Chapter Ninety-Two – I’d stay.
But why did it feel like a miracle she stayed in the marriage? Arya wondered if he didn’t expect her to stay. “Did you plan to divorce me?” she asked jokingly.
“Ah no. I actually thought you’d find someone else. You know, the contract permits you to.” Connor smirked.
Arya shrugged. “I thought so too but…” she paused.
Wait! He knew about the contract marriage?? She grabbed his shoulder and shook him. “You knew about it? How?”
Damien would definitely not have told him.
“I married you, you know. I had gotten curious and read the contract during the court marriage.” He revealed.
Arya clenched her teeth. Then all these while, he knew their marriage wasn’t real? Did he tell anyone? Even when she had asked him from relationship advice. She felt so stupid.
“Well, I was bent on making it work out, though. So I didn’t tell anyone about it, if that’s what you’re worried about.” he added with a pat on her back.
Her expression changed to a sober one. He wanted it to work out? But he didn’t know her. Shouldn’t he have been annoyed first that his cousin tried deceiving him?
“Why didn’t you say anything?” she asked.
He replied. “I just said, I wanted it to work out. It wouldn’t have worked out if I said anything, you could have just left.”
It wouldn’t have worked out? Arya’s face reddened. “Wh-What makes you think it has worked out?”
Connor turned to her slightly. “That red face. Don’t tell me you are rejecting your feelings? Don’t treat my cousin like that.” He shook his head.
Arya covered her face. Her body reactions were betraying her and causing embarrassments to her. “You really told no one?”
He nodded. “At a point, I forgot. You guys weren’t even acting like it was faked at first. I guess he did like you.”
He liked her? Before the marriage? What was he talking about? Arya wanted to change the topic as her face just kept heating up. Soon, she could morph to a tomato.
“Stop already. As long as you told no one then there’s no problem.” She sighed.
“Yeah, it will be like the contract was never signed.” Connor grinned. “Also, I’d remind Damien what day it is. If I tell him I gave you a gift, he’d surely want to beat me to it.”
Arya smiled. Maybe that was why he gave her a small but thoughtful gift so whatever Damien bought would beat it. He was being Damien’s loyal wingman.
“And don’t tell Damien I knew.” He added. “He could kill me for reading his contract.” His eyes widened.
Arya smirked. “You’ve made even worse mistakes and you know I know it. But yeah, he wouldn’t know, for both our sakes.” They laughed it off and Connor left for a stroll.
Arya actually felt relieved that he knew.
He was the closest person to her in the house, she spoke more freely with him than she did with even Damien.
Since he was supportive of her then maybe she should own up to these feelings instead of choking them down.
If she left her defenses down, then maybe these feelings would be her first matured feelings since she became an adult. And she was turning twenty in six days.
She rushed into the house to prepare for shopping. She felt more at home as she knew she loved them as well as their son. And one person knew their secret.
She attempted opening the door but noticed it was unlocked. Was someone inside? When Connor spoke of Damien, he didn’t sound like he was already home. Or didn’t he know?
She opened the door slowly and found him, reading on his desk. “Oh, you’re home early.”
Damien turned slowly to her without responding, then took out his ear plugs when he saw her. “Oh, Arya, welcome back. Did you say something?”
She smiled. “Nothing important.” She strolled in.
His expression changed. Had she said something important? For some reasons, he really wanted to know.
Last time, he had said something about Debby, she had been visibly annoyed then walked off. He couldn’t tell if she was mad at him or was thinking of something else.
He didn’t know how to bring it up again since it’s been a while. He turned to his book. Relationships were really hard.
He had spent four months with her already and made progress but as the expiry date of the contract came closer, he got worried he might lose her for being a boring husband.
He sighed then propped his head with his hand. The book he was reading suddenly became boring. He stared at it intently.
Meanwhile, Arya was peeking at Damien from her little room meant for only her. She wondered why his mood changed when she walked past.
Did he want to talk about something? He didn’t concentrate on his book again. Something must’ve been bothering him.
She knew that because it was the first time she’d seen him listening to songs while reading. It just meant he was trying to focus on only the book, ignoring his surroundings.
“Was it Debby? She hadn’t attacked for a while. And her spy from the Wade company had been fired. Lucy is okay too. Did something else come up?” she wondered to herself.
Maybe she should ask him, like a wife would. She should try sharing his problems. She gently opened the door.
She noticed he reacted to the sound of the opening door. Did he want to talk to her? “Arya, since when could you read his body language this well.” She said to herself.
She had also understood Seth’s emotions just by his body reactions. Was it a talent one got when they liked someone?
“Do you wanna talk about something?” she broke the silence between them.
He faced her with a puzzled look. “What made you think so?”
She shrugged. “I can’t say really. Did something happen? Debby? Kane earlier said all was clear…”
“The contract.” He started. “It would be nullified in eight months. I know it’s still far away but what do you…”
“I have no plans.” She interjected. “It could expire for all I care. I like here. Also, I really have no plans for anywhere.”
Maybe if she was honest first, he’d feel more comfortable. If the contract was what bothered him, then he should know she wasn’t going anywhere.
An inaudible sigh left Damien’s lips. He felt like he won a huge project, but having Arya stay was more than that.
He smiled. “Thank you.” That may not be a proper response to what she said, but that was what he felt at the moment.
“Sure.” Arya replied. “Anna told you about her wedding, right? I’m going with Winx to shop. Kane is coming with us.”
He agreed immediately. “Hmm, do what you want. I’d send you the money for it, okay?” he turned to his phone.
Arya grinned widened and stuck close to him. “Okay!”