Chapter 4 CHA 4

I froze for a second, then fought wildly. The mere thought of Jack kissing another woman last night was enough to make me ill with anger and revulsion. "Let go!"

My fight was useless against Jack, who held me firmly around the waist.

While I fought, my towel unraveled, and I was exposed. His eyes became dark, and he felt a flash of lust.

Our bodies were pressed hard together, and at once I could see the change in Jack. He was infuriated, so I bit him hard, tasting blood in our mouths.

Instead of letting me go, Jack's other hand crept underneath my towel. I wasn't covered underneath, having just taken a shower. I hardened and struggled even more frantically. "Jack, let me go!"

Jack ignored me, his hands stroking my sensitive places. "Sofia, you need me too, don't you?"

I tried harder and was desperate now. With Jack in position, I closed my eyes despairingly. "Jack, don't make me hate you."

Jack halted in his tracks. Observing me with despair and anguish, as if he were a fragile porcelain doll about to shatter, made him halt. He so desperately wanted me, but there was a voice in his head warning him that if he took me then, it would be the end of us.

He gazed at me, his arm around my waist tightening. He let me go after a couple of tense moments and stood up from the bed, leaving in haste.

The door slammed hard with a loud bang, startling me. I wrapped the blanket tightly around me.

Jack did not come home for the next few days.

I phoned him several times to discuss the divorce, but he didn't pick up.

The weekend was here.

I was in the living room, emailing out job applications when I heard the front door open. Jack came in, his face gaunt.

We stood and stared at each other in silence before I finally broke it, closing down my laptop and standing up slowly. "Now that you're home, let's talk about the divorce."

Jack scowled. "I told you, I won't divorce you. I'm here to remind you that we have to go to the family dinner tonight."

The Monroes hosted a monthly dinner, and since we were married, Jack and I had attended together. The family wasn't kind to me, often treating me poorly. I put up with it because I believed Jack loved me.

After I caught him with someone else, however, I could no longer deny it to myself.

"I don't want to go. Go yourself."

Jack's expression grew impatient. "Sofia, how long are you going to continue doing that?"

He had been ignoring my calls and texts, expecting me to cool down, but I wasn't different.

"I'm not doing anything. I just want a divorce."

When Jack learned the word "divorce," his patience wore thin. He glared at me like I was unreasonable.

"Divorce? You've never had a job since we got married. How would you provide for yourself? Which company would hire you? And what about your dad's excessive medical bills? Can you afford those?" Sofia, you are no longer in high school. You are 28. Be an adult.

"I'm the CEO of Monroe Group. I'm tempted all the time. Sometimes it's hard to resist, but those women will never take your place as my wife. What else do you want?"

Jack couldn't understand why I didn't know that he still loved me, even though he couldn't promise to be with me for the rest of my life.

Watching Jack's superior air, I couldn't reconcile this man with the shy boy who had once blushed when professing love and promising to never hurt me. Maybe this was his true nature-selfish, proud, and superior.

"If maturity is accepting your adultery, then I'm sorry, I cannot do that. Find someone else. Here are the divorce papers I've had drawn up. Sign them when you can." Jack glared at the papers, sneering as he read the section on asset division. "Quite the appetite you have, asking for half my assets. Do you really think that's practical?" "I deserve it. Why not?"

Jack laughed, his tone mocking. "Look at this house. Did you buy it here? I've been paying your father's doctor bills for years. If we tally things up, you owe me. Should I have my lawyer do the math?"

Seeing his sour face, I couldn't help but think I ever loved this man. He had so hid his real self that, prior to catching him cheating, I thought he was an awesome guy.

"Don't forget, were it not for me issuing you that patent, you would not be the CEO of the Monroe Group. And you were the one who instructed me to stay home once we were wed. If I had continued to work on my research, I would have earned far more than what you've given me."

Jack, unflinching, replied, "Who would believe you about the patent now?

"I don't wish to quarrel about money, but if you're set on getting a divorce, we'll have to negotiate. Sofia, if you can just forget the divorce, my money is your money to spend."

"Jack, you're horrible!"

Because he wouldn't divorce, I would have to sue. I began to depart, but he restrained me. "Change clothes. We're attending the family dinner."

"I said I'm not going. Tell them I'm sick."

Jack grabbed my wrist. "Sofia, I'm getting tired of waiting. Don't make me cancel your father's medical expenses."

"You wouldn't do that!"

Jack took out his phone and dialed his secretary. "Cancel my father-in-law's medical payment for next month-"

Furious, I grabbed his phone and ended the call. "You're walking a line, Jack."

"Crossing the line?" Jack's eyes were full of contempt as he dragged me in. "You owe everything you have to me. Do you think it's you who are crossing the line? Get changed, or I have a few ways of making you do as you're told."