Chapter12 Theadidntwasteanymoretimeonhim.Shepointedtothedoor.Fine.Letsbreakupandcallofftheengagement.Get OUL Jake lookedexasperatedbutkepthistonesoft.Thea,letsnotrushthings.Imadeareservationatyouroldfavoriterestaurantfortonight.Letstalk,okay? Theagavehimalong,seriouslookandsaid,Alright,Illstopmakingafuss.Sotellme,whatdoyouwanttotalkabout?Doyouwanttoexplainwhats betweenyouandMadelyn? ButJakeonlylatchedontoherfirstsentence.Heignoredtherestandanswered,Welltalkabouthowyoushouldbalance .yourworkandpe rsonallife.Onceweremarried,itwouldntbeappropriateforyoutokeepworking.Itsbestifyouquitand focusonbeingMrs.Hendrix. Hesmiledatherwithaconfidentaffection,asifhewere makingareasonable,evenlovingsuggestion. Theawasspeechlessforamoment.ShehadntrealizedJake couldbethiscluelessandshameless. Justthen,herphonebuzzedsoftly.Anotificationfrom hercompanysgroupchat poppedup. TheprojectNicolashad assignedherwasprogressingwell,andthepaperworkforherpromotionwasabouttobefinalized. TheadidntmisstheflickeroffrustrationandanxietyinJakeseyesashenoticedthemessage.Inthatinstant,clickedintoplace. everything Foramoment,shehadbeenfoolishenoughtothinkJakestillcared abouttheirsevenyearrelationshipandgenuinelywantedtomakethingsright. So,letmegetthisstraight.Theasaid,hervoicelacedwithsarcasm.Iquitmyjobandmarryyou,andthedeputymanagerpositiongoesto Madelyn.Youtwocanrideoffintothesunsetonthebackofallmyhard workatthe company,right? Shesneered,hersarcasmgrowingsharper,Jake,areyoulivinginsomekindoffantasy? Fora briefsecond,Jakeshandsomefacetwistedinanger.Hisvoiceturnedcold.Ijustdontunderstandyou,Thea.YouvegottheRowlandandHendrixfamiliesbackingyou. ButMadelynisjustapoorgirlwithhealthissues.Whydoyouhavetobesoruthless?Whydoyouwanttotakeeverything fromher? Helookedatherwithamixtureofdisbeliefandfrustration.Thea,yourcrueltyismakingyousomeoneIbarelyrecognize.AwaveofangersurgedthroughThea,makingherchesttighten.Shestoodupabruptlyandstormedoutoftheoffice. Outside,shecalledouttotheemployees,hervoiceloudand clear,Igotpromotedtoday,soImusingmybonusfromthelastprojecttotreateveryonetodinner!Letscelebratetogether Wow!MissRowland,youreso generous!theemployeesexclaimed. Theaglancedback atJake,hisfacegloomy.Hisfistswereclenchedsotightlythathisknucklescracked. Theasmiledbrightly,and hereyessparkledwithmischief.Timruthless,huh?ThenIllgladlyliveuptothat .Honestly,ImightpassthispromotiontoanyoneelsebutMadelyn. Youtwoshoulddefinitelycometonight. Afterall,withoutyourmotivation ,Iwouldnthavegotten promotedsofast. Jake grabbedherhandroughly,hiscoldeyesfilledwithabarelyconcealedthreat.Thea,areyoureallytryingtopushmetotheedge? 