Chapter 6
Candace tugs at his legs trying to get him to notice her toy but he is preoccupied with something else.
We are locked in a heated stare battle and I am not willing to lose it. “Mama” Candace tugs at my legs, I sigh and immediately pick her up
“It’s a beautiful toy Dace…”I glare at Aaron some people just don’t know how to appreciate things”
He snorts. “Appreciate what? This is an environmental hazard. Like I said before, this building should not even exist and the fact that you are raising a child in this environment is just absurd
1 glare at him harder “I am doing the best I can, sorry if it doesn’t fit your standards.”
He walks around the room with an air of superiority. I am not sure he is even trying to appear superior, I think it is just that
he is
This place is beneath him, and even I can tell. If not for my circumstances, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this either.
remove out today. Remember the contract? You
“You need this marriage more than I thought. Anyway, I insist that you are can’t object”
1 grit my teeth in frustration. That damn contract. Something tells me I am going to be putting up with a lot of shit because
of it.
“Can you make it tomorrow, please?” I clench my fist at the fact that I have to beg him.
“Why?” he says, he genuinely looks confused “Why would you want to stay another minute in this place?”
I swallow hard, “I agree that the place is a dump and people should not be living here. Especially, a two year old but I don’t do very well with sudden changes. If you could just give me one night to breathe and to be able to take all these new changes in, then I will be ready to move tomorrow.”
He stares at me thoughtfully, then nods. “I will send my people here in the morning, they will help you
move.”
“Thanks”
He nods and walks towards the door. He gives the apartment one last look before wordlessly walking out it. Candace squirms in my grip, she points at the door and I can tell that she did not want Aaron to leave.
“Come on Dace. Don’t get attached, okay?” I say. She pouts as if she understands my words. I kiss her forehead and put her on her chair in the corner.
I scratch my head as I stare at the almost empty fridge “Dace, how about we do a little grocery shopping.” my daughter giggles in response and I smile.
I am going to spend the last change on me so we can have a little feast before leaving the apartment for good.
1 hold Candace’s hand as we cross the street to the grocery shop opposite the apartment building. It’s generous of me to refer to the dingy building as a grocery shop.
I have bought some expired products here but I never dared to complain because they were cheap. I always carefully selected those that recently expired but today I will be buying only fresh stuff. If they even have that
The bell rings as we go in. I walk straight to the cereal aisle. I scan through the cereal boxes on one that was not yet expired.
the shelf and finally found
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Chapter 6
I whoop in glee and Candace mirrors my excitement. Even though the cereal is dangerously close to its expiry date, it is not expired and that is what matters. I buy some other things. After we are done, we walk over to the counter to pay.
The girl at the counter raises an eyebrow at me as I place the things I bought in front of her, “Did you win the lottery or something?” she asks..
“Why?”
She packs the groceries in a bag. “You bought the fresh stuff.” she says nonchalantly.
I wordlessly collected my bag of groceries, with Candace in hand I walk back to my apartment. I boil the milk and cool it before pouring it in the cereal and serving it to Candace.
She grins as she eats, “ten yu,” she says. I smile at her and ruffle her hair. “You are welcome baby.” I walk over to the tiny kitchen and sit down on a stool.
“You bought the fresh stuff the girl’s voice rings in my head as tears roll down my cheek. I chuckle humourlessly
“The fresh stuff?” I say to myself. Her definition of fresh is produce that is close to their expiry date.
That is fresh to her, and judging from the feeling of excitement that erupted in me due to finding that cereal box, that is fresh to me-too..
I stare at at the pasta box in my hand and my hands tighten around it. I can’t believe I was going to reject Aaron’s proposal.
I glance at Candace happily eating her cereal. My daughter deserves way better than I have been able to give her. It’s not her fault I had a careless one night stand
It’s not her fault my life went to shit the moment I got fired by that b**rd. Aaron was right, I need this marriage a lot.
If it means giving Candace a better life where she does not get excited by mere cereal, then I will do whatever it takes. My pride be damned.
I wipe my tears and put a pot of water on the stove, we are eating pasta tonight.
Candace and I are dressed and ready to go by the time Aaron’s people arrive.
There is not much to pack and I can tell by the look on their faces that they probably think that it is a waste of time to have
even come.
I look around the apartment that has been my home for the past two years. It’s not like I could not have packed other things but I figured Aaron would not appreciate having an outdated stove or a tattered cushion in his home.
1 look down and smile at Candace, “Are you ready to go?” I ask and she nods. It feels like she knows that we are actually moving out of the only place she has ever known because she pouts as she looks around the apartment,
my hand and we walk out of it. I knock on Ella’s door to bid her goodbye but there is no response.
Then she tugs on
on my
1 glance at the time on my phone, of course she is still at work by this time. Just because my life has been changed overnight does not mean other people’s routine has changed.
I drop my keys in the hole next to her door hinge.
I debate on whether or not to call Madam Tess before leaving but I figure she would rather want my money to do the talking
I make a mental note to send her the rent as soon as I find my feet. We go downstairs and I see a car waiting with a man
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beside it.
“Good morning ma’am.” he says.
“Good morning, the others have left?” I ask, referring to the two men that helped carry my things downstairs.
He nods “Yes, we should get going. Mr. Scott does not like to be kept waiting.”
I snort at his words but quickly disguise it with a cough. Of course, the king himself does not lie to be kept waiting. I roll my eyes as I enter the backseat with Candace.
I hold my breath as we walk into Aaron’s apartment building. I am not sure what I am anxious about but the tight feeling in my chest is making it hard to breathe properly
As if Candace could sense my inner struggles, she tugs my hand and smiles at me. I smile back and try to calm myself as we go into the elevator going up to the penthouse.
This time, the reception is different. Maybe it’s because of the man I am with but no questions were asked as we went straight to the elevator.
The driver presses the doorbell and folds his hands as we wait for Aaron to answer the door. He finally answers it and somehow I feel like I can breathe again.
“Come in.” he says and turns to walk back inside. Candace jumps excitedly as we go in.
“Your things have been put in your room.” Aaron says, he turns to us and folds his arms
“Not like I went through them but from the little I saw, I feel like those are things you could have left behind.” he says.
So, it was a good call not to bring the stove and cushion then.
“They are just our clothes and a few things.”
“I maintain my stance, you could get new clothes. Oh, you are definitely getting new clothes.” I bristle at his condescending tone but I don’t say anything.
“You can go, Sawyer.” he says to the driver. Sawyer nods and leaves.
Candace releases her hand from mine and runs across the room to Aaron who quickly scoots back.
He raises his index finer in warning “You can play as you like, but don’t come near me.” he says to Candace who continues grinning at him.
I hurriedly walk over to them and hold Candace, “Don’t speak to her like that.” I glare at him.
He glares back “Well, keep her in check”
I try to calm myself. It’s only 90 days. I can do it. I have endured worse, what is the worst that can happen?
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