Chapter 29 Chapter 29
I walked ahead of him even though I didn’t really know the path we were supposed to take to our next destination. I felt a big distance growing between us even though we were barely a meter apart. He really confuses me. He said I should trust him, but then he’s the one thinking that I would use everything he tells me against him.
I felt a hand on my butt, which annoyed me even more.
“What the hell, Hendeix? I just said something, right? Just because I’m your wife doesn’t mean you can touch me in public! Do you really stand by being a pervert?!”
I froze when I turned around and saw that Hendeix wasn’t beside me but instead was there, holding the hand of another man. W-what is happening?
I was shocked when Hendeix twisted that man’s hand, but I was even more shocked by the words that came out of his mouth.
"Chi ti ha dato il diritto di toccare le mie cose? E hai persino il coraggio di rubare qualcosa da lei?"
"Mi dispiace! Mi dispiace! Non volevo farlo! Avevo solo tanta fame!"
"Tanta fame? E perché non ti sei messo a lavorare? Contavi sul furto? Se me lo avessi chiesto, magari ti avrei dato qualcosa. Ma hai avuto anche il coraggio di mettere le mani addosso a mia moglie!"
I didn’t expect to be scared of Hendeix. With his anger, I somehow understood why he was acting that way. If I hadn’t stepped in between them, I don’t think he would’ve stopped hurting that guy who was now running away as fast as he could. Good thing no one saw what happened because I was worried that with how famous he is, it might end up in the newspapers or on the internet.
“Calm down, Hendeix. I wasn’t hurt.” I tried to soothe him by gently rubbing his arm, but it didn’t seem to help.
“Not hurt? Then what did I hear earlier? You almost cursed me thinking I was the one who did it. Then when you found out it was someone else, you stepped in for him? Why? If it’s me, you get mad, but if it’s someone else, it’s okay?”
“No, that’s not what I mean, Hendeix.”
He gritted his teeth, and I could see how he clenched his jaw furiously. “You’re calling me by my first name like I did something terribly wrong. I hate you calling me that way, Mori. I felt bad. You’re supposed to take me in.”
His eyes glimmered as if he were about to cry. Is this seriously happening? What’s gotten into him? Was he telling the truth when he said he didn’t understand what was happening to himself? Because even I was shocked.
“Huz, please calm down… hmm? Look, of course I got angry. When I thought it was you who touched me, I got irritated because I was already irritated earlier! I thought you were trying to use that again just to end our argument. But he didn’t get anything from me. I didn’t even have money.”
He scoffed in disbelief. It was as if he wanted to punch me for what I said. “Nothing? Do you even hear yourself? He touched you—that’s why I’m angry! Do you think I would just let someone else touch what’s mine? You’re mine, Jade Maurice. You’re my wife. Even if we misunderstand each other, that doesn’t mean I will let any man touch you. Even if we don’t love each other, even if you don’t intend to fall for me, even if you don’t care about me, you are still mine. I won’t let anyone take you. That’s the man I am. Everything I acquire, I never let it slip away… because it’s a disgrace if something I already have ends up in someone else’s hands.”
I don’t know what to feel. I’m happy because he doesn’t want to lose me, but at the same time, my chest aches from the reason I never expected. Hearing those words from him shatters my entire being. He speaks as if he owns me, like I’m an asset… just another piece of leverage to get what he wants. I feel like I’m a toy. That he won’t let me go simply because it would be embarrassing if something he already obtained ended up with someone else.
What am I expecting? Of course, all that’s in his head is pure business… He wants me to depend on him, yet he’s this reserved. He’s the one who said that if I want to know something about him, I just have to ask, but he’s also the one who doesn’t answer directly. Isn’t a relationship supposed to be give and take? Everything equal?
Hah. Yeah, right. It’s never equal because the person who cares more is the one who suffers. The one who gives too much attention is the one who ends up asking for more to fill the emptiness they feel. And why am I even surprised? My relationship with Hendeix wasn’t born out of love, so I don’t have the right to keep asking questions. Because our relationship only exists on paper—and in bed.