20:14Thu,Oct24 Chapter12 ני Iknowyouvebeenholdingontothis jobjusttogetmyattention.Youvethrownyourtantrum andmadeyour point.Doyoureallywantmetohateyoucompletely? Theamethisgaze,hervoiceflatandemotionless.Idontloveyouanymore.Anditsnotjustthedeputy managerpositionIwant;Iwantyours,too. Shepulledherhandfreeandwalkedawaywithoutlookingback. Laterattherestaurant,whenJakeshowed upatthedoorwithMadelyn,theentireroom Iwentsilent.Everyeyewasonthem. Madelynlookeddifferentfromherusualplain, innocentself.Shewasdressedinahighenddesigneroutfitwithluxuriousaccessories,lookingfarmorepolishedandconfident,asifsheweremeanttobethecenter ofattention. Theiroutfitswereperfectlycolorcoordinatedaclearcouplesset. Theatriedtoignoreit,butthe sight still stung. Shehadonceadmired thisexactdesignerscollection,hopingtobuymatchingoutfitswithJake.Butwhenshesuggestedit,hesaid.Thea,arentyoualittleoldforthatcouplesoutfitstuffschildish.Idontlikethosekindsof clothes,sodontbringitupagain. Yetherehewasnow,handinhandwithMadelyn.Whensomeoneaskedabouttheiroutfits.Jakesmiledwarmly,hiseyesfilledwithaffection.Madelynsaidshelikedit,soI boughtitforher. Madelynscheeksturnedadelicatepinkasshesmiledshylyandloweredherhead.Ijustthoughttheoutfitwasbeautiful.Ididntevenrealizeitwasacouplesset SheblinkedinnocentlyatTheaandsaidsweetly,Thea,yourenotupset,areyou?Ifitbothers you,Icangive theoutfitto you. Theaswirledthewineinherglass andsmiledpolitely.Sorry,Ihaveathingaboutgerms. Throughoutdinner,JakewasextraattentivetoMadelyn,asifputtingonashowforThea. ButTheagavethemnoreaction. Duringaquicktriptotherestroom,sheunexpectedlycrossedpathswithMadelyn. Despitethehighendjewelryandexpensivedress,Madelyndidntquite pulloffthelook.Thelonger onestared,themoreoutofplacesheseemed. Itwas clearMadelynfeltitaswell.WhensheglancedatThea,whostoodcalmandcomposed,hereyesflickeredwithresentment.SheblockedTheaspath.Feelingprettysmug,arentyou ? Theablinked,surprisedatMadelynssuddenhostility.Shecouldntfigure outwhyMadelynwassoeagertopickafight. Withafaintsmileandatwinkleinhereye,Theareplied,OfcourseIam.Ijustgotpromotedtodeputymanager,gotaraise,andgottoannoythetwoofyou.WhywouldntIbe? Madelynsfacetwisted,hersmileturningsinister.Youwontbesnugforlong.Imgoingtotakeeverythingyouhave from you. Goaheadandtry,Thearepliedcoolly,unfazed .But asshebrushedpastMadelyn, anuneasyfeelingcreptintoherchest. Justbeforeshereachedthedoortotheprivateroom,alargehandsuddenlygrabbedherfromtheshadows,pullinghersharplytotheside. Theforcefulgrippushedheragainst thewall,andthesmellofalcoholfilledhernostrils.Afamiliarvoice sounded,slurredwithagitation.Thea,canyoustopthisnonsense?Imsickofit 2/3 Chapter12 Clearlydrunk,Jakestaredatherwithunfocusedeyes,hisexpression Theafrowned,tryingtoshakeoffhishand,butheheldontightly. tense Sheshouted.Jake ,whats wrongwithyou?Fromthemomentyouleftmeinthatjewelrystorewhenweweresupposedtobepickingoutrings,therewasnochanceforusanymore. YouchoseMadelyn.Overandover,youvehurtmejustto make herhappy.Isnt itridiculoustosaythistomenow? ButJakeraisedhisvoice,almostlikeaspoiledchild.Werehere becauseyoupushedustothispoint !Atfirst,Ionlyfeltsorryforher.Ifyouhadntbeensoharshtoher,Iwouldnthave gottensoangryandtriedtopunishyou. Ijustwantedyoutobesofter,toleanonmelikeMadelyndoes.Isthatreallysowrong?Lookatyourselfnow.Noothermanisgoingtowantyoueither. SENDGIFT COMMENT