Chapter 9 Going Home To Sleep

My surprise was palpable when I realized Sonia had invited a group of male prostitutes over.

A bit tipsy from the drinks, I approached the man with a playful swagger and said, "It all hinges on whether I can deal with the solitude."

After a brief pause, I turned around and walked away. I wasn't drawn to this sort of company, least of all those who apparently harbor ulterior motives.

Sonia was up to something just out of view. But after noticing that I was coming back, she scurried back to her previous spot.

Holding my head as a wave of dizziness hit, I muttered, "I've overindulged. It's time to head home for some rest." I recalled that this level inebriation would have earned me a stern reprimand from my mother in the past.

"I ought to get going as well. Tomorrow's workload is waiting." Tricia also got up, her voice carrying a hint of resignation. Still, her tone held a resolve to tackle the day's challenges.

Sonia's expression drooped into a pout. "The night is still young. But if you two leave now, what fun will remain for me? Alright then, go."

She took care of the bill and waved off the good-looking men with a casual air, and then we all stepped out into the night.

We each called for a driver. With a knowing smile playing on her lips, Sonia asked, "Rylie, do you think Mathias would feel a twinge of jealousy seeing you with such dashing company?"

"Don't bring him into this. It's bad luck just to mention his name," I responded with a tinge of irritation as I waved goodbye to Sonia and got into the car.

"Hee-hee, farewell then!" Sonia chuckled, a sound full of mischief and delight. She hopped into her luxurious, jewel-encrusted BMW and drove off.

I asked Lanny to set off, and as the steady rhythm of the car lulled me, I closed my eyes to rest in the back seat.

A sudden stop snapped me out of my rest. "Lanny, what's going on?" I asked, blinking awake.

"That's Mr. Murray's car ahead of us, Ma'am," Lanny said, nodding towards a sleek Bugatti blocking our path.

Why was Mathias here, blocking the road to my house? As I massaged my temples, I said, "Alright, Lanny. It's late; you can head home."

"Thank you, ma'am." With a nod, Lanny executed a swift U-turn and drove away.

A mere five-minute walk separated me from my home. I bypassed the Bugatti with intent to continue on foot.

Mathias emerged from his vehicle, standing squarely in my path, his eyes ablaze with anger.

"Explain this to me. What is it?" He moved his phone forward, displaying an Instagram post.

The screen showed an image of me at the bar's restroom entrance. I was playfully tiptoeing, my face was inches from another man's, and our poses showed that we were flirting.

After taking another look, I realized that Sonia was the one who made the Instagram post.

Her caption read boldly, "The sea is full of fish, and Rylie just realized it."

I couldn't help a small chuckle. "Quite poetic, isn't it?"

"Rylie Fletcher!" Mathias' shout cut through the silence, his face a mask of icy fury.

"Didn't you tell me we were free to live as we pleased? Why are you questioning me about my lifestyle now?" I asked, staring squarely at him.

He chuckled at my response, clearly displeased by it. "Sure, live your life. But who gave you the right to broadcast it on the Internet?"

It slipped my mind that Sonia and I had friends in common, and Mathias was included. Of course, he would see the post, and those that he didn't get along with might use it to taunt him.

Something of this nature was a huge blow to a man's ego; especially someone of Matthias' social standing.

Sonia's earlier smirk made sense now. She was aiming to provoke Mathias.

"Fine, I'll remind Sonia and the rest to keep it off social media next time." My head was spinning at this point. This confrontation with Mathias was the last thing I needed. I was ready to collapse into bed and forget the night's events.

I started walking away, but Mathias grabbed my wrist.

The pain was so intense that it felt like my bones were about to break. "Ouch!" I cried.

In a split-second decision, I lowered my head and sank my teeth into the muscle of his forearm.

The bite must have stunned him. Mathias didn't jerk away and remained still. Biting his firm, muscular forearm felt oddly satisfying.

"Rylie, what the fuck is the matter with you? Have you gone mad?" Mathias let go suddenly, but the next second, he caught me again by the back of my collar and yanked me off of him. The bite mark on his arm stood as an unwelcome testament to my outburst.

I stared at Mathias with sorrow-laden eyes. I had loved him so long without leaving any mark, while Olivia had left countless ones on his neck, marks I had seen time and again.

They must have been deeply in love.

Leaving a bite mark now felt like a balm to my old regrets.

"Mathias, you can't question me. Rumors of your escapades with numerous women have reached me too. My pride has been deeply hurt as well. Do you think I'm not aware of the mockery behind my back?" After wiping my lip, the taste of metal confirmed I had drawn blood with my bite.

Mathias replied without warmth, "It was your choice. Nobody forced you to marry me!"

Honestly, if anyone had objected back then, I would have convinced them otherwise, even if I had to threaten them.

I held on to hope that as time passed, Mathias would start to develop feelings for me, that he would be moved by my steadfastness and come to love me.

"Yes, I made that choice, but people evolve. I have changed; I no longer want to be chained to my past hopes. Is it wrong to want freedom from that?" I shot back.

"Yes, it is!" Mathias responded. "You made a choice, one that you should not have made. Now, you must live with what comes of it."

"Do you ever consider that maybe, in the not-too-distant future, you'll be the one seeking a divorce? You'd probably even wish that I never existed in the first place!" I threw this at him, more of an announcement than a question, knowing that a year was both a blink and an eternity in matters of the heart.

Matthias stared at me with an indifferent gaze. "Rylie, you must be dreaming," he said.

His bitterness knew no bounds. He would injure himself if it meant getting back at me.

With a sigh, I said, "Why is it so hard to believe? Just wait; you will surely release me one day. Tonight, the alcohol was too much; I want to go home and sleep it off. It's best you leave now."

"Head to Cloudwater Estates," Mathias commanded, his grip firm and unyielding like an eagle seizing its prey, as he ushered me into his car. Was he intent on keeping me away from my family home?

I resisted with determination, and said, "No, I won't go back to Cloudwater. Open this door right now!"

Despite my objections, Mathias simply threw a glance my way and continued to drive swiftly in the direction of Cloudwater, away from my parents' home.

I fixed Mathias with a look of urgent pleading. "Turn around, please. I forgot to bring something with me!"

"And what might that be?" he inquired, his voice void of concern.

"It's medical nutrition supplements," I explained, frustration edging my voice. Was it really such an ordeal to obtain some supplements?

"Do you suffer from some chronic illness?"' he asked in dry tone. It was clear why he had his fair share of adversaries, given his less than stellar social graces.

I said with a smile, "Not quite. I'm simply on the slender side and looking to nourish my body, perhaps to fill out a little and embrace a more voluptuous figure."

Seemingly having remembered something, the grim look on Mathias' face turned even darker.