Lord Of The Round Table

Chapter 2

His face, it lose color fast. Sounds grow louder. Heart beat fast, head spin.

Stair feel unsteady under feet.

“What… what happen?” he whisper, almost shake.

Another cry tear silence. From bedroom. Their bedroom.

He move before mind catch. Step two at time. Roses tremble in hand. Red petals shake, alive.

He reach door. Stop. Hand on knob. Wood vibrate little. Headboard hit wall. Rhythm uneven. Woman voice rise again — breathless, loud, uncontrolled.

Amanda.

Pulse slam ears.

“No,” he whisper.

Hand press knob, try turn, but… grunt. Deep. Male. Raw. Low.

Something inside Alexander break.

He shove door open.

“Amanda?” Word barely leave lips.

Room swim before eyes.

King-size bed. Amanda. Bare back arched. Hair spill pillow. Fingers clutch man shoulders. Man move urgent, fast.

Bouquet slip from hand. Fall floor. Petals scatter. Red, soft, smell mix — sweat, perfume, heat.

He stand. Cannot breathe. Cannot move.

Amanda eyes fly open.

“Alexander?” Voice crack. Hands push weak at man, but no scream.

Man still. Face irritation, then turn head.

Eyes meet. Recognition.

Johnson. Amanda old boyfriend.

Alexander remember. Seen once before. Lady Ivy birthday. Velvet box. Diamonds inside. Room gasp. Everyone look. Ivy smile. Not at Alexander, no. Only Johnson.

Now… same man. Naked. His bedroom.

Violence rise inside Alexander chest. Heart burn. Mind burn.

Before think, he lunge. Grab Johnson by collar. Fingers slip to throat.

“You animal!” Voice break loud, roar out. “What the hell are you doing with my wife?”

Fist fly.

Punch land clean. Crack split air. Johnson's body fell off the bed. Heavy thud on floor. Groan escape. Roll side.

Alexander stand, chest heaving. Blood pump fast. Heart scream.

Room smell strong. Petals, sweat, perfume, fear.

Eyes lock. Anger, shock, hurt — all burn together.

Amanda scream.

“Alexander, stop! You crazy?” she shout, jump off bed. She no go to him. She run to Johnson instead.

“Are you okay? Oh my God—” She crouch down, touch his face, voice shake. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m so sorry.”

Sweetheart.

Alexander head spin. Chest rise, fall fast. Heart burn.

“Amanda…” Voice hoarse, barely come out. “You serious now?”

She no look him.

“Today… today our anniversary,” he say, each word shake. “I walk out prison this morning thinking you. I take blame for you. One month I sit in cell because you beg me. And… I come home to this?”

His eyes move bed. Sheets twist. Roses on floor. Red, soft, scattered.

“I thought… you say you done with him,” he whisper, voice low, anger change to hurt. “Is this why I go jail? Is this how you repay me?”

“Shut up, Alexander!” Amanda snap, turn to him finally. Eyes no shame. Only irritation.

“You walk in… see something not for you. Fine. But… look what you do to him!”

Johnson push up slow. Use chair for support. Jaw hurt. Fingers stiff. Pull trousers fast. Fasten.

Eyes lock Alexander. Cold. Threaten.

“How dare you touch me dirty hands,” Johnson say low, dangerous. “Do you know who you hit?”

Alexander… say nothing.

Johnson step forward, pain not stop him. Shoulders straight.

“You better… get on knees and say sorry,” he say. “Now. Or… I promise… you no like what happen next.”

“I don’t know who you think you are,” Alexander shout, voice shake but loud. “And I don’t care! All I know… you sleep with another man’s wife like dog… dog no know place!”

Johnson eyes darken.

“Oh, really?” he say.

Before he step again, Amanda move.

She turn slow. Look straight Alexander eyes. No panic. No guilt. Face firm. Decide.

“Alexander,” she say calm, even voice, “I want divorce.”

The words hit him slow.

“What… what you talking?” he ask, almost laugh, like joke.

“My grandmother… she right,” Amanda continue. “You no deserve someone like me.”

She point to Johnson, no even look at him.

“Look at him. He son, heir… one richest family in country. Status. Power. Future match mine.” Her lips curve little. “Sorry… not really sorry. He… he the one I want.”

Johnson smile. Slip arm around her waist. Pull her close, gentle.

“And… correction,” Amanda add, voice cold now, sharp, “this is my house. My name on papers. You pack your things. Leave.”

Alexander stare. Mouth open, heart stop little.

He search her face. Where… where is woman who cry in his arms? Woman who beg him sacrifice for her?

No. Gone.

“And one more thing,” Amanda say.

Hand on stomach.

“I’m pregnant.”

Alexander… breathing stop. Mind freeze.

“But… it not yours.”

Room tilt.

“What?” Word tear out of him.

Heart pound fast, hard. Feel like break ribs.

Johnson chuckle. Pride flash on face.

“Come on, Alexander,” he say lazy. “You really think woman like Amanda want carry child of ex-convict? A broke nobody?”

Alexander fist clench. Hard. But he no move.

“You should listen your wife,” Johnson continue. “Oops. Not your wife anymore. Sign divorce papers. Disappear.”

He look Amanda up, down. Smile little.

“I still no understand how someone like you marry this joke,” he say. “Look him. Nothing. I give you everything. Money. Power. And… I make you scream. Can he?”

Amanda… no hesitate.

“I marry him only because grandfather,” she say flat, calm. “Old man wish. Now he gone. I carry Johnson’s child. No need pretend. I want you out, Alexander.”

Each word… like blade. Cut deep.

“I… I can’t believe this,” Alexander whisper. “One month. Only one month. And… already pregnant for another man?”

Voice crack. Spine shake.

“You say… you love me,” he whisper more.

Amanda laugh. Not scared. Not nervous. Just… amuse.

Sound hollow him out.

Alexander swallow hard. Force back straight. Eyes on two of them. She lean Johnson. He hold her like… already win.

Disgust rise throat.

“Leave my house, Alexander,” Amanda say sharp. “Leave us alone.”

Johnson smile widen.

“As for me,” he say smooth, slow, “I have unfinished business tonight. You already see what you interrupt.”

“If you no want stand there, watch,” Johnson say lazy, “then leave. Save tears.”

Alexander jaw tighten.

“You make big mistake, Amanda.”

She no flinch. Face calm.

“The only mistake I make,” she say, voice sharp like glass, “marry you. Grandfather force that marriage. Now he dead. I free.”

Free. Word heavy. Like chain drop from neck.

Johnson lips curve. Hand slide to back Amanda waist. Turn her slow.

Then… kiss.

Not soft. Not shy. Slow. Possessive. Intentional.

Right in front of her husband.

Alexander felt something twist inside chest. Pain, yes. Humiliation. Raw. Hot. Like blade press bone, deeper, deeper.

The sound of kiss fills the room. Silence gone.

Breathing uneven.

“Enough.”

He… he don’t remember moving.

Body… it move by itself. Rage take over brain. Fist pull back. Eyes lock Johnson face.

But Johnson watch him. Always watch.

Alexander step close… too close. Johnson step side. Knee hit stomach hard.

Air explode out Alexander lungs. He gasp, choke, feel hollow.

Before recover… fist hit cheek. Sharp. Fast. Vision burst white sparks. World spin.

Body stagger back. Heels catch edge carpet. Trip.

Lose balance. Slam into side table.

Lamp topple. Crash. Shatter on floor. Glass everywhere.

Alexander stand, chest burn, head spin. Rage fight pain.