Chapter 30 I Am His Wife

When Evelyn didn’t get a response right away, she spoke again. "Who are you exactly? Tell me now or I’ll hang up the phone and block you."

"Wait a minute!" Alexia said urgently.

Evelyn paused. "Tell me then."

"OK." Alexia took a deep breath and calmed herself down. "I am Chaim's wife. And you are?"

"His wife?" Evelyn scoffed. "Let me get this straight. You’re Chaim's wife?"

"Yes."

Evelyn sneered, "Miss, you should know Chaim has never been married and as such has no wife yet.

Next time you should find yourself a better story excuse."

Hearing the Evelyn’s cruel words, Alexia’s heart sank. She was legally Chaim's wife, but Chaim had forbidden anyone from speaking of the marriage so to the rest of the world, Chaim was still single. It also didn’t help that Alexia felt that she was a terrible wife, so Evelyn’s word cut right through her.

It was late and instead of Chaim answering, it was some other woman. Unless Chaim had a close relationship with the woman on the other end of the phone, it didn’t make sense for a random woman to answer Alexia’s call.

Realizing all of that, Alexia had to fight down her anxiety and jealousy as she continued. "Miss, you didn't answer my question. Who are you?"

"Evelyn," the woman replied curtly.

"Wait, you’re Evelyn!" Alexia asked in surprise, her voice rising in pitch as her eyes widened in shock.

Alexia might not have been able to meet Evelyn that afternoon, but she was speaking to Evelyn on the phone.

"Wait, how do you know who I am?" Evelyn asking in surprise, raising her eyebrow; or brow bone seeing as her eyebrows had fallen out from the chemo.

Alexia held the phone tightly, "I don’t know who you are specifically… but I have heard of you."

"You have?" Evelyn squinted at the phone in disbelief.

“Yes,” Alexia mumbled, before gaining the courage to ask another question. "Miss Evelyn, is Chaim there with you?"

"He’s taking a shower now. Do you want to talk to him?"

Alexia bit her tongue hard, struggling with her emotions. "No, never mind. I… I just called to say hi…"

‘Taking a shower…’

It was late, and Chaim was taking a shower at Evelyn's. So had they…

No, they couldn’t have. Evelyn was sick. Chaim was so insistent on needing Alexia’s bone marrow that he wouldn’t want to risk anything happening. She took a deep breath and told herself she was just overthinking the whole thing.

Alexia felt a little better after that realization, but the two of them being together still hurt. She threw the phone on the table and curled up in the nearest chair. She pulled her legs to her chest and buried her head in her knees as she struggled not to cry.

Aunt Song finished clearing the dishes by then and headed to the living room to check on Alexia, only to find her curled up in a ball.

"Ms. Alexia, what's the matter?" Aunt Song asked, rushing over.

"Nothing. I’m fine," Alexia mumbled, from where she buried her face between her knees.

"You don't seem fine." Aunt Song patted Alexia on the shoulder. "Did you have a fight with Mr.

Lancaster?"

Alexia shook her head.

Aunt Song was certain she had guessed right and sighed. "Will Mr. Lancaster be home tonight?"

"Maybe not." Alexia sniffed sadly. "He may stay at hospital instead."

"Hospital?" Aunt Song gasped, "Is he sick?"

Alexia looked up. "No, he isn’t sick. He’s staying there to take care of Evelyn like he usually does."

"Ms. Alexia, did you say Evelyn?" Aunt Song asked, failing to hide the surprise from her voice.

Aunt Song's surprise scared Alexia as she responded. "Yes, do you know her?"

"Yes, I do." Aunt Song nodded, unsure how to respond. "She’s the daughter of the Chis, and also Mr.

Lancaster's…"

Aunt Song looked at Alexia and stopped talking abruptly.

"What?" Alexia asked, a ball forming in the pit of her stomach seeing Aunt Song clam up.

Aunt Song waved her hands and started backing up toward the door. "Never mind what I said, dear.

