Chapter 1
LAYLA’S POVI stood before the tomb of my late dad. I missed him so much and wished he could be here with me but it’s so sad that death took him from me. When I was done mourning and talking to my dad, I looked and saw Nate staring and waiting for me. I have been married to Nate for a year plus but we don’t love each other ___well he didn’t love me and to me I just felt like I was a barrier obstructing him from living his life. My marriage to Nate was just us fulfilling my dad’s wish before he passed, he has always wanted us to be married before he died so we had to do it which makes me feel so guilty, and he needed to be with the woman he loved and not me.“Hey, are you okay?” he asked. I loved the way Nate always became soft whenever I visited my dad.Because that was the only few times he showed care about me.“Yeah” I assured him,He left a faint smile on his face.“Should we get going?” he asked“Yeah” I gave a faint answer.…. We were on our way home with a deafening silence surrounding us, no one wanted to invade in anyone’s privacy or make anyone uncomfortable.“How’s work” he asked.Why does he act like he actually cares when I know he is just doing it out of responsibility,this is actually weird but I will play along with him.“Uhmm…” I cleared my throat “well it has been fine recently.” I didn’t know if I should go deep into the conversation or just leave it be because this was one of the rare times in our so called marriage.He cleared his throat and suddenly everywhere got cold. This was something regular because awkwardness was our best friend in this marriage.“Okay.” he replied giving me the cold face as usual.“Uhmm… yeah” What was I thinking anyway,what do I expect when I know the results already. I couldn’t wait to get home and out of this car. We didn’t talk to each other for the rest of the car ride till we got home. I was thankful to God that we got home quickly, I hurriedly left the car like I was being pursued by a killer which made me feel a little guilty. I walked inside the house heading straight to my room…. Yes we had different rooms and I didn’t mind it at all.I took of my clothes planning that I am going to call Amanda after my bath because the heat from that car got to me. I went to bathroom to take a shower and when I was done I rushed to pick up my phone. Amanda always knows the right time to call me. Amanda was one of the few people that knew that I was, married to Nate because she was my best friend and she needed to know.“Hey babe” I greeted.“Hey Mrs. Daniels.“she teased“I’ve told you to stop calling me that, I don’t have the right to his name because I’m not really his wife” I explained for the 100th time“Well I don’t care what you say, you are legally married to him and you have the right to bear his name.” she also repeated for the 100th time. One thing about Amanda was that she never ceased to remind me that I was married to someone that didn’t love me which is also a reminder that I was hindering him from falling in love and being happy.“I know you are already thinking about you hindering him from falling in love with someone else” oh yes! I forgot to say that Amanda could read my mind.“I can’t keep deceiving myself that I’m not at fault. He is my husband. I mean I live with him and I see how cold and awkward he is around me,” I explained reflecting on the time when we were always awkward around each other. It had always broken my heart to see us that way, even thinking of it right now made me sad.“Well should we just forget the part that you just admitted that he was your husband?” she teased. I hated whenever she teased me about Nate because it always hit different for me.“Yes I think we should forget my mistake miss Amanda” I pleaded which made her laugh.“okay ma… now for your husband, I feel like you should give yourselves time to love each other and stop all this fuss you guys are causing between yourselves” she advised“I don’t think he wants me because recently the coldness and awkwardness I’ve been receiving from him has been extreme than normal” I had been thinking about this and it has been one of the hardest things to think about because I still wanted to keep the promise I made to dad but at the same time, Nate has been acting extra weird.“ I still feel like you guys should give yourselves time to get to know and love each other more” I knew that Amanda wanted the best for me but to say the honest truth I don’t think we can be anything more than acquaintances, I don’t think Nate sees me that way or will ever see me that way.“Where is Nate by the way” she questioned making me remember that I had to cook.“He has a late night shift today and I actually just remembered that I need to make supper for him.” I announced making Amanda squeal.Nate is a surgeon at the city’s hospital. The fact that he was able to get this job at this young age made me super proud of him and self-conscious at the same time. I didn’t have to rely on his money as a college student but he was giving me pressure.“You guys are just so cute but you don’t realize it yet.” She squealed. It felt so weird to hear her call us cute because we were far from that.