Page 104 of The Contract Marriage

–Emmie: I know you’re a newlywed, but this is getting ridiculous, Boss!

–Emmie: Mike went to the meetings you missed. Where are you?

–Emmie: Liam, are you okay? Please text me back. You’re starting to scare me.

I drop my hand to my thigh and lean back against the seat of my Spectre. If only Emmie knew what I overheard at Olivia’s office…

I left at 11:30 to stop by Olivia’s office and drop off the ginger saltines. Apparently, they helped Frederich’s wife when she was pregnant and couldn’t keep real food down. I carried them in, past the mostly empty offices—

Now it’s 6:30 and the box is still sitting on the passenger seat.

I’m just a pawn. Something to be discarded once Olivia’s done with her revenge. Is our baby a pawn too? Does anything between us mean anything to my wife?

Her Audi gleams in its spot in the carport. Through the open windows, the piano melody from Gershwin’s “The Man I Love” flows out, like a big fucking joke.

Olivia is definitely not thinking of me while playing it.

I stare at the main entrance to my mansion. It doesn’t feel like home anymore. More like a house of mirrors, where everything you see is just an illusion.

My phone buzzes again.

–Olivia: Hey, are things busy at work?

I stare at it for the longest time. She hasn’t noticed that I arrived an hour ago, just like she didn’t notice I was standing right outside her office door when she and Simon were talking.

Maybe she doesn’t notice because I really don’t matter. Whenever she’s near me, every nerve in my body comes to full attention, prickling with anticipation. I know she’ll never love me the way I love her, but…

I unlock my phone and start to type a message: I’m really busy at work. Not sure when I’ll be able to head home.

My finger hovers over send, but then I see the box of saltines. Frederich is right. She hasn’t been able to eat for days, and she and our baby need all the support I can provide.

I exhale long and hard, then pull the corners of my lips up until I manage a decent smile, pick up the box and head inside. The lights are on in the living room and kitchen. Olivia is at the piano, but she immediately puts her phone on the soundboard and trots over.

She smiles up at me, her eyes crinkling.

Instead of making me want to smile in return, it makes me want to crumble a little.

“Hey, you’re home. I just texted you.” Her tone is a tad too bright.

“I know. I saw. Sorry.” I hand her the golden box with a neat blue bow. “Here. Saltines for you.”

She flushes, running her hand along the ribbon. “Thank you. You think of everything.”

I should say something. But nothing seems appropriate. Do you love me, Olivia, even a little? Or is it all just revenge?

Do I matter to you at all? Or is our marriage already over as far as you’re concerned?

I’m okay with being her pawn, because a pawn that manages to hang on and reach the other end of the chessboard can become an indispensable piece. But not if it’s sacrificed beforehand.

When the time comes for her to choose, she’ll choose to have her revenge and checkmate Hugh. She’ll sacrifice me if necessary. The certainty chips at me like an ice pick. I knew she didn’t love me when I agreed to marry her, but I didn’t realize how difficult the situation would be to endure.

I overestimated myself when I vowed to bring love enough for both of us.

I don’t just want to bring love enough for both of us. I want her to love me, at least a little. I thought she was starting to care, but what she told Simon shattered my belief. I’m no longer confident that I can make myself indispensable in her world before our contract marriage ends.

My heart beats wrong, and I clench my teeth to contain the bile rising in my throat.

“You look pale.” Olivia peers at me. “Still problems at work?”