CH 16 ~ Misunderstanding

Rennie weakly pushed away Alex and turned to sit on the sofa as she felt dizzy because of everything she just got to know.

She knows her father was never the person who would force their children, not to mention marry her off like this for profit.

Their company was going well, but then her father suddenly declared her position as the CEO; right after she got married to Alex.

Which made complete sense for Alex to believe that she conspired with her father to marry him.

Who was the best candidate for her.

She becomes the CEO, Her father gets a grandson as an heir... And he saves his company from lose.

'Everything is just too perfect... The timing is so perfect that it feels fissy,'

Alex's heart felt heavy as he saw her like that, deep inside of his heart, he felt guilty.

If he had spoken with her earlier, instead of treating her coldly; this misunderstanding could be solved earlier before it worsened.

"Alexander, i need time to give you an answer and... The freedom you want. I must find my dad first for that.

According to the contract, if i breach the contract and divorce, 70% shares of the Millicent Corporation's at my name will be transferred to you."

'Dad must have did this so that i can't get the divorce even if i want... Just what are you intending to do, Dad...'

Rennie felt frustrated.

Not only she have to save Justin and look after the organisation, find her dad; she also have to solve her relationship with Alex now.

"Ren..."

Alex called her name as he felt uncomfortable with the words 'Freedom' and 'Divorce'.

There is no denial that he didn't tried to break the contract by making up the amount he needed for breeching the contact.

To throw back the money at her father's face and get back the humiliation he felt when he signed the contract.

To get back his pride.

But that didn't included their separation.

He kept reminding himself that he was only embracing her to get a son, to fulfil the contract.

But he never thought anything farther then that.

What will happen when she gets pregnant and they divorce... What will happen to the baby.

Rennie being pregnant with his child seemed like a fantasy to him, a far away dream.

He was stubborn about getting back his pride and freedom, but at the same time, he never thought about separation from her.

"Can we please not talk about that freedom and divorce talk?"

"No, we have to talk about it; Alexander. I want to make things right."

Rennie replied firmly.

Even if her father was at fault but she just can't simply ignore the sufferings he gave her.

They had been married for a year, but this is the first time where they are actually talking with each other.

She can't overlook the frustration and sadness she suffered because of his misunderstanding.

"But what if i don't want to, Ren?"

"This is what you want, Alexander Crawford... From the very beginning, this is what you wanted!"

"Stop trying to second guess me, Ren,"

Alex admonished gently.

"You have no idea what makes me tick or what's going on in my head."

"Oh, I think I could definitely say the same about you. In fact I think I know you a lot better than you do me!"

Rennie spoke as she tried her best to not sound painful, where her heart was breaking with each word she was speaking.

"I doubt that,"

Alex dismissed as he dropped his hands into the trouser pockets of his tailor-made, expensive suit, half-reclining against the study table.

Crossing one long leg over the other in a pose of sartorial, casual elegance.

"Fine..."

Rennie tilted her head as she ran a vengeful gaze over him.

"How do I take my coffee?"

"Black..."

Alex frowned at the question before shrugging carelessly, as he stated with the utmost authority.

"No, you take yours black, I don't drink coffee."

"This is pointless,"

Alex spoke with a frown as he didn't wanted to admit that he didn't knew that about her.

"Everything about me, or to do with me, is pointless to you,"

Rennie spoke bitterly.

"That's hardly..."

Alex began to speak but Rennie interrupted him again, barely able to credit her own daring.

She had never once stood up to him this way before but she was done being a doormat.

Just because she was trapped in this marriage at the moment did not mean she would to allow them to walk all over her anymore.

"Everything except my womb of course..."

Rennie laughed half-hysterically as she spoke.

"You have a lot of use for that! That's all I am to you, a womb on legs!"

"You're being ridiculous,"

Alex scoffed as he felt angry because of her wordings.

"What about my birthday?"

Rennie asked suddenly, still ignoring him.

"When's my birthday?"

Alex's jaw clenched and he remained mute, keeping his blue eyes glued to hers.

"I see no need to prove myself in this way..."

"You can't answer it, can you?"

Rennie challenged as her lips curved up into a mocking smile.

"Yours is on the twenty-eight of December. You dislike cucumber and are allergic to mutton, you like..."

"Enough!"

Alex sliced an impatient hand through the air in front of his face, cutting her off abruptly.

"This is bordering on stalkerish and it proves nothing other than you possess a creepy excess of information about me..."

"Hardly stalkerish, President Crawford."

Rennie shook her head as she continued to speak.

"I have been living with you for more than twelve months and I loved you when I married you, I was interested in knowing you.

These are the kinds of mundane facts married couples know about each other.

Everything I know about you, I had to learn for myself, none of it was ever volunteered.

You didn't know about my hobby, or how I take my coffee, or birthday, is not because I've been secretive...

I mean those things are hardly secrets, it's because you were just not interested enough in getting to know me.

That's how it's been for the last one year and that's how it still is, despite your sudden feigned interest in me because you don't like it when thinks gets out of your control.

Just like our marriage..."

Alex started to say something but she raised her hand to quieten him and was amazed when he actually shut his mouth.

"I know now that I wasn't the bride you would have chosen for yourself,"

Rennie managed to say it despite the huge lump in her throat but she couldn't meet his eyes as she acknowledged that painful fact.

"You made that pretty clear on our wedding night and every day since then.

But I think that at the very least, I deserved to be treated with some show of respect..."

Rennie bit her lower lip to stop its trembling and wrapped her arms around herself.

He said nothing in response, just kept staring at her thoughtfully.

"I don't really know what you want me to say,"

Alex finally admitted and she smiled sadly.

"I know,"

Rennie acknowledged with a dip of the head as she sighed heavily.

"That's a major part of the problem."

Right then, Alex unexpectedly shoved himself away from the table and took the couple of steps it required to bring him standing directly in front of her.

He hovered threateningly above where she sat and Rennie tried her best not to cower beneath his brooding regard.

He then surprised her even further by dropping to his haunches in front of her.

Placing his hands on the arms of the single sofa she was sitting at, trapping her in her seat.

"I may not know these things you asked of me, Ren,"

Alex's deep husky voice thickened as he whispered lowly to her.

"But I do know you..."

Rennie shook her head mutely; disconcerted by both his proximity and his direct stare.

He was definitely not avoiding her eyes this time, his gaze just a frank and unflinching regard.

She felt like a deer trapped in the headlights and wanted to look away.

She wanted to escape but she could barely breathe, much less avert her gaze.

He raised one hand and Rennie braced herself for his unwanted touch, desperate not to flinch.

In the end, she still jumped slightly when his fingertips brushed across her lips.

"I know what makes you tremble with desire,"

Alex's voice had lowered even further, nothing more than a seductive rumble now and Rennie's lips parted slightly.

"I know where to touch, where to kiss, where to suck... I know how to make you moan, scream and cry out in ecstasy."

"That's just sex,"

Rennie finally found her voice but hardly sounded convincing.

Alex merely smiled, lifting his other hand until he had her face framed with his thumbs stroking across her cheekbones and his fingertips burrowing into the soft hair at her temples.

"It doesn't solve anything,"

Rennie continued to protest, with the same lack of conviction as before.

"Maybe not,"

Alex shrugged without concern and moved his face closer to her.

So close that his breathing fall on her nosetips, making her feel nervous.

"But it's feels fantastic, enough to die..."