Chapter 134: The Crushing Blow

“Who the hell are you?”

That word struck me like a physical blow the words flat and unrecognizable. I was completely unable to process what I had just heard and my mind reeled. My jaw was loose and my eyes were wide as I gazed at Liam.

My own voice felt stuck in my throat a choked gasp. Was he implying that he didnt recognize me? The man who had been my husband my life and everything for years? The man to whom I had just opened up and accused him of the greatest betrayal?

My world shook once more as I stammered the one word hardly audible “What?”

Hot fresh tears trickled down my cheeks blending with the scars of my past suffering. This was an act of deliberate pure malice not just cruelty. In front of my eyes he was purposefully excluding me degrading me and deleting me from his past.

My breath was taken away by the sudden sharp pain. However Liam remained completely uninterested. His eyes were cold and contemptuous and he leaned back in his chair with a subtle nearly imperceptible smirk on his lips.

His voice was tinged with fake annoyance as though I were a bothersome fly. “I asked you a question” he said. “Our dinner is obviously being disturbed by you. Im not sure who you are lady. Youre acting like a crazy woman to be honest.”

A crazy woman. The words a public censure reverberated throughout the abruptly quiet restaurant. In addition to the tears the burning humiliation that swept over me caused my vision to become blurry. My face flushed and a searing heat crept up my neck and into my hairline.

Then I heard Becca laughing which was the sound that really broke my heart. The sound was gentle and tinkling but it was laced with a spiteful laughter and a victorious joy that went beyond any slight.

They were enjoying themselves. They took pleasure in my suffering my public breakdown. It was a devastating realization. The purpose of this intentional act of cruelty was to break me and make me feel completely unimportant it was more than just a confrontation.

Every single person in the room felt like a spotlight piercing my spirit and either pitying me condemning me or worse making fun of me. A firm powerful hand suddenly closed around my arm. It was Alexander. In the swirling chaos of my despair his firm nearly bruising grip served as a stabilizing force.

Though he remained silent his eyes were burning with a chilly rage that mirrored mine and was aimed at Liam when I looked at him. He started dragging me away without pausing for an instant.

My mind was a knotted mess of pain and confusion and my legs felt like lead. As he gently but firmly dragged me through the stunned silence of the dining room I was unable to think clearly.

My public humiliation was a dizzying kaleidoscope that blurred the elegant tables the hushed faces the sparkling chandeliers and my head swimming. As we went by I could hear the growing murmurs and sense the looks.

Every new stab to my already bleeding heart came from the whispers that followed us like a cloud of judgment: “Did you see that?”

“Who was that woman?”

“So dramatic!”

Even while I was in a daze I was aware that some people were recording. Quick covert motions of hands-raising devices and the faint shimmer of phone screens. I felt a new wave of shame come over me at the thought.

It was a public spectacle a viral moment of my greatest vulnerability rather than merely a private heartbreak. It wasnt until we were outside in the crisp cool night air that Alexander stopped. He pulled me past the valets who quickly turned away and toward his car which was parked a short distance from the lavish entrance.

After opening the passenger door and nearly pushing me inside he slammed it shut with a firm thud. With a sharp agitated gait he then approached the drivers side. His jaw was tight and his face was grim as he entered.

White knuckles clutched the steering wheel. He took some time to start the car. Rather his eyes were burning with a frenzied unadulterated rage that made me wince.

“Ava!” he yelled his voice piercing the cars quiet.

I was shocked because it was the first time I had ever heard him actually raise his voice. Even though he said it out of concern his words felt like yet another blow: “What was that?! That was completely unnecessary! You didnt have to do that! You didnt have to put yourself through that humiliation!”

My tears which had stopped for a moment started to pour hot and heavy once more. With my throat hurting and my voice raw I choked out “Unnecessary?After everything he called me a mad lady and she laughed! Unnecessary?! He just… he just pretended he didnt know me Alexander! I said my voice rising with the new sting of his cruelty. How could I not?! How could I just sit there and let him act like I didnt exist?!”

I sobbed uncontrollably while burying my face in my hands. I couldnt help it! I couldnt help but talk to the man who hurt me! The man who destroyed my life and then acted like he didnt even know who I was! was a desperate attempt to get his attention to show him how deeply hurt I was and how cruel Liams denial was.

Alexander got closer. I was drawn into a tight embrace by his warm and powerful arms. His chin rested on my head as he held me close his body acting as a firm anchor during my depressing storm. His touch was soft and reassuring but I could feel the tremor in his own body and the residual rage.

“I know” he said in a whisper his voice now softer and full of a deep empathy that started to soften the sharp edges of my suffering. “Yes Ava I understand. I saw it. I heard him. He is a monster. Im also very sorry that you had to endure that. I apologize so much.”

For some minutes he held me allowing me to cry and let out the flood of feelings that had been building inside of me. He didnt make an effort to stop me from crying or say anything nice. His presence was a silent promise of support and a salve for my wounded soul he just held me.

The steady pounding of his heart against my ear and the warmth of his embrace gradually started to soothe my own racing heartbeat. He slowly withdrew just enough to gaze at me after what seemed like an eternity when my sobs had dried up into ragged breaths.

His eyes were filled with a profound unwavering concern even though there was still a hint of anger in them. He gently wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb.

“Lets go back home

Ava” he spoke in a quiet gentle tone. “Lets just head home.”