The Love That Passed

Jared’s POV

Colleen is somewhat different, she dared to tell me that she married me for money and yet she gets nothing besides the monthly allowance I voluntarily gave her. Yes she asked for money when we were just starting our marriage but after that, she never asked again. She said it was a matter of life and death and yet she didn’t ask me anymore.

In our marriage, there were things that I found out about her, those are only based on what I had observed from her. I didn’t want to waste my time hiring a private investigator because I am 100% sure that Ingrid and mom had done it already. It’s not that they were cautious with every person they met, but they let me marry her so it was only right to assume that they already did.

They should have told me if Colleen needed the money and the very reason that she asked for it, but they never talked to me about it so I just shrugged my shoulders. I planned on filing a case against her for hurting Stacey the first time but after I did some investigation, I found out that she never did such things. I feel guilty and sorry towards her and if I had found out about it before she asked for money, I would have given her what she needed. But it was already too late for me to make it up to her.

Our marriage life was far from normal. We haven’t seen each other and if we do, we don’t talk at all. Because I was feeling guilty towards her when Stacey told me that she had been texting her, I decided to compensate Stacey instead.

Colleen prepared my clothes the moment we lived together. At first, I didn’t bother wearing them thinking she will be able to stop doing it in the long run. But after nine months and she was still doing it, plus the fact that I misjudged her with the incident with Stacey in the coffee shop, I decided to wear them already.

I thought that when she saw me wearing the clothes she would at least feel that we can be civil with each other. But it never happened and even after that, she still stays in her bedroom and never gets out, maybe unless when I was not at home.

Finding her laughing with another man did angered me. I never saw her laugh that way before and I thought that she was not the type to do that. Even with Betty who was close to her, I never saw her laugh like that. She looks really happy and I don’t know why I didn’t like it.

Mom told me about that doctor liking her and vice versa so I couldn’t see the point why they didn’t get married instead. Not hurting that doctor, just what do they mean by that? I got intrigued and for a moment I wanted to do something about it.

Confronting Colleen about that doctor was hard for me. Imagine, I am not talking to her and yet, after seeing them togehter, I started to make conversations with her. So I didn’t get surprised when she told me that she didn’t expect me to talk to her and most of all eat with her.

We had been married for a long time now and I think it was about time for us to move forward and be responsible with what we decided to do two years ago. Now, I have decided to be a husband to her so she should be ready to become my wife as well.

During our meal, she wasn’t even looking at me and when she did, she was either shocked, surprised or angry. She’s angry about making her stay away with her so-called friend. What can I do, I didn’t like her getting closer to that doctor.

I just asked her to eat together from now on and she was shocked. Is it really that shocking? Didn’t she look forward to it as well? I am an a**hol* for letting our marriage come to this. I understand that most of the fault was mine. I was the one who made it a point that I can never live with her. But years have passed and she should have thought about making our relationship better. Her, preparing my clothes and meals is not enough for us to have a better relationship.

I was the one who approached her now because I am the man. Maybe she didn’t want to get ahead of herself and get rejected by me so I get that. So I was thinking that she would just agree when I told her to stay away from that doctor, but instead we fought over him. I didn’t like fighting over another girl or another man. It was something I despised the most.

The married life I was thinking of having was full of trust and love. We cannot have both as we didn’t like each other from the very beginning. But at least we should try trusting each other.

Because she didn’t want to do what I said, I just warned her and left the table. I didn’t want to say anything that may hurt her so it will be the best thing to do and stay in my study. I should have stayed in my bedroom if she was staying there as well and was planning on continuing talking to her.

I’m sure that she will be going to her room so I will just work in my study room. All this time, I was busy with work and work alone. The time we got married is more than the time that I didn’t bed any woman. I respected our marriage and cheating is not my thing even if I don’t love her.

That’s why I stayed away from Stacey, I didn’t want to succumb to the temptation she might bring me. But I guess it was all for nothing because Colleen will never appreciate it and will never know about it. I cannot just tell her that I never see any woman the moment we live together, that will be too embarrassing.

Then I remembered Stacey, I think it was also about time to know her better. After what I found out earlier, I don’t think I will be able to trust her words anymore.

“Mr. McLahlin,” my private investigator said.

“I want you to look something up for me.” I said and then I gave him the details about Stacey. I think mom had done this already that’s why she decided to marry me Colleen instead. I know it was late now, but still, I wanted to know. “I am going to wait for the result.” I told him and ended the call.

Then, I close my eyes and think. I saw Colleen’s face again laughing with that doctor. Am I really affected by that?