C09
“Courtney, I can make so much money now! I can definitely get you the best treatment!”
Clive still didn’t know why I broke up with him back then.
I waited for him for so long, but he never came back. Then one day, I saw him on TV. He had become the CEO of NeoXtreme, while I was still at the orphanage, stuck in the past–stuck waiting for someone who had already moved
on.
That day, I went to drop Darren off at his university and saw Clive giving a speech as an honored alumnus en he spotted me standing with Darren, his expression darkened. I wanted to explain, but he turned his face away and left without a word.
Later, when he finally married me, I thought I’d get the chance to explain everything. But on the night after our wedding, he brought another woman home.
I confronted him, demanding to know why he was doing this–why he kept hurting me like this.
But he just looked at me and said, “Because I hate you.”
That one sentence shattered every ounce of hope I had been holding onto. It was then that I realized–he never even wanted an explanation.
7
Trapped in a Mernage I usted by R
No one knew how many nights I spent regretting not saying a proper goodbye to him back then.
That night, he shoved the other woman aside and grabbed my wrist, pulling me against the cold wall. His lips, still carrying the traces of another woman, moved dangerously close to mine.
I turned my face away, but his grip on my chin tightened, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were filled with mockery, cruel and cold.
“Courtney, tell me–does it feel good to be played with?” His voice was a mix of scorn and amusement. “I didn’t even want to go looking for you. But when I saw you standing next to Darren, I suddenly had this urge to steal you back–just so I could destroy you.”
He then laughed bitterly and continued, “I hated you for so long. How dare you smile so happily at another man? You used to smile at me like that, like you put some kind of spell on me.”
Smirking, he added, “But it’s fine now. I married you, so you won’t be able to hurt anyone else ever again.”
His voice turned icy, “Just so you know, I don’t love you. So be good–don’t cry, don’t make a scene, and don’t get too close to other men. Got it? I’ll have as many women as I want, and you? You’re not allowed to get jealous.” Hearing him say he didn’t love me made my heart sink. My vision blurred with tears as I hurried to explain.
“No, listen to me… back then-”
But before I could finish, he snapped.
“Don’t you dare bring up the past!” His voice was laced with anger. “When you pushed me away, I was pissed at first, but I convinced myself you must’ve had your reasons. But when I finally went back to find you, I heard it with my own ears–you said you hated me!”
Hated him? How could I ever hate him? He was the person I loved the most in this world. The one who had always been there for me.
“You got it wrong-”
But again, he didn’t listen.
The truth was, after he left, the kids at the orphanage turned on me. They called me shameless, accused me of trying to steal what wasn’t mine. That night, I had a fever, but they locked me outside. I cried, saying I hated them. Hated Clive.
Hated him for not coming back to save me. Hated him for leaving me behind when I could have explained everything.
Now, with the sharp scent of alcohol clinging to him, he leaned in close, his voice full of drunken hostility. “Courtney,” he said, gripping my chin with a smirk. “Tell me, what do you think would happen if Darren got expelled from school?”