Chapter 5: Signed Contract

Edward's POV

I watched as the doctors came out of the theater, and my heart fell at the look on their faces. I hoped beyond all odds that they probably looked that way because they were tired.

“Your mama would be fine,” one of the doctors said to Aurora and managed to give her a weak, fake smile.

Those words gave life to her spirit, and I noticed how her face lit up instantly. Without thinking, she gave the doctor a tight hug. “Thank you very much, doctor,” she sighed in relief.

The doctor looked at her reassuringly, “It's alright. I just performed my job with the help of God. “ He gently pulled her out of the embrace, then added, “Your mom would be super proud of you. You, my child, saved her life, too.”

She smiled at me. I was standing just beside her, but I couldn't bring myself to smile back.

I didn't really care about her mama, and it didn't matter to me if she lived or not. I just wanted to get this over with.

I couldn't read her facial expressions, but

I could tell that she was happy and content… and grateful in a way.

A sudden wave of sadness washed over me as I remembered my dead grandfather. I resolved to honor his death wish as soon as possible.

In that way, I would be killing two birds with a stone…

********

Two days later

After the burial of my late grandfather, I proceeded to speed up the wedding.

For both parties to be happy, there were some set rules and regulations governing the marriage contract that couldn't be breached no matter the circumstances.

I also intended to get over Sara with Aurora, so I sped up the whole wedding, hoping Sara would get jealous and come back to me.

I had earlier sent out an invitation to her and ensured that Aurora did the same, but she honored neither of the invitations.

Amongst the several rules listed on paper and signed by both parties, there were two particular rules that I wasn't sure that I would keep… We both agreed to have no sexual relationship with each other, as the marriage was only in name. We would basically be two separate human beings living in the same building, and cohabiting together.

The second was the fact that neither of us could be promiscuous or unfaithful. In as much as the marriage was only in name and wasn't really a real one, we were both to remain faithful to each other and not look at any other man or woman.

The contract was to last for three years.

Aurora had also made me promise that I would let her attend her prom and graduation ceremony from high school, to which I agreed.

The secret behind the contract and the nature of the contract stayed between Aurora and me, and no one else was to know about it…not even Sara or her Aunt, Jema.

We didn't have a big wedding or anything of the sort; instead, we had a court wedding, and only some people from the immediate nuclear families of both parties were in attendance.

Even though there was no big wedding, hours later, the news about our court wedding went around, and soon enough, everyone was aware of our union.

After the activities of the day, we went home and settled in.

The long-awaited time was finally here.

“You look very beautiful, my wife,” I stood up and held Aurora from behind. I was a little bit tipsy and wasn't fully in control of my actions.

She pushed me away slightly and walked out of my embrace, “what are you doing?” I wasn't sure if I saw anger or disgust on her face, but I knew she wasn't happy with what I did.

“We are away from the public, now,” she continued, as she undid her necklace, “there's no need to put up an act as if we were truly in love with each other.

She was right. This whole arrangement was a facade. I wanted to scream, but my vision was getting blurry, and my head was beginning to bang. I laid down on the bed after a weak attempt to remove my shoes had failed. Before long, I fell into a deep slumber.

********

I woke up with a surreal feeling. My head was still on fire, and I could hardly make any movement without feeling a sharp pain.

How much did I drink last night?

I started to head towards the bathroom to freshen up when I noticed a beautiful figure on my bed. It took some time before I remembered that I had married the beautiful, young lady on my bed.

I looked at my finger, and there it was… a diamond ring. Visible proof that I was now a married man.

Things were happening very fast. I stared at the woman who was now my wife. God! She was gorgeous! She was still asleep, although I suspected she was half awake.

I was tempted to run my fingers against her face and plant a kiss on her lips, but the “dos” and “don'ts” of our marriage rang in my head.

Watching her lay half naked, with her nightgown above her waist, revealing her butt cheeks, made me remember Sara, and how we spent most of our free time relishing in each other's company, doing things that only married couples should do.

I didn't exactly like Aurora, but I knew I was sexually attracted to her. Who wouldn't be, anyways? She was a goddess! A beauty to behold.

I walked up to her slowly and placed my hand on her bare buttocks without thinking, and I could feel my body come alive with desire. It didn't last long though, because she sprang up from the bed and slapped me.

She was livid with anger, and so was I. Nobody ever challenged me. No man, and certainly no woman!

In fact, it was a known fact that I despised women and that the only woman who could win my heart and have her way with me was my ex… Sara.

I was surprised by her reaction, but I did nothing. I was at fault, and I knew I ought to apologize. We had just gotten married and I couldn't risk her filing for a divorce already.

Before I could do anything, though, my phone rang.

I picked up the phone with trembling fingers, aware that Aurora was watching my every action. One look at the screen, and my blood froze and I went still.

Sara!

I answered the call, and the first sentence she said startled me.

“Is this Mr. Edward? This is Sara, and I am pregnant with your child.”