A Shotgun Wedding with the Mafia Don-Chapter 42: Just a pawn in another game

"I’m sorry about that." Her husband quickly apologized, pulling the vacant chair and helping her to a seat.

"Hazel was dining with her friends when she saw me walk in. She just came by to ask some questions about Caleb." He informed her as if he wanted to explain his ex-wife’s sudden presence.

"Oh, you have nothing to explain or apologize for." She quickly said, reminding herself that it was not her place to act like a jealous wife.

"By the way, where is everybody?" If Hazel was not the person her husband was meeting, then who?

So far, it was just them.

"Everybody?" He looked and sounded confused as he remained standing beside her chair.

"I thought you were meeting some clients..." She said, looking up from where she was sitting, but stopped when his face broke into a smile, and a light chuckle escaped his lips.

"You thought I invited you for dinner to meet clients...?" He responded, looking utterly surprised.

Seconds later, His eyes widened, and then he said, "No!" Turning his head left and right, as if he thought of something ridiculous.

Confused! She stared at her husband, wondering what was going through his mind.

Eventually, her attention turned to the table where a small candle burned gently in the middle, releasing a citrusy and lavender scent.

That was the time she realized that the plates were only set for two.

"What’s this?" Her eyes shifted from the candle’s flickering flame to the man, whose eyes danced with the radiating lights of the chandelier.

"A romantic dinner with my wife." Leaning forward, he whispered near her ear. Meanwhile, his lips slightly grazed the side of her cheeks for a mild kiss.

Damn! Why did that light touch of his lips almost send her body on fire?

"You mean... Like a date?" Honestly, she was shocked.

Speechless. Not anticipating such a sweet gesture from her so-called husband.

Especially when he reached into the other chair and picked up a bunch of red roses.

"For you." He handed it to her while staring at her as if she were the most important person in his life.

If she didn’t know him, she would have easily succumbed to this well-orchestrated performance. But she was not the same naive girl as Amelia. She knew better than to fall for his tricks.

"What is this for?" She asked, curious as to why they were even putting on a show.

Even without turning, she could already feel angry eyes boring holes into the back of her head as she put the flower to the side.

Was this public display of affection for Hazel’s benefit, assuming that his ex-wife and her friends had been watching them the entire time?

Was it for the press?

But, so far, she hadn’t noticed a flash go off since she had arrived at the establishment. Therefore, she doubted whether the paparazzi were even aware of this date.

"I just thought I should treat my wife to a nice dinner." He said, sitting down on the chair opposite her, playing the perfect husband and acting as if he had no other interior motive.

"Is that all?" She asked, slightly wary and alert, as she pried into his eyes for answers. But what she saw in them surprised her. Even scared her.

It was a familiar gaze, a glimmer of hope, a yearning for a second chance, and a longing embedded in those dark eyes that somewhat reflected exactly what she felt.

For a moment, she found herself traveling in time as memories of their past played in her mind.

Oliver, the one that she met in college and loved, had always been attentive, charming, and romantic. It had been those traits that eventually softened her heart and won her over.

He didn’t exactly splurge her with expensive gifts and make big, bold romantic gestures like this, but the little things he did for her showed her how much he cared for her.

Although he never took her to a fancy restaurant for their dates, he had made sure that her birthday and all their anniversaries had always been special.

One morning, she woke up with a delicious breakfast in bed. The tray was filled with all her favorites, including a single red rose with a note that said how much he loved her.

On another occasion, she found a sandwich inside her locker with a flower and a note.

I’M SORRY, I CAN’T EAT WITH YOU, BUT KNOW THAT I’M THINKING OF YOU.

She could think of many more similar simple ways he had shown her how much she meant to him. Little things that made her love him more.

But now, she wondered if any of that was even real.

Maybe in his own way, he must have loved her.

Nonetheless, Oliver’s father was right. A man like him would never take Amelia seriously.

No!

Only a woman like Hazel would be good enough for the Morton family.

What about her, Sophia?

She believed she was just a pawn in another game, just like Amelia. Nothing more.

Once the contract was over, Oliver would discard her like trash, just like how he had disposed of Amelia.

"I owe you... for ruining our honeymoon." He added, looking and sounding sincere as he apologized, "We are newlyweds, and I’m already neglecting you." Even citing the nights that he never came home.

Then, unexpectedly, he grabbed her hand and pulled it to his lips, kissing them gently as if her fingers were made of porcelain.

"Oliver, what are you doing?" She knew they had to act in public, but wasn’t his action a little bit over the top?

Pulling her fingers harshly out of his grip was out of the question. The earlier confrontation with his ex had already stirred some attention. Making another scene would definitely put them in the next news cycle.

"Paying attention to my wife." Oliver casually said, as if it were the most natural thing to do in their present circumstances.

"I already ordered your favorites. I hope you’ll enjoy this lovely evening." He snapped his finger and soon their order arrived.

Honestly, she was perplexed by her husband’s unusual behavior, but then, it might be all an act for all these people, especially his ex, whose eyes had never stopped throwing daggers at her.

"And how did you even know all my favorites?" She raised her right brow at her husband, wondering if he was referring to Sophia’s favorites or Amelia’s.

But seriously, did her husband have her thoroughly investigated? Well, she should not be surprised if he did. Frankly, she expected that he had already dug into her past.

So, how much information had he uncovered?