“I’m not even going to bother stopping you because I know that you’ll still think what you want to think so I have to go prepare dinner.” I got ready to end the call because I didn’t want him to eat late.“Okay Mrs. Daniels, go take care of your husband.” She yelled making me wince for my eardrums. I didn’t try to correct her because Amanda Is very stubborn and she wouldn’t end the call until I admitted she Is right which I did not have the time for.“Bye Amanda”“Bye Mrs. Daniels” she laughed before ending the call.I don’t really know why I’m playing the wife role in this home. Am I trying to win over his heart which I have already failed? Or am I just trying to compensate him for marrying me? I don’t really want to think about it I got dressed and headed for the kitchen and I was welcomed with the deafening silence of the house which meant that Nate had gone for his shift. I am free tonight which meant that I am going to be here alone.Why not get myself busy by cooking? I thought and decided to continue my process of the food.I might not be the love of Nate’s life but at least I am his housemate or whatever we are, I still cared for him and his health. We weren’t the regular married couple and not everyone knew about us which is very good to avoid questions. Although sometimes it kind of bothered me that Nate isn’t wearing his ring but I always knew that his type of job didn’t require much jewelry or accessories. Sometimes I really wish we could be normal and consummate our marriage but Nate doesn’t have any romantic feelings for me to even have sexual intercourse with me. It takes a lot for me to not think about divorce. I really want to set him free from this prison called marriage.should we really call it a marriage if we didn’t really do a big wedding? I couldn’t even define us.I was done with cooking and I decided to pack it to send to the hospital. I got ready to leave for the hospital and headed to the garage, I got in the car and left for the hospital.I stepped into the hospital and everyone started greeting me, they knew I was here to meet Nate. They knew we were acquaintances but they didn’t know we were married. I was heading for Nate’s office when I overhead some nurses talking about some lady that came to see Nate. I’ve never seen any lady that wasn’t a patient visit Nate before so this was weird.Who were they talking about? And who was this lady?TBCChapter 2LAYLA’S POVI was trying to figure out what they were talking about so I started approaching Nate’s office but stopped on my track when I saw her coming out and I felt frozen.The woman that was chatting with Nate… my husband with that singsong voice and beautiful smile, I was no other than Chloe, Nate’s ex.What is she doing here?Chloe and Nate had been dating in high school, they were the perfect match because both of them were A-level students and attractive. Everyone was jealous and wanted their relationship. They were older than me with class and age so I was invisible to both of them even though I was really in love with Nate. Nate had been happy around Chloe, and that had never really been the case when he was around me. Which made me feel what I felt when we were in high school all over again. Chloe was smart and beautiful and funny, which was everything, she was that perfect girl and I knew that I couldn’t beat her. I didn’t want them to see me so I decided to
Chapter 3LAYLA’S POV I felt sore and tired from the activities of last night, I didn’t want anything to interrupt my sleep because it felt so nice and relaxing but if course the universe was against me. I heard my phone ringing loudly in my ear, I was surprised at how loud it was because it felt like someone had buried it deep within the walls of my brain. I stood up from my bed reluctantly to pick up the phone . I placed it on my ears after confirming the caller was Amanda.“Whyyyy”I yelled demanding answers for her rude interruption.“Trust me it’s serious. ”she urged, “Well I was on a walk this morning and I passed by a café, guess who I saw at that café with a woman” she asked“I don’t know ? How I’m I…” wait a minute ! She called me to talk about someone being with a woman at a café, it can’t be a nobody it must have been …. Nate.“Was it …was it Nate” I didn’t want to accept it because it hurt like hell. This was a very bad thing to wake up to.“I’m still there and I wa
Chapter 4LAYLA’S POVAfter finally speaking out the buried thought in my mind, I refused to think about it any more. I needed to focus on what was more important, to get this project done and with the research from Prof. Germanus I actually think I’m going to ace this work. I opened my bag trying to bring out my laptop to continue the work but I don’t find it there. I could have sworn that I carried it with me…shit! I guess I just have left it in a hurry when I was trying to check out that café.I don’t feel like driving home but I guess at the end of the day, that was going to be solution. I quickly hurried to the car grabbing my things and dumping them in the passengers seat. I got home not even bothering to lock the car because I know I was going to be out it in a minute. I stepped into the house and was surprised with the sight I met.Nate was sleeping on the couch and I must say this was a first. I knew he had late night shifts but still he always ended up going to his roo
