Moon's Pov.
"And what was that all about?" I asked, walking behind the oh-so-Alexander William the great.
Because I don't get it! How can he even think about such terms, huh?
I can't talk to my co-stars. Can't act with any male on the production site and…
Urghhh! He could have just stopped me from accepting the role all together!
"I am talking to you, William!" I half yelled, and he spun around.
"Welcome sir… ma…" the voices of the helpers in the mansion echoed one after the other, but they scurried away when they felt the heating gaze of William.
His face is stony hard and his brows are displeasingly furrowed, anger emitting from the very pores of his skin.
"Just get the fuck out!" He yelled at them, before turning fully to face me.
"And you ask what the hell was that? because, you're my wife!" He grits out, more angry. "And I have every right to make decisions about how you live your daily affairs!"
I scoff, and surprise reflects in his blue eyes. "What? Did I say something funny?"
"No, you did not. But you did say an abominable word of the century.
Did you just say wife? Did I hear you say…" I pause, breathing in, "are you referring to the wife you've almost divorced, a wife you flung divorce papers at? Or are you talking about some other wife I'm yet to know?
Because apparently, the only one I know is the grumpy Clarissa, who isn't exactly your wife and who you ditched while you dragged me to your car.
So no. We might be legally bound by mere pieces of paper, but that doesn't mean we're married."
I don't just get it. He didn't have any right to be angry. In the memory I have of Moon, he had never once talked to her. It was only Madam Alexander, who had been her pillar in this huge mansion and he was preaching to me about being his wife?
"You said legally bound, so that means—"
"Nothing!" I cut him off. He can get angry? Then I'm angry too! It's him that doesn't want me. It was him that had abandoned me, always going to Clarissa.
So what gave him the right to meddle in my life?
"Look," I continue, beholding his angry glare with an equally angry gaze that matches his. "I will not. abide. with. those. rules! I'm doing this my way!"
My words seemed to have roused a beast that had been dormant. In all my time within the cold, suffocating walls of this house, never—not once—had I witnessed him look so terrifyingly monstrous.
His eyes burned with an unholy fury, wild and unchained, as though the devil himself had taken residence behind them.
The very air thickened, turning icily unforgiving. It felt like the earth would crack beneath the weight of his rage.
"I dare. you. to try me, Moon, and you will find out!" he says icilly, turning around and walking off.
"Yeah, off you go to your beloved," I yelled, my words trailing behind him as he stormed off.
I clench my hands. He could do what he wanted but I can't? "Hmph! Of course, I am going to dare you!"
And how would I forget how he made me wait in his office while he supported his mistress in the audition?
I suddenly turned thoughtful. William had, even when Clarissa chased after us while he dragged me, he didn't even stop to know why she chased after us.
I gave a self deprecating smile. Yeah, just a facade. It wasn't like he truly cared about me.
He could be at Clarrissa's house, in her bedroom even now, pacifying her for all I know.
He only dragged me back here because he didn't want my wings to soar high enough to fly.
He wants to clip it off, but I will not allow him. It's time to stop allowing him to dictate my life in my stead!
I suddenly gasp, heart flying up the mountains when a hand swiftly drops on my shoulders.
I swiftly spun around, only to be met with Nana, and I exhaled, heart rolling back from the mountain and settling back in-between my ribcage.
"What are you thinking dear?" She asked, habitually taking my hands in her old wrinkly ones I find endearing.
I wish to one day, live healthy and grow old like her in good health.
"Nothing Nana," I answer, wondering if she's heard the argument between William and I.
She was the reason I had stayed back in this facade of a marriage. At this age, dealing with a heart attack could be fatal for her health, hence the reason.
She leaned in a little, and with a suspicious tone, asked, "are you sure? Because I thought I heard some noises."
"Nah…" I said, dismissively, now leading her to a couch in the sitting room."William and I are so much in love that we barely have fights," I lied smoothly through my teeth.
A house helper walked in with a tray of two glasses of drink. They had been afraid of William, so they always sneaked, instead of walking.
But now that William had left, I could see their shoulders relaxed and their steps grew more confident. The tension in their steps easing like a long-held breath finally released.
"Your drinks ma'am," the helper said, with a polite nod. "Prepared just as requested."
I frowned, confused. "Requested?"
The maid glanced at Nana before she took the conversation from where she stopped. The "I did. I figured out that you'd be tired after the day's activities, so I had them prepare it especially for you."
I nodded, picking up the glasses and handing one over to Nana as I watch the house helper go back to her duties.
From the aroma, I knew it was a gentle hibiscus and cinnamon tea, specially made for Nana's age and health.
"That's good to hear that you're in good terms with my Williams." she says, smiling. "He can be difficult sometimes, but he's such a sweet child."
Ha! Sweet child? If William, from how he treats me is a sweet child, then what am I?
But I just nodded anyway, giving in to Nana. I don't want to make her sad. I hate to see even an ounce of sadness, not even in her tone of voice.
But as she spoke further, I hear it. Something about about what had happedned to William, about what he had gone through, the sadness in her tone that was unmistakable.
I lean in to stare at her face and the far away look breaks my heart. Her expression is as gloomy as a bad, raging weather, just as her face.
Before I can say something, she masks away whatever expression and thought that had lived on her face to her perfectly hidden box tucked away somewhere as old as her age, somewhere beyond reach.
She was smiling again, and I noticed how she veered the conversation towards me when she spoke next…
"And Moon," she suddenly called as mischievousness gleams in her eyes.
I frowned, curious about what had made her suddenly mischievous. Lifting the glass to my lips, I took a sip—and immediately, my frown deepened.
This wasn't my usual mango-citrus juice, noticed, and it was warm and not chilled and the taste was unfamiliar.
"What is this drink?" I muttered more to myself, taking another sip in an attempt to figure it out.
"Oh, it's a blend of dates, tiger nuts, and cloves," Nana explained with a straight face. I still had no idea where this was heading, but I nodded politely and took another sip.
"It's a fertility blend. Great for boosting conception… because you and William are going to give me grandchildren tonight!"
I chocked. The liquid burned my throat as I coughed, eyes wide and watering. I nearly dropped the glass.
"Nana!" I gasped, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "You cants just spring that on someone mid-sip!"
But she only smiled sweetly, completely unfazed. "And I already prepared Williams portion too!" she revealed and I almost fainted this time!