(ARIELLE’S POV)
I hurried outside, running across the pavement as I rushed to catch up with Jared and Sofia. They were already seated in the cat, Jared’s eyes fixed on the road ahead as he started the engine. I opened the door and slid into the backseat, trying to catch my breath. The car was silent and thick with tension as Jared pulled out of the parking lot. Sofia stared out the window, her expression unreadable.
Jared on the other hand had an angry look, his grip on the steering wheel a tight. He drove so roughly that I feared for our lives.
“Jared, can you slow down a bit? You’re gonna get us killed at this pace,” I yelled, when he almost bumped into a truck.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” he hissed, his jaw clenching.
I was taken aback by his words and the rudeness they conveyed, but I was not going to back down if I wanted to get home in one piece.
“If you don’t care about your life or mine, then you should care about Sofia’s. She’s pregnant, remember?” That seemed to do the trick as his grip on the wheel loosened and he slowed down.
The remaining ride home was in silent as everyone seemed lost in their thoughts. For me, I couldn’t wait to get home and confront Jared about tonight. I needed answers, and I hope I get them.
The moment we arrived home, and stepped into the foyer, I turned to Jared. “What was that display at the bar? Denzel was right, wasn’t he? You didn’t fight because you were looking out for me, but because you two have a history in the past?” Jared ignored me and kept moving.
“Tell me, Jared,” I pressed on. “What happened between you and Denzel? What did he mean by you’ve not changed from who you were in highschool? Who were you, Jared?”
Jared still gave no response, but Sofia did. She turned to face me, her eyes flashing with anger and animosity. “Arielle, stop. This isn’t the time. Can’t you see he’s upset?” “Stay out if this, I’m talking to my husband!” I sneered at her.
“Oh, really? A husband you know nothing about. Humor me,” she retorted.
I ignored her and turned to Jared because I was not ready to indulge her. “Talk to me, Jared. I have never seen you fight anyone or lose your cool in public. Who’s Denzel?”
But Jared wouldn’t budge, his silence deafening. At this point, I knew I had to push harder to get the truth out of him.
“Fine,” I said firmly. “If you won’t tell me, then maybe i’ll just have find a way and ask Denzel myself.”
That seemed to do the trick because Jared halted and swirled around to look at me, his gaze locking onto mine with a fierce intensity. “You’ do no such thing, Arielle,” he
growled. “Stay away from oute
He’s not someone you want to get involved with.”
My brows shot up at his warning. Who was Denzel? And what had happened between him and Jared?
But I refused to cower. “Then you have to give me answers. You cant keep me in the dark, Jared-“
Sofia interrupted me as she stepped forward, her eyes blazing hot. “Are you daft? Jeez, how did you and Jared stay married this long?”
I blinked, taken aback by her outburst. “What do you mean?”
“Goodness,” she exclaimed, throwing her hands up. “How can you be married to your husband and not know his friends and enemies?”
I shook my head, feeling more confused than ever. “I don’t understand.”
“Of course, you don’t. If you do, you would have known that Jared and Denzel have been enemies since highschool. Denzel tried to force himself on me once, but Jared saved me.”
Now that makes sense, but still, it happened long ago for them to still hold on to the grudge. The anger and animosity in Jared’s eyes spoke volumes of something more.
“I’m not aware of this, Jared never told me, so how did you expect me to know when i’m not a sorcerer!” I fired back at Sofia. I hated the fact that she was trying to make me look insensitive.
“Jared never told you because you’re not the right one for him. Arielle, be doesn’t tell you things because
you’re not that person. You’re just trophy wife, a status symbol