Chapter 21 - Mixed Feelings

Edmund received what he had craved for in the past years, Regina back into his life. Not only did she return, she also declared that she never stopped loving him, yet he found it grueling to draw the picture of what his heart truly desired.

‘Might be the shock, but I am fucking surprised at myself, at my reaction. Or, to be honest, at my lack of reaction.’

If what she stated about his father was real, then she did not fail him, he was the one that failed her.

If what she attested was genuine, her sufferings from the past years might have matched or even exceeded his torments. But hearing all those words coming from her mouth did not sway him as much as they would have swayed him in the past. In fact, he sent her home with his cousin hours ago.

Moira was reluctant to leave with Regina as they never got along well, but she conceded and he guessed that she did it as a favor to Isabella. Or perhaps she concluded that he would need some time for himself, his cousin had always been a kind-hearted, self-sacrificing human being, people only took advantage of her along the time.

As he thought about it, he probably took advantage of her kindness on some occasions as well, including that one.

He waited a few hours before heading to Luisa’s room where he figured Isabella would likely be. He needed to pull himself together, the pain he inflicted on her was unbearable to watch, she was the innocent character while he was the villain in their story.

The woman he found in that room was hiding her heavy heart behind a cold pretense, the sadness in her eyes was replaced by fake composure, but he could still distinguish a tint of vulnerability.

Despite that, she bluntly announced to him that she would not return with him at home that night, that she made a hotel reservation, just like that.

And the moment he watched her sweet lips relaying those words was the same moment a rampant feeling of rage invaded his entire body, he had to use all the self-control he could gather to not act irrationally.

‘Did she already forget about the magical moments we shared in the plane, in the car or in the bedroom? Did she? I did not.’

The taste of her heavenly body was still imprinted in his memory, the delicious moans of pleasure she let out while he offered her the supreme bliss were still registered in his mind as sensual music that he would listen to over and over again.

‘She wiped it out like it was easy, like it was nothing.’

So yes, he gave her a warning glare that slightly exposed the anger rushing through his veins, a glare that made her look down.

Next thing, he informed her that she was bound by the contract to sleep where he slept, and then he contemplated the consequences of what he voiced out and he was delighted to feast his eyes on the fuse of panic and disbelief plastered all over her face.

‘She deserves it, she does!’

He already felt attached to her in ways difficult to describe with words. She was his wife, he should provide her protection, tend to her, body and soul, but she just blew a hole in his heart with her nonsense of sleeping elsewhere, she ought to experience it first-hand too.

‘She got more of a reaction from me than Regina, though I admit that I feel conflicted as I cannot understand where I stand with regards to my feelings for my ex, I cannot make a drastic decision until I figure out what every single one of us three feels.’

“W-what do you mean?” Isabella’s voice was crumbling, she studied him with grave eyes.

“What I mean is that you will never ever sign anything in your life again, without reading it first. Do you understand that?”

She nodded in approval, her body was shivering from head to toe. He wrapped his hand around her waist for support and signaled her to move the discussion outside.

She followed him without raising objections, so he led her to the hospital cafeteria and bought her some food.

“You need to eat.” He pushed the tray closer to her and poured a glass of orange juice, as he concluded that she needed vitamins too.

“I’m not hungry.” She refused, pushing the tray to his side.

“Eat or I’ll feed you myself.” He warned, and meant every single word.

She took the fork and slowly ate a few mouthfuls, keeping her sight on the plate.

Then she put the fork down and directed her regard to him, her eyes shining with that cold pretense, in contradiction to her trembling body.

“I’m done eating. Now can you tell me about the contract? Please enlighten me regarding the terms of our agreement.” Her figure stiffened to a greater degree in anticipation, if that was even possible.

She was prepared for him to pull the trigger and shatter her entire world.

He swallowed. “Good, I’m glad you ate, even a bit. In regards to the contract, you need to carefully read it yourself and I’ll give you a copy of it tonight.”

“What?” Her eyes returned fire and though they made him inwardly scream with frustration, he continued ignoring her question, if that was even a question.

“Here are your new documents, your passport, your driving license and your ID, you now bear the name Stark.” Her face turned pale as he handed over the documents. “And here is your credit card, the funds are not unlimited, but they are more than you can spend, the account is refilled monthly. This is your wallet with some cash, I guess it will cover whatever the amount you have spent on the hotel reservation, given the fact that you are going to call and cancel it.”

“What? When did you leave to have them issued?” She narrowed her eyes at him in bewilderment.

“Is that what you think? That I went to issue them, personally?” He could not stop a chuckle escaping his chest as a response to her naivety. “No, I made a phone call and everything you hold in your hands right now was handled for me. I don’t do this sort of things. No, I manage my business, and I happen to be fucking good at it, so I make enough money to have other people sort this kind of petty things for me.” His tone came out condescending and though he felt bad for it, the sooner she got the picture, the better.

“So the documents in my possession, that I hold in my purse, are no longer useful?” She peered at him with blasting eyes, as if he had ripped her of her identity.

“They are as good as nothing, but feel free to keep them as a treasured memory, if that makes you happy.” He stated firmly.

“So you’re saying that I am not allowed to spend a night away from you? Is this even a marriage? What am I, your prisoner, your slave?” She pressed her lips together in anger.

His jaw clenched, he felt a cold shiver traveling down his spine. “Depending on how you choose to act, the course of this marriage can be amazingly good or fiercely bad, it’s in your power to decide!”