Chapter 9 ~ Humiliated
Chapter 9 Humiliated
Alex
"I love you."
Three words.
I've heard them countless times before-soft, warm, and filled with sincerity. Mum
and Dad say it to each other. Mum and
Granny say it to me all the time.
But hearing them come out of Leah's mouth the other night?
It made my skin crawl.
It sounded foreign, misplaced like it didn't belong
between us. It didn't settle in my chest the way it was
supposed to. Instead, it made something tighten, something itch beneath my skin.
I pulled away. Not obviously.
Just enough to create distance, enough that I could breathe without feeling suffocated by the weight of words I wasn't ready to hear. And that's when I noticed her.
Athena
Running.
Her black long hair whipped behind her, her pace quick. The way she left- like she was running from something-made my jaw
clench.
I had wondered for the past three days but since I had been busy with work I barely saw her. But seeing and hearing those remarks told me one thing.
My wife was jealous and I liked it.
Which is bullshit because I shouldn't like anything that has to do with her.
Athena Dawson.
The name alone makes my blood boil these days. I
roll my shoulders, trying to shake off the frustration, but it lingers, simmering beneath my skin.
Her attitude. Her rebellion. The way she suddenly changed overnight.
She's testing my patience, and it's driving me insane.
We had a deal.
Three years.
Just three years
of marriage before we could go our separate ways. That was the agreement. I needed her, she needed me-
it was
1/4
mutual.
She's making
is supposed to be the
She's kind. She's
was
my chest tightened and
stayed and made sure I stabilized. She
me down,
a
another woman
I'll give
feelings must be because she had been away
Ryan didn't let anyone in. That's why I like her. She understands how our world works and one leak
will change the whole
the audacity to
like I had betrayed
hadn't even touched
Maybe I should have.
a
need to divorce
marriage, this mess-it's getting to me. It's
things I shouldn't. It's making me
afford
rough opening of my door makes my eyes
taken aback
ask, standing
clothes are a
is running down her face. Her shoulders shake, her hands clenching
sniffles.
like she's about
a
Fuck
I don't know why.
Maybe It's instinct.
the second I
flashing across her face
2/4
Leah hiccups. "Athena-she
"What?"
voice trembles. "And then- she slapped me, Alex. She hit me. And-and she tried
over with her car."
exhale slowly, my mind racing. That doesn't sound like
but to hit Leah?
her voice breaking. "You've been
at her then,
my guilt punch me in the fucking guts. This
you doubting me?" Her
to know how much I
of my mouth. A part
be sure. I grab a tissue from my
it, her fingers brushing
back like she just
the fuck is wrong
press my button and ask Ryan for the footage. She was
lost
So
remind her since her memory seems to
Athena laughs.
to you?" She lets
something bitter, something
me so much that I
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