Chapter 20
20
I closed my eyes and muttered, “Damn it!” Why did he have to wake up now?
Bella and I stared at him. Bella’s gaze held concern while mine,I was sure, was drilling holes into him.
“Don’t give her,” he reiterated, his gaze on me. He looked less drunk now. His words didn’t slur so much anymore and his gaze was steady to an extent.
That soup must be a very effective one, even though it looked like vomit. I con- templated asking her what the recipe is.
Bella shifted closer to him, her brows creased, “Mark,” she placed her palm on her cheeks and made him turn his face to her, “You should get more rest.”
“No,” he shook his head and removed her palm from his cheeks. “I need to stay
awake to make sure you don’t give her.” He blinked rapidly for a few seconds be- fore he shook his head and his gaze became steady again.
Something akin to hurt and confusion crossed Bella’s features, “Give her what?
Do you even know what we’re talking about? You were asleep just now.”
“I was but pieces of your conversation drifted to me in my sleep. She wants
you to give her 1.2 million dollars. I heard that part clearly.”
I met his gaze. “I should have left you on that floor,” I sneered.
“Mark,” Bella pulled at his shoulder and he turned to her. She intermittently threw accusive glances my way as she spoke. “I told you, you shouldn’t have
come back. She doesn’t even want to take care of you. I had to rush here.”
“You should not be going through all of this stress when I have a wife who is very capable of caring for me,” he seethed, barely paying Bella any attention.
I let out a loud hiss. He kept saying ‘caring‘ like he was some old man or termi-
nally sick person that needed caring for. I picked up the empty coffee cup and
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Chapter 20
got on my feet to leave the room, only for me to get pulled back after taking just a step toward the door. The buttons of his shirt had been undone and his shirt. was opened, proudly showcasing his sinewy ch*st .
I twisted my wrist so as to pull away but he only pinned me with a glare and pulled me toward him.
“You aren’t allowed to leave! Taking care of me is your responsibility for as long as you remain my wife,” he snarled as his brows furrowed, “How can you let someone else take your place and carry out your duties for you?”
“Because I’m not interested!” I spat in his face. “I didn’t ask you to go get drunk so why should I stress myself to tend to you?”
Bella looked like she had been slapped in the face as she gaped as the both of us exchanged words, few inches from each other.
“I am your husband!”
I let out an exasperated sigh, “So what?” I shot Bella a look. So you’re permitted
to cheat on me with my sister because you’re my husband. The words were on
the tip of my tongue but I held back. It was a waste arguing with a half drunk
man.
“Look, just let me go, okay?” I tried to reason with him, perhaps his fuddled brain will get dissuaded. “Yes, you’re the husband. I’m not saying you aren’t.”
He squinted at me for a while as if he was trying to process what I said. “Then
why were you leaving?”
“I was going to get you some water,” I lied smoothly, already getting tired of the
whole situation. Was it a crime to want to have a quiet and restive night?
He nodded then he was back to squinting again. I tried to untangle his fingers
from my wrist but he wouldn’t let go.
Bella suddenly stepped up beside him. She tugged at the sleeve of his shirt
like a toddler pulling at the hem of his mother’s skirt for attention. “Just let her
go,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
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He blinked and turned to her. He frowned, “Bella.” He looked at her as if he was Just seeing her tonight for the first time. “You shouldn’t have come so late. You should be resting at home.”
She caressed his bulging forearm before wrapping her fingers around it. Mark looked down at her, their l*ps very few inches apart as she whispered, fluttering her lashes. “I want to rest with you. It’s the only way I can rest.”
I gritted my teeth and tried to untangle my wrist from him again. Why do I have to be subjected to witnessing these nauseating scenes all the time?
“You should go home,” he said dismissively, his fingers still gripping my wrist. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Tears brimmed in Bella’s eyes and her eyes looked sad. “I want you to come with me.”
“I can’t leave the house.”
“Then I’ll stay,” she cried, stamping her foot on the floor.
“No. Go home,” he said in a cl*pped tone that had Bella releasing his arm as she drew back in surprise, her eyes portraying how hurt she was. Even I hadn’t seen that coming. “I’ll have the driver drop you off.”
