, talk to her instead. Fix the issue. You just lost the paper. Right as a husband supposedly but the feeling is mutual, the love is real. Isn’t it possible that instead of fighting her and separating, you should fix the situation and get married in real?”
“That easy, Dane?”
“Why do you tend to make the situation worse? Why isn’t the word acceptance trendy to you? Your tendency to self-pity.”
“This is not about self-pity,”
“You’re self-pitying. If not, what do you call what you’re doing? Hurt? Stupid, you hurt yourself. If you accept her explanation and fix your problem you’re not in that situation. You’re a victim, fine, so what is Maggie? suspect, ally of the suspect? her feelings are a joke and only you are valid? She is also a victim and if anyone hurts you more it is her. Because you cast her out.”
“Why does it seems you blame me for what you’re saying, Dane?”
“Yes, I am, because you’re the one who can react badly. The issue and problem don’t grow if it’s faced and resolved immediately.”
“I’m speechless, Dane is right,” Phoenix said. Jace just nodded as Zeus shrugged. What is this four against me?Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
“I was deceived, Dane. I was toyed with and looked like a fool.”
“Just pride,”
“Then call it whatever you want.”
“That’s just pride, let’s see if you can use that.”
“I’m not needed here anymore.” I go out and went to my office.
When I went inside, I punched on the table. I first immediately saw the painting that Hailey gave us. We were so happy to see that, especially me, so I brought it here.
I picked up the cellphone to call Maggie. I just want to know why he did that? Why did he burn down the house? Three rings and he answered immediately.
[“Hello, who is this?”] who is this? fucking kidding me? [“If you don’t speak don’t bother because I’m a busy person and I don’t have time for the helpless idiots in life like you.”]
[“Who is that?”] I heard a woman question on the other side.
[“I don’t know, unregistered number.”] And the call ended. Unregistered number?
I seat and close my eyes. I never thought this would happen to us. I love her but I was so hurt. When I left last night I confronted Miles, the owner of Paloma Resort. Only to find out that she is Mylene Salazar, my highschool school mate who openly liked me back then.
She admitted the deal. She also admitted that Maggie did not know that the marriage was fake. She doesn’t care about my feelings and if she regrets what she did it’s because she feels sorry for Maggie. She felt sorry for her friend but she didn’t care about me. She’s stupid.
What annoyed me was that Maggie knew the truth but she didn’t tell me. She didn’t admit it and I even discovered it unintentionally. Why, because she got something to play with? If only the day she found out she tells me right away, it might not have been this the outcome.
We are together. She played the role of being a good wife and then she knew that we were not really married. Why, because she can use me. Is she afraid she’s going to lose the toy she’s been playing with? What if I don’t discover the truth until when will she fool me?
I do not know what to do. I’m confused. I don’t want to lower my pride and I don’t want to talk to her. But I don’t know what’s running through her mind right now especially now she burned down the house. I had always had a hard time guessing what was on her mind. What’s more, now that she’s doing things that aren’t normal at all.
Is it normal to burn down the house? Just crazy working then. It’s still our house even though we’ve separated. Our love nest. Although we are not really married on paper but we live there full of love. We created happy memories in that house.
I took my car key to leave but when I opened the office I saw Zeus.
“Where you go?”
“Why?”
“Can we talk?”
“I am busy.”
“Blaze.”
“What?”
“We’re on your side. We are your buddies, Blaze and I want you to know that we’re with you. Brother’s code ‘bro.”
“Thank you.” I tapped him on the shoulder then left.
I drive my car and went somewhere. I will go to the subdivision where the house stands. I reached it and saw the old house that was now just cement standing. What the hell? So it is really true that she burned down our house. I just hit the steering wheel out of annoyance. I’m not ashamed of the money spent there. I regret the happy memories.
Did I just do it wrong?
My phone rang and my secretary called. I didn’t want to answer her call but didn’t want to stop. “Yes?”
[“Sir, ma’am Maggie came and took the painting to your office?”]
“What?”
[“Mom took it —“]
“What painting?”
[“Your wedding picture.”]
“And you gave?”
[“Yeah, she’s too aggressive.”]
“How did she get in? Where is Dane?”
[“Everyone leaves right when ma’am arrived.”]
“Shit!” And I ended the call.
I dialed Maggie’s number and a few rings she answered.
[“You again–“]
[“It’s me.”]
[“Who’s you, who are you?”]
“Blaze.”
[“Ow, you, what do you need?”]
“Why did you take the painting?”
[“My face is here and I don’t want to be embarrassed. Then aren’t you ashamed to display it? We’re not really married.”]
“Where are you taking that?”
[“I’ll burn it.”] And the call ended.
I dialed her number again but I was blocked. Shit!
I go straight to my condo. I’m not in condition and I want to sleep soundly. After almost three months of our marriage I have become accustomed to Maggie’s presence. Last day at this time I talked to her on the cellphone to say hello and ask her to eat. Same this time I called her that I was going to the bar. Yesterday I feel so fucking lonely here when I woke up and I realized I was alone.
I hated this shit. It’s just a snap of a fingers everything has changed. Why does this sudden change shit happen? Is it really my fault? Am I the one to blame?