Brandon
I opened my eyes to bright light and it hurt my eye. Memories from last night came rushing into my brain.
Some idiot decided the only to run was to stab me.
I sat up in the bed welcoming a sharp sting on the side of my stomach.
I pulled down the sheets to see a large bandage around my lower stomach.
Clarissa wasn't in the room as well.
Trying to be quiet which was really hard, I limped downstairs.
There she was, in the kitchen.
"Brandon, you're up already?"
I nodded.
She rushed to help me down the remaining flight of stairs.
"You shouldn't have bothered coming down, I was going to bring you breakfast."
And what did you do to deserve this?
"You stitched my wound?"
She nodded.
"Thanks."
"I'm sorry it hurt the way it did last night."
Why was SHE sorry?
Clarissa
Brandon was upstairs sleeping because I had him take some pills. I was not some nurse or any of that sort but yes.
I turned on the television and almost every channel had Brandon and I as the headline.
I felt strangely weird seeing my own self on television.
They all had different captions.
"Mrs. Bartels is perfect."
"Jaw dropping beauty."
"Mr. Bartels DOES have good taste."
"Who is she?"
And one that got my attention.
"First public appearance of Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Bartels sabotaged."
By who exactly?
That was the question I asked myself before the bell rang.
And this time I was allowed to open it.
I opened the door to reveal a woman having a toddler in her arms. The cutest in fact.
"Hello." I said
"You must be Clarissa."
"Yes, please."
"Enough with the formalities, I'm Bethany."
She had brown orbs, blond hair and a tanned skin tone.
"So where is your husband?"
"Husband? I'm not... Brandon's upstairs."
She raised an eye brow at me and laughed.
********
At the moment, we were having lunch together and Brandon was trying really hard to hide his wound from his sister, Bethany.
"It's crazy thinking about the fact that you are actually married, Brandon." She smiled.
"Well, believe it or not, I am."
"So how'd you two meet?"
I quickly switched my gaze to Brandon because I was panicking.
"At a bookshop." I said
"In Paris." He spoke.
Bethany glanced at both of us in confusion.
"We meant we met at a bookshop, in Paris."
Liar.
You've never even been out of London.
Brandon nodded in approval of what I said.
"Oh there's a we, you guys sure are cute."
She giggled and wiggled her eyebrows.
I fiddled with my fingers.
"I gotta say Brandon, she's so much better than you know who."
"Bethany not now."
I laughed nervously because I didn't know what else to do.
"Let me speak my mind. Anyways, I have a favour to ask."
"What is it?" Brandon asked.
Bethany sat up in her chair and sighed.
"Well, Gabe just landed in Mexico and it turns out, his business has taken a bad turn and I have to travel to go help him."
"So?"
"So, I was wondering if Jenna could...."
"Yes!" I shouted.
Bethany looked at me and chuckled.
"You didn't let me finish."
"Sorry, it's just she's so cute."
I said referring to her daughter, Jenna.
"Sure, anything to help you and Gabriel." Brandon said.
"Thank you, both of you."
Brandon
Bethany left a couple hours ago and I was in my study. Since I got stabbed, Alan had been taking care of everything.
Exhausted, I exited the study room.
Heading downstairs, I was welcomed by small sounds of laughter. It sounded like two people but Cathia nor Bethany were around.
I followed the sound of laughter just to reach the door too see Clarissa giggling away with.... Ryan.
What was he doing here?
I cleared my throat.
"Brandon."
"Hello Brandon."
He had the guts to actually step into my house.
"Leave."
"But Brandon he just..."
Clarissa
"I said leave!"
Brandon just got downstairs and he was ousting Ryan from the house.
Ryan waved me goodbye and left the house.
"You can't do this Brandon." I said facing him.
"Do what?"
"Oust my friends from the house."
"You didn't inform me about this."
That's because he was fast asleep at the time.
"I didn't want to bother you."
"Bother me? Or do you not know who he works for?"
What?
Brandon face palmed himself.
"Never mind, just don't repeat this."
I nodded.
"One more thing, I'll be travelling to Italy tomorrow and I...."
"Travelling? Why?"
"I have some business I have to take care of."
I sighed.
"Are you for real, you got stabbed just last night and you want to leave town?"
"It's none of your business."
"Of course it is."
He turned, his back facing me.
"Stop interfering in my personal issues would you?"
"I'm not interfering, I'm your wife for goodness sake, even if this relationship we have is based on a contract, we were married in a church for crying out loud, it's my duty to take care of you...."
The words he spoke next pierced my heart like a spear.
"Maybe I don't need an orphan of a wife taking care of me!"
"Go f*ck yourself."