Marriage?

27: A Crack in the Facade

Chapter 27: A Crack in the Facade
Bella Richards.

“Well…” He sighed, a heavy sound. “You know…every year we have these little gatherings and dinners, a way to remember his mother. And I'm truly happy you’re able to be here this year, as part of our family now. It brings us immense joy.” His father’s voice held a subdued sadness that sent a shockwave through me, the color draining from my face. Images of a young Calvin, awash in that same sorrow, hit me with the force of a physical blow. My words caught in my throat, a wave of sympathy washing over me as I fought to maintain my composure, to keep mine and Calvin's secret. The loss of a parent… that was a lifelong ache, especially… I swallowed hard, meeting his father’s somber and somewhat distraught gaze with a nod.

“Yes, I do know, Uncle. My deepest condolences to you.” I offered a warm smile, hoping to provide a sliver of comfort.

He nodded back. “Thank you, dear. But, you know,” he chuckled softly, a bittersweet sound, “it all happened so suddenly on the 4th of April. It felt like… like my whole world just came crashing down.” He sighed again, slowly withdrawing his hand from mine to rest it on his knees. My heart sank at his words. On the very day his mother had died, I had taken Calvin on a trip, a day he’d spent exhausting himself physically, when what he must have needed most was emotional support, perhaps just to be with his father. “But you know, at the end of the day, I’m just a husband missing his old, lovely, dead wife,” he said, a weary smile touching his lips.

“I truly don't know if there are any appropriate words for this, Uncle. But please… be strong. Know that your family is here for you, always. And besides," I added gently, reaching out to lightly touch his forearm, offering a warm smile, “you’ve married again. Let’s focus on the present, on enjoying our time together. And now,” I brightened my tone, “you’ve gained another family member, sitting right here in front of you! More people to bring cheer, more laughter to the house.’

“God bless you, dear,” his dad chuckled, patting my head affectionately. “I’m so grateful to have you as my daughter-in-law. You’re educated, intelligent, emotionally intelligent too – you choose your words so thoughtfully. And you have such a loving nature – you are… amazing.” He spoke with genuine adoration, the kind a father holds for a cherished daughter. “And yes,” he said, rising to his feet and extending a hand towards the next room, “we’ll all have fun as a family, with interesting conversations… perhaps over a game of billiards.” He smiled warmly, and I returned it, a sense of warmth spreading through me despite the earlier tension. I took his offered arm, maintaining a respectful distance as we walked towards the room where the rest of the family awaited.

As we both entered the room, while I tried my best to control the thoughts inside my head, forcing myself not to overthink after seeing his face. He had a smile on his face, he talked with his uncle, and with a gentle push of the cue, he tapped the ball with a hit. I loved his grace — the way his fingers softly moved and his body concentrated on the simple of a ball, giving out his simplest best. With the admiration of his physique and grace, came the sorrow and a feeling of empathy for his loss. I wanted to offer my condolences to him, without saddening him further, or else I felt like my heart wouldn’t be at peace. Besides, the room was spacious — with intricate royal designs that I must have seen somewhere in the movies — separated from the big garden with a big glass door.

“Dear, I have taken so much of your time. Go and spend it with others, or your husband, alright?” his dad said casually with a smile.
I nodded, returning his father’s warm smile, and made my way across the room. My eyes, however, were fixed on Calvin. He was leaning against the edge of the billiard table, the green felt a stark contrast to the dark, expensive fabric of his suit. He wasn’t looking at the game; his gaze was solely on me.
And it wasn’t the usual guarded, assessing look I had grown accustomed to in our... arrangement. Instead, there was a softness there, a vulnerability I had rarely seen. His typically sharp, almost predatory eyes, were now clouded with a softness and something unusual. that completely disarmed me. It was a look so different from the dangerous persona the world knew, the man who navigated the cutthroat world of business with a chillingly calm demeanor. This was...Calvin. Just Calvin.
As I approached, his smile widened, not a forced, polite one, but something genuine and a little hesitant. He straightened up from the table, the pool cue held loosely in his hand. The clinking of balls and the murmur of conversations faded into the background as I focused solely on him.
“Hey,” he said softly, his voice lower than usual, almost a little breathless. His grip seemed to tighten on the corners of the billiard board, a nervous habit I had only recently started to notice.
“Hey,” I replied, my own voice a little shaky, as my fingers glided on the billiard board’s corners . The coldness that we shared seemed to have deserted me in the face of this unexpected display of...adoration? It felt strange, given our circumstances, yet a warmth bloomed in my chest.
“You were...talking to my dad for a while,” he said, looking down at the cue he was twirling between his fingers.
“Yes,” I confirmed, my gaze lingering on the way his long fingers moved.