Since Mr. Lancaster won't be home tonight, you should go upstairs and rest now. I’ll be leaving now."

Aunt Song didn’t even bother to take off the apron before she left.

Alexia sat in the living room by herself, the whole situation growing even more complicated as Aunt Song left in a hurry.

While Aunt Song might have been avoiding answering Alexia’s questions by leaving, she instead confirmed Alexia’s suspicion that Chaim and Evelyn had some sort of history. That just left Alexia to wonder if Evelyn was Chaim’s secret crush, or maybe his ex-girlfriend?

No matter who she was, Alexia felt a bit better knowing more about the whole situation. Alexia patted her face and cheered herself up. She grabbed her phone and sent Chaim a text before heading upstairs.

*****

"Chaim, your phone is buzzing again." Evelyn called to Chaim who was just getting out of the shower.

Chaim paused drying his hair. "Who is it?"

"It’s a text but you don’t have the number saved." Evelyn peeked at the phone, rage boiling in her stomach.

‘It’s that girl again!'

Chaim finished getting dressed and picked up the phone to look at it. It was Alexia!

Chaim looked at the message. "I’m not waiting up for you anymore!"

‘Why is she being like this? I told her to wait for me in the villa and have a talk.'

Seeing Chaim being upset, Evelyn chose her next words carefully, "Chaim, who is she?"

"No one that matters. You can ignore her," Chaim said placing his phone in his pocket.

Evelyn smiled, happy with Chaim’s response. "By the way, she called you before too. Can you guess what she said?"

"What?" Chaim went back to drying off his hair, not really listening to Evelyn blathering on.

"She said she was your wife."

Chaim stopped drying his hair and spoke slowly. "Did she really say that?"

"Yep." Evelyn nodded. "It is funny, right? Everyone knows you’re not married and yet this woman claims to be your wife? I’m guessing she has feeling for you so when I answered your phone, she told me that to anger me."

While Chaim was getting so angry that he was no longer able to hide it, his movements becoming stiff.

Seeing Chaim’s demeanor change, Evelyn stopped smiling and grew concerned.

"Chaim, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing," Chaim said, ending the conversation and throwing the towel on the bathroom floor. "I need to go home now."

"Now?" Evelyn asked surprised.

"Yes."

"But your coat is still stained and damp."

"That's fine. I’ll go home and have my housekeeper take care of it." Chaim grabbed his coat from the hanger and put it on, ignoring the stains.

"It was my fault." Evelyn looked down guiltily, "I accidentally broke the cup, so your coat got all stained."

"I’m not blaming you for an accident so please don’t blame yourself. Have a good rest. I will visit you tomorrow."

Chaim was in a hurry and said little else while gathering his things and leaving.

Half an hour later, he arrived at the villa.

Aunt Song, having come back after Alexia went upstairs, was surprised to see Chaim walk in. "Sir, I thought you weren’t coming home this evening?"

Chaim frowned, "What made you think that?"

Chaim took off his stained coat and casually threw it on the sofa.

"Ms. Alexia mentioned that you might not come home tonight." Aunt Song answered awkwardly.

"So, you now believe whatever she said?" Chaim accused as he went upstairs.

*****

Upstairs, Alexia yawned and she got up to turn off the light to go to bed when she heard noises in the hall. She froze by the switch as the door opened and Chaim walked in, surprising Alexia.

"You’re home?" Alexia straightened, the sleepiness leaving her at the sight of her husband.

Chaim looked at her coldly. "Are you saying I can’t be in my own home?"

Alexia climbed back in bed and pulled the blankets around her. "No, I didn't mean that. I just assumed you wouldn’t be home after Miss Evelyn informed me you were still at the hospital with her."

Chaim had seemed calm until Alexia mentioned Evelyn. As soon as Evelyn’s name was mentioned, Chaim’s expression turned into an icy stare. "Tell me. What did you say to Evelyn?"