Chapter 9
Joanna blicked, spused by his question. Wanting to avoid any more complications, the simply stated, “Norbert is my husband.”
Kenneth’s face hardened at the news. He moved closer to Joanna, his gare intense: “You called out your hushand’s name in my bed?”
„Joanna’s heart pounded as she instinctively retreated, her back pressing against the wall.
With a sneer, he taunted, “Does your husband know how eager you are with another man!”
“Kenneth, you’re such an ass,” Joanna shot back, her hand flying up to slap him. She’d see his name at check in earlier.
Kenneth caught Joanna’s slap mid–air, his grip form on her wrist as he pinned it against the chill of the wall
He leaned in close, his breath a hot whisper near her bar, “Ms. Mayfield, are you always this deceitful? You were all over me in bed, desperate for more Now that you’ve had y
d your fill, you act like I’m the enemy
Joanna’s eyes brimmed with tears, but she held his stare, her voice steady despite the emotion. “No, Kenneth. You assaulted ma
He echoed her words, his voice laced with a threatening calm, “Assaulted? Ms. Mayfield, you were the one who came Is that how you remember it–‘1 assaulted you“?”
into my room and stripped willingly.
Joanna’s voice wavered as her confidence slipped. “That’s not it…”
he had been drugged, her
her senses clouded, and she had acted out of character, unable to control her actions.
Before Joanna could get a word in, Kenneth’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Never thought I’d end up with someone so easy. He let go of her, his tone dripping with disdain. “You’re disgusting”
“You think I’m disgusting?” Joanna’s eyes flashed with anger, tears threatening to spill as she trembled with rage.
Aher their wedding, Norbert had never shared a bed with her; the night she’d spent with “Mr. Ken” to save Norbert was the only other time she’d been with a man. Kenneth was just the second. “How dare he call me disgusting? she fumed to herself
“You’re a gigolo. What gives you the right to call me disgusting?” Joanna choked back her tears, biting her lip to keep them at
at bay.
She grabbed Kenneth’s phone and quickly transferred some money. “Here’s your payment,” she said and blocked his number. “Kenneth, we’re through. Don’t ever come near me again.”
Joanna thrust the phone back at Kenneth and stormed off. He stood there, his face a mask of coldness, as he stared at the 10 thousand dollars she’d just transferