Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Karen's POV

I shrugged and avoided his gaze. "I'm sorry but there's no one with that name." I said.

He chuckled softly and I cleaned the chair for him to sit. He sat down and our eyes met each other again. "Aren't you Karen?" He asked.

My wedding ring! I didn't want him to see it, he would definitely realize the truth. "I'm not Karen." I lied, after a brief moment of silence.

"What's your name?" He inquired gently.

I found a newspaper on the table and quickly glanced at the headlines. "Miss Lisa has announced to the public about the reopening of schools..."

"My name's Lisa." I lied, picking the name from the headline.

He nodded. "Do you know a hotel around here? I could just stay there for a while."

I frowned. What was he looking for in Los Angeles? Why couldn't he recognize me as his wife? "There's no hotel around here." I lied.

"I can't go back, I'll have to look for an hotel close to this house"

"Okay sir." I replied gently.

Frowning, he stared at me. "I was expecting you to bring your menu."

"We don't have a menu yet."

"What will you like to eat?" I asked him with a fake smile, I didn't even want him to eat, I just wanted him to leave but I couldn't tell him.

He gave me a broad smile and adjusted his tie. "Maybe nothing, I just want to rest a bit."

"I'm sorry but you can't rest here. This is a restaurant and not an hotel." I replied, quickly.

"Sit down!" He ordered with a soft voice.

"And what if I don't sit...."

He interrupted. "Please just make yourself feel comfortable."

I sat down and looked at him. He winked at me and zoomed in close, inches away from my face. The intensity of his eyes made me shiver for some seconds as our lips were close to each other. He stood up suddenly and looked at the pictures on the wall. "Must be your mom, she's cute." He remarked.

I wonder why he acted that way, he knew that he was married and he wouldn't dare cheat. I just didn't know how to control my emotions. "You should leave!" I murmured.

He blinked his eyes confused. "I just came in here. Have we met before? I don't know why you're being unfriendly towards me."

"I don't wish to meet someone like you."

"I'm sorry but do you know me?" He asked and sat down again.

Oh God! Why did he sit down back? Why did I say something like that? "Who doesn't know Brody Taylor? A billionaire's son?"

He chuckled softly. "I didn't know I was that popular."

Mom walked out of the kitchen and looked at us. "I was wondering why you stayed out late." She muttered with a smirk and looked at Brody. "What will you like to eat sir?" She asked him.

Looking at Brody, he smiled and immediately went to greet her properly. "How are you doing, mom?" He asked and hugged her.

I stole a glance at my mom, she was shocked. Why should he hug my mom? "So rude!" I murmured under my breath.

Mom slowly released herself from his grip and smiled at me. "I'm fine, my child." She muttered and my eyes widened.

'My child?'

Now, this was getting annoying. "Is this your husband?" She asked, referring to me and my heart hammered in his chest.

"Mom, I'm not married." I lied, trying to give her a sign that she should not talk about marriage.

She didn't seem to understand. "You just told me that you were married, why are you behaving strangely?" She asked, annoyed.

I frowned, wondering how I'll explain things to her. She would never believe me, would she? Things just got complicated every minute. "I didn't say that." I answered, admitting no such thing.

"Old age," she muttered miserably and turned to face Brody who kept quiet since. Why was he silent? "I'm really sorry, my dear. What would you like to eat?" She asked him.

He shook his head and smiled. "There's nothing, I just came to Los Angeles to look for my wife," he said and my heart skipped a beat. Was he really here because of me? I wanted to hug and kiss him but it was a foolish thought. He could be here to sign the divorce papers or tell him that he never loved me.

I didn't want to be heartbroken, It was never an option. "You're married?" Mom asked him and he nodded. "That's awesome, you're indeed a good man that every mother would want for her daughter." She added.

He looked at me and I fixed my gaze at the window. "I'm just surprised, your daughter looks exactly like my wife. The same hair, eyes, face and almost everything looks like my wife."

Was he that dumb that he couldn't recognize me?

"Mom, he wants to leave, you should let him go." I chipped in immediately.

Mom frowned and looked at him. "Do you have where to stay?" She asked and I shrugged. My mouth was slightly opened as I looked at both of them.

"No, I don't."

"That's perfect, you can stay at our house, we have a guest room and also, my daughter can help you find your wife in the meantime." Mom told me and I became angry.

"He's a stranger. We can't just let him live in this house. This is totally wrong and I don't like it."

Mom chuckled and took him into the guest room. The house was small even though it was spacious, I didn't even have my privacy at all. The parlor was used for the restaurant, how annoying! The kitchen was my workplace and my room was even small with no mattress.

The only option was sleeping on the floor, will Brody cope? I didn't want him to suffer because I made the wrong decision. It was my decision after all to sign that motherfucking contract.

"Mom, is there a bed in the guest room?" I asked her as soon as she came out of the guest room.

She nodded with a smile. "Yes, a lot of things have changed since you left." She replied and walked towards me. "That man is cute, I'm really sad that he's married." She said in a casual tone.

I shivered, wondering how to tell her the truth but when I finally did, it felt easy for me. "I'm his wife."