Vivian POV
He strode in, walking past me towards my mother whose expression suddenly changed with glistening smiles. He bent down, took her hands and kissed it; a courtesy and introduction shown to elderly in-laws.
“Max Norman?” My Mom asked, her smiles brightening even more and Max nodded, suddenly acting like an innocent cute four year old baby.
“Yes Mom” He replied in a very demure polite tone that I didn’t realize he had with him
“You’re really handsome like they say” She complimented, shocking me even more. I didn’t understand my Mom, although I know her as someone to be flexible most times, I still couldn’t believe she would be this pleased to someone who she already knows wanted to divorce me; of course she knows! I told her! Then why was she acting so oblivious? Strange, entirely strange.
” Common, let’s have a brief talk, can we?” My Mom suddenly chipped in and at that moment, I knew I couldn’t just watch and do nothing. What is she doing?
“Mom, I’m sorry but I can’t leave you alone with Max” I say as I walked and stood in between, while folding my hands together in a disapproving stance.
” Why?”She asked, arching a brow at me.
“Because I don’t trust him Mom. Like, common, how could you even get so comfortable with him? What’s wrong with you” I asked worriedly, glaring at Max.
” I don’t see anything wrong with having few talks with my in-law Vivi_”
“He’s not my husband anymore Mom, we Divorced already” I cut her off before she could finish her statement. Truth be told, I didn’t like the sound of that because if it continued, I wouldn’t be able to contain the red blushes of embarrassment that would appear on my cheeks which would definitely make look ridiculous.
” He’s not your husband? You Divorced already?” My Mom inquired in disbelief and I nodded.
“But then you live with him, sleep with him and do all sort of things couples do right?” She added and the blush embarrassment I had tried so hard to avoid was slowly creeping up to my face but I managed to hide it.
How could my Mom suddenly change? She had almost cried in the hospital the other day I told her about how Max didn’t love me so why was she acting like a magistrate of marriage?
“Mom, you don’t understand but we’re simply not what you think” I replied, feeling nervous of the right words to describe the answer for her without it getting ridiculous.
“Then make me understand Vivian. Tell me how two Divorced people stay and live together and even sleep together or don’t you guys share the same bed?”
“We do!” “We don’t!” Both Max and I replied unanimously different as we stared at each other, the tension suddenly became stiff between us. I gave him a questioning look to throw more lights to his words since he had agreed to my Mom’s questions but Instead he looked away, scratching his head in confusion.
“What are you both saying?” My Mom took quick glances at both of us as she stepped back before turning to face me fully.
“Mom, please stop acting so oblivious, I already told you when you were sick. I told you that I and Max might not be together anymore so stop with this act. I really don’t like it” I calloused with a frustrated mind, not liking how affected I had become.
” Then tell me why? I remember vividly Vivian, the moment you cried out your heart when I laid on the bed” My Mom pointed to the bed behind her in a knowing stare ” But you already assumed, you weren’t sure. You were hurt Vivian. You said Ruth was back into his life and you think you guys might be drifting apart soon because of that so tell me one thing? Just one thing I want to know Vivian, Max?” She glanced at Max.
” Are you guys really Divorced?”
“Yes, we are” ” No, we haven’t Mom” Max said just immediately I spoke out mine.
“Fuck! What is wrong with the both of you? Fucking give me a straight answer!” She yelled at the top of her voice and we flinched. Oh! I almost forgot how fierce and commanding my mother can be, fearless and brave! I think I’ve gotten a bit of that from her.
“The thing is that we are Divorced but aren’t really Divorced” Max answered curtly after several minutes of intense silence.
“What does that even mean? Make me understand” My Mom nagged relentlessly, the frustration and impatience coursing through her voice was clearly evident.
” We Divorced but we came back together for a contract ” Max gave the briefest answer that summarized every tension as my Mom’s shoulder immediately slumped in relaxation and she gently sat down on the bed and shut her eyes.
She took in a deep breath and opened her eyes, glancing in between us “What happened between you both?” She asked. I clenched my fists as the answer weighed heavily on my mind.
It was just simple! Ruth, his first love returned and I became an old version while she became the new brand! What more was there. A straight answer, a tangible reason for Max since our marriage was a mere convenience bound by his own rules and contract.
“A lot happened and I wouldn’t really apportion blames at the moment since I’m also at fault ” Max replied and I smiled. Truly, he was being a man and owning to his wrongs as expected of him.
” I might not be there when you both got married because I was down with Illness but I can remember the expression on your face the day you announced the news to me. You were happy, bustling with energy and charisma, do you think being a divorcee at 24 is what is better for you?” My Mom directed her fierce gaze towards me. I wasn’t expecting that question from her at all not until she spoke the last words which totally threw me off my feet ” I saw the pictures, the videos and everything, it was sent to me after two weeks of your marriage and even though I paid the sender to delete them and keep it a secret, somehow, I think the sender sent it to Max but then, Why would you cheat and sleep around Vivian?”
What?! Who cheated? What video? How could my Mom think I cheated? When and how? Something must definitely be wrong somewhere. I’m not a whore and I didn’t sleep around with anyone!