Isabella's POV

Today's outing is half-productive.

Grandma is still mad at me even after she threw the door open to allow me in after several minutes of sitting still on the porch where I fell with tears in my eyes.

I didn't dare to stand up and leave. I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to tell her everything and how it happened.

She was aloof.

When she allowed me in, she sat down without facing me and I kept on ranting till I fell asleep.

Grandma didn't say a single word to me.

When I woke up, there was lunch in front of me and I quickly ate without bothering to look for her.

I waited for her to show up until this evening when I decided to just come home.

Jayden had texted to ask me why I canceled the shopping appointment with his Assistant.

I really do not know why he wants us to go together. Is it because he doesn't trust me enough with his credit cards? Is it because he wants her to monitor my spending?

I am not extravagant and I plan to get just a few clothes. I won't be making much public presence and I don't need many clothes.

I no longer have a friend to visit or a friend to follow me shopping.

I didn't tell Jayden that I was going out. I don't know if it is necessary since we are just man and wife on paper and what we do personally shouldn't be of anyone's concern.

I didn't reply to his text, I just came home straight.

I realize I have my clothes scattered when I got home and I am quietly folding them back into my suitcase so I can ask Paulina to help me take them to my room.

I haven't been home since morning and I don't even know the room yet. I hope to see Paulina when I am done folding my clothes.

I was in a hurry to leave for Grandma's place this morning. Jayden left the house at 6 am so I quickly took a bath and search through for a dress to wear, thereby scattering the few clothes on the floor.

If I was a real wife, my clothes ought to be arranged in the closet opposite Jayden's King sized bed. I have never seen a glassy closet before in my entire life. In fact, I have never seen a walk-in closet in my life.

Seeing Jayden's type of closet is enough evidence of how filthy rich he is. He gets dressed in front of the closet because it has two sections. It has the mirror section and the clothes section.

The closet is just so beautiful and massive and I wonder how a man can have so many clothes stocked in his room when I have only been seeing him in nothing but suits and tuxedos.

I would really love to have a closet like this too. It doesn't have to be as big as Jayden's but I envy the glassy feature of the closet. If I have it, I don't need to have a dresser anymore.

But on second thought, it doesn't look feminine. I guess it was basically made for a male.

I sigh when my mind drifts back to what happened this morning. If I had known that my mother wouldn't say a word to me, I would have left ever since she slammed the door in my face and gone shopping instead of disappointing Jayden's Assistant who has been so excited to meet me.

I am not excited. Just curious to know who my replacement is.

Even though Grandma was mute all through, I am glad I have gone past the first phase with her. The phase of distaste and intense anger.

She wouldn't have changed her mind and open the door for me if she was still extremely mad at me.

I hope to go there tomorrow too. If not for anything, to convince her about moving from the house.

The rent is going to expire soon and I don't want to be humiliated by the building manager who has no patience.

I bend to pick up the last cloth sprawled on the floor when I hear the sound of the horn. Jayden is back, my heart begins to race in fear of what he will think when he sees me still here with my things.

I should have moved since morning if only I was around.

Besides, I do not know what he will think of my outing.

Before I can finish up with the clothes and zip up my bag, he enters the room in a rush, his briefcase dangling beside him

"Mother is here.", he announces. I have never seen Jayden agitated this way before and it's surprising. "Drop those and change into a nightwear quickly so she won't notice a thing", he instructs in a loud voice.

I didn't even think of that.

In a haste, I drop the cloth in my hand and begin to search through the suitcase for my nightwear with my heart pounding so wild in my chest.

Yesterday, it was my Grandma and now Jayden's mother. We don't want anyone to know that this marriage is just for convenience, we are pretending to be in love, even though Grandma already knows the truth.

I really need to ask Jayden why we got married. I am more curious now to know his reasons.

If his mother isn't aware, then there is more to it.

"Be quick, she will soon be here", he hastens me up, walking back to the door as I take my clothes off.

I can't think straight anymore. I just need to get rid of any evidence that would raise any suspicion. I need to make the best out of this and make sure that I am his wife for a year. This way, I can go my way with the huge rewards he promised me.

