Chapter Two
1529 Words
Emily
My head slowly started to hurt, and I quickly scurried up from the cold floors. I readied a hot bath and soaked myself in the scathing water for a while before washing up.
I was furious, and my rage felt like it was about to burst open. But no matter how angry I was, I wasn't going to get any answers to my questions until Jack returned.
My stomach grumbled with hunger and I made my way to the kitchen. I still had some soup in the fridge, so I put dinner together while I waited for my cheating husband.
As I stirred the bowl of soup in front of me, all that ran through my mind was Jack holding another woman so dearly in his arms like she was such a delicate flower. Like her skin would break into a billion pieces if he ever let go.
I tried to eat but I couldn't. So I abandoned the meal and sat in the living room, waiting for him to return. His car pulled over in the driverway after what felt like eternity but I didn't move from my position. I just sat there, hands on my chin and the lights in the living room turned off.
"Emily?" He called as he pushed the door open, glanced around the room then shut the door behind him.
"It's late..." I muttered as he tried to steal past me, and he immediately cleared his throat.
"Uhhm.... you – you're still awake?" His voice, low and firm. I gathered the last bit of my strength and stood from the couch.
"Jack..." I muttered as I looked him in the eyes to see if there was any atom of remorse whatsoever. But of course, he returned my gaze with an even colder stare.
"You're well aware that Sophie is a married woman–" the words slurred out, and my lips quivered. "– and a mother for heaven sake!"
Jack took off his coat and tossed it on the sofa. I watched him carefully as he slowly moved around the living room before leaning on the wall.
"Why are you talking like something happened Emily?" Jack responded and I batted my eye lids in shock. "Of course I know she's a married woman, she's my very good friend.."
"You had her in your arms like she meant the world to you! Jack, you held her with more passion than I have ever seen in your eyes for years now, and you stand there to tell me she's your very good friend?" Tears streamed down my face all over again and I bit my lower lip to try to send it back.
Jack smirked and for the first time in a long time, he planted a soft kiss on my forehead and pulled away, still smiling broadly.
"I have no idea what you saw–" Jack blurted. "– but I can assure you that you're mistaken..." he muttered shamelessly. My eyes twitched, and I balled my fists.
"Sophie is my childhood friend, and that's all. Nothing was going on between us when you came. Like I said, I have no idea what you think you may have seen... but I'm very certain that your eyes were playing tricks on you.." Jack's words echoed in my spiraling head, and lines formed on my forehead.
Before I could even blink, he was standing right in front of me again. His cold hands grabbed my shoulders and pulled me closer to him. "I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, Emily..." his lies spilled out almost inaudibly.
"You need to put all of this mistrust aside and –"
"– just stop.." I whispered, still locked in his grip. I lifted my eyes from my toes and bore them into his. There was no atom of sincerity in his dark eyes, and I could even smell the sweet fragrance of a woman from his clothes.
The shape of her lips formed a little mosaic on his collar, and there were visible subtle scratches on the left side of his neck. I shut my eyes as wild thoughts ran a marathon in my head, and hot tears flowed down again.
"You've never held me in your arms with even a third of the amount of affection you showered on someone else's wife...." my voice trembled and my words ran each other over. "Jack I don't remember the last time you held me like I was fragile.."
"Jack, you fed someone's wife with love, with passion! While your wife has been starving for the longest time!"
"And whose fault is that?" Jack exploded and I was taken aback. "Tell me who is responsible for your starvation Emily!" He commanded and I pursed my lips.
Jack sighed and rolled his eyes, pinching the space between his brows as he picked up his coat and brushed past me.
"I want a divorce!"
The room turned dense and the tension in the air grew even stronger. I stood still, my back facing him and I could hear him returning to his former position in front of me. My eyes didn't leave the floorboards this entire time.
"What did you just say?" He muttered sternly and my jaw clenched.
"Jack... I have had enough of this one sided relationship." I cried. "I can't possibly continue living a lie when I can simply walk away before you claim my life. So Jack, I want a divorce and I will be filing for it. " I commanded sternly this time and a mocking laughter echoed in the living room.
He paced from one end of the living room to the other, his fingers constantly coming through his hair. I didn't know what his reaction to this was going to be like, but I knew this was a big step I should have taken long ago.
"You want a divorce?" He finally asked in a low growl, and threw his coat away. Jack was obviously enraged and I had no idea what he was capable of doing, so I took a big step back and watched his madness unfold.
"Emily you are the most ungrateful w***e I have ever come across my entire life!" I gasped softly in shock but he didn't stop. "I have given you everything you could possibly ask for, and yet not once have you given me a child!"
My heart dropped like a bomb into my stomach and my legs became heavy all of a sudden. My knees could barely hold me up anymore and I staggered.
My fingernails dug into my palms and I fell into the chair, eyes glued to the empty space in front of me... "are you Lily's father?" The question fell through effortlessly and I hoped he wasn't.
"Oh don't ask me stupid questions Emily!" Jack's tone rose and his agitation was even more visible now. That wasn't my answer but I shut my eyes and tried to ward the thought off my head.
He made his way to climb the stairs again and I sprang up from the couch with a strength I didn't even know where it was coming from.
"I don't care what you call me or what you see me as, Jack. But I don't want you to do me any more favors. Grant me a divorce and set me free so you can be with the love of your life..." I ordered coldly and before I knew what was happening, he grabbed my throat. His grip was firm... but gentle at the same time.
Jack leaned over to the side of my head and his lips grazed my ear. I shut my eyes and tried to wriggle myself out of his hand. "Over my dead body.." he whispered into my ear and next thing I knew, I was on the floor with a heavy thud.
I winced in pain as I tried to get up but he kicked me back down and I let out a shriek.
"Jack please!" I cried but he didn't stop. His boot ran across my back and even my face. Heavy....unimaginable strikes all over my body and my face turned red from the pain.
It felt as though my soul was leaving my body as I failed to block his blows. "The next time you ask for a divorce, I'll make you go through hell!" He gnarled as he spat beside me.
My head ached... my body felt heavy and sore. My nose bled and I muffled my cries so I don't get him more upset. I felt caged... trapped even... I really needed this divorce, but I could barely afford anything let alone the money to pay a good lawyer.
I slowly looked up to the roof and rolled over to the other side of the floor, muttering words of prayer because the pain I felt was as though I was going into the after life.
Tears flowed down my sore cheeks as I curled up on the floor and did nothing but cry.
"What have I gotten myself into?" I cried and buried my soaked face into my trembling palms.
- Writer
