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.
now? She's making it
the right one for me. I
She's kind. She's patient. She saved
was proof
chest tightened
was the one who stayed and
calmed me down,
a single
another woman but I did it
she's back, I'll give her
she had been away for
like her. She understands how
will change the whole
Athena had the audacity to walk
like I had
hadn't even touched
Maybe I should have.
sharply, running a
need to
to me. It's making me
things I shouldn't.
afford
of my door makes
taken aback by a
happened to you?" I ask, standing to check if she has
clothes are a
face. Her shoulders shake,
sniffles.
like she's about to run straight into
a step
Fuck
I don't know why.
Maybe It's instinct.
the
flashing across her face before she drops her
2/4
Leah hiccups. "Athena-she
"What?"
"And then- she slapped me, Alex. She hit me. And-and she
over with her car."
my mind racing. That doesn't sound like
stupid even, but to hit Leah? To
her voice breaking. "You've been
look at her then, really look at
a vulnerability that makes my guilt punch me in the fucking guts. This is all me. "I'll check the
doubting me?" Her voice
how much I should revenge you. She won't hurt you ever
out of my
I grab a tissue from my table and hand
takes it, her fingers brushing
she sniffles again, but I pull back like
the fuck is wrong
press my button and ask Ryan for the footage.
has lost
So
remind her since her memory seems to be giving her
Athena laughs.
came crying to you?" She lets out a sharp laugh,
something bitter, something
so much that I close
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