Unyielding

(ARIELLE'S POV.)

His words hung in the air. He leaned in a little closer, his expression intense. I could feel my cheeks flush, and I hated myself for it. His words were like an emotional punch to the gut, stirring up feelings I wasn't ready to face. I watched him carefully as he waited for my reaction, searching my eyes like he was looking for some sign of hope.

Finally, I exhaled, a deep sigh escaping me. "If that's all, Jared... You can leave now."

I was stunned by the calmness of my own voice. But my reaction pales in comparison to Jared's look of confusion. He was in utter shock. He narrowed his eyes at me as if focusing on me would wake him up from an ugly trance.

His face was the literal picture of shock, his eyes wide as saucers, his lips hanging apart from each other as he stared at me.

His eyebrows knitted in frustration. "Why? What do you mean, Arielle? Did you hear a word of all I just said? I explained everything clearly!"

I nodded as impassively as possible, my hands clasped together as I reclined in my seat. "Yeah. I heard you, Jared," I nodded.

He looked more in disbelief as if he had somehow been expecting that I hadn't heard a word he'd said by some stroke of chance. Maybe he'd imagined the entire scene. But my confirmation only stunned him further.

"Then why are you acting this way, Arielle?" he cried in frustration, his voice cracking from the weight of a dozen emotions. His face was a mask of pain and he didn't try to hide it being his usual façade of manliness. "I love you, Arielle. Can't you see? Please.. all I ask is for a second chance," he said passionately. His chest rose and fell heavily and his eyes were glazed over with what I could imagine to be tears. But my mind was made up already and my mouth remained shut.

(JARED'S POV.)

I adjusted the knot of my tie for the umpteenth time again. I was faced

felt. If any of my words had touched her. If she even believed anything I'd just said. I was a mess of confusion and frustration. And boiling anger. I gritted

that when she'd sat up, her expression shifted

and calm when she spoke again, like that of a school

second chance. What would that entail, Jared? What does that mean to you?" she inquired and I realized she didn't expect me to explain right away. I couldn't anyway. Maybe it was the intensity of her gaze.

with you? Probably share a roof with you as well... Marry you again to make your family happy.. Should I keep tolerating your endless 'friends'?" she asked with bitterness I nearly

I do, right down to the way I breathe around you, is wrong. I just want that to stop. As for my friends.. Don't you have any friends, Arielle? Come on.. Not everyone in my life is damned lunatic!" I sighed in exasperation, my throat itching with emotions. I let out another sigh and pinched the bridge of

I promise... I'll never make the same mistakes again. Never," I said with such passion a cleric would have commended

lines of indifference. "It's not about the past, Jared," she finally said. Her voice was calm,

you even see me as your equal? You claim to love me wit all the conviction in the world, but how come it's so easy for you to make decisions about my own life without even first

this silly move. Have you thought about her family? How they'd react to learning that the marriage of their only daughter is all a sham.. And have you considered your mother? Aren't you

argument undeserving of mercy. It was almost like she'd sworn not to listen to a word I'd said. At least not a in

my hands hard down on the desk. "But that's not your problem! That's mine," I

you to come back to me. That's all that matters. Everything else is secondary. I can fix it... I'll fix it. Just

of marriage. I remember forgiving you over and over. I let you and Sofia clinch every bit of my patience like it

she said and paused. I

you and Sofia test my patience on countless occasions, all for a sliver of hope. Now, I have Maverick. I'm responsible for my son's life. I can't

you see.. that's the thing. Maverick is my son too! I would

why

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