Chapter 5Nate’s POVI dropped the flowers I came with at Layla late dad tomb and gave her some space to talk with her father, I am not good in words and I really don’t know how to console her right now, I know how well she misses her father but too bad she never for once grew some feelings for me.I know she agreed to the marriage with me because it was her father dying wish. I notice the sadness in her eyes, oh God what should I do? Should I caress her hair and speak with her, no that will look a little bit off, what if I hug her from behind and promise her I will always protect her no matter what, even if it’s a one sided love, damn it, none of these even make sense but I need to say something, I will be a bad husband if I don’t mostly now she caught me staring at her. “Hey, are you okay?” Was the only sentence that came out from my mouth.“Yeah.”She replied, how is she this cold? Just yeah? I expected a sweet conversation at least, anyway I placed a faint smile on my face and in
Chapter 6 Nate’s POV “At least be kind enough to offer me a seat.” She said interrupting my thought of telling her if I am married or not, “My bad, please do have your seat.” I said politely and concluded on not telling her about my marriage with Layla. I know Layla wouldn’t like it, so it’s best I keep it from her. “How have your being Chloe?” I questioned her and I found it easy talking to her because she always know how to go deep in any of our conversation. One thing I like about Chloe is the fact that she is a good listener, no wonder she is a lawyer but I don’t have feelings for her at all. “I have been good, I missed you so much and I am happy to see you again.” She said holding my hands and using her finger to flirt with it and I withdrew, “OH yes, I missed you as well, so tell me how is life generally, heard you are a lawyer now, you finally accomplished your dream.” I had to change the topic immediately because I wasn’t comfortable but I won’t blame her. “Well it’s borin
Chapter 7Layla’s POV I left Amanda’s place and headed home immediately to tell Nate my mind, I don’t want such a marriage where there is no love and no hope for love to grow at all.I stood at the doorpost for a minute and took a deep breath before going in and walked straight to his room, I knocked at his door but I got no response, ”Nate are you in?” I also got no response from him, maybe he went to the hospital, I guess I should just wait till tomorrow.I retreated and ended up in my bedroom resting on my bed and holding my pillow so close and tears flow down my eyes like a river. “Why can’t you love me Nate? Why? I am trying and it’s seems I will never win his heart.” I cried throughout and skipped dinner and didn’t know the time I doze off completely.*I woke up the following morning feeling discomfort on my body due to the fact I slept in a wrong position. I walked straight to the bathroom to have my bath and when I finished, I put on my blue dress with my hair packed in a po
Chapter 8Layla’s POVI imagined him kissing me for the very first time and I thought maybe he has feelings for me now but I guess I fantasize a lot, he didn’t kiss me like I thought instead he removed something from my hair.“You had a thread on your hair.” He said and I didn’t know what else to say, I just opened the door and left without saying a word.I didn’t go directly to the professor office, I just rushed to the female toilet and locked myself in, “Why does Chloe have to come back? Why? I am married to him and she is just an ex to him but why does she has more advantage over him? I am married to him this long and we have never slept on the same bed, we have never called ourselves sweet name or cuddle each other, we haven’t done anything as a couple.I remained in here for up to 15 minutes and I tried to put myself together before stepping out and washing my face with the sink. I looked at the mirror after drying my face, I kind of look dull and I don’t want anyone asking me w
Chapter 9Layla’s POVMy phone ringing tone woke me up, still trying to overcome the sleep, I managed to stretch my hands to locate my phone and I didn’t see the caller name before answering the phone and making my phone rest on my right ear, “Layla, where are you?”“I am at home, is there a problem?” I asked and I flapped my lips together.“Don’t tell me you are still sleeping, we were supposed to meet with the other professor this morning, have you forgotten?”“Professor? Why?” I suddenly remembered and I jumped up immediately and my eyes landed on the clock in the living room, 9am OMG, how did this happen? Oh no, I am so late!!I placed the phone back on my ear saying, “I will be there please.” I ended the phone call and dashed to my room.I didn’t have enough time to wash my hair, I guess it’s not smelling after all, I took the document of the research I did and other important file as well and rushed out of my room ready to leave, I saw no trace of Nate’s black Porsche Panamera c