CHAPTER 11: THE CHOICE

Just when Alynna is ready to let go of her dream of being a nun so she can stay by Cullan's side, Alynna's family destroys her marriage with the man she learns to love.

Chapter 11: The Choice

 

Isidore was fuming in anger. Her daughter Bella had just spent the night in a jail, again, due to driving under influence of liquor. She was already used to Bella’s bouts, but what Isidore is angry of is Bella’s change in attitude. If she was getting drunk before because of partying, now she is getting drunk because of depression and desperation. It all started when Cullan resisted Bella on the masquerade ball, and her sadness was fueled more when Rhys confronted her of her lewd and unreasonable behavior. Her daughter may be something, but Isidore knew that Rhys meant much to Bella.

“Just because you cannot get what you want, you wreck others' marriage to satisfy yourself? What kind of monster are you?” Rhys said angrily when the ball ended. Bella was close to tears.

“I really like him, okay? Why can’t you just support me? I am your sister!” Bella screamed, throwing her purse on Rhys’ face. Her brother dodged it easily.

“It’s too late for any of that, isn’t? The guy is married to your sister now.”

“That doormat is not my sister.”

Rhys raised his hand to slap sense out of Bella, but he stopped himself on time. He can prevent himself from hurting her, but he cannot tolerate her attitude anymore.

“Don’t wait for me to regret that you became my sister.” Rhys said in a low voice and then stormed out of the room. Isidore rushed to help Bella, who fell on the chair, lost for words.

“Bella darling, Rhys is just…being stupid. Head might’ve crashed in his last race. Who knows? Let’s go to your room now, baby.” Isidore said, helping her daughter get up.

“They hate me. Cullan and Rhys. All because of Alynna.” Bella whispered. Isidore stroked her daughter’s silky hair.

“Put a rest on that for a moment, dear-”

“I hate her! I hate her! I hate her!” Bella screamed hysterically, throwing the vases and other decorations against the walls. Isidore calmed her, but Bella was just too hurt that she needed to take sleeping pills to be able to sleep.

And that is because of her stepdaughter who came back from the dead to haunt them all. It seems to Isidore that asking for that woman to come home might have been a wrong choice after all.

Isidore needed to take specific actions. She may not be an A-Lister on the subject of motherhood, but her love and concern for her only daughter is like any mother’s " immeasurable. Besides, she and Bella have Marcus to help them.

Marcus needs to know this, Isidore thought.

She left her daughter’s room after making sure that Bella is sleeping soundly. She needed to talk to her husband.

*

 

The doorbell rang early in the afternoon and Alynna was surprised. Cullan usually comes home at dinnertime. Did he forget something? She thought. She was not even finished planning on how to tell him she does not want to be a nun anymore, and here he is, earlier than usual. Alynna opened the door with a smile.

She was surprised to see that it was her stepmother.

“Hello darling. May I come in?”

“Y-yes.” Was all Alynna answered as she opened the door wider. Isidore stepped inside, the clunking of her stilletos in the marble floor echoing. She removed her coat and sat on the leather sofa on the living room. Alynna followed suit.

“May I offer you a drink, mother?” Alynna asked uncomfortably. She last spoke to Isidore when the latter confronted her on her wedding day, and they never had the chance for a conversation ever since, even at the masquerade ball, though she knew that financial support continued for her uncle. What bad air could have brought her stepmother here now?

“No, thank you. Sit down. We need to talk.” Isidore said. Alynna sat on a sofa opposite Isidore, her hands folded together on her lap. She was unnerved by Isidore’s bizarre politeness. Alynna would rather have her snobby, rude, and obnoxious stepmother back than the new Isidore she is talking to.

“I am sure you are surprised of my sudden visit. Where is Cullan?”

“He went to work, mother.” Alynna answered. Where is this conversation heading? Will Isidore stop the financial assistance to his uncle? She prayed earnestly that it is not.

“Very well then. I came here to apologize about Bella’s actions.” Isidore started. Alynna’s eyes widened with astonishment. “She had been physically abused by her ex-husband and…and seeing her ex-fiancé being kind and attentive to you is very hard for her. Bella was pampered all her life, but still, the man she loved hurt her. You should understand that she just wanted a bit of affection she is seeing on other people. On you and Cullan.” Isidore said. Alynna was so shocked she cannot reply.

“I know I was hard on you in the past, and I am sorry for that, darling. And now, I came here to ask for your help. Help my Bella, Alynna. We all had a rough start, but at the end of the day, we will always be a family. Bella will always be your sister.”

Alynna was afraid to know what her stepmother is leading into, and she had the overwhelming feeling to drive her out of their house before she could even tell her how she could possibly help her sister. Alynna blinked, clearing her mind of horrific ideas. This is still her sister they are talking about.

“Divorce Cullan, and help Bella win him over.”

“What?!” Alynna blurted out as she hurriedly stood up. She did not even know that she said that out loud. Isidore stood too, grasping both of Alynna’s hands to hers. Alynna tried to get away from her, but Isidore held her tight.

“You never even liked to be married, weren’t you? You were bent on being a nun before you were forced into this marriage.” Isidore earnestly said, leaving out the fact that it was she who forced Alynna into the arranged marriage. “If you and Cullan divorce, Bella will have Cullan, as was originally planned, and you will be free to go back to Italy and be a nun. We will never bother you with anything ever again!” Isidore added, hoping to convince Alynna. Alynna’s mind went blank. Isn’t this what she was wishing for before? A life as a nun without Isidore and her father’s aggravation on it?

That was before, when she did not have Cullan in her life.

