Chapter 298 Ruthless
James' words were like a slap, the sound waves hitting Jennifer with physical force. Her body went rigid, her dry eyes instantly welling up, a prickling sensation stinging her nose. She experienced a tightening in her chest, accompanied by a distressing sensation in her throat akin to a lump forming. He had always been her protector, his voice a gentle caress, never raised in anger, let alone a shout. This was unbearable.
Yet, anger eluded her. It was as if her usual fire had been extinguished, leaving her unable to muster even a flicker of reproach. Biting her lip, she choked out, "I'm so sorry, James. I didn't mean to upset you. I'll be sure to ask what you want next time, okay?"
Her humility was startling, a complete departure from her usual self-assured demeanor.
Even James hadn't anticipated such a reaction. He had steeled himself for her fiery temper and the lashing tongue that would rain down upon him due to his perceived injustice. However, to his surprise, she absorbed his anger, her silence almost suffocating.
Seeing her submissive posture, her eyes red-rimmed and brimming with unshed tears, a wave of guilt washed over him.
But he had to see this through. He had to be cruel to be kind, to inflict this pain now so that her future pain would be lessened.
"Don't bother with apologies. They mean nothing. You're just tired of me, aren't you? Tired of looking at this scarred face," James spat out, his voice laced with bitterness.
Jennifer's head shot up, her eyes wide with alarm. "No! Never! You're my husband. How could you even think that?"
"Stop pretending," he scoffed. "Husband? You've never treated me like one. I haven't forgotten the past five years, the insults, the mockery. You never loved me. You saw a skilled doctor, someone useful, and decided to play the part. Well, I'm done playing!"
Jennifer's jaw slackened, her face a mask of shock and hurt. His words were like venom, seeping into the core of her being. What had happened to him?
A cold dread gripped her heart.
"James, what's gotten into you? Did something happen?" she asked, forcing a shaky smile and reaching for his hand. He flinched away, his frown deepening. "Don't touch me!"
The tears she'd been fighting back spilled over, cascading down her cheeks.
"What did I do wrong? Tell me, and I'll fix it. Please, don't be like this," she sobbed, her voice thick with despair.
His heart twisted in his chest, a lump forming in his own throat. He quickly turned away, burying his face in the pillow. "Just go. Leave me alone."
He couldn't bear it anymore. One more word, and he'd crumble, his carefully constructed facade shattering into a million pieces.
"No, I won't leave!" Jennifer's voice was sharp with desperation. "Just tell me what I did wrong, and I'll change. Please, let's not fight."
Silence met her plea.
He was torn, his resolve wavering with every choked sob that reached his ears.
The sole disruption to the oppressive silence was the clatter of containers, as Jennifer, mustering a strength she perceived to be lacking, meticulously collected the dispersed food from the floor.
"What do you feel like eating?" she asked, her voice strained but attempting cheerfulness. "I'll go to the cafeteria and get you something else."
Silence.
The silence stretched, agonizing in its emptiness, before she spoke again, her voice barely a whisper, "I'll just go then."
As the sound of her retreating footsteps faded, James opened his eyes, his fists clenching until his nails bit into his palms.
He lay there for a while, the urge to follow her a physical ache in his chest. Just as he was about to get up, he heard her returning footsteps and quickly lay back down.
The door creaked open, and Jennifer walked in, a tentative smile on her face. "I got a little bit of everything from the cafeteria. See if anything tempts you."
He turned to look, his heart sinking at the sight of her swollen eyes and the forced cheerfulness that couldn't mask the pain in their depths. She held two plastic bags overflowing with at least a dozen different food containers.
"I'm not hungry," he mumbled, turning away again.
Her smile faltered, her face crumpling before she quickly schooled her features into a neutral expression. She set the bags on the table. "It's all fresh, really good. I haven't eaten either. Let's eat together."
Upon his failure to respond, she perched herself on the edge of the bed, tenderly laying her hand upon his shoulder. "Honey, I know being stuck here is getting to you. I've been so wrapped up in everything else that I haven't been there for you. I'm sorry. I'll stay right here with you. I'll have Dennis bring my things, and I won't leave your side until you're discharged. Please don't be angry anymore."
Her words, spoken with such heartfelt sincerity, were like a punch to the gut. If she was hurting this much, how could he possibly feel any better?
But he had to stay strong. This was the only way.
"You're suffocating me. Can you just give me some space?" he snapped, his voice deliberately harsh.
Jennifer flinched as if he'd struck her.
"But you need to eat," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"I said I'm not hungry. Just go," he said, his voice devoid of any warmth.
She finally broke. Her mouth opened and closed, gasping for breath as if she were drowning. Finally, a choked "Okay" escaped her lips.
Tears streamed down her face as she stood up and walked out of the room, her shoulders slumped with defeat.
As soon as the door clicked shut, James let out a shaky breath. He got up and stared at the mountain of food on the table before grabbing the bags and dumping their contents into the trash can.
He was starving, but he couldn't bring himself to eat. Not now.
Ten minutes subsequent, Jennifer's return was marked by an abrupt halt. Her focus was unyieldingly directed towards the brimming trash can. The color drained from her face, leaving her ashen. She stood there for what felt like an eternity before turning and fleeing, her tears flowing freely, oblivious to the curious stares that followed her.
She ran until she reached the parking lot, her sanctuary. Sinking into the driver's seat, she finally allowed herself to break down, her sobs echoing in the confines of the car.
Back in the room, Arianwen materialized beside James, her gaze soft with concern. "Master, this is unnecessary suffering you're inflicting."
James sighed, a long, weary sound that spoke volumes. He didn't answer, but perhaps the answer was in the sigh itself.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
