Shattered vows

Henry's POV

My marriage to Georgia demanded more than just the title and this was my mother's fault.

When I brought Georgia home, she was all over her. Infact, she liked her almost immediately. I had thought that was all I had to do but my mother started making things difficult for me.

She claimed I wasn't affectionate towards Georgia and I don't give her attention. The last thing I'd want is to earn my mother's suspicion about my marriage so I was forced to act as though I was in love with Georgia.

I would usually assist Georgia in the kitchen whenever my mother was around. If she was going out for groceries, I'd offer to help on her behalf. I also got her as many clothes and jewelries as I could. Embracing and kissing Georgia on her temple was a routine whenever I arrived home from work.

All of these gestures connoted affection and attention to my mother. If only she knew how far apart I was from Georgia. The only way it was so easy for me to act affectionate towards her was because I embodied Mary into Georgia.

Mary wasn't alive anymore but she still lived in my heart. Nobody else could understand the pain of losing someone you're deeply in love with, not even my mother.

And that's why I didn't disobey her when she made it mandatory for me to take Georgia on a date. To me, I considered it getting her food and nothing more.

I was busy with the buttons on my brown shirt when Georgia stepped into my bedroom looking all decked up like she was attending some fashion show.

My brows contorted upon her appearance, "You know we're just going to get food right?"

Georgia lifted a brow, "Yeah, I'm aware of that."

"That's surprising. So why are you dressed up like that?" I stroked my fingers up and down in front of her.

Georgia crossed her arms with a stern look on her face, "Madam said you were taking to a luxurious restaurant and I have to dress classy."

My eyes scanned the sequined orange gown she was putting on, I shook my head in disappointment.

It had been three months since she got here and I've never felt more embarrassed about my decision than I have today.

I drove a palm over my temple, "Please go change into something else."

I saw her face twist with frustration, she slowly rotated her face to the door.

On turning to leave, my mother appeared in front of my room.

"Oh my gosh, you look amazing Georgia!" My mother complimented while cupping Georgia's face.

"Thank you but Henry said-"

"That your dress is amazing? Of course it is!" I quickly cut in before she could.

Georgia spun around, staring at me with surprise. I feigned a smile as my mother's eyes were fixed on me.

My mom rounded Georgia's body, stepping into the room with eyes that sparkled with unchecked joy.

"Son, aren't you ready? You two should get going already!"

"Yes mom, we'll leave soon," I sprayed my cinnamon scenting cologne as I stared at myself in the mirror with my mother beside me.

Following this, I walked out of the room, clutching Georgia's hand in mine as we walked.

This was going to be a long night.

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Georgia's POV

As much as I hated to admit it, I liked the affectionate side of Henry. His actions remind youed me of how intentional my husband was to me.

Henry wasn't like that when we were alone but a little part of me assumed he was just scared to be honest about his feelings.

Honestly, that was the last of things I want to hear from him considering I was still a married woman who was just away from her husband for a while.

I've lived every day in Henry's home yearning to be in Andrew's arms again, I haven't gotten the opportunity to reach out to Anna about his state of health as Henry's mother was always around me.

This made me worried about Andrew and on days where it was too much to bear, I'd spend the night crying myself to sleep. This was the sacrifice I had to make for his safety and I hoped that it'd be worth it in the end.

So I try my best to remind myself that I'm married but I'm human. And there's only a particular amount of affectionate gestures I can entertain from a stranger. Henry's actions were challenging my loyalty to Andrew and it made me frustrated.

None of this was part of the contract anyway so why was he going against the paperwork? This triggered annoyance inside me.

As I gently wiped the wet dishes, I made up my mind into confront him if he walked in here to assist or hug me.

As if on cue, Henry walked into the kitchen and began arranging the dishes on the dish rack. Seconds ticked into minutes and I was done with drying the dishes.

I proceeded to leave the kitchen when Henry trapped me a hug, snuggling his head into my body. I brushed him off my body in irritation.

"What is wrong with you? Why do you always act like this?" I interrogated him.

Henry looked through the kitchen's door behind us before responding to me, "How am I acting?"

A scoff escaped my lips, "Really? You want to act like you don't know what you're doing? Well, I'll tell you. Why the fuck are you acting like you're in love with me?"

Henry's profile turned cold, "Excuse me?"

I rolled my eyes, "Oh please. You have been acting like that for a while now and last I recall, it wasn't stated in the contract that you get to act that way with me!"

Henry pocketed his hands into his black pants, "Hold your horses miss. I'm not sure you're aware how a contract marriage works. You don't just cohabit with me, we have to act like couples, get that?"

My fingers curled into fists, "Yeah right! You better not be falling in love with me for real under the pretext of acting because -"

"Shut your mouth!" My lips snapped shut upon hearing that.

Henry's eyes sparkled with rage, one that I have never seen since I knew him.

Henry stepped closer, our faces only inches away from each other.

"Your silly self read meaning to my actions, forgetting that my mother is always watching us. Any slight mistake and it'll be over. I can't afford to make any mistakes with this but if it ever happens, know that you'll refund any penny I paid you."

At this point, I regretted everything I ever uttered.

Henry pointed an index finger towards my head, "I want to believe you have a brain in there but just in case you don't, remember this; You are far from my type of woman so it'll take the stars coming down to earth to have me fall in love with you!"

I felt a sharp sting in my ego, my jaws clenched.

Until now, I have never made trouble for Henry but it all changes today.