She better not accuse me of breaching clause 12 in the contract.
I haven't even introduced her to my grandparents yet, and she's trying to die in my house?
How troublesome.
Minutes passed...
Then slowly, Olaedo's breathing began to even out. She closed her eyes, leaning back in her chair to rest and also try to make sense of the situation.
How did this happen? She wondered.
I haven't had an allergic reaction in years.
Wait...
I'm not at home anymore.
Someone must have given me something I'm allergic to.
All round the dinning room, the servants were relieved to see their Young Madam recovering, but exchanged worried glances.
They all shared the same thought:
Who made the mistake?
None of them wanted to imagine the consequences, knowing how much the Young Master seemed to care for her.
It seems like someone will be fired this early morning. They concluded.
Chibuzor on the other hand stood up and picked up his still connected phone.
"Olisa, I've administered the epipen, but don't go back just yet. I need to make sure my wife is completely fine."
"Yo-"
Olisa began to complain in anger, but then he heard the last sentence
Wait... Wife?
His incredulous shout came through the line. "Chibuzor, did you just say wife?
You traitor!
You betrayed our Association of Single Men. How could—"
Tu tu tu
Chibuzor cut the call.
I don't even remember joining your ASM. And it's not like I had a choice in this wife situation!
Once he confirmed Olaedo was stabilizing, his expression turned cold as he called for all the chefs and cooks. "Gather everyone now," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I want to know who tried to kill my wife in her own house."
No one dared to speak for the first few minutes, their trembling forms reflecting the weight of Chibuzor's icy aura.
Finally, Chef Ezinne, the team leader, stepped forward. She glanced at her frightened staff, then took a deep breath and faced him.
Silence, after all, would only make things worse.
"Sir, we are not sure how this happened," she began, her voice shaking. "One of my girls reported that Young Madam requested a simple sandwich and tea again, so that's what we prepared for her."
Olaedo froze mid sip, the glass of water poised at her lips. A flicker of doubt crossed her mind. When did I ask for a sandwich and tea? I thought they had just been preparing my food, unaware of my preferences?
Chibuzor, too, looked surprised.
Thinking back to the past three months, she had indeed only been eating a sandwich and tea or a simple dish during meal times.
His brows furrowed as he thought,
She only asked for a sandwich and tea? Doesn't that mean everything else on the table was prepared for just me?
He turned his piercing gaze to Olaedo, suspicion and curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Did you really only ask for a sandwich and tea... again?"
At this, Olaedo began to piece together that something was amiss.
Still, she decided to remain composed and observe how he handled the situation.
If Chibuzor failed to accord her the respect she deserved, they would need to have a serious conversation. And if, after that, he did not change, then this contract marriage would have to stay strictly business, no potential friendship, no matter what it cost her.
Living with a man who doesn't respect me? she thought bitterly. 'No way!
I'm not signing up for Maduabuchi Part 2: The Sequel. The CEO I married to stabilize my business betrays me as well? Not happening. Let's see how he handles this first.
Feigning confusion, she shook her head and replied, "I've never requested for anything specific because no one has ever asked me. Sandwich and tea or any other simple dish aren't bad choices, though, so I just went with them."
Hearing her, Chibuzor's expression darkened as his sharp gaze landed on the housekeeper. His voice was like a whip. "You have never once forgotten to ask me what I want to eat at any part of the day. But you have been skipping such an important task of asking your Young Madam?" He questioned coldly.
"What?" He continued
"You don't recognize her?
Do you think she's not worthy?"
His words struck like a hammer, and the housekeeper flinched under his intense gaze.
Deep down, Chibuzor knew this situation was partly his fault.
The housekeeper likely assumed that because of how he had chosen this young madam, practically at random, she must not matter to him.
But he couldn't have been more wrong.
Fake marriage or not, she was still his legal wife. And no one, not even himself, had the right to disrespect her.
She's mine to protect, and I will not let anyone forget it.
Chibuzor's guess was spot on. The housekeeper had deliberately assigned the task to one of the cooks, prioritizing the young master alone. After all, this young madam didn't seem to matter much in her husband's eyes, or so he believed.
Sweating profusely, the housekeeper finally spoke, his voice shaky. "Young Master, I just thought she wouldn't mind..."
Before he could finish, Chibuzor cut him off with an edge of steel in his voice. "Who's the cook you assigned the task to for the past three months?"
The housekeeper faltered, then reluctantly pointed towards one of the young cooks. "It... It's her, sir."
All eyes turned to the cook, their gazes a mix of confusion and suspicion. They had noticed her unusual behavior around the young madam.
Most of the staff didn't know why and felt that she was just an antisocial person, but the kitchen staff knew the truth, this girl harbored resentment toward their new mistress.
At this point, Chibuzor's glare could have frozen fire. He stepped toward the young cook, his tone as sharp as a blade. "So, you thought it's okay to disrespect my wife? To endanger her life? Do you think I'm dead?"