Happily Married [COMPLETE]

[09]

October 2nd 2017

Calvin just couldn't fall asleep, no matter how hard he tried. His mind was just too active to get a good night's rest, and he had Audrey to thank for that.

The woman annoyed him to no end, even when she wasn't in the same room as him. Just the thought of her had his jaw clenching and his mood turning sour. But to think that he wouldn't have to stay married to her for much longer.

As much joy as Calvin got from blaming Audrey for everything that went wrong in his life, he had to give her credit for this one. She had played her moves really well; coming up with a contract of her own.

And so that was what she had spent those few days away doing. He had initially thought that she had retreated momentarily to lick her wounds before she came back guns blazing, but she was actually conspiring with her lawyer.

Calvin had read the contract upstairs by himself, not wanting Audrey to watch his reactions as he read the contents of the stack of papers that she had handed him. To say that he was impressed would be an understatement. Too bad this contract was meant for him. And her. Audrey.

Calvin was desperate to get out of this marriage and they both knew it.

Especially Audrey.

Her contract was simple, yet devious.

He turned over onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. Running his hands over his face in attempt to rid his thoughts of Audrey and the contract, he released a frustrated sigh. Sitting up, he leaned over to the bedside cabinet and flicked on the lamp, before reaching next to it and grabbing the contract that Audrey had given him a few hours ago.

He had ready multiple times already, but he was determined to not miss a thing before he signed it.

He couldn't believe that he was actually proposing signing the blasted thing, but perhaps this was the only way to actually get her out of his life.

The terms appeared to be simple.

Audrey was willing to give everything back to him, the engagement ring, all the presents and gifts that he had given her, her share of the house and even the pendant that he had bought for her all those years ago. But there was a catch. She was willing to give it up if Calvin gave their marriage one last chance.

It was written clearly in black, bold ink that Calvin had to stay married to Audrey for 2 more months. It was stated underneath that section that he was not allowed to have any extra marital affairs for if he was caught doing so, then he would have to forfeit everything, meaning that he would come out of the marriage with absolutely nothing.

It was a risk to take, not being able to see Jane for 2 months. It wasn't something that he took lightly. But if not seeing her for 2 months meant that he would be able to spend the rest of his life with her, then maybe, just maybe, it was worth it.

He would also get the pendant he had given Audrey on their wedding night that Jane had especially asked her, so there wasn't much room to complain.

Just the part where he would have to put in some effort into this marriage, and for another 2 months at that.

Calvin wasn't sure if he was actually capable of doing so, but he would try. He would try for Jane.

He would just have to suck it up and deal with it like a man.

Calvin couldn't help but visibly wince as he signed his name on the several dotted lines that lay awaiting his signature throughout the contract. He wasn't surprised when he noticed that she had already signed her parts before giving it to him.

He exhaled, rubbing any remaining sleep from his eyes before he got off the bed, left the pen on the bed side table and grabbed the contract from off of the pillow, determined to fling it in Audrey's face.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise when he found the room next to his to be empty; the room that Audrey and Calvin shared when they actually put effort into their marriage. This was their bedroom, but it had been well over a year that Calvin had moved out of it and to the guest room next door whenever he did decide to sleep at home.

It appeared that the bed hadn't been slept in, not for a long time.

He checked all of the other guest rooms, thinking that maybe Audrey had done the same thing as him and moved out of their previously shared bedroom, but they were all empty and untouched.

It was only when he trekked downstairs and into the living room did he find Audrey. Asleep.

Audrey was fast asleep on the sofa, he head resting on a pillow and a blanket thrown over her body. Judging by the peaceful expression on her face, it was obvious that she was far too comfortable sleeping on the uncomfortable sofa downstairs rather than in one of the luxurious beds upstairs.

He couldn't help but freeze as he watched her, not sure what to think.

He pursed his lips and closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. He didn't know what to make of the situation that lay before his eyes, but he did know that it was late, and that he had come to sought her out for one reason.

Placing the contract down on the coffee table before the sofa -and not too gently at that- Calvin scowled at his wife, turned on his heels and headed back upstairs, ignoring the pang of guilt that he felt. The sour, metallic taste of watching her sleep on the sofa remained with him all night as he tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

At least he would be able to spend Christmas with Jane.  

-

Layla Knight

21.06.17