Page 18 of His Arranged Plus-Size Mate

“Well, I have to go,” I said, getting to the meat department. “I’ll chat with you tonight.” I hung up before she could say anything and stuffed my phone into my purse. I went for the sliced meat, deciding to get them some turkey and rye.

I noticed two people standing to pick up their meat. My entire body froze as I realized it was Jasmine and Rachael. Jasmine was a stay-at-home mom who used her free time to make me feel less. Rachael was a realtor who made it impossible for Gabriella and me to get anywhere.

We met Rachael when Jade was helping us move in. She had seemed nice at first, telling us she was here for anything we needed and to let her know. We did. We thought we could trust her because Jade seemed to like her.

But we were wrong. It became very clear she wasn’t there to help us. She was just there to make it seem like she cared.

“So, have you heard about Hazel and Asher?” Jasmine turned to Rachael, her eyes sparkling with glee.

“I did. I pity him.” Rachael shook her head. “He deserves so much better than that woman.”

“Rumor is he was forced to marry her.” Jasmine made a snarky face, a giggle in her voice. “Must be true because they did it at the courthouse. They didn’t even have a real wedding. It was just a couple of people who watched. His parents did not look pleased.”

Rachael shook her head. “He was asking about purchasing a house just last week. I felt a little back because he was renting this beautiful two-bedroom loft with tons of space, and he gave it up for this crummy little house.” Rachael leaned closer, dropping her voice. “I think he was smart to buy the small place. I don’t think he wanted her to fight when they get divorced, and somehow get her hands on it. I give it a few months before he moves back into his loft.”

Jasmine clicked her tongue. “Pity. What house did he buy?”

Rachael scrunched up her nose. “That little house on East Fern. It’s nothing special. He was actually the one who brought up looking at it. He didn’t seem to want anything big or fancy. Which is why I think he did it on purpose.”

Jasmine laughed. “I’m sure it’s nicer than anything she could afford.”

Rachael nodded in agreement. “I’m sure it’s all because of her sister. How else would he have married her? We know it’s not because of looks. Have you seen her? And the clothes she wears? For someone as big as she is, she should be covering up more, not wearing clothes like a stripper. I’ve seen her working at the bar, and let me tell you, there was no modesty to her.”

It was like someone was taking a knife and stabbing it into my heart over and over again. I stood just a few feet behind them, listening as they went on about us. Anger burned in the back of my throat, thinking of all the times Rachael gave us that fake smile and told us something better would come along. It never did. And when we wanted to look at something nicer, it was conveniently already purchased.

I could still remember that one day, I had had enough and snapped. I told her she either showed us the house we wanted to see or we would find someone else more willing. That was when the mask slipped, and she smirked that little vixen smirk. “You don’t get it. I’m the only one who’s willing to work with you. You can try to find someone else, but no one will help you because you’re less. You’re no one, and the sooner you realize that and accept what I’m giving you, the less of my time you’ll waste.”

We stopped looking. Gabriella and I stopped trying to find anything better after that. We just accepted it.

I cleared my throat, and both of them turned. But they didn’t look shocked to see me or embarrassed that I might haveheard them. They just smiled. “Morning, Hazel. I didn’t realize you shopped early like this.”

I bit hard on my tongue. “It’s quiet this time of day.”

“It is,” Jasmine said, looking at the person handing her cut meat. She turned and placed her meat in her cart, but not before looking into mine. I knew right away she was eyeing up the cookies and looked at Rachael for a split second before looking back at me.

“Well, I have to run.” Jasmine started leaving, pushing her cart. Rachael gave me another fake smile.

“How have you been? How is married life?”

“It’s fine,” I said, not giving her any details she could use against me. “You don’t need to act nice. I know the type of person you are.”

Rachael’s smile slipped. I watched her fingers tighten on the cart before she smirked. “You really don’t get it, do you? You’re getting things that you just don’t deserve.”

I felt my face growing hot as she pulled her hands free, taking a few steps toward me. “You and your sister both are just leeches that are sucking off Belrose and the people in it. You can try and act as if you belong, wear these slutty clothes, but deep down…” She stopped in front of me. “You know where you belong.”

I felt a hand wrap around my waist, and Rachael stepped back, slamming into her cart. The cart moved back, the corner hitting the glass display case. The sound was loud, and she went red with embarrassment. “Asher.”

I looked up, realizing he had wrapped his arm around me, his face calm and collected. I wonder if he heard anything she said, but there was no way he hadn’t.

“Rachael.”

She tried to collect herself, smacking a smile onto her face. “How have you been? Are you loving the house? Is it everything you wanted?”

Asher’s face remained the same, and I suddenly could see just how much he looked like his father in that moment. You couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but it wasn’t good. I could see the anger building in his eyes.

“Did I just hear you threatening my wife?” His voice came out low, almost a whisper.

Rachael shook her head and started to sputter. “No, no. You didn’t. No, I…I..I wasn’t threatening her.”