“Mark,” Bella whispered, her voice quivered so much that she gripped the atten- tion of Mark and I. “Tell me!” She screamed, the veins on her n*eck bulged and her eyes glinted with tears. “Are you in love with her?!”
A resounding silence followed her scream. I turned to Mark who still locked
eyes with Bella.
Suddenly, he threw my arms away. It was almost as if something in him had
been provoked by Bella’s question.
“What? What nonsense?” He now seemed fully awake as he took staggering steps back. “How could you say that?” He scoffed, “In love? Pfft! Stop talking
nonsense.” Then he added in a condescending tone, “How can I be in love with
her?”
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Chapter 25
“Then why won’t you divorce her? Bella’s eyes still brimmed with tears and her voice still held that accusatory edge as it quivered.
“That shouldn’t be any of your concern, Bel. It’s none of your business.”
She took in a sharp breath, “It’s none of my business?” She whispered, pointing to her ch*st .
“Yes, it isn’t,” he answered indifferently. Then he roughly gripped her arm and steered hertiward the door.
She slapped his hand, “Mark, what are you doing? Let me go.”
“I’m making you go home. All the melodrama here is bad for your health.”
“I’m not complai-” she broke off as she opened the door and pushed her out and followed. “Mark, stop. I don’t want to leave.”
I followed them to the living room and continued to astonishingly watch the
scene unfold.
“Mark, I don’t want to leave,” a tear was sliding down Bella’s face now but her face was still set in a hard glare as she pulled Mark’s fingers.
“You should leave now, Bell.” Mark’s voice was soft, a complete contrast to his grip and current action. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Mark, yo-”
He pushed her out the main door, cutting off whatever she had to say again.
“Go home, Bel.” Then he closed the door with so much force that the sound re-
verberated in the whole room.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket, his thumb moved rapidly on the screen.
then he placed the phone on his ear. “Hello…” he trailed, then he nodded, “You
hear her too. Good. Please, safely convey her to her house.” Then he gave the dri-
ver the direction to Bella’s apartment should she refuse to give it.
Suddenly, a loud bang sounded and a scream followed. “I won’t give up loving
you, Mark!” Another bang. She must be throwing herself against the door. “You
can throw me out all you want but I will never give up on us.”
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Chapter 20
She continued to spit nonsense about how she was going to fight for their love.
and all.
I wondered what had come over Mark as I yawned, already bored of the scene.
It was more fun to watch when Mark was raising his voice at her.
I turned to leave for my room only to get pulled back like the first time again. “Godammit! Let go, Mark!”
He had held me with the hand he held his phone so it was pretty easy to untan-
gle his fingers. His phone fell and he bent down to pick it.
I immediately got on my heels, ran up the stairs and straight to my room. “Syd-
ney, stop there!”
Over my dead b*dy! I let out a relieved sigh as I slammed my back against the
door after turning the lock.
He banged on my room’s door just like his lover had done on the main door just seconds ago. “Open up!”
I ignored him and double checked the locks. Unless he breaks down the door,
there is no way he’d get in.
“Keep ignoring me.” He roared, “But you should know that you need to earn the
break up fee on your own. You can’t ask anyone for it.”
I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t like I had anyone to ask anyway.
“You hear me? Not even your parents or Bella.”
I scoffed. Like my parents will give me money to divorce their golden son–in-
law. Linda, though, I bit my l*ps, pondering. She looked like she would do any- thing just to have Mark to herself.
“Do you hear me?!”
I scrunch my face, moving away from the door. His shouts were getting louder and it was irritating my ears. I better get away from it or make him shut up.
“Do you hear me, Sydney?!” He enunciated, his tone sounded threatening.
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Chapter 20
I better answer before the asshole angrily decides to raise the break up fee again. I thought and pressed my forehead to the door.
“Yes, Mark,” I rolled my eyes, “I’ve heard you. You can leave now. I need to rest.”
There was a pin drop silence then the sound of his footsteps receding reached
my ears.
I sighed in relief as I threw myself on the bed. “Dammit! Mark is getting difficult to deal with and I’m sure he’d get more difficult with each passing day,” I thought aloud, “I need to raise his million dollars as soon as possible, I don’t
even want to imagine staying longer in this marriage.”
