AVA MORENO
After the wedding which was nothing but a sham, Shawn suggested a family only dinner and after party in a private dining room at a five-star hotel in downtown Manhattan.
We arrived at the hotel and we were ushered into the dining room by one of the receptionists. I scrunched my face up as we entered the dining room. I didn't want to be here. No, actually, I didn't see the importance of my presence here. If one thing I would love to do after that wedding, it would be going home to rest my head and not another façade
The assigned waiter and waitress bowed as we entered the room. "Welcome"
Shawn replied with an half smile and a quick nod.
I took a brief glance at Ethan and he had the same expression on his face. I felt a little relieved that I wasn't the only one who felt like this.
I scanned the table slowly before sitting down. They were crystal glasses and vintage wine on the table. I smiled wildly as my eyes landed on my favorite wine, Château Pretus. I raised my head up and my eyes met Ethan's eyes like they had been waiting for me to look at him. He shook his head like he found my smile unappealing and disappointing. I averted my gaze and pouted as I sat down, with my back firmly rested on the chair and my legs crossed like everyone else here were meant to cater to me.
Grandma sat at the head of the table, still stiff from the ceremony, as her hands folded tightly in her lap like she was holding herself together out of sheer will.
She finally spoke, breaking the silence that reigned since we came in. "Ethan, any excuse for your behavior today?"
With little interest, he replied, "Nana, I didn't mean for that to happen"
I smirked and grabbed the menu off the table, reading through it as I tried to tune their voices out.
Cassy and Ethan's buddy were also present. They were silent but their presence was not missable.
Their presence, however, didn't clearly sit well with May Avila.
She kept stealing glances at them with that kind of polite disgusting look rich people reserved for people they believed didn't fit in or belong to their clique. Finally, after the wine was served and the appetizers were brought out, she leaned forward and said, "I was under the impression that this gathering was meant for the family alone", she didn't even bother to hide her disturbing glare at Cassy and Ethan's buddy. She continued, "And not outsiders"
I looked over at where Cassy and Ethan's buddy were sitting. Cassy shifted awkwardly in her seat and the other guy, let out a low breath like he was fighting the urge to not snap back at her.
But before either of them could say a word, Ethan spoke, "They replaced Leo". He said without looking up as he poured that Pretus wine into his cup. I rolled my eyes because I wanted to take that wine home.
The table froze as Shawn paused mid-sip of his wine. May Avila batted her eyelashes at him.
"What did you just say?", She asked, her voice now low but sharp.
Ethan leaned back, unapologetic. "You heard me. They replaced Leo. Isn't he gone? Out of the picture? Someone had to fill up the space. Consider them placeholders" He said as he stretched his hand towards Cassy and the guy.
Cassy looked at me, blinking with intense rapidity. I shrugged. Ethan's buddy let out a soft chuckle.
"You actually have no right to talk about Leo like that", I said, staring at Ethan.
He didn't respond. He just laughed softly without looking at me.
His statement wasn't just a jab at May or me. It was a message.
Whether out of truth, spite, ambition or something more sinister, he was already erasing Leo.
"I see grief has made you cruel", May said tightly.
Ethan picked up his glass, swirling the wine in it. "No, it was the grief you created that made me realistic"
"Ethan! Do not stir any fight in here. This is a family gathering", Shawn said, his voice firm and laced with authority.
"Of course. To the family", Ethan replied, smirking as he clinked his glass against mine softly without even looking at me.
And just like that, I knew this wasn't a marriage but war. A storm is looming.
After desert was cleared and a few fake smiles exchanged, Shawn suddenly stood up, adjusting his cufflinks like he wanted to announce a stock market win.
I scoffed.
"The suite at Tribeca is now yours", he said, looking between Ethan and me like he was expecting a gratitude. He said again, "A wedding gift"
"How thoughtful", I muttered under my breath.
Ethan didn't say a word, he didn't flinch but he arched his brows and that made me feel he was uncomfortable with that gift.
I mean I wasn't comfortable with it either but that was the first time I saw him react to something in that manner.
