Page 50 of Forced Prisoner By the Bratva

The truth was, as annoying and pesky as she could be, a part of me still wanted her regardless. I wanted her in my life because, honestly, she made me feel complete and fulfilled. She was the better part of me, the part that triggered my humanity and shed a light in my darkness.

These past few days had shown me what my life would be like without her in it: empty.

I'd always been comfortable staying alone and never had a problem with that. In fact, I used to love the solitude that came with it: the silence, the peace and quiet. However, this distance between us made me realize that I was no longer the man I used to be. I'd grown so attached to my wife that I felt alone and abandoned in her absence.

How did she manage to turn on my emotional switch? What about her drew me in? The feeling of being attached to someone else was alien to me, and I had no clue how to handle it.

The knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts, and I turned toward the entrance. “Come in. It's open,” I said, my words audible but low enough not to disturb my wife's sleep.

The door opened, and the maid walked in with a tray of food, its delicious aroma enveloping the room's atmosphere.

I nodded toward the bedside table, and she walked over to set the tray on the surface.

“Thank you, Penelope,” I said, my voice laced with sincere gratitude.

She'd brought the food much quicker than I had thought, and I found that rather impressive.

She straightened, her lips curling into a faint smile as she gave a polite nod before exiting the room. The door closed softly behind her as she disappeared.

I swiped a palm across my face, my eyes pinned on Tessa. A flutter swelled up within my chest as I watched her sleep. So beautiful. So peaceful.

A slight groan escaped her lips, her eyes fluttering open as she came to. “Erik?” she mumbled, her voice weak and faint.

I rose to my feet and picked the tray from the bedside table and towering over her, I instructed, “Sit up.”

She raised her head and met my gaze, her throat wobbling at the sight of the food in my hands. I was almost certain that the tantalizing aroma teased her senses and made her mouth water.

Tessa obeyed after a moment of hesitation, and I thought I heard her stomach growl in anticipation. The bed crunched beneath her weight as she sat up with her back against the headboard.

I set the tray on her lap and sat on the edge of the bed, watching her. “Eat,” I said, my voice firm but surprisingly gentle.

Tessa blinked, but she didn't break eye contact, her fingers plucking a grape from the fruit section on the tray. She pushed it into her mouth with a slow, fluid motion and chewed gracefully.

As she ate, I watched her in silence even though I could tell she wasn't comfortable with my stare. But I didn't care. I needed to make sure that she was well-fed and properly hydrated.

“How do you feel now?” I asked, my voice deep and husky.

She drank from a glass of water, gulping down the entire content. “Better. Much better. Thank you.” Her expression softened slightly, and on her lips was something that resembled a smile.

For the next few seconds, it was silent between us until….

“We need to talk,” we said in unison, matching each other's tones.

A faint grin flashed across her face, and I could feel my lips twitching at the corners in an attempt to suppress mine.

“You first,” I said, my voice gentle, my expression soft.

She heaved a sigh, pushing her hair to the back of her ear. “I shouldn't have met with Connor,” she began, her eyes never leaving mine. “That was a dumb move. But in my defense, I just needed someone to hear me vent. I just needed a friend to talk to.”

I was quiet, watching, listening, and observing.

“Seeing you with that woman—her hands all over your chest…. It hurt me more than you know,” she continued, her soft voice dripping with pain and bitterness. “Especially because it happened soon after we had sex.” Her misty eyes bore into mine, her tone cracking under the weight of her hurt. “I thought we shared something special that night. I thought we connected in more ways than one. That's why I felt used and betrayed when I saw you with another woman.”

I drew closer, holding her gaze. “I know how it looked, Tessa. But I can assure you that you misunderstood the situation.”

“Then make me understand,” she urged, blinking back the tears that welled her eyes. “I'm ready to listen.”

I let out a sharp exhale and began, “Her name is Jennifer, and she's someone I used to date. She dropped by, and what you saw that day was an attempt to seduce me.” I paused, letting the words sink in for a moment before continuing. “But rest assured, she did not succeed. It was quite unfortunate that you walked in at the wrong time. Nothing happened that day,” I explained, my tone laced with conviction, hoping she'd understand and believe me.

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