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
the right one for me.
kind. She's patient. She
was
tightened and my
one who stayed and made sure I stabilized. She
one who calmed me down,
she's never told a single soul
like shit for having married another woman but I did it for
back, I'll give her back her
because she had been away for
made sure Ryan didn't let anyone in. That's why I like her. She understands how our world works
will change
had the audacity to
I was cheating, like I had
even touched
Maybe I should have.
a hand through
to divorce
getting to me. It's making me
things I shouldn't. It's making
afford
rough opening of my
aback
to you?" I ask, standing to check
are a
running down her face. Her
sniffles.
about to run
take a
Fuck
I don't know why.
Maybe It's instinct.
the second
freezes, fresh hurt flashing across her face before she drops
2/4
hiccups.
"What?"
then- she slapped me, Alex. She
over with her car."
my mind racing. That
she's been reckless, stupid even, but to hit
voice breaking. "You've
at her then, really look
punch me in the fucking guts. This
you doubting me?" Her
know how much I
of my
be sure. I grab a tissue from my table and
her fingers brushing
sniffles again, but I pull back like she just shocked me with
the fuck is wrong with
button and ask Ryan for the footage. She was
lost
So
I am. Here to remind her since her memory seems
Athena laughs.
She came crying to you?" She lets out
with something bitter,
so much that I close
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