(Freya's POV).
I couldn't close my eyes. I continued to sit on the bed while Devan had fallen asleep. Our argument ended with his threat. He would do something heinous if I continued to talk about the divorce, or tried to run away from him.
And Theo's safety would be jeopardized.
I couldn't do that. I was forced to obey his every word. Even though I didn't like it.
My phone buzzed and I checked it immediately. It was Theo. I ran to the balcony and took his call.
"Theo," I greeted in a low voice.
"Fey, how are you? I wasn't sure how to contact you when you were with him. So I waited until the evening to call you." I heard Theo's voice sound so worried. It was hoarse and heavy. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"No, I'm fine. He didn't hurt me, Theo."
"Are you sure? That bastard must be crazy!"
"Yes. I'm fine for now," I whispered.
"Should I ask that guy at the hospital for help? The one named Jason. I think he can help us." I widened my eyes at Theo's sudden words.
"Theo, don't involve Jason. Please..."
"But I don't want you to be with that asshole! He can hurt you whenever he wants...."
"I'll be fine. Trust me."
"I don't trust him."
I bit my lower lip. Feeling uneasy. Theo didn't know the threat Devan had made to me. I couldn't run away or divorce him.
"Theo, for now, we should not meet first. Iー ah!"
I squealed in surprise as my cell phone was suddenly snatched away and I saw Devan already standing behind me with his sharp eyes.
"D-Dev."
"What are you doing?" he asked in his heavy, dark voice. His eyes were straight at me, his hand tightly gripping my cell phone.
"Dev, give me back my phone," I said quietly.
"I warned you, Freya."
"I was just talking with him on the phone. Is that not allowed too?!" I protested irritably.
"What do you think I brought you back to this house for, huh?" He smirked. "To shut down your communication access with Theo. So that he'll go crazy not being able to hear if his sister is alive or dead."
My face became paled. My eyes widened in disbelief. My hands were shaking and my heart was beating very fast. This was not what I had thought.
"D-Dev...."
"Stop contacting her anymore or you'll see a package delivered with Freya's lifeless body. Of course, you don't want to see that happen, do you?" Devan spoke in a warning, sharp, and dark tone to Theo.
And what happened next, he switched off the phone. Pushing my body against the balcony railing.
"Dev, what do you want to do?" I was terrified as he pressed my body against the railing. With eyes as sharp as crows that made my body shudder in horror.
"Don't be afraid, Freya. I won't throw you out of here. I hate spilling blood in my own home," he chuckled.
"What has gotten into you? You weren't like this before, Dev. Even if you were rude to me, this is too much. You've changed so much." I swallowed my saliva with difficulty. My throat ached and my eyes began to heat up. I wanted to cry, but it seemed my tears had run out.
"It's only an eight-year prison sentence. Do you think that's enough to take away my hatred for him? I've been waiting for this day, you know? And you're the perfect tool to avenge me. That's why I married you. And it was all a sham."
I gripped the hem of my shirt. Please, don't cry anymore.
I looked at him with my eyes trembling.
"Even for a second, you never loved me?" I asked him. Searching for honesty in his dark eyes.
"Never have and never will."
But I felt it. Out of nowhere, I felt Devan's sincerity toward me. His attitude, his affection, and his care. But why is it that all I see now is his hatred and disgust every time he looks at me? It makes my chest feel tight every time I look at him.
This is too painful for me.
"It seems like I put too much hope in you. I thought you would change, but it seems like your revenge is more important than this relationship," I said, holding back my tears from escaping. I tried to be strong as I looked into his unmoving eyes.
"You're not even my type, Fey," he laughed mockingly. Then brought his face closer to mine, and whispered in my ear, "Don't expect to get love from me. Because it will never happen."
My chest felt tight. Especially when I saw him grinning smugly at me. Laughing at the devastation and heartache I was feeling right now. As if it was what he had been waiting for all along. Making me shatter into tiny pieces and then, after his vengeance was achieved, he dumped me with no pity at all.
Anger made me lose my mind. And it was getting so painful that I could hardly breathe.
"You bastard, Dev!" I slapped his face so hard that the sound of the slap rang loudly in my ears. In the dark and cold night, such was his demeanor.
He just glanced sharply at me, with his face looking casual as if it didn't feel anything. He smirked, and it made my pride crumble even more.
I was about to slap him again, venting all my emotions, but he held my wrist firmly. Pulling it down. And I was trapped by his burly body and hands.
"I return one slap with one slap as well. How's that? Can you handle it, Freya?" He looks at me sharply. Satisfied to see the fear on my face.
"Do it and everyone will know what a loser you are as a man!"
He laughs crisply. It's a mocking laugh that makes me feel like I don't exist in his heart. As if I didn't matter in her eyes, other than her revenge.
"You're challenging the wrong person, Fey. You know I will do more than what you have imagined so far." He pulled my chin. Whispered right above my lips. "If a slap feels cheap, maybe I should give you something that makes you feel disgusted. I think it's much better and makes your pride hurt even more."
My eyes bulged. I gasped in shock as he suddenly kissed me roughly on the lips.