She Built Him. She Broke Him: His Blood, My Secret

"How would you feel, Jason? Tell me!" My voice cracked as I followed him through our marble foyer. "How would you feel if you saw me leaning into another man like that? Letting him touch me while I laughed at every word he said?" Jason didn't even slow down. He didn't look back. "Don't be ridiculous, Anna. You'd never do that." "Oh, you think so?" "Of course you wouldn't," he snapped, finally spinning around. The ice in his eyes was colder than that bourbon he'd been nursing all night. "You're a wife. You have a reputation to uphold. I need to network at social events, Anna. Unlike you, I actually have a company to run." "And I don't?" I fired back, my blood boiling. "I built that company with you, Jason! Did you even consider our marriage before you..." "It was just a conversation, Anna! Get over yourself!" "I am not a fool!" I screamed, the sound echoing off the high ceilings. "I saw the way you looked at her. You held her so close you forgot I existed. You forgot I was even in the room!" "She's an old friend. We were catching up." "Like you did last week? And the week before?" I stepped into his space, forcing him to look at me. "The late-night 'meetings'? The calls you take in the hallway? I'm your wife, Jason, not your employee. Stop lying to me." "I don't need this drama!" he yelled, his face inches from mine. "What did I ever do to deserve this torment of a marriage?" Torment. The word hit me harder than any physical blow. The air left my lungs. "That's what I am to you now? A torment?" "Yes! You are! Why on earth would my 'lovely' wife start a fight at midnight after I just hosted a successful dinner?" "Because your wife was embarrassed!" I sobbed. "Did you even notice how people looked at me while you paraded Vera around like she was the one who built your hotels?" "You've decided to destroy the night. Fine." Jason snatched his G-Wagon keys off the console. "Where are you going?" My voice was small now, trembling. "You're going to her, aren't you?" Jason paused at the door, his hand on the handle. He looked back at me with a sneer that made him look like a stranger. "You know what? Yes. I am going to be with Vera. What are you going to do about it?" I searched for words, but my throat was tight. "Exactly. Nothing," he spat. "You can't do a single thing." The slam of the door vibrated through my bones. *** The next morning, I woke up and realized Jason had not come back. My heart sank. I wondered if I had been too pushy. I decided to go shopping to get my mind off the pain. I drove to Chanel, my hands still shaking on the wheel. I needed to feel like a person again, not a "torment," not a ghost. I was heading for the jewelry when a voice turned my blood to ice. "Anna?" I turned and froze. Vera was standing by the handbag display with a gentle smile on her face. "Hi," she said, gliding toward me. "I thought that was you." I said nothing. I couldn't. "How are you?" she asked, her voice sweet as poison. "Look at you." I forced a bitter smile. "Standing here, all sunshine and smiles. Like you weren't f*****g my husband last night." "I'm sorry, what?" The staff nearby froze. A few socialites whispered behind their hands. Vera didn't flinch. "Oh, don't play saint now. Do I need to jog your memory?" "Anna, I don't know where this is coming from. I have no idea what you are talking about." "Oh, please, Vera." I snapped. "Jason told me everything. I know you've been seeing him, Vera! I am not a fool!" I shouted across the store. "Jason wasn't with me last night, Anna. The last time I saw him was at the party, and he left with you." "I know you both are having an affair, Vera! Stop playing saint!" "We see each other for business, Anna. He is a high school friend. That is all there is to it." She didn't let me speak. "I'm not doing this with you. Have a lovely day." She glided out, leaving me standing in the middle of the store feeling like a hysterical, jealous wife. The satisfaction of confronting her was gone, replaced by a sickening confusion If she wasn't with him... where was he? *** I pulled into the driveway and saw Jason's G-Wagon. My chest loosened just a fraction. He was home. I walked inside and found him in the living room, a glass of whiskey in his hand, watching the news as if nothing had happened. "You're back," I said, my voice surprisingly calm. Jason turned. "Yeah. Where were you?" "Chanel." "I don't see any bags. Didn't feel like spending my money today?" Our money, I wanted to scream. The money I spent three years of sleepless nights helping you earn. Instead, I walked over to him, desperate for any sign of the man I'd married. "I missed you last night," I whispered. Jason sighed, setting his glass down. He turned to me and cupped my face in his hands, his thumb grazing my cheek, his touch warm and familiar. For a second, the ice melted. "I missed you, too." He said softly, pressing a kiss to my forehead. It felt like a healing balm. "I saw Vera today," I didn't want to ruin the moment but I needed a reaction. "She said she wasn't with you last night. Is that true?" Jason's eyes didn't flicker. "Of course it's true." "But you said..." He pressed another kiss to the top of my nose. I felt the dopamine run down my spine and hated ever doubting him. "I was drinking, Anna. I was angry. I went to a bar, had too many, and ended up sleeping in my car because I didn't want to come home and fight. I only said those things to hurt you because I was hurting." Guilt washed over me, thick and heavy. "I'm so sorry, Jason. I shouldn't have pushed..." A sharp, rhythmic knock at the door cut me off. "Delivery for Mr. Jason McCoy!" Jason opened the door to find a courier holding a sleek, blood-red box tied with a silk ribbon. He took it, but as he read the card, the color drained from his face. "Who is it from?" I stepped closer, the old dread returning tenfold. He didn't answer. I didn't wait for him to hand it over. I snatched the card. Thanks for last night. Here is everything you said you liked. – Vera