The Love That Passed

Jared’s POV

I went back to our house and when I got to my room, Colleen was no longer there. She really didn’t stay there and it annoys me more. Compared to us, she was the one who was showing the most disapproval of us living together and yet she didn’t object. I decided to went down and look for her in her room and meet Betty,

“Are you going to swim, Sir Jared?” she asked curiously.

“No, I am going to see Colleen.” I replied and turned my back on her but she stopped me.

“Wait, Sir. Colleen is resting and currently sleeping. She looked tired when I saw her so when she told me that she will rest first before she eats, I let her.” she informed me. Now that I think about it, she does look pale. Every time that I happen to see her, I notice that she always looks pale and sick.

“Tell her to come and see me in my study when she gets out of her room.” I told her and went to my study. I brought home some office work because I needed to fetch Colleen from the hospital.

In my study room, time had passed but I didn’t manage to work either as the thought of my wife and that doctor kept popping up in my head. I don’t know what I will do and it annoys me even more. If only I was in my office I would have been very busy right now and would have had no time to think about them. I realized that I won’t be able to work anymore so I got my phone and browsed.

I was looking for a friend from college’s social media when I received a call from Stacey and I didn’t like it. She had been asking money from me ever since I compensated her the first time Colleen texted her. I answered the phone to know what she wanted.

“Hello,”

“Jared, I am really sorry to call you. I know that you are busy in your office now but I couldn’t take it anymore. Your wife has been texting me again. Tell me how long do I need to put up with your wife? Can’t you just love her so she could feel secure?” she said, sobbing. I know that Colleen was sleeping so I wonder why she would say that? I am going to apologize to her even if I think that it was impossible when I heard a knock, “Come in.” and Colleen emerged.

“Right now, she’s calling me.” Stacey said and I looked at Colleen who was approaching my table. She was going to say something but I motioned her to quiet.

“She’s calling you right now?” I asked.

“Yes, she’s on call waiting. Do you want me to answer it for you so you can hear it?” she asked and I smiled.

“OK, put her in so I could talk to her.” I replied.

“OK,” she replied and then, “She ended it after I answered her call. Maybe she thinks that I am talking to you.” she said after. All this time, I trusted her and never thought that she was someone like she was now. She was lying to me all this time and Colleen who really had not done anything to her suffers from my cold treatment and harsh words.

“I am going to send you money for the compensation.” I told her and I heard her sighed.

“You don’t have to do that, I just want to let you know about what she was doing to me.” she replied and I smirked in a mocking way. She was not seeing it and I saw Colleen’s forehead creased as she looked at me. I looked away as I was feeling guilty towards her.

“OK, I am not sending it. Thank you for letting me know. Goodbye.” I said and ended the call. I know now that she was doing it so she could ask for money from me. It was just an act that she didn’t want me to compensate her for.

“You asked for me.” Colleen said, after I put down my phone. I wanted to talk to her about that doctor but the guilty feeling I have towards her was eating me up. Why didn’t she try to depend on herself when I was accusing her of something she didn’t do. I know that she said that she didn’t do it but still, she should have insisted and didn’t let me think otherwise.

“I want to talk to you about that doctor. I asked mom about him and I still didn’t want you to see him.” I told her. I still felt annoyed with the truth that she likes that doctor and he likes her too but decided to marry me instead because she didn’t want to hurt him. How is she going to hurt him when she likes him too?

“I already told you that he’s a friend and if you asked Mommy Claire about him, I was sure that she told you that as well.” she replied.

“Yes, she told me that, but that doesn’t mean I will let you continue seeing him.” I told her.

“I can’t, he’s important to me and he can save me,” she replied and I got mad at her.

“Why can’t you do as I say? Does your life depend on him?” I asked angrily.

“Yes,” she replied.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

“Then why can’t you just marry him instead. Why did you have to come in between me and Stacey when you are not ready to leave that man?” I asked, yelling. I couldn’t believe that she said yes.

“There were times where you couldn’t get what you wanted. I didn’t want to hurt him in the end. Another thing is, he will be providing me with the money that I will be needing in the future.” she replied.

“Money again? When we just got married, you asked me for money. Where are you going to use it this time?” I was furious. Why does everyone need money? Stacey fooled me for money and now, here she was talking about money as well.

“For the same reason I told you about when I asked you.” she replied. Why does she always answer that way? She can’t say anything she meant in a straightforward manner.

“Fine, I am going to give you that money.” I told her and she laughed. It was the first time that she laughed in front of me and she didn’t look happy. She was mocking me.

“You’re two years late. I am not needing it urgently so there’s no need for you to offer it now. I talked to him and we already agreed on certain terms.”

“I am your husband so I should be the one who will provide you with what you need.”

“That’s exactly the reason why I married you.” she told me and my eyes widened. “He had been offering me that money for a long time already and I couldn’t accept it because he is an important friend to me. I only want to ask for a favor from my immediate family, like a husband. But it turns out that it wasn’t the case to you. So I give up.” she added.

“You married me for money?” I asked, feeling betrayed.

“Maybe, but I told you that I am willing to do my duty as my wife so I will feel less guilty, but you didn’t want it.” she replied as if it was my fault.

“My mom knew about this?” I asked and she nodded.

“I have no intention in hiding it.”

“Then you must be disappointed that you didn’t get what you wanted.” I tried to mock her, but she just smiled.

“I guess nothing really comes for free.” she replied. “If there’s nothing you want to talk to me about, I am going to leave now.” she said and got up from her seat and turned around. She was on the door holding the door knob when I reminded her.

“Never see that doctor again. Even if he was your life, I’d rather had you dead than seeing you together.” I told her and she continued getting out of my study. I was harsh, I know that. But I was hurt as well when she didn’t even deny her reason for marrying me.