Episode 8
1016 Words
Too late for all this
Jane's POV
I look at the man standing tall in front of me. He's angry, but he still looks good. If this was before, I would fall for him. But now his breath makes me sick.
I look at him with cold eyes. "Do you really believe I was never hurt? If that's what makes you feel better, then believe that."
I try to walk away, but his strong hand grabs my arm.
"Where do you think you're going? Why are you walking out on me?" His voice is hard, as his keep searching my eye.
My heart beats fast. The whole room feels like it's getting smaller. The air is thick and heavy. I can feel my hands shaking.
"Leave me alone, Christian." My voice sounds tired.
"No." He said as he hold me tightly. "Is it because of that old friend of yours? Are you so eager to get to his bed? What does he give you that I can't afford?"
His words hit me like a punch and it sent Fire burns in my chest.
"He offers care that you failed to give me. You keep parading your mistress around like I don't exist." I try to pull my arm free, but Christian is too strong.
"You think all this fighting will make me let you go? You're only making me more possessive." More possessive? Was he drunk or what .
That's it. I can't take it anymore. I use my free hand to slap his cheek hard. The sound echoes in the room. But that doesn't even help Christian still hold me tight and I hate it.
"You disgust me, Christian. Now let me leave." I said as I breathe so hard. My chest goes up and down fast.
He doesn't move. His grip gets tighter. "Isn't this what you want? My attention? Here it is. I'm all yours now, Jane. Is that what you always wanted?"
His words make me cry more. Not just because the cut Amanda gave me still hurts, but because my husband is acting like a crazy person.
"I hate you, Christian." The words come out between my tears. "I regret the day I became your wife."
With that, Christian loses his hold on me for a second. I get the chance to pull away from the wall where he had me trapped.
"Can we put everything that happened today behind us? Can we act like a real couple?" Christian is still talking when footsteps come down the stairs.
"Sorry, I heard noise and decided to check if everything is okay. Sorry if I'm interrupting something." Amanda's voice sounds so innocent, like she doesn't know what she's doing.
I look at her and feel sick. "Is this how couples act?" I ask, but I'm not surprised to see her.
"Jane, please let this night go without another drama. I promise to make it up to you." Christian tries to sound nice.
Then Amanda pulls out a paper from behind her back. "Christian dropped this when we came in," she says, handing the paper to me.
Christian tries to grab it from me, but it's too late. I already see what it is.
Divorce papers. With his signature already on them.
I laugh. I can't help it. The laugh comes from deep inside me, bitter and cold.
"You mean you've had this all along? What took you so long to give it to me?"
Both Christian and Amanda look shocked. They stare at me with wide eyes. They wanted me to cry and beg. They wanted me to ask for money. But I don't.
"Jane, please, I can explain. It's not what you think." Christian's voice sounds desperate.
But I already signed it. My name goes right next to his on the paper.
"What else can you explain? You gave your mistress your divorce papers. You're not even brave enough to give them to me yourself."
I turn and walk toward the stairs. Christian follows me.
"Where will you go? You want to end up on the street? People will think I don't give you anything."
"Oh, spare me the pity, Christian. It's not like you give a damn about me."
"Jane, wait! This is just a misunderstanding. We can settle this. I can buy more jewelry. Or you can go on vacation. Just name it. Throwing divorce papers around is not the answer."
I stop and turn to look at him. "Can you just listen to yourself, Christian? It's already too late for all that. You still think I've been holding onto this marriage just because of jewelry and vacations?"
My voice gets louder. "I spent the last few years trying to be a good wife. The wife you wanted. And you're talking about throwing divorce papers around? I'm not the one who gave his mistress my divorce papers with my signature already on them."
I grab my bag from the closet. "I don't know what took you so long to bring it out."
"Enough!" Christian's voice is so sharp that anyone in the building can hear it. "You are not going anywhere. That's final!"
He points at the divorce papers on the table. "This is total rubbish!" He grabs the papers and tears them into pieces.
I watch the pieces fall to the floor like snow. But I feel nothing.
"It's too late for that, Christian. Way too late."
I pick up my bag and walk toward the stairs. My legs feel heavy, but I keep walking.
"Jane!" Christian calls my name, but I don't stop.
At the bottom of the stairs, I look back one more time. Christian is standing at the top, his hair messy, his shirt wrinkled. Amanda is next to him, her hand on his arm.
This is the picture I'll remember. This is how it ends.
"Goodbye, Christian," I whisper.
I don't know if he hears me. I don't wait to find out.
I open the front door and step outside. The night air is cold on my face. It feels good. It feels like freedom.
- Writer
