The Fake Vows (Book 1)

Chapter 9

She nervously breathed in and out, in and out again and again. A thick fog of loud silence covered the room as Elisabeth awaited Dexter's response.

Dexter's lips parted a few times but no words came out. He held back whatever emotions he felt from his face.

'I said I want a divorce.' She repeated more aggressively this time.

Dexter gave her one distant look before storming out of the room. Elisabeth wanted to shout at him to come back and answer her, but Tasha and Hilary walked in. Behind them followed Kiara and Prince.

'He woke you didn't he?' Tasha said with a knowing smirk.

'He did.' Elisabeth answered sitting up a little to accommodate Tasha and Hilary's hugs.

'I knew it. I'm even surprised he didn't do it sooner.' Tasha said.

'We missed you.' Kiara and Prince said hugging her at the same time. Elisabeth felt an overwhelming dose of emotions drugging her when she looked at her best friends.

'Not now sweety. We'll talk about all this later.' Kiara whispered into her ear when she felt Elisabeth's suppresed sniffs. Elisabeth nodded and held her tears back.

Tasha and Hilary got acquainted with Prince and Kiara. They all seemed to be getting along well and it pleased Elisabeth.

After almost two hours of chatting with them, Elisabeth decided to go and shower. Tasha helped her as she was failing to stand on her own for long.

Not wanting to remain behind alone in the room all day, she went downstairs with everyone else. Tasha and Hillary tried to force her to stay in bed but she wouldn't agree.

When they reached downstairs, Tasha showed them to the home theater room. Elisabeth knew Tasha's house was beautiful and big, but she hadn't known there was a mini cinema inside it. Karen, Gareth, Mark and Hilary's kids were all inside. Tasha took the children away to the playroom when they almost jumped at Elisabeth in excitement when they saw her.

She avoided looking at Mark. It was very difficult just being in the same room with him, what more meeting eye to eye. Knowing about his feelings for her now made life harder. She loved Mark deeply, but only as a friend and brother in law. Nothing more than that.

'Come and sit here.' Hilary said patient an empty seat next to her. Elisabeth gripped onto her crutches and started for Hilary's direction.

'She'll sit with me.' Dexter's voice demanded from behind her. He placed his arm on her back and lead her to an unoccupied luxurious sofa which could only accommodate one sitter.

She roughly shrugged her shoulders when his other arm rested there but he never let go.

Thinking he was going to let her sit instead, she settled into the sofa only to find herself landing on Dexter's laps with her front facing him. She tried to get up immediately but his restricting hold on her kept her in place.

'Lights out. Movie on. Everybody quiet.' Gareth said and suddenly the whole room was dark and quiet. Only the light from the screen gave the room a little glow and it faded as it reached the far back where she and Dexter were sitting. It gave them more privacy as everyone else was sitting at the bottom seats.

'I can't do it. I can't give you what you want. Let's try and work this out.' Dexter whispered silently to her.  She ignored his words thinking that maybe she was having an illusion. Why would Dexter be against a divorce.

'I can sit on my own.' She finally said with annoyance. Dexter ignored her and a childish anger stirred in her causing her to pinch him hard on the right lap. He quickly grabbed her hand and locked it in his palms. He raised it to his lips and pretended to be kissing her knuckles. She scrunched her face in shock when he suddenly bit her finger tip. A slight sweet stinging pain followed and she slapped him on the head.