His Heart For Collection

Chapter nine

The excitement Drew seemed to have was nearly enough to make me excited too. Nearly enough.

He came to my apartment with the suit, all cheery, saying how he couldn't wait for the event.

He unzipped the bag, revealing a fancy suit tailored to perfection. The jacket was a rich, navy blue color with a subtle sheen, adorned with intricate silver thread embroidery on the lapels and pockets. The trousers were a matching navy blue, with a sharp crease down the center and a subtle strip of satin piping along the outside seam. The shirt was a crisp, white dress shirt with a wingtip collar and French cuffs, complemented by a patterned silver tie with subtle hints of blue and gray.

It was beautiful. It fit perfectly when I wore it. Drew looked so proud.

"You look handsome, my love," he said, breathless. I laughed, shaking my head.

"Thank you. It is beautiful," I said, taking it off and putting on my clothes.

"I will come take you at six. Is that fine? The function starts at eight."

I shook my head. "I'll drive there."

"You can't do that, my love. I won't have people questioning why you and I are coming separately."

"But everyone knows that we separated," I said, confused.

He sighed, sitting on my bed. "Not everyone."

I gawked at him, exclaiming, "Not everyone?"

He ran a hand through his hair, visibly stressed by my reaction. What did he expect? I told him to tell everyone who knew that we were married that we separated.

"Only my parents and sister know," he said, smiling slightly, trying to soften me up.

"You know what, it's fine. Just go. I need my space."

Drew didn't leave. He kept on trying to say something, but ended up closing his mouth.

I was patient enough to let him collect his thoughts and say what he needed to. As much as I was annoyed with Drew, I was not cruel enough to chase him out like a dog for the second time.

"Tomorrow, I need your support and full cooperation. There will be important people there, and we have to show unity, as husbands. I will try my hardest to divert uncomfortable topics or questions from you, but please, let's be cordial," he finally said, leaving no room for discussion or objections.

I gulped, nodding. To be honest, sometimes Drew scared me, especially when he was acting professional with me. I felt like he was a different person from the easy-going and charming Drew I knew. I didn't get to experience this uptight side of him very much.

He smiled, the Drew I knew back. I was still unsettled, but I tried to smile back.

"Let me take my leave, my love. I'll see you tomorrow," he said, coming up to hug me. I stiffened in his arms, but forced myself to hug him.

I was still freaked out. When he let go, there was some glint in his eyes, but before I could read too much into it, it was gone and he kissed my forehead and wished me a good night. He didn't wait for me to say good night back before he left.

The relief I felt when I heard the door close was indescribable. I had a feeling like time was running out, but I couldn't pinpoint where that feeling came from. Maybe I was just uncomfortable because of what Sam told me. Maybe it's been messing with me.

I went to lock my door, then made myself something light to eat. I tried to hype myself up with the event tomorrow. I tried to tell myself that I was going there to support Drew, my husband. It was a big achievement for him. He's always worked hard for the company, and he's made it grow to the huge thing it was now.

So, I had to suck in my doubts and worries and be there to support Drew. Being separated didn't mean I have to be unsupportive. At the end of my day, he was still my husband and I loved him.

So, I had to suck in all my worries for just one night.

I put away my suit, then prepared for bed. It was eight in the night, but I couldn't sleep. I was just too awake, thinking about meeting the Harimots after two whole years of not seeing each other. I could handle the parents, but Isabella? Isabella was a bitch. Drew's sister was unbearable.

I was not looking forward to her taunting and belittling. I knew that the family wanted to embarrass me. There was no way they just extended their invitation to me out of the goodness of their own hearts.

Drew was just plain stupid to believe his family. I know he wanted all of us to get along and he couldn't choose between his family and I. I never made him choose. I just needed him to stand up for me and for once, tell his family to back off when it came to me. That's all I ever wanted. But I know that will never happen.

I will always come last to him. I knew he loved me, but he didn't think I was worthy for him to stand up for me.

I wiped my tears, trying to calm the hurt I felt. All I ever wanted from my husband was for him to stand up for me, but I've never been enough for him to stand up for me when his monster of a family bullied me right in front of him. I've never even heard him apologise for their behavior.

I asked myself why I was even dragging this sham of a marriage out. What was I waiting for? For him to show that I was his family?

Over the two years, I could have had serious relationships, but I always had hope that we would be alright and all would be well. Now I see that I've just wasted my time for a man that would never appreciate me. He did appreciate me, but not in the way I needed.

My mind drifted to Isabella. The girl was annoying. She always had this smug look like she knew everything in the world. She was infuriating. She always held herself like she was above everyone that wasn't her family. And Drew let her get away with so much. Like the time she took Drew's car for a spin and crashed it. There was not even a scratch on her, that's what baffled me.

She took Drew's car without permission and Drew didn't say anything. He just said he'll replace  it if it bothered me that much. It was about boundaries. You can't just take something from someone, especially when that someone was married and whatever you did, impacted the marriage.

That's when I realised that I was married to the whole family, and they were monsters that did whatever they wanted in my marriage. There were no boundaries when it came to his family.