Chapter Thirteen
1364 Words
Jasmine POV
Benjamin, Adonis’s driver, opened the car door for us as we pulled into the garage. Adonis stepped out first. I followed carefully, limping a little after slightly spraining my ankle just before we left my parent’s house.
“Can you walk on your own, or should I help?” Adonis asked.
“It’s fine. I can manage.” I didn’t even look at him.
“That’s my cue.” Before I could protest, he scooped me up in his arms, carrying me bridal-style.
“Adonis, put me down. I told you I can manage.” I kicked my feet lightly, but he ignored me and climbed the front stairs toward the house. My gaze drifted to his full lips for a second before I quickly looked away.
He carried me all the way to our bedroom and set me down gently on the bed.
“Are you really okay, Jasmine?” he asked, concern clear in his voice.
“I’m fine. It’s just a small sprain.”
“Should I call the doctor to check on you tomorrow?”
“It’s not necessary, Adonis. I’m perfectly fine.” I unbuckled my heels and stood up. “I’m feeling sleepy. I’ll just go change in the bathroom.”
“What’s the point, Jasmine?” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration showing. “We’re married. There’s nothing wrong with changing in front of me. Your attitude toward me is so frustrating.”
“I don’t want to do this tonight. You know how I feel about you. Stop making me repeat it. You separated me from the man I love, and I can never forgive you for that.”
“I didn’t even know you had someone in your life until we signed the contract. You and your mother lied to me. You made me believe you felt the same way. Then after the papers were signed, you suddenly changed. How is that my fault?”
“I don’t care, Adonis. You used my family’s situation to your advantage. You made a deal with my mother behind my back and now claim to love a woman you basically bought. You know what? Just go downstairs and cool off. Or better yet, go talk to your perfect little friend Maya and stop pretending to be some honest man, because you aren’t.”
“Neither are you, Jasmine.”
“But at least I don’t lie all the time like you do.” I tried to walk past him, but he grabbed me and pulled me roughly against his chest.
“This is the only truth I can give you, Jasmine.” He lowered his face so our eyes met directly. “I’m in love with you. I’m madly in love with you, and I can’t even explain why. You’re the only woman for me in this lifetime. I don’t see anyone else. You drive me crazy, and I can’t imagine a world without you in it. That night at the beach when we first met and you mistook me for your friend and hugged me, it felt like all the empty pieces of my life suddenly fit together. I can’t let you go to another man. It’s best you forget about Sebastian, or the three of us will only end up destroying each other.” He brought his lips closer to mine, but I pushed him away before he could kiss me.
“You promised you wouldn’t force yourself on me again. Remember?”
He stared at me for a long moment, then turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him like he always did.
I let out a heavy breath and headed into the closet to change. I was struggling with the zipper on my dress when I heard the balcony door open. My heart nearly stopped as I stepped out of the closet.
Sebastian was standing in my bedroom.
“Are you crazy?” I rushed over and locked the main door. “How did you get in here?”
He walked deeper into the room, his face tight with anger. “Jasmine, I saw you two getting out of the car. I saw how he carried you inside. I’m going crazy because I’m so damn jealous.”
“Seb, keep your voice down. That doesn’t give you the right to sneak into my bedroom in the middle of the night.”
“Why did you let him carry you?”
“Because he’s my husband. And if you were watching, you saw me protesting. Please, Seb, just leave the way you came in.” I pointed toward the balcony.
“Oh really? He’s your husband? Then I have even more reason to stay. We need to clarify this situation.” He sat down on the couch like he planned to be there a while.
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling overwhelmed. “Please, Seb, don’t make this harder for me. My heart is already shattered and confused. I get scared so easily now. Don’t do this. Adonis could come back any minute.”
He stood up and walked toward me slowly. “You act like I caused all of this. It happened because of your greedy family.” He tried to pull me in for a kiss, but I turned my face away.
“I love you so much, Seb, but my dad raised me with principles. You know that. Adonis’s ring is on my finger. We sleep in this bed together. I’m not going to kiss you in this room.”
“Now you’re getting on my nerves, Jasmine. Don’t make me do something I’ll regret.”
“Can you just stop—”
A knock sounded on the door. Every drop of blood seemed to drain from my face. My heart lurched into my throat, I bent forward, held my head for a second, then slowly straightened up.
“Seb, please leave. I’m begging you.”
He finally backed off, stepped onto the balcony, and closed the door behind him. I took a deep breath and opened the bedroom door.
“Why did you lock the door, Jasmine?” Adonis studied my face carefully.
“Isn’t it obvious? I didn’t want you walking in while I was naked.” I sat on the edge of the bed, still shaking a little.
“And yet you still haven’t changed.”
“Adonis, can you please sleep in one of the empty rooms tonight? I just need some privacy. I don’t want to keep fighting with you.”
“It’s not a big deal. I’ll give you the space because I want peace tonight.” Adonis’s eyes lingered on the locked balcony door for a brief second before he finally turned away. Then he looked back at me. “Goodnight.”
As soon as he walked out, I rushed to lock the door again. The moment I turned around, the balcony door opened once more.
“I thought you left already,” I whispered sharply.
“Calm down. I’m leaving now.” Sebastian stepped closer. “Can we meet tomorrow and talk about what we’re really going to do? Because I’m the one hurting here. Find a way to leave the house and meet me at one of the farmlands. Promise me you’ll be there, and I’ll go right now.”
“Fine.” I stood up. “I promise I’ll be there. I’ll give you my answers about all this mess. And while we’re at it, please do me a favor and never come into my bedroom again. I mean it, Sebastian. You’ll give me a heart attack one of these days.” Tears slipped down my cheeks as I spoke.
Sebastian slipped back out onto the balcony. I hurried over to make sure he was gone. From the railing, I watched him sneak toward the foreman’s house. When I glanced to the other side, my eyes met Louis staring straight up at me from downstairs. He gave me a slow, knowing smirk before walking away.
I clutched my chest and closed my eyes, praying that Louis hadn’t seen Sebastian climbing down from the balcony.
- Writer
