Page 70 of Now and Forever

Chapter 23

Jared

Barging into the bedroom, I was possessed with fiery rage as my eyes darted towards the bed where the cause of my darkened mood sat on the bed, seemingly in the middle of video chatting with someone.

The moment she lifted her gaze and saw my enraged state, she didn’t bother bidding goodbye. She simply shut her laptop off, guarded gray eyes scrutinizing me tentatively.

“You know.”

I unceremoniously marched towards her, grabbed her by the arm, and then yanked her off the bed so she wouldn’t dare cower behind the comforter. If she sought to anger me, she knew which buttons to push because I was beyond livid.

Eyes wild, I glowered down at her, sneering. “Your vindictiveness knows no bounds. Are you so beyond reproach that you would threaten me with a divorce?”

She squarely glared back at me, unblinking, calm as ever. “Your arrogance would see it as such. Just so we’re clear, this is not a threat. I want a divorce; that’s all. We can end this arrangement rationally. There’s no need to go ballistic on me.”

There were two things that would easily grant her request without any hindrance from me. And since she hadn’t turned thirty years old overnight, the latter would be more likely. The mere idea further fanned my spiraling rage.

Nostrils flaring, I jerked her closer to me. “You’re engaged to that cretin, aren’t you? Because that’s the only way this agreement can be nullified, and you bloody well know it!”

She let out a sharp gasp, eyes glinting as she nervously licked her lips. “You gave me your word. You said I can divorce you anytime. I’m holding you to that promise.”

My face darkened.

“Promise?”I harshly gritted out. “Have you lost your bloody mind? You, of all people, have the impudence to lecture me about keeping promises? Don’t make me laugh.”

Her frown deepened, scowling at me with pure unadulterated disdain. “Why won’t you just sign the papers? It’ll be over before you know it!”

She ignored my blatant reference to her character, making her all the guiltier in my eyes. She had chosen Wyatt Rinaldi over me. Did she think I was going to let her prance into the sunset with her prince charming? I think not.

My eyes were set ablaze as I pierced my gaze into her soul. “I am not and will not sign those papers!”

“Why the fuck not, huh?” she furiously spat back. “Does it hurt your oh so fragile ego that I’m no longer lapping at your feet? You want to know why, Jared? It’s because of you. You fucking disgust me! How can I respect and stay associated with someone who has no morals? Who only sees women’s sole purpose as sex and to be discarded once you’ve gotten bored with them? Tell me, oh so mighty one, why the fuck would I stay linked to a heartless womanizer?”

Her claws were out. Mine were locked and loaded. If she wished to play dirty, so be it. “That’s rich coming from you—a certified slut! From the time you claimed you lost your virginity, you’ve slept with three men in a short amount of time. And you have the audacity to call me heartless? Virginal, you bloody aren’t!”

“How fucking dare you!” she bellowed as her hand connected to my face, striking it.

An animalistic growl emanated from me as I savagely took hold of her hands, imprisoning them as I roughly shoved her against the wall. “The truth hurts, doesn’t it?”

“You two-timing asshole!”

“Just to clarify, we weren’t ever together. You’ve desperately thrown yourself at me, so don’t go acting the innocent now, Gisele. It’s truly unbecoming. We both know you’re quite the brilliant actress.”

“I hate you!” She frantically struggled, earnestly trying to get away from my steel grasp, but all her efforts came to no avail. “Why don’t you just leave me alone and go back to your stupid Rose? Is that so much to ask?”

“I did. I have. I’ve had her every night since,” I stated with derision and precision, knowing each word would penetrate her wounded pride. “Well, some nights more than once. It all depends really.”

All her erratic efforts came to a full stop. Her chest gravely heaved as she gazed fixatedly at me, aghast.

A minute passed. Her shocked expression remained unmoving. It was as if she’d frozen in time. Then she swallowed with difficulty, licking her lips. Our battling eyes immediately disconnected when she lowered her gaze, conceding, withdrawing.

“Okay,” she eerily whispered, “you can let go of my hands now.”

After minutes upon minutes of mounting aggravation and hysteria, Gisele’s abrupt withdrawal left me dumbfounded. Still, my hands banded around her wrists, averse to yielding to her command just yet.

“Is this one of your performances again, Gisele?”

Her eyes stayed downcast as she shook her head. “I’m not going to fight you. It’s pointless.”

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