Chapter 13 Chapter 13.

Chapter 13 Chapter 13.

Jane’s POV.

The first thing I noticed was the ache in my head. The second was the silence.

I opened my eyes slowly, my lashes fluttering as the room came into focus, and my breath hitched.

It was the same room, Adrian’s childhood bedroom. The place where we had confronted each other earlier, where his threats still echoed in my ears.

I pushed myself upright in a panic, and froze.

Adrian was lying beside me on the bed.

“What...what are you doing here?” I blurted out, my voice sharp with fear. “Why am I here too?”

I knew he could hear me. Adrian had always been a light sleeper, he could wake at the faintest sound.

My hands flew to my clothes, they were loosened.

My eyes widened in terror. He was my husband… but not anymore.

“What did you do to me?” I demanded, my voice trembling with both fear and anger. “How dare you take advantage of me?”

That did it.

He sat up abruptly and turned to face me, his eyes dark and annoyed. “Seems like you have a real talent for being a pain in the ass.”

“Take advantage of you?” he scoffed, disbelief etched across his face. “Why would I do that?”

“Why wouldn’t you?” I shot back.

He let out a short, humorless laugh. “You’re right. I could take you anytime I please.”

My stomach twisted.

“But I won’t,” he continued calmly. “Only losers stoop that low.”

He leaned closer, invading my space. His fingers brushed my face slowly, deliberately. “If I ever want you,” he murmured, tracing his finger down to my lips, “you’ll submit to me willingly, because I don't take what doesn't surrender.”

The smirk on his face made my blood boil. My fists clenched at my sides, and before I could stop myself, my hand flew toward his face, but He caught it midair. Very effortlessly.

He brought my hand to his mouth, his lips brushing my finger. “You’ve been very feisty lately,” he said lazily.

A sharp jolt ran through me, betraying my body. I clenched my legs together, hating myself for the reaction.

“I could remind you how obedient you should be,” he continued quietly, his other hand sliding beneath the sheets, brushing against my thigh. My breath hitched despite my resolve.

“But it wouldn’t be good for the baby at this stage,” he said.

Then he pulled away.

“That’s why I’m stopping here.”

My senses screamed in confusion and fury.

So he knew how to be seductive. He knew how to touch, how to tease, how to unravel a woman. Yet for three years, he had never done any of that with me. For three long years, everything between us had been mechanical...empty. I had even convinced myself he didn’t understand romance. But now I knew how wrong I had been.

I watched as he lay back down, turning away from me as if nothing had happened. My eyes burned with unshed tears—tears for the pain I had endured for three years.

“So?” I forced myself to speak, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Why are we here together?”

“I should be asking you that,” he replied without turning. “You do everything to get my attention, yet you hide behind this so-called divorce. Sometimes I wonder if the divorce itself was just another way to get me to notice you.”

Yes, I had wanted his attention, but not anymore.

“Dream on,” I hissed.

I swung my legs off the bed, straightened my clothes, and walked out.

As I descended the stairs, my mind spun wildly, trying to figure out how I ended up sleeping next to Adrian. The last thing I remembered was talking with Mom and Dad after the confrontation with Adrian, so how did I end up together with him?

“Dear?” Mom’s voice stopped me.

I turned to see her approaching, a warm smile on her face, and I forced one in return.

“How are you feeling now?” she asked gently.

“I’m fine,” I replied.

She placed a hand over my stomach, smiling softly. “That’s pregnancy for you. Things like that would happen often, expect it.”

My heart skipped. Expect what? What the hell happened?!

“Mom, I—” I started, trying to ask what had happened.

She interrupted me with a chuckle. “No need to apologize, dear. It’s perfectly normal for pregnant women to fall asleep during conversations. I did the same when I was carrying that annoying son of mine who somehow ended up being your husband.”

Oh! So that's what happened. I slept off during our conversation. I guess that's how I ended up in bed with Adrian.

But her description about Adrian made me let out a small laugh. At least, I'm not the only one that finds him annoying.

“But annoying as he is,” she continued, “he’s a good man.”

You don't know that, Mom. Adrian is no longer the annoying little boy you know.

“Now that reminds me,” she said, concern flickering across her face. “You mentioned earlier that you had something important to tell us when it was safe. What is it that you wanted to say, dear? Is someone threatening you?”

Yes! I wanted to scream to her that her son was the one hurting me, and he's the one threatening me, but I couldn't.

“I’ll tell you when it truly is safe,” I said quietly.

“Jane—”

“I’m really hungry,” I interrupted, changing the subject. “Is there anything to eat?”

She heaved a deep sigh, shaking her head, understanding exactly what I had just done.

But then she forced a smile. “I saved your dinner, knowing you’d wake up hungry.”

“Come on,” she said warmly, tugging me toward the kitchen. “Let’s fill that tummy.”