billion book
Betrothed
Entering the room, Jennifer calmly guided Mia to the couch.
Once seated, she initiated the conversation. “How was work today?”
Mia responded with a cute smile, “Well, it was stressful as usual, but…” she trailed off.
“Hmm,” the older woman nodded in understanding.
Twitching her lips, she said, “I’d like to express my gratitude for rescuing me that night, helping me to the hospital, and covering my medical expenses. Thank you so much.”
Mia beamed with smiles, “Ah, it’s nothing, Mom. All that matters is you’re alright.”
Eyeing the girl skeptically, Jennifer continued, “The reason why I called you here is due to an important matter. There’s something I need you to do for me.”
Mia’s expression turned serious upon hearing this. “Anything. I’ll do whatever you ask of me.”
Inhaling deeply, Jennifer dropped the bombshell, “Divorce my son.”
Initially, Mia felt she hadn’t heard her mother-in-law correctly. Chuckling anxiously, she asked, “Whaaat did you say?”
“Divorce Shawn. That’s what I want you to do for me.”
Mia was stunned, her heart skipping a beat.
“I-I-I shou…” She stuttered flawlessly. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong. It’s just that both of you aren’t meant for each other. He has a fiancée.”
Fiancée… Mia felt her heart twist in pain. Shawn had never mentioned that to her before.
“I know he won’t do it, to spare your feelings… that’s why I want you to do it, okay? I’m sorry.” Jennifer heaved a sigh. “And yes, I’ll warmly compensate you for everything you’ve done for us.” She added calmly.
“You can go to bed now.”
As soon as she stepped into the corridor, her wobbly legs gave way, and she crashed onto the floor, sobbing muffledly, her hands clasped over her mouth.
Why had things never gone her way? Just when she was beginning to live a comfortable life, everything crumbled again, back to where she started.
Mia’s breathing raged and hitched as she poured her heart out. When there were no more tears left to cry, she cleaned her face with her palms and slowly made her way into her husband’s bedroom.
Shawn sat in the lounge area when she stepped in. “You’re back.”
Exhausted, she nodded without looking his way and headed straight to bed, throwing the covers over her entire body.
Shawn gazed blankly at the girl. What was she-a corpse? Sleeping with the covers over her head.
Unknown to him, his Little One cried underneath the covers, holding tightly to her chest as if a dagger pierced through her soul.
He rose to a standing position and took large strides to the bed.
Sitting on the edge, his eyes on the girl, he muttered, “silly girl.” A few seconds later, he added, “are you going to divorce me?”
Upon hearing his question, Mia’s tears momentarily ceased, and she removed the covers from her face.
Peering at him with glistening eyes, she hiccuped uncontrollably.
Unbeknownst to Mia, a while after her mother-in-law called her and she followed into the room, her husband had left his bedroom to join them. However, upon reaching his mother’s bedroom, he overheard their conversation.
After eavesdropping for a while, he returned to his bedroom shortly before his wife finally entered.
“What… what do we do now?” Mia sobbed softly, her gaze fixed on her husband.
“Stop the tears. I’ll talk to Mom-there’s no fiancée anywhere, okay?” He gently patted her head and tucked her into bed.
After soothing her to sleep with gentle strokes, he quietly left the bedroom and headed straight to his mother’s. Tapping lightly on the door, he entered.
“Mom,” he rasped.
Jennifer was seated on the couch, lost in thought. She didn’t seem to notice her son’s arrival until he lightly tapped her.
“Oh, Sunshine.” She smiled as she gazed at him.
Shawn pressed his lips together before speaking, “Why did you say all of that to her?”
Jennifer seemed momentarily dazed, but she soon collected herself. “I see she told you. It was supposed to be between me and her. How could she do that?”
“No, she didn’t. I heard you with my own two ears.”
She was speechless. “It’s not good to eavesdrop on people, you know?”
“Why did you tell her I have a fiancée?”
Sighing, Shawn’s mother took his hands in hers, “The two of you don’t belong together.”
“Says who?” His brows knitted.
She was taken aback, “I mean, you can stop pretending now. I know you were forced into this position because of your grandfather. But you don’t have to continue anymore; I’m here now…”
Shawn fell silent for a while and then asked, “How did you know that?”
She kept mute.
However, he found it challenging to counter his mother’s words as she was speaking the truth. “But…”
“There’s no but. Now that you’re also aware, both of you should come to terms and plan your divorce.”
The man couldn’t believe his ears. “You want me to divorce her? After everything-”
“We’re going to compensate her handsomely. I already informed her,” his mother quickly cut in.
The room fell into a prolonged silence. However, after a while, Shawn broke it. “I won’t do it.”
With that, he rose to a standing position and made his way out of his mother’s bedroom.
But then, upon reaching the door, Jennifer’s words made his strides falter at once. “You actually do have a fiancée.”
He turned to look at the woman and chuckled. “This is a joke, right?”
“No, it’s not.” Swallowing, she continued, “you see, that day, three years ago, your birthday wasn’t the only reason why I returned. There was something important that I needed to tell you.”
The more he listened to his mother, the more he sensed he wasn’t going to like where she was headed.
“There’s someone whom you’ve both been betrothed ages before you were even born.”
“When your grandfather passed the baton of Beats Corporations to your father, he faced challenges that almost led the corporation to rock bottom. Seeking assistance, everyone turned their backs on him, except for one friend of his who offered help with a condition.”
Jennifer inhaled deeply, “The two friends signed a contract-a betrothal contract on behalf of their unborn children. If your father had a boy, his child would marry his friend’s daughter. And if a girl, she’d marry the man’s son in the future-”
Shawn was stunned. “So, who is this supposed fiancée of mine?”
“Yvonne Davis.”