He is playing his part and all I need to do is play mine too.

I wear the first night wear my hands come in contact with and before I can zip up, a knock comes on the door and Jayden's mother comes in immediately without waiting for a reply to the knock.

This is when I realize that Jayden is already sitting on the sofa where he slept last night.

I flash her a smile and saunter towards the door to welcome her.

"Good evening, Mother", we hug briefly, her face looking bright like the day.

She caresses my face. "Good evening, my beautiful daughter-in-law. How was the wedding?"

"It was fine."

"How was last night too?" She whispers into my ears, making me smile. She is asking about the marriage consummation which never took place. "I hope to have grandchildren soon."

Jayden clears his throat at this instance, probably to indicate his presence or because he overheard her.

"Don't mind him. Please let me know if he ever mistreats you, ok?" She continues to whisper.

I nod again, flushing in embarrassment.

She nods in satisfaction and her gaze falls on my nightwear. "Why are you wearing such cheap sleepwear?"

This is what I have to put up with. Jayden had told me what type of woman his mother is and how she would expect so much from me. This is why he wanted me to go shopping with his Assistant.

Trying not to be hurt by the statement, I say with a smile. "I haven't had time to go shopping yet but I will tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" She asks, looking thoughtful for a while, taking a hold of her dress as she moves away from my presence. "I will go with you. I haven't gone shopping in a while too."

"Mother, there is no need for that, Anna will handle it", Jayden finally speaks up. I feel relieved. I will never be comfortable with her around me. We are two opposite people and I don't intend to attract attention to myself when going shopping tomorrow.

If only I can escape shopping, I will gladly do that.

"What? Why?" She stares at him wide-eyed. "People need to see us together. She is my son's wife and I am her mother-in-law. They need to know what a happy family we are", she tells him, not ready to back down.

"There is no need for that, Mother", he shifts in his seat. "Isabella will be just fine with Anna."

Is Anna the new secretary? I hope I will be comfortable around her, unlike the way I feel around Jayden's mother. I really do not know why I feel this way despite how nice she treated me when Jayden first introduced me to his parents.

This might probably be a result of what I heard of her.

"We are going, this is a woman's talk so keep mute", she utters firmly, coming back to face me. She holds my hands gently. "You will go shopping with me, right?"

I don't know whether to say yes or no. I don't want to offend her. I still have 363 days to spend here and I don't want to spend it in her black book.

"Remember I haven't given you any wedding gifts yet. I should do that tomorrow."

"There is really no need for that", I say honestly. I have found a good reason to reject the outing with her.

"Don't be ridiculous, it is in the tradition. We will go shopping tomorrow and that is final."

She twirls back, her long elegant gown riding up and shining brightly. "Won't you undress your husband?" She demands, walking to the door.

I stand still and exchange glances with Jayden who beckons to me to come closer.

I rush to him and bend down to his height on the sofa before taking a hold of his tie. I have never done something like this before and I don't know how to unloosen a tie.

I struggle with it for a while with beads of sweat on my forehead. Jayden leans forward and our eyes interlock.

"Continue", he whispers into my ear he gently takes a hold of my hair to hide the fact that he is whispering.

A cold shiver runs down my skin and I grit my teeth, struggling with the tie once more.

The moment I hear the slam of the door which shows that she is out of the room, I puff out the air I don't know I have been holding in and let go of Jayden's half-loosed tie.

Is she suspecting a thing too? Why was she watching me help Jayden loosen his tie? Why is she demanding that I help him with his clothes?

I rise and walk to the bed, still taking deep breaths and hoping she won't be back.

My hands shake and I am sweating profusely. I sit on the bed, with many questions popping up in my head.

Jayden isn't standing up to undress himself now that his mother is out. I am sure she will stay for dinner so the earlier we go out, the better for us.

I look up to see him still sitting with his brows raised.

I am about to ask him what we should do when he questions. "Aren't you going to finish up what you started?"

"What?!" I exclaim loudly in disbelief.

****

What does Jayden mean by finishing up what she started?

Are you thinking what I am thinking?😅

I love the support so far and I appreciate you all. God bless.

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