Chapter 18

"You may go." He said and walked into the living room. Wasted, he yawned as starvation rippled in his stomach. It was striking him damn hard. He was so f*ckin weak and empty. The cocktail he'd taken at Greg's seemed to be ripping his intestines apart and was getting the best of him.

Yawning again, he covered his mouth as he walked across the living room and arrived at the dining table.

Jasmine. He thought. The plate clinked as he opened it and a flavorful toasty aroma wafted into his nostrils worsening his hunger. She'd prepared Mac and Cheese Pizza and had kept his cutleries neatly with the dish in the same flowery glassy tray. A clean white napkin was perfectly wrapped and kept on a rock glass by the raspberry fruit drink.

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With a quiet creek, the room door opened slowly and astonishment sparked in his eyes upon seeing his wife lying helplessly on the floor. He swiftly shut the door and gazed down at her but she never budged an inch. She was just draped like a big rag on the floor with her blond stringy disheveled hair covering her face. He was sure this was her position when he left in the morning.

How come she never budges an inch?! He heaved a long sigh.

He went to sit on the bed, his glittering blue gaze still fixed on her. He was studying her intensely.

Is she even breathing?! "What's going on…Elodre?" He asked but she didn't respond. "Elodre?" Her silence startled him. "Elodre?!" He sat up. His nerves seemed to tear apart and burn down his stomach in a twirling manner.

His heart had leaped to his throat. "Elodre?!" With his bewildered gaze blazing upon her, he got up and slowly walked to her. "Elodre?!" His voice was laced with anger. "Elodre?!!" He yelled, grabbing her tiny wrist. "You must be f*ckin kidding me right now!!"

He yanked her up roughly by her bruised arm and she winced in pain, letting out a faint groan. "Get the f*ck up!! Get up!!" He thundered, huffing in rage.

Anger was sparking all over him and his hurting grip was firm on her wrist. With furrowed brows, his glittering blazing glare was fixed upon her as she struggled to stand. She was trembling violently and was off balance.

Head aching and spinning, coupled with a drastic pain in her puffy eyes, she stumbled a few steps backward with one hand on her burning forehead…but he quickly caught her waist in his arm, and so she clenched onto his upper arm for stamina.

Oh, she was so fragile and tiny in his arm. Cayden was gazing down at her. He couldn't help but notice her pale features…and the bruises.

Oh my gosh! Gasping, his wide eyes trailed down her body. Did he really…oh my damn god!! Settling his gaze upon the blood stains on her short thread-sleeve nightie, he gently lifted her chin with his fingers and held it still…but he went dumb for a while upon seeing her face.

She had bruises on her face too! Her eyes were black and swollen. Her disheveled hair made her look so horrible like a crazy person. Taking the hair off her face, he was astounded to see a long sore mark he'd left on her temple while whipping her with his belt.

Oh my god!! His gaze was locked on her watery eyes. Her lashes were coated with tears which shortly began to flow freely down her white cheek. The tears that melted his heart. "Did I hurt you?"

"Isn't it obvious?" She said faintly, lowering her gaze.

And now his gaze was fixed on the cut in the middle of her slightly swollen lower lip. Blood had caked in it. "Is that why you sent for Jasmine?"

She gazed up at him in surprise. "Yes…Cayden." She trembled. "I… I…couldn't do anything…I…I… didn't do anything…" She railed off. Anything wrong, she said in her head.

"Elodre," He said with his left arm still wrapped around her waist and holding her hand with the other. "Lady Jasmine and the other girls had been my staff for years before I knew you. But here came the mistress who just woke up one morning and suspended all my cleaning girls, my chefs, and Lady Jasmine. Did you even ever think about how much frustration you caused them…and Jasmine?"

"Damn you, Elodre." He continued. "Do you f*ckin know how old Jasmine is? Do you?" A crooked smile pulled one side of his lips. A smile that made his eyes more fierce. The one that sparked grave expressions in them and thrust Elodre's heart like a two-edged sword propelling more tears in her eyes. "You did that all because of jealousy. You were so f*ckin jealous!!". He raised his voice and she cringed.

His words struck her hard and she twitched. The tears were burning her eyes and her lips were trembling.

"Now look who ended up cheating." Letting go of her, she stumbled a few steps away and leaned against the wall. His eyes trailed down her frail body in an insulting manner. "And now you gonna say I hurt you to Jasmine?"

"Cayden I swear with my life I…I never said anything to her…"

"Shut the f*ck up!" He roared. "Who cares the f*ck you said to her?! I don't f*ckin care!!" Huffing, his eyes narrowed as he pointed at her. "Whatever I'm doing today is your damn fault!! Have you ever asked yourself why I drink lately? It's all because of you! I loved, honored, and trusted you, Elodre!"

"But you rather reciprocated with heartbreak!" He said between gritted teeth. "You've turned my heart upside down…and I'm gonna show you how much of a venomous monster I am!!!" Furiously, he stormed out of the room and slammed the door.

Trembling, she gazed at the shut door until her sight became blurry. She felt the heat of the tears burning down her bruised cheeks.