HIS PRETENSE BRIDE

CHAPTER 20

Alexa's POV

The maids in the house are the only normal people.

Unlike the man I married, who has been grumpy and silent since I told him I was a virgin, the maids converse, laugh, and smile with me.

That anger, which tightened his expression when I told him, made me regret my words as soon as they rolled out of my mouth.

I signed up for this.

Being a virgin or not doesn't matter. I just felt I should let him know.

That probably turned him off because he left the bedroom, didn't return until I fell asleep, and woke up the next morning to an empty bed.

I haven't seen Xander in three days. There is evidence to show that he has been coming home for those three days and spending the night here as well, but I haven't set my eyes on him.

This morning, he forgot to take his wristwatch. Yesterday, the smell of his cologne filled the room.

It felt like he was always around whenever I was sound asleep, and the moment I started to toss to wake up, he disappeared.

“Did he take breakfast before leaving for work?” I ask Susan again, hoping to get more information about Xander from her.

“Just a cup of coffee as usual,” she replies back with a lingering smile on her face.

I nod.

It wasn't just my imagination. He was indeed at home.

Aside from what I told him, did I do anything wrong to offend him?

Slowly, I make my way from the kitchen back to the room where I've been confined for days. We are already married, but I can't bring myself to ask him about the promise of securing a job for me as an executive chef.

How can I even do that when I haven't seen this man in days? Additionally, I haven't fulfilled my obligations because I'm not pregnant yet, and that's because he hasn't physically touched me.

For me to be pregnant, we need to do something. The normal thing couples do to conceive.

Before the wedding, Xander had me run some tests to confirm my fertility. I was also placed on medication for three days, with strong antibiotics to boost my immune system and help me conceive quickly.

But now, this is happening.

Sometimes, it makes me feel so sad. Other times, intense relief hits me.

If I tell Xander how scared I am of all of this, he might never summon the courage to do what he ought to.

It makes me wonder about my mental readiness for this. I thought I was ready. I thought it wasn't a big deal, but now I feel like this isn't me.

My phone's ringing sound jerks me out of my reverie as I step further into the room, sit on the edge of the bed, and grab the phone from the drawer.

It is Xander.

I pick up quickly. “Hi.”

“Where are you?” He demands with an authoritative voice, which makes me roll my eyes.

I should be asking you that, where else would I be? I want to say this, but I shake my head to wave the thought away.

I don't want us fighting and bickering words at each other just a few days after our wedding.

“Your apartment?” I reply, making it sound more like a question.

“It's our home, not my apartment, Alexa. You are my wife now, remember?” He corrects me, making me raise a confused brow and wonder where all of this is coming from.

We got married, and we slept in separate bedrooms on our wedding night. I haven't seen him in days, and now he's asking me this?

What an arrogant jerk!

Anger begins to shimmer within me, but I don't say a word.

“Have you had lunch yet?” His next question throws me off-guard, making me blink several times to be sure I heard him right.

“No, why?”

“I want to take you out for lunch,” he replied, and laughter erupts from my throat.

Wow.

“Really? What a wonderful husband you are, Xander. I can't help but fall in love with you over and over again when I haven't seen my so-called husband in three days. Three f**king days. You think calling me and asking me to lunch will make you forget what you've done? You must be kidding, right?” A tremor runs through my words, heavy with sarcasm.

Silence ensues from the other end, making me think he must have disconnected the call out of anger.

“I'm sorry. Let's talk about it over lunch. Meet me at Safari Restaurant in the next thirty minutes. David will bring you. I will be waiting for you…”

"I'm not coming." I quickly cut him short. “It's either you come home or I stay back. If you want to apologize properly, you come home and do that.”

Silence.

“Alexa, don't be difficult!” He is gritting his teeth in annoyance, but I couldn't care less. I won't let him treat me like I am not worthy of him.

“Xavier, come home. I want to see you. Let's talk.”

“We can do that over lunch, can't you?”

"Of course we can, but if you know you are okay with arguing with me in public when we have only been married for three days," I respond again with sarcasm,

I hear him sigh, and guilt sips into my mind immediately.

I am overreacting.

I know I am, but I can't help the frustration swirling in my heart. We haven't been living as a normal couple. I haven't seen him in days, and now he thinks he can make it right with just a lunch date.

It is not a way to apologize. It is just meant to be a show off to the public and to his mother.

I already told him not to use me to get to her. The only way I can help is by giving him an heir, and that is what I am here for.

“Xander, come home.”

“I'm sorry, Alexa. I know I acted like a jerk that night, but I…” He trails off, making me itch to hear the rest of his statement.

What happened? Doesn't he find me attractive enough? Did I irritate him with my revelation?

Xander, say something.

“You know what? I'm coming home. Get dressed,” he mutters and disconnects the call, leaving me more baffled than ever.