Naughty Nights In My Father-in-law's Bed

∆SEPHORA∆ "Tonight will be different," I whispered to my reflection as I smoothed my dress for the nth time. "He just needs to remember who we used to be." Today was our fifth wedding anniversary and I wanted to make it special since things have been a bit rough. My heart was beating hard against my ribs as I tried to calm down. I had spent the last six hours in the kitchen as I carefully prepared every dish Jules loves and when I was done setting the table, I had made a little decoration to give that romantic feeling. I wanted him to look at me but not with the cold indifference that had defined the last four years, but with the heat that had once made me feel loved by him. I checked the wine chilling in the bucket and adjusted all the cutlery for the tenth time as I made sure everything was in place. But even now, the candles had begun to melt away and the food was becoming cold but still, I didn’t lose hope. When I finally heard the sound of his car pull up, my breath hitched as I rushed towards the door and pulled a wide smile onto my face as I was ready to welcome him. "Jules, you’re finally..." The words died in my throat because Jules wasn't alone. He was stumbling, his expensive suit jacket rumpled as he had his arms around Jessica Wilson, one of the women he usually flirted with. She was wearing a dress so short I knew Jules would have my head if I dressed that way. "Oh, look, Jules. The maid is still up," Jessica sneered with a cold look before I could even form a response. Jules didn't even look at me as he continued leaning on her like they were married and I was the intruder. "Move, Sephora. You’re blocking the way." I felt a sharp pang in my chest, but I stood my ground with my hands trembling at my sides. "Jules, please, Jessica needs to leave. Do you know what today is?" He let out a dry laugh that held no amusement. "It’s Tuesday or Wednesday. Who cares? Is it that important for you to stop me from having fun with my beloved woman?" My heart squeezed painfully as I watched his nonchalant attitude. "It’s our fifth wedding anniversary," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "I made dinner, I decorated, and I’ve been waiting for hours, Jules. Just for one night, I thought we could try." Our marriage has been rocky only a few months after our wedding and I had always hoped things would get better. As the years rolled by, it only got worse as he either slept out or brought different women to our matrimonial home. If I dared to speak, he would vent his anger on me. But I had hoped that tonight we would have time for ourselves as a couple. Jules finally settled his gaze on me, but there was no love in those eyes, only resentment. Seeing I was still blocking their path, he moved from Jessica and came to stand right in my very face. "An anniversary?" he mocked, leaning down until his face was inches from mine. "You want to celebrate five years of this? Five years of a house that feels like a tomb because you can’t even do the one thing a wife is supposed to do?" "Jules, don't," I pleaded, sensing the direction he was taking. "You’re barren, Sephora," he spat, the word hitting me harder than I expected. "You’re a waste of a wife! You’ve had five years, Sephora. Five years… and still you did nothing to satisfy me." For a moment, the world went silent, as if even the walls had heard it before and grown tired of repeating it. Staring straight into my eyes, he scoffed, "I gave you everything, the name, the house, the money, and you haven’t even been able to conceive a single heir. Why would I want to sit across a table from a failure like you when I can have a woman who actually knows how to make a man feel alive?" Jessica laughed happily as he talked down to me. "Maybe she’s just broken, Jules. Some things just aren't meant to function." “I am talking to my husband.” I said, trying to shut her up but it only made things worse. “Husband?” she asked as she burst into a fit of laughter. “Just wait till I give him a child and then you will know your place.” The humiliation burned through my veins as hot tears sprang to my eyes as Jessica watched on with glee. "Please, Jules," I whispered, reaching out to touch his arm. "Let’s just talk. Send her away and let’s talk." He recoiled from my touch immediately as if I was contaminated. "Get off me, you dumb bitch." I tried to reach out to him again, ignoring his insult and hoping for a hint of my husband. “Jules...” I didn’t get to finish my sentence before his large hands landed on my shoulders and then, before I could make sense of what was going on, he flung me outside roughly, making me land unceremoniously on the floor. “Ahh!” I yelled in pain as my hip bone connected with the ground. I turned to look at Jules but he wasn’t even looking at me anymore. He was reaching for a giggling Jessica and leading her into the house. "Jules!" I screamed, scrambling to my feet and ignoring the pain. He didn't hesitate as he grabbed the door and shut it in my very face like I was an outsider. Panicking, I began to pound on the door but he had already slid the deadbolt in. "Jules, let me in! It’s freezing out here! Please!" I begged as I couldn’t hold my tears anymore. Bitter sobs racked through my tiny frame as I continued pounding on the door but all I got was silence, which made me cry even harder. "Is she still out there?" I heard Jessica ask, her voice dripping with mock pity even when she could still hear me begging. "Ignore her," Jules replied, his voice loud and clear enough for me to hear. "She’s so delusional! She actually thought a home-cooked meal would make me forget she’s a useless placeholder." “Jules…”