Chapter 73

She shouldn't confide in Jasmine, should she? Elodre wondered. But she would surely die of silence. Jasmine is a mom and wife…she'd probably grab and won't make fun of her secretly, right? Elodre glanced at Jasmine who was puckered by the whole thing.

"J…Jasmine you may not understand…" Elodre sniffled. "You dunno what I've been going through…"

Jasmine could see the marks on her body and face. "Perhaps Mr. Brooks hits you sometimes…"

And the knot in Elodre's stomach tightened. Her body stiffened. She never in a million years wants anyone to know about this…but Jasmine?! It just hurts and God knows she can't help the feeling. She felt frail like a failure. She's a failure! A damned failure! She thought.

Jasmine noticed Elodre's agitation and said, "I…I'm sorry, Mrs. Brooks…I was only saying. I'm concerned about you…and I can understand if you don't trust me." She poked the hair strands on her face to the back of her ears. "Whatever you tell me is just between us…I promise." Elodre is too young and fragile to go through this trauma.

Elodre blew out heavily and lifted her watery gaze upon Jasmine. She opened her mouth to speak but was suddenly choked by her cry. It was just hard to speak. It was so shameful. She thought.

"Ma'am, please," Jasmine touched Elodre's shoulder firmly.

And this drove chills down Elodre's spine. A slight touch startles her. Yet, Jasmine's firm touch was reassuring. She sighed. "Your story keeps lingering in my head…since the day you told me…about it." She spoke quiveringly.

"The divorce from my ex-husband?" Jasmine wondered why Elodre said that.

"Yes," Elodre said, wiping her nose with the back of her palm as she sniffled.

"Why?" Jasmine's eyes glittered with curiosity.

"My husband thinks I'm cheating on him too," Elodre chuckled wetly.

Jasmine stifled her gasp and said, "But, did you, ma'am?"

Tears flowed down Elodre's cheeks as she gazed up at Jasmine. "Never, Jasmine….nev…." She railed off in tears, weeping bitterly and Jasmine reached out to her, holding her arms.

"Please take it easy, ma'am," Jasmine consoled her. "Just breathe…"

"I'm…like a fish outta water…" Elodre whimpered like a baby. "I d…dunno how to p…please my husband anymore. H…he's furious at me and…and doesn't even wanna hear me out. M…my presence disgusts him…I…I c…can't even cross his path. He doesn't…wanna see me anymore….he hates me. My…my husband hates me…and…"

"Oh, please breathe, okay," Jasmine cut her off else Elodre could die of sorrow. Damn! "Breath…please. Take a deep breath." For the first time, she rubbed her mistress' back. Jeez! Elodre was choking and didn't even realize it. "Breath, ma'am."

"Cayden hates me…" Elodre whined. "H…he doesn't w…wanna set h…his eyes on me for two seconds straight."

"It's alright, ma'am, please," Jasmine said softly. "Lemme give you some water." She grabbed the bottle of water on the tray and gave it to her.

Elodre got it and gulped down the water to some extent. She exhaled and gave back the bottle to Jasmine. "Thank you, Jasmine."

"Don't mention, ma'am," She smiled and kept the water on the tray. "Ma'am, I understand how you feel. Mr. Brooks is a man with an admiring reputation…just give him some time."

Exactly what Roberts had said to her that day at the coffee shop. Elodre recalled.

"Hopely," Jasmine reassured her. "Things would fall back into place. Don't just give him more reasons to believe you're cheating…"

"Didn't you do the same, Jasmine?" Elodre quivered.

This question threw Jasmine off the rail for a while. There wasn't even any evidence that she cheated on her husband…but here she is…divorced! She thought.

"Aside from my little boy," Elodre said. "My husband is all I've got, Jasmine. I'm sure gonna die if he ends up divorcing me."

"Ma'am?!" Jasmine gasped. She can imagine how horrible that would be. "He'd never!"

"Like you knew your husband had planned to divorce you, huh?" Elodre questioned bitterly. "Don't try to give me vague hopes when the reality is bearing the contrary."

Jasmine's lips trembled. That sounded like an attack. Elodre was unknowingly hurting her feelings. She swallowed the cry that was about to burst from her mouth. She could feel tears tickling her eyes already but she won't let it drop. "That I ended up being divorced doesn't mean Mr. Brooks would divorce you, ma'am." She spoke boldly.

"I just pray he doesn't…" Jasmine concluded.

Hmm. Not when Samantha is here with a picture of her sitting with Roberts. Elodre thought. If not, why is she here?! "Did you know Sam was coming?"

"No, ma'am," Jasmine said. "I was astounded to see her."

Is her husband even aware of this? She wondered. Cause God knows he'd skin her alive. She sighed. "It's late already, Jasmine. You gotta leave now."

"Of course, ma'am," Jasmine got up and carried the tray. She bowed.

"Did Samantha say anything to you?" Elodre asked, gazing up at her.

"No, she didn't," Jasmine said,

Samantha ran up the multiple stairs, aiming westward as Jasmine opened the door and emerged with the tray. She glanced around for a while before walking down the stairs to the kitchen and Samantha was watching her.

****

"Why's Cayden not back yet?" Samantha's voice startled Jasmine as she flinched hard with a gasp. Gazing at her, Samantha's brow was raised and her arms were folded.

"Sam!" Jasmine exclaimed breathlessly, placing both damp hands on her aching chest. She was doing the dishes when Sam suddenly walked in.

Samantha's ice-blue eyes were shimmering with grim expression. She was gazing directly into Jasmine's eyes. "Sam, were you satisfied with the meal?" Jasmine was skeptical.

A smirk pulled Samantha's lips and vanished in a split second. "Of course, Lady J." She spoke softly. "I was done eating for over an hour…and you're asking me that question now?"

Jasmine gasped. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Sam. I'm sorry, please…" She didn't realize how time had flown by.

"Do you usually stay that long with your beloved mistress, huh?" Samantha snickered.

She's another nightmare! Jasmine thought. Probably the worst!! "No, I don't."

Gazing into each other's eyes, the silence was intense and Jasmine was choking. Samantha is so damned shady! Why is she here?! She wondered.

But the sudden creak of the door from the living room broke into their silence and Jasmine couldn't be more glad when Samantha tore her gaze away from her…