Page 19 of The Accidental Wife

“I know.” My mother responds curtly, and I bite back the urge to snap at her when I see the saddened look in Shayla’s eyes at the terse remarks my mother keeps throwing at her.

My father feeling the tension thicken in the room, clears his throat and sparks up a conversation. “How was the presentation, son?”

I take a sip of my water and nod. “It went very well. Mr Turner was incredibly pleased with the design.” I look at Shayla and she smiles at me warmly as she did at the office earlier. “We got the project.” My father reaches over and pats my shoulder proudly.

“Well done, son. I didn’t doubt you for a second, and I’m pleased I was right. I say that’s worth a toast, no?” He holds up his wine glass, and we all follow suit. “To you and your success, son.”

“Actually, I didn’t do it alone.” I turn my gaze to Shayla, lift her hand, and kiss her knuckles gently. “My beautiful wife played a big part in keeping me on track with everything. When I got so stressed, I didn’t believe I could do it; she was right there to pick me up and kept urging me forward. I honestly wouldn’t have finished this project without her.”

Shayla’s cheeks go bright pink, and she smiles, shaking her head, “I didn’t do anything, Cole. It was all you. You put your heart into your work, and it clearly showed.”

“Well done, Tristan, but what I would like to understand is how your assistant became your wife?” My mother questions, arching her perfectly shaped brow inquisitively.

“I’ve known Shayla for a while. We’ve been friends for some time. What you think you never wanted turns out to be everything you’ve needed all along.” I express, turning to face Shayla, who holds my gaze steadily. “I fell in love with her without even knowing it.”

“Why didn’t you tell us about her before? Why on earth would you go off and elope in Vegas of all places. That is so unlike you, and the photos all over the internet, my goodness like you’re some commoner.” My mother grumbles, glaring at Shayla and then at me.

I sigh, growing irritated, “I did want to tell you, but everything happened so fast. It’s my fault. I was being selfish and wasn’t ready to share Shayla with the world yet. Besides, you were both, so hell-bent on me marrying Hollie even though I was so against it. I just felt like this was the only way you would listen. Our relationship was still relatively new, but I didn’t want to spend another day without her by my side as my wife.” I look over at her, she’s watching me. I turn my gaze back to my parents. “We just wanted to enjoy our time together before we went public, but someone, unfortunately, snapped photos and videos of us in Vegas, and well... here we are,” I explain. My mother drops her fork and shakes her head, disappointment radiating in her eyes. I did feel guilty lying to them like this. However, if they didn’t give a shit about my happiness, I had no choice but to be selfish and look out for myself.

“Shayla, what does your family do?” My father questions while chewing on his seabass.

“My family?” Shayla clears her throat and pats her mouth with the napkin. “Well, my father passed away when I was sixteen years old, so it's just my mother and my older brother Sam.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry to hear that, dear. Must have been awful losing your father at such a young age.” My father says. Shayla shrugs and pushes the food around on her plate. Her eyes glaze over for a couple of seconds as she recalls, I’m assuming the moment she lost her Dad. I reach over and rub the nape of her neck supportively, she closes her eyes, sighing slowly.

“It was a real shock to all of us. My mother especially, she’s never quite been the same since he died. My father was the love of her life, and they were so happy together. She’s so different now, absolutely terrified of leaving the house.” She explains sullenly, her eyes welling up.

“If she doesn’t leave the house, what does she do for money?” My mother questions, and I glare at her, which she completely ignores.

“I provide for them. After Dad died, I got a job as a waitress at a café near our house, and I worked there and continued to go to school.” Shayla explains, putting her fork down carefully on the plate.

“That’s very honourable of you, dear.” My father praises, but Shayla shrugs it off.

“Thank you, Mr Hoult, but they’re my family. Of course I will provide for them.” Shayla looks around the table briefly and bites her bottom lip. “Could I use your restroom, please?”

“Of course, Hayley will show you the way.” My mother gestures for one of the housekeepers, and she smiles politely at Shayla and shows her the way. I wait for her to be out of earshot when I turn my attention to my mother.

“Mother, what do you think you’re doing? Stop being so rude. Why are you interrogating her?” I snap, and she presses her lips together and nods. I drop my napkin on the table to go check on her, but my mother stops me.

“You’re right, sweetie. I’ll go and apologise to her.” She says and leaves the room. I sit back down and run my fingers through my hair in frustration. I knew this would be tough, but I will not let anyone— especially my mother make Shayla feel bad about herself.

I check the time and notice they’ve both been gone for about ten minutes. How long does it take to say sorry? “Excuse me, Dad, I’m going to go check on them,” I tell my father, he nods and waves me off. I make my way up the grand stairs case and stop when I hear voices.

“…you will divorce him. He already has the perfect girl waiting to marry him.” I hear my mother say, and I slowly walk up the rest of the steps.

“Oh, you mean the one he’s adamantly refusing to marry. What kind of a mother forces her child to marry someone he doesn’t even love?” I hear Shayla retort, and my mother scoffs in distaste.

“One that knows what is best for him, and I’m sorry to burst your bubble honey, that is not nor will it ever be you.” My mother responds, “You don’t belong in our world. Tristan will see you’re worthless just as I do, and you’ll be left where you belong.” She adds, and I feel hot rage boil up inside of me. How dare she speak on my behalf, especially in such a manner.

“Maybe he married me because he didn’t want to end up in a loveless marriage, stuck with a bitter woman like his mother.” I stop dead in my tracks when I see my mother slap Shayla hard across the cheek. The sound of her hand meeting her cheek hangs in the air for a second.

“You insolent little—"

“MOTHER!

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