The Substitute Wife

Chapter Eleven

The whole ride went silent, no one had the guts to open up first. Sandy's hands continued tapping in her thighs as her heartbeat was rapid. She felt anxious and fell into doubts about what she just heard earlier. 'Was it another woman he once loved?' And the more she thought about it the more nervous and felt betrayed she was.

"Are you okay, mi amore?" She furtively sighs and responds to him with a nod. Her eyes couldn't even look at him longer, she went crazy inside. She knew that there was something he would never tell her about.

"Shall we stop for lunch? I'm worried if you are already hungry, it will still be a 15 minutes drive back to the mansion." Alexander slowed down the engine's speed and gazed at her. He took her hand and pressed them gently, but she flinched. She can't act like she was as before, clueless and stupid. Now that she knows something about his past, she can't bring herself to enjoy the time he spent with her. She wanted to scream badly and confront him about it. But where did her courage all go? She can't even open her mouth to begin.

"Don't lie to me, Amara. Something was wrong with you, tell me what it was. I just see you flinching with my hands." He spoke seriously without looking at her. Sandy began to get nervous about how to convince him.

"I'm fine, really. My ankle was just messing with me a little bit. But shall we eat now then? I'm pretty hungry also." She timidly smiled and intertwined their hands. Somehow it helped him calm down, he never spoke again but focused on the road. Later on, he slowly entered the parking lot and stopped the car.

" Let's go?" Alexander faced her afterwards and kissed the tip of her nose. Without waiting for him to exit first, Sandy took the initiative to open the door and get out. Her husband was left inside with serious thoughts and confusion. He noticed her strange behavior, and he knew something was off. Perhaps she knew something that she shouldn't have.

"Hold my hand, mi amore." He demanded seriously after exiting outside and went to where she was standing. Both of them later got inside of the elevator and pressed the first floor. Sandy was also confused as to why he directed to park underground. When they could get into the entrance without using the elevator. But she remained silent and settled herself down in order to focus.

"Dig in, my love. You're just staring at the food, don't you want to eat it? I can order another menu if-"

"Sorry.. this would do. I love it," she quickly bit and lifted her mood. She's been spacing out the moment they got in, she can't hold herself from being suspicious and doubting him. All she could see at her husband was his handsome face, other than that was full of curiosity. She no longer felt butterflies flying around her stomach every time he smiled at her. There was no longer romantic excitement after he spoke sweet words to her. She was all scared for her life, never she had imagined that she ended up in the situation. She was battling with the bafflements inside her, whether to run away from him or confront her husband about his past. But Sandy knew well that it wouldn't work for him, he did as he said and his rules would only be followed. The life she had thought was a fairytale ironically collapsing. It was replaced with fears, she feared what she would find out more in the near future. Sandy wished at the moment that she had known it in the first place. There would be no worries about her life now. She wouldn't be facing Alexander White with full of doubts if only she didn't go with him.

"That's it, let's leave. You're not touching your food anymore. We'll settle this matter with you back to the mansion," He sternly spoke, which made her knees trembled. Somehow she regretted why she kept spacing in front of him. Now she just made him mad.

"S-sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Don't make me lose my temper in front of people, Amara. You've been confusing me this whole time, let's go." What happened to the Alexander White she once knew for the first time? He was gone unsighted again and was replaced with a monster. Sandy followed him behind, she looked at the floor and watched his steps. She was afraid to look up and saw his raging eyes.

"Get inside," He spoke calmly and breathed deeply. His mood was ruined and he was starting to get upset with himself. He didn't know why he was concerned about Sandy's behavior. Was he scared of something? But what was it all about to be scared? Alexander knew the reason deep down, he was just declining it to not feel bad about it. Only he knew what it was about.

"Now tell me, what is it all about? Why are you behaving like this Amara? For God's sake I've been trying to understand you since earlier. Just tell me please," If Alexander could settle it in a smooth way then he would. If not, then he had no choice but to deal with it the hard way. Things have never been this hard for him before. But it all changed after what happened in the past and having Sandy beside him. He started to get defensive and cautious. He suddenly felt like he needed to act more in order to convince Sandy.

"I.. I just want to ask you something, if I-its okay." Sandy folded and opened her hands. She was nervous to the point that she was struggling to speak. Head down and pale lips.

"Get to the point," But how could she begin? His mood has been ruined and all she can feel was his stern voice. In just one tiny mistake she would be fine dead. That's what her thoughts told her.

"W-whos A-amara?" Finally, She muttered the name. But her eyes were closed and she was biting her bottom lip. Waiting for him to punch or hurt her, she's been paranoid and hallucinating things.