Chapter 38 Who do you think you are, Jayden?

Chapter 38 Who do you think you are, Jayden?
Lilith’s POV
As his words registered, something inside of me snapped. He just broke the last straw of restraint I had been holding onto. For weeks, I have swallowed my pride and allowed myself to be insulted, belittled, and mocked, hoping it would get better, but it only got worse.
I was done keeping mute like a fucking puppet.
"No," I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite the anger that slowly rose in my chest.
Jayden’s brow arched in surprise, like he didn’t hear me clearly. "What did you just say?"
"I said no. I am not just getting out so you can have the last word," I snapped, turning fully in my seat to face him head-on. The fear that usually kept me quiet was gone, replaced by a rage I haven’t felt in a very long time.
“How dare you talk back to me? Are you nuts?” he asked with narrowed eyes. His audacity only made the fire in me ignite as I stared coldly into his eyes.
"Who do you think you are, Mr. President?" I asked with a jab. “You have no right whatsoever to speak to me in such a manner. Not as a husband, not as a businessman, and certainly not as a human being."
Jayden’s eyes darkened and his jaw tightened. "Celine, watch your tone. You forget your place—"
"My place?" I cut him off, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "For once, my name isn’t Celine, and my place is cowering in fear behind you, isn’t it? Well, newsflash, Jayden, not everyone loves to kiss ass. You sit there acting like you’re some god because you have a tailored suit and a big bank account, but you’re just a coward who hides behind cruelty because you’re too broken to handle a simple 'thank you'."
"That is enough!" Jayden barked as he reached out his hand as if to hold me.
"Don't you dare touch me!" I hissed, recoiling from him. "I may be bound to you for reasons that are in my power, but that doesn’t make me any lesser than you. I may be under your command, but don't you ever think for one second that your money gives you the right to treat me like trash. You don’t care about me and I sure as hell don't give a fuck about you either, so stop giving me that nasty attitude, Mr. Grumpy.”
Jayden looked genuinely shocked with his mouth slightly parted as he stared at me. He tried to speak, probably to throw more insults my way, but I was done listening to him. I grabbed the door handle and shoved it open with every bit of strength I had left.
"Go to hell, Jayden, and burn to ashes," I spat.
I slammed the car door shut with a loud bang that I feared would make the door fall off, but I didn't wait for a reaction either. I was done caring if the driver was listening or if the maids got wind of our wedding being fake. I didn’t care about any of those because I was done taking his insults.
And with my head raised high, I marched towards the entrance of the mansion, not caring if Jayden followed or not.
When I got inside, I took the stairs one at a time as I already had a plan mapped out. He probably thought I couldn’t live without him, so I was going to prove him wrong. He thinks he’s cold? Then I am colder.
When I got to our room, I went straight to the closet. I grabbed a pair of pajamas and a fresh change of clothes from the hangers before turning on my heel. He thinks I am annoying? Then I was going to give him some much-needed space. I was going to spend my nights with Ariel going forward.
As I marched towards the door, it swung open to reveal an angry-looking Jayden who looked as though he was about to explode. His hands were fisted by his side and his chest was heaving as if he had run up the stairs to catch up with me. If he thought he was going to get an apology, then he didn’t know me at all. He wasn’t going to get any, even if he held me at gunpoint.
“Lilith—” he began, but I didn’t let him utter a word.
“Save it, Jayden. I don’t want to hear a word from your mouth and I certainly don’t care about who you think you are. Don’t talk to me.”
I watched with angry eyes as he stepped into the room and puffed up his shoulders as if he was trying to make me feel intimidated. I didn’t flinch or cower. I simply lowered my shoulders and bumped into him with a hard and angry shove.
A pleasant feeling filled me as he stumbled back in surprise, clearly not expecting my move.
"Move," I muttered under my breath, not even bothering to look up at him.
I brushed past him with my arm aching from the impact as I marched towards Ariel’s room. I could feel his gaze burning at the back of my head, but I didn't care enough to turn around.
When I reached Ariel’s door, I slipped inside and locked it behind me, and only then did I finally let out the breath I had been holding.