Chapter 9

After taking Raiden to bed, still in tears, Elodre managed to prepare dinner, hopefully, Cayden could eat.

Head still aching, she took the tray of hot meals and drinks to the dining and kept it on the table. With the hope that he might come down the stairs to eat, she sat, waiting for him to emerge but he didn't. Pondering what to do next, she kept waiting.

In a couple of minutes, he still hadn't shown up, and she thought of going to call him.

Should she? She wondered nervously. That would be the hardest, probably the wrongest task for her to perform in her life. Wiping her tears with the back of her palm, she arose from her chair and shot her misty eyes at the stairs.

She felt her legs trembling while climbing the stairs, taking one step at a time. She grasped the doorknob and blew out hot air.

Can she do this for real? Wait. What would she say to him? How would she even say it? Tears flowed more down her white cheeks. She was as pale as death.

Holding her breath, she opened the door mildly and a wave of fright struck her hard at the sight of Cayden. Swiftly, she shut the door and ran a few steps away, sobbing.

Head and eyes twirling inwardly, she quickly sat on the stairs as her legs weakened. She was going to faint.

She couldn't relate to what he was doing in the room but she'd seen his face. His grim grimace.

Her lips trembled as she cried, sniffling and coughing like a baby. At this point, she was more vulnerable than a baby.

What has she done to herself? What happened that night with Weston? She questioned herself. Is Weston the father of…

"Elodre." Cayden's quiet voice intruded on her thoughts and she jerked.

She slowly lifted her watery gaze and found him looking down intensely at her. Blinking, tears spilled down her cheeks and she wiped them off with her back palm. She wished he would hold her again. She wished she could feel that warmness and safety in his arms again. She just wanted to lay her head on his chest and feel the hardness of his muscles.

Surprisingly to her, he stretched his right hand to her. Trembling, she placed her tiny hand in his big palm and he pulled her up gently, his eyes still fierce and fixed on hers. He took her to the room and shut the door.

He sat on the bed and said roughly, "Sit!"

She was both nervous and curious. Heart whacking against her chest, excitement pricked her whole body as she sat, cautious to not get so close to him.

"Come here!!" He roared and she recoiled, pulling a bit closer to him in obedience.

The sound of his voice made her sick. He still looked wild and raged. Glaring coldly at her, his hot breath was fanning against her face.

Observing her, he was struck by how pale and tender she looked. He noticed how puffy, red, and watery her gray eyes were. This is the woman he loved and could do anything for. And if there's anything he can't withstand, it's seeing her cry.

She was his dream woman. When they tied the knot he was the happiest man on earth. Those memories engulfed him and he took her hands in his.

Brushing her fragile little hand with his thumb, he said softly, "I loved you, Elodre. I thought you were submissive, Elodre. You were the woman I bragged about all the time with my pals. I know how jealous my friends are whenever they see you." His voice was soft.

"I chose you over other classy ladies in my life." He continued. "Even over Heather, my ex-fiance…not that she did anything wrong. I broke her heart because of how genuine my love was for you. And now you make me feel like garbage."

Elodre's face was damp with tears. She was letting them flow freely. She bit her lower lip and stifled.

"I trusted you." He said, still brushing her hand. "Even when the issues between you and my f*ckin' dad came up I still went on with you because I believed you. I didn't realize how stupid I've been all this while. You turned me into a fool!!"

Elodre shivered under the sound of his angry voice. She was completely lost and her sight was blurry.

"Elodre!!" He thundered, squeezing her hand so tightly that she squirmed in pain, flushing red. "I didn't realize you were only a wolf in sheep's clothing!! You only came for my money to lift your poor f*ckin family!!"

His words were sharper than a two-edged sword ripping her apart.

"I thought you were tender and faithful! I thought you were my wife! You made me lose a lifetime! You made me lose Heather! She was my damned wife!" He was shaking her violently as he was speaking.

Now, Elodre couldn't hold it back anymore, she wept bitterly. She felt his nails thrusting into her skin as he was clasping her tiny arm and when he stopped, she realized she was bleeding, yet he was still holding her.

"You got pregnant for my brother in my house???!! Under my damned roof!!" He was shaking her again and she kept bleeding and squirming.

He shook her with so much power that she felt a whirling sensation in her eyes and head, and the headache she'd been feeling worsened. She was all sweaty and frail.

"And you had the vitality to keep the stupid pregnancy! Now you're playing the victim! You're a snake! A green snake in green grass! No wonder you kept inviting Weston here each time I traveled. I hate you! I f*ckin hate you!!"

It hurt to hear him say that. Elodre was in shock. She was dumbfounded.

"Now you're shedding crocodile tears after turning me against my mother!!"

She gasped. "I…I never turned you against your mom, baby. She lied to me…" Elodre whimpered but before she could continue, Cayden slammed his hands against her both eyes such that she felt a spark in them and she wailed in pain.