Shawn continued, "Your things have already been moved there. You'll find everything waiting there"
Of course, he would have gotten everything prepared. Because in Shawn Theodore's world, even privacy comes prepackaged and scheduled.
My eyes met my grandma's and she smiled at me with a shrug. I scoffed loudly and stood up. "I agreed with the marriage and every other shenanigans that came with it but I didn't consent to living together", I said firmly as I stood in akimbo.
"Living together is part of the shenanigans", Shawn replied, his head tilted to the side a little, before walking out of the room.
"Grandma…", I called out.
"One of the many purposes of marriage is living together, Sunshine", She cut in and also walked out.
"I'll leave now, ma'am", Cassy whispered to me and I nodded.
Ethan was silent the whole time I advocated against living together. It seemed he didn't mind at all.
He looked so absentminded since Shawn announced that the house at Tribeca was now ours.
After everyone else left, I, Ethan and his buddy remained at the dining room. He didn't speak to me and neither did I. No one spoke to each other.
I was getting tired. I called one of the waiters and asked about the wine from earlier.
"Can I get the wine? You know the Château Pretus?"
"You can't take leftovers home, ma'am", She replied with a brief smile.
I coughed silently. "He…", I pointed at Ethan and continued, "I mean my husband took it so I really don't mind."
"It's the hotel's policy, ma"
"Can I buy a new one then? It's a really rare wine", I pouted.
"No ma. We don't sell. They're only meant for reservations.", She replied before walking out of the room.
I sighed.
Ethan's buddy took a brief glance at his phone and stood up. "We need to go"
"Why?", I asked.
"Apparently, Mr. Shawn had employed a personal driver for you and Ethan", he announced.
"What?", I and Ethan said at the same time.
"Let us go out, Ms. Ava", he said again.
"Okay buddy", I answered.
"He is not buddy. His name is K", Ethan said, walking out before us.
"K what?", I asked as I turned toward K.
"Just K", K replied, smiling.
"Just K?", I raised my brow.
"Just K.", He said and I nodded.
K and I walked to where the car which had been waiting for us parked.
A man came out of the car and bowed as we approached him.
"Hello. My name is Abel and I'm your driver"
"Yeah", I replied and opened the door.
"Wait a minute, where is Ethan?", K asked me and I shrugged, not bothered.
"Who is that?", I heard Ethan's voice behind us.
He walked to where we were standing. I noticed a small black paper bag with him.
"Who are you?", He asked Abel.
"He is the driver your father employed", K replied him.
Ethan demanded for the keys from Abel who reluctantly gave it to him after he made the statement "Do you drive me or my father?"
Ethan ordered K and Abel to go together in his own car he brought to the wedding and Him and I should go in this car Shawn gave to us.
"You are driving?", I asked him.
"I don't trust anybody else's hands behind the wheels", he replied as he entered the car.
He turned the ignition on.
"What about K?", I asked teasingly.
"He is an exception", he replied and drove off.
The ride to Tribeca was cloaked in silence. I sat in the front passenger's seat while he drove. We didn't make small talks. I looked through the heavily tinted windows and the city blurred past the windows, the skyline light flickering like dying stars.
I was bored but I had convinced myself not to look at him again until I saw his hand. The bandage was soaked. Blood had started to seep through the white gauze and, spreading slowly down the steering and dripping on the car rug.
I inhaled sharply. "Ethan"
There was no response.
I turned toward him, my voice a little firmer this time."You're bleeding"
Still, he didn't respond. He just kept his eyes fixated on the road like it was the only thing that mattered.
"Let's check the car, there could be a first aid kit somewhere or..."
"No", he finally spoke.
"You're literally bleeding through your..."
"No, Ava. You said it yourself that our contract begins the moment we're pronounced husband and wife" He turned to look at me and continued, "Don't play the concerned wife now".
I swallowed hard as he turned away. I sat back slowly. I didn't know what I had expected. Maybe a little softness, a little gratitude or just a speck of humanity. But what I met was a wall. One that seemed like it couldn't be torn down. Ethan had always been unreadable since I met him but now he was cold. Just cold.