Of a fight and bitter truth.

(ARIELLE'S POV)

Jared seemed like a wild beast that had lost its sanity. His kisses were without any pattern, seemingly driven only by animal instinct.

"Ja... Jared..." I gasped, barely able to catch my breath.

I pushed against him with every ounce of strength, but it was useless. Instead, I tore his suit jacket in the process. The fire in his eyes only grew more intense, and in one swift motion, he shoved me down onto the sofa, pinning me beneath him. We had kissed before, shared a bed, but I had never seen him like this. Mad. Wild. Like a beast baring its teeth. I had always thought of him as powerful but harmless, but now, fear crept up my spine.

His kisses moved lower, his mouth hot against my skin. A sharp, searing pain shot through my collarbone.

Instantly, clarity returned to my mind, and I found my voice again. My hands shot to his chest, and I shoved with all my might, finally creating enough space to push him away.

"Jared, sober up!" I cried, my voice trembling with a mix of fury and panic.

"It's because I'm too sober that I've been holding back from going to you!"

My face burned with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. Jared didn't move. Half of his body weight was still crushing me, and there was no way I could escape unless he let go. The difference in our strength was overwhelming. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

"What do you want, Jared? To rape me? What's the difference between you and the man in my office?"

The word "rape" hit the air like a knife, and the moment it left my lips, Jared froze. His entire body went rigid, his eyes wide with disbelief. His face drained of color as the weight of my words settled over him, and for a brief moment, he looked like I had just slapped him. "I'm sorry, Ari... I—" he stammered, but I wasn't having it.

I pushed him off and sat up, trying to regain my composure as I fumbled with my shirt buttons. My hands were shaking so badly I couldn't even get them to cooperate.

twisted in annoyance, and he reached

jerked away from

hand stiffened in mid-air. "Did I really scare you? I'm sorry. I... I was a

shirt, then wrapped myself tightly in my coat. "I'm

cold outside. Let me go get

turned on him, seething with rage. "You want to know about Dwayne? I met him in Italy. We've been friends ever since. That's it. I didn't know anything about

to satisfy him. His eyes narrowed,

You

His voice was accusing, and it sent shivers down spine. "He's a 'friend'? A pure friend, or more of a 'friend with

no

Don't you get it? He's

divorced. I've rejected you, time and time again. But now you think you have the right to doubt me? Who the hell do you think you are?" The words were coming out too fast, my anger mixing with hurt, betrayal,

stressed the last word. "And by the way, I'm divorced, in case that has skipped your memory. That means I'm single, Jared. It's my business who I'm involved

my body literally trembling with rage. The nerve of him-after everything, after everything he did, now

he took a step closer to me, his

to keep holding on to the past, you know that right? You said you had let go of the past, but that was actually a lie, isn't it? You just couldn't forgive me, so I deserve to remain

he seriously trying to make me the bad guy

pains he caused me under the carpet and forge

felt like I was reliving the worst moments of our marriage

that. You're the one who cheated on me,

you're still stuck up

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