The Tie That Binds: A Marriage of Convenience Novel

“God, you’re such a fucking mess,” Dominic says as he swoops me into his arms. “You work your fucking ass off during the week and drink like you’re at uni on the weekends. It’s been weeks, Alyssa. This is no way to live.”

He carries me home on his back. I finally gave in and moved back into my dad’s house, not realising how many memories Daniel and I share here too. I thought all I’d have to deal with would be memories of my dad, but that isn’t the case. I think of him when I have dinner and remember the way he’d chat with my dad and the way he’d compliment me on the food. I remember him in his wrinkled clothes in the morning, fast asleep on the sofa because he worked late with my dad.

I wonder if he’s back in his apartment now. I wonder if he thinks of me when he goes to bed. Has he shared the bed I thought of as ours with someone else? I burst into tears all over again and Dominic puts me to bed carefully. He holds me as tears stream down my face.

“Oh man, Lyss. I have no idea what’s going on. Daniel is putting up a good front, but he’s just as miserable as you. What the fuck are you two playing at?”

Dominic has questioned me about Daniel repeatedly, but I’ve been refusing to answer. It’s almost like it’ll become real if I admit that he’s no longer mine.

“Lyss, please. You’re breaking my damn heart here. I have no idea what’s going on. You won’t talk and neither will Daniel.”

I sniff and pull away from him, gathering my courage. “He dumped me, Nic. He didn’t just dump me, he signed the divorce papers. Remember the fidelity contract I told you about? He gave me his shares.”

Dominic stares at me as though he’s trying to make sense of what’s going on, but just like I have, he fails. “That’s impossible. There’s no way he’d ever let you go.”

I laugh hysterically. “Haven’t you seen the photos? He’s been seen with Olivia all over town.”

Dominic shakes his head. “I have seen the photos, and they’re not intimate in any of them. Looks like they’re just hanging out, you know. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I doubt he’s actually getting with her.”

I grimace and look away. I know he’s only saying that to make me feel better. I know what everyone is saying. Daniel and I were rarely seen together in public, but he’s going on date after date with her. I’ve been stubbornly holding on to him when he’s moved on.

“He signed the papers, Nic. It’s done. All that’s left is for me to sign them too. I was stupid to think he’d change his mind. You’re right. It’s been weeks. Who am I fooling?”

Dominic wipes away my tears and cups my cheeks. “I’m sorry, Lyss. I don’t know what to do or what to say. I’m so sorry.”

Dominic gets into bed with me and spoons me, holding me as I try my very best not to sob my heart out.

“I — I love him, you know. I’m so in love with him, and he’s going around dating someone else. He didn’t even care about me enough to mourn our relationship for more than a week. I’m unable to eat or sleep, but he’s going on dinner dates with someone else. I thought he was the one for me. I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with him. How could I have been so foolish? So blind?”

Dominic tightens his grip on me and pets my hair, the way Daniel used to. It sends a fresh wave of tears to my eyes.

“Enough is enough, Lyss. If what you’re saying is true… if he’s signed the papers and paid his way out of the fidelity contract… I don’t know. Maybe you should listen to what his actions are telling you. Maybe you should move on.”

I fall asleep with those words echoing through my mind. I know he’s right, but I don’t think I can take it.