"Um, I have a date with friends later to celebrate my fourth marriage. You wanna join in?" she found herself spilling the beans with a playful tone and Liam started coughing on the other end.
Sonia frowned with worry as she asked, "Dear, are you fine? Drink some water!" she couldn't let this husband die on her before they even stayed together.
There were some coughing sounds on the other side before there was silence. After a moment, Liam's voice sounded once more, and she sighed with relief asking, "are you fine? Do you want to go to the hospital?" concern visible in her tone.
Meanwhile, in a certain regular apartment, Liam felt shy as he listened to his wife showing concern. Although he couldn't see her, he could imagine how much she should be worried and how she might look with that serious face of hers.
Moreover, he didn't know why but hearing her calling him dear so intimately like that, made him feel that perhaps this marriage wouldn't be so bad. After all, if it was just a marriage of convenience, would she be so intimate like that?
Nonetheless, he didn't dare be too happy. He was dealing with a woman who married and divorced three times. Who knows how many bags of tricks she has in store for him?
He has to be cautious and at the same time, take it one step at a time.
"There is no need to go to the hospital. I am fine," he shyly responded thinking to himself how funny it was to send someone to the hospital for choking on water. But what does that sound familiar?
Where did he hear such an absurd way of thinking?
Unfortunately, before he could come up with an answer, he heard her speaking.
[That's good then. Don't do anything dangerous. Always be cautious!] she sternly warned and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face.
She cares.
"I will be cautious."
[That's what I want to hear. Anyway, do you want to come?] She suddenly reverted to the earlier question which made him choke in the first place.
The heat rose from his neck all the way to his head after hearing that question again. However, this time, he didn't choke but took a moment to think about it.
After a while, he cautiously asked, "Um, this …. Is it fine for me to attend? After all, isn't it just for you and your friends?"
He was curious about the kind of friends Sonia had and wanted to show them who their friend had married. However, he was feeling a bit worried. After all, he was way younger than Sonia and not that well accomplished. Would they look down on him?
He didn't want her friends to look down on him or think that she doesn't have a choice.
[It's fine. They will be happy to see you but if you don't feel comfortable now. Don't force yourself. We still have time. We can meet each other again.]
When he heard that, Liam sighed with relief. He wanted to meet her friends so much but perhaps meeting them another time would suffice for him.
If he swallowed more than he could chew, he might end up choking. He would learn more about her and then meet her friends.
So, after that deep thinking, he gave her an answer, "Let's meet them another time."
[Okay, that's fine. We will hold a feast at home after you settle in. I will invite them and if you have yours, let everyone gather together.]
He smiled when he heard that. Her remark reminded him that he hadn't shared such great news with his family or friends. He would tell them after the call.
The two of them chatted for a moment before Sonia said to him after he heard the telephone ringing on her side. [I will be hanging up for now. Let's talk later when I am free.]
It was then that he recalled that unlike him who currently didn't have any work, Sonia was a chairwoman and a very busy woman. Suddenly he felt guilty and apologetic for calling her during working hours.
"Okay, let's talk later, then. Take care of yourself!"
[You too!] she said to him before dropping the call.
Looking at the dark screen, he took a deep breath before swiping the phone to make several calls.
It would be for the best if he confessed earlier when he still had time.
Who knows how busy he would be once he settled down with her?
*****
Time tricked very fast and around 4 pm, Sonia knocked off work very early since she needed to hurry home and prepare for the celebrations later with her friends.
However, she left Gerald at work to finish the work she failed to complete. The driver took her back to the estate where she was welcomed by an enthusiastic Sandy.
"Ma'am, your bath is ready, and I have picked an outfit for the party later," Sandy reported dutifully as she held Sonia's handbag and trotted along to the master wing.
Sonia hummed in response, feeling a bit tired with all the work she was doing. She had pushed herself hard and yet had failed to finish. Anyway, having someone to help her when she comes home like this, made life pretty much easier for her.
She went to her room, disrobed her clothes, put on a robe and went to the bathroom. Sandy took the clothes to the laundry basket before leaving the master wing heading to the kitchen to have some snacks prepared for her mistress.
Sonia enjoyed a relaxed bath for a while. Once she was done, she dried her body and left for the closet where she found the outfit on the hanger.
Since it was a party, one had to dress the part. Sandy had picked a cocktail white dress, a pair of white wedges and diamond accessories.
Sonia wore her clothes and dolled herself prettily before spraying some cologne. Once done, she packed her small handbag and left the bedroom, heading for the dining room for a quick snack before leaving.
****
Meanwhile, at Liam's apartment, he was at a loss as he looked at his two friends who happened to be so free that they rushed to his apartment and even brought some food.
While Sean was his best friend. Someone he was with from school, there were close friends he made along the way who weren't in the same industry as him but were much better compared to that snake, Sean.
He had four such friends. With half being male and the other half, female.
While his male friends happened to be either very busy and out of the city, his female friends were very much free considering how they rushed to his place after he shared the news earlier through the phone.
"Buddy, you ... you really are a snake, aren't you?" Faith gritted her teeth as she glared at Liam, still in disbelief at what she heard.
However, knowing Liam for years, she understood that he wasn't the type to bluff but why suddenly marry in such a hurry? Who tricked their friend?
Portia who was busy heating the food nodded as she added, "Liam, confess. Which woman tricked you into marriage? Even if that vixen hurt you, that doesn't mean that you should just rush into marriage like that!!" berating Liam in the process while cursing the woman he married.
Liam laughed dejectedly seeing how his friends were placing all the blame on the wife that they hadn't seen yet but it made him feel very warm.
After all, they were simply worried for him. After all, they knew how Wendy treated him.
"You guys …. Haha, she is not like that. In fact, it's a long story," he said exasperatedly as he picked a t-shirt from the sofa, folding it.
The two girls rolled their eyes at him before cursing out loud, "You are already siding with her. What kind of charm did she feed you?"
"You girls. How can you say that? She didn't give me any charm!" he said in her defense before adding inwardly, 'She simply gave a dying man some hope and made me feel emotions I never thought I could!' but could that be shared?