Chapter 266 Tearing
Jennifer's words, sharp and laced with bitterness, cut deeper than any blade.
"You really disappoint me, James," she said, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. "For five years, I endured humiliation after humiliation for you. Everyone told me to leave you, to divorce you, that you were useless. But I put up with it. I always defended you."
Perhaps it was the sheer magnitude of her disappointment, the way his actions had shattered her trust, that momentarily eclipsed the raw agony in her heart. She drew a shaky breath, composing herself.
"This past year, you changed," she continued, her voice taking on a conversational tone, devoid of the earlier hysteria. "You became… capable. Like a different person. Your medical skills improved, you grew stronger, and you even earned Michael's respect. You did things that made me proud. I was happy, James, truly happy. I thought… I thought maybe my waiting wasn't in vain."
She paused, her gaze fixed on some distant point beyond him. "I knew you weren't perfect. I knew you had secrets, things you kept hidden from me. But I believed… I believed you would tell me eventually.
"You're not useless, James. Not at all. You're an exceptional man. So exceptional, it's almost hard to believe. And exceptional men… well, they attract attention. Kaitlyn warned me about that. She told me to be careful, to keep an eye on you, that other women would try to seduce you. I scolded her for it. I defended you. Because I believed in you. I believed that the James I knew… he wouldn't do that. Even with your secrets, even with your ulterior motives for marrying me, I still chose to believe in you. Like a foolish girl who still believed in fairy tales, I thought… I thought I would marry my prince, and he would love me forever."
A tear traced a lonely path down her cheek, and she brushed it away with an impatient swipe.
James watched her, his expression unreadable, his lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. His face, at first glance, seemed impassive, but a closer look revealed the subtle tightening of his jaw, the flicker of pain in his eyes, betraying the turmoil raging within him.
"I was wrong," Jennifer continued, her voice flat, devoid of emotion. "I misjudged you. You're not my prince, James. You're just… a liar. I should have listened to Dennis. To Kaitlyn. I should have been more cautious, tolerated you less, and most importantly… trusted you less."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "You cheated, just like Kaitlyn said you would. I failed." She met his gaze, her eyes blazing with accusation. "But of all the women in the world, why her? Why my best friend? Don't you know what she means to me? She's the only true friend I have left! Was this your revenge, James? For all those years of supposed misery I put you through?"
Her voice, thick with unshed tears, cracked with the force of her emotions. But this time, the tears didn't fall. The pain and sadness in her eyes had been replaced by a chilling blend of disappointment and rage.
James' response was unexpected. He laughed. But it was a hollow, empty sound, devoid of any humor. It was the sound of a man breaking.
"Jennifer," he said, his voice soft, pleading. "I swear to you, I never betrayed you. Please, let's go home and talk about this."
For the first time, he realized how much effort it took to form words, to force them past the lump of despair lodged in his throat. Every word Jennifer uttered was a blow to his soul, leaving him feeling drained, utterly powerless.
He knew she'd endured humiliation because of him. He wasn't oblivious to the whispers and judgments they faced as a couple. He saw the way people looked at them, heard the things said behind their backs. And he knew she defended him, time and time again. That was why, even when their arranged marriage had run its course, he chose to stay.
He thought they had something real, something built on understanding and trust.
How foolish he'd been. His unwavering loyalty to Jennifer, his repeated rejections of Harmony's advances, his dismissal of Emberlyn's affections… he now saw it all as a cruel joke.
But he couldn't give up. Not now. He had to make her see, had to make her understand. She just needed to listen, and then she would believe him.
He reached for her, his eyes pleading for a shred of the trust they once shared.
But Jennifer wasn't interested in explanations. She slapped him hard, the impact of her hand resounding through the air.
"Don't touch me," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous.
The force of the blow snapped his head to the side, but it was the look in her eyes that truly stung. The shame and disgust radiating from her cut him to the core.
"Jennifer, I swear to you," he began again, his voice hoarse, desperate, "I would never—"
Another slap, harder this time, silenced him mid-sentence.
"I said don't touch me!"
This time, the blow landed squarely on his other cheek, the sting a stark reminder of her fury. The smile he'd been forcing vanished, his face mirroring the shattered remnants of his heart.
He lowered his head, unable to bear the weight of her gaze any longer. A wave of self-deprecating humor washed over him. He'd always thought he was different, special, but now he saw the truth: he was just a fool.
What good was his lineage and talents if it couldn't get him the one thing he truly desired? He'd never had a choice in his life. Five years ago, he was shipped off to Lindwood City, forced into a marriage he didn't want, his own desires irrelevant to his family's ambitions.
He'd finally carved out a life for himself, found a love he thought was real, only to have it ripped away in the cruelest way possible.
He looked at Jennifer, a humorless smile twisting his lips. "Jennifer," he said, his voice flat, devoid of emotion, "things aren't always what they seem. You hurt me. You should apologize."
Before he could utter another word, another slap landed, the sound sharp and jarring in the sudden silence of the street.
He looked at her, his face impassive, as another blow followed.
And another.
And another.
In the span of two minutes, she slapped him over a dozen times, each blow a testament to her rage, until his face was red and swollen.
And with each strike, his heart shattered a little more, until all that remained was a hollow ache.
He didn't cry out. He didn't even flinch. He simply stood there, an empty vessel, devoid of emotion, his spirit broken.
For a fleeting moment, Jennifer saw the utter devastation in his eyes, and a pang of guilt shot through her. But it was quickly replaced by a surge of anger. He was acting! This was all an elaborate act to garner her sympathy!
Her heart hardened. He deserved this. He deserved it all.
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