“Alynna…tell me you agree on this. Your sister needs your help. She nearly killed herself last night with overdose. She can never get past this ordeal without your cooperation.” Isidore said, tears clouding her eyes. Alynna cannot think of anything to say.

“Don’t let Bella ruin her life, Alynna. Her future and happiness are in your hands. Can you possibly let your own sister kill herself in despair?”

“No, but-”

“Oh thank you, Alynna! I can never be grateful enough for your kindness. Bella will be glad when she hears this! Do you need legal assistance with the divorce papers? Oh, why am I even asking? I will have it all arranged for you, darling. The papers will arrive ASAP. Better get Cullan interested to your sister as early as now, and make sure you put her in good light, okay? I’ll call you when everything’s ready, sweetie!” Isidore said, not giving Alynna a second to protest. The old hag picked up her coat and left very quickly, as if she never came. Alynna was stunned for long minutes, before she lost her strength and fell back to the sofa.

Just when she was determined to stay with Cullan for the rest of her life, her sister’s depression and suicidal tendencies threatened to destroy her future with the man she loves. She could just forget Isidore came to visit and continue living happily with her husband, ignoring the fact that her sister might just jump off the window or stab herself with her deadly stilettos anytime.

Could she really be that stone hearted and cruel to her own sister?

Alynna cried the whole afternoon, torn between making a brand new start with Cullan and giving her sister what she needed most.

*

 

Alynna just went out of the shower and looked lovingly on her husband, who was lying comfortably in their bed with only his boxers on. Alynna cannot believe just how fast this incredible man got her heart, and she smiled at that. She never really stood a chance in the first place.

She stared at Cullan’s body, from head to foot. His always-tousled brown hair is unbelievably sexy, framing his very handsome face. She always loses herself on his gray eyes that turn a deeper shade every time he gets aroused. His firm, sensual lips never fail to drive her mad with pleasure, and his exquisite body with all the muscles in the right places is the warmest and most comfortable blanket she could ever wish for.

Alynna’s eyes got teary with gratitude, for God gave her a perfect man as her husband.

Even just for a short while.

“Sweetheart, I’ll melt with your staring.” Cullan said naughtily as he watched a TV show, not turning his head to Alynna’s direction. Alynna laughed and lay down beside him. Cullan pulled her in an embrace.

“Can we do the monkey interview now?” Alynna asked. Cullan looked at her.

“Sure. You go first.” Cullan answered as he turned the volume of the TV down.

“Alright. What if Bella loves you and asks me to step down and give way to her, would you love her?”

Cullan looked at his wife in a funny way. Did she hit her head on the shower for her to ask such a ridiculous question?

“Of course not. Besides, I am fully content with my wife here,” he kissed her deeply, “for me to want any other woman. Not even a supermodel.” Cullan answered. Alynna smiled weakly.

“What if…I ask you to give her affection?”

Cullan looked into her eyes and saw tears building up. Cullan sat up, taking Alynna with him so they face each other.

“What happened today?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie. I know exactly when you are lying.”

“It’s nothing, really. I just had my imagination working throughout the day, that’s all…”

Cullan stood up. What exactly happened today that made his wife strange? He knew she was lying. He went to the door.

“Cullan, where are you going?”

“I know you are not telling the truth, Alynna, and don’t even pretend that there is nothing serious bothering you. I’ll sleep on the guest room. I can’t sleep with you when I know you are hiding something from me.”

“Cullan!”

That made him look back. Alynna was already crying when she called his name.

“Bella is not alright. She has been trying to kill herself because of her depression, and what she wants is you! Do you think I am happy about it? I am not, Cullan. But she needs help. And I will do everything to help her get through with this. We need to help her.” Alynna said. Cullan looked at her bitterly.

“Is that what you think of me? A toy you could pass on to your sister when you’re done with it? Do you think that I can show affection to another woman just because you said so?!” Cullan shouted. Alynna cried even more. His words were like daggers running through her.

“I am not your lapdog, and I don’t care about your sister. Get someone else to babysit her; maybe a mental health worker will do just fine.” Cullan said in a stiff tone and went out; slamming the door very hard the sound almost shook the whole house.

Alynna was heartbroken as she fell asleep that night.

*

 

Cullan could not believe what his wife is asking from him. He thought that being in love with a woman who wants to be a nun is stupid enough, but what she was asking for was the dumbest thing he had ever heard of. Cullan threw the pillows off the bed on the guest room, his knuckles white with anger.

How can she think so little of him? Was that all he was for her, something she could lend to others?

Cullan punched the wall, the tension not leaving his shoulders. Just when he started almost believing that Alynna could feel something special for him, she found a way to crush his little hope, and she did it so well he was so sorry he fell for her.

Maybe marrying an unwilling woman was not the best choice after all.

Her words echoed on his mind: ‘What if…I ask you to give her affection?’ Cullan punched the wooden headboard, but he felt no pain, only anger.

Anger because the woman he loves never cared for him enough. Did she really think that he will do anything she asks from him, even loving her dim-witted sister, just because she asked him to?

He never knew that a woman can hurt his pride this much, and he never thought that it will be Alynna who will do this to him.

Until he married her.

“Damn it!” Cullan roared as he punched the wall, ignoring the pain in his knuckles. He wished that Alynna was joking, but who is he fooling?

Author's Note

Thank you for reviewing Marrying A Wannabe Nun! All reviews, feedback, and suggestions are welcome, although I am requesting that your review be published after finishing my book. Marrying A Wannabe Nun is on Goodreads too, if you want to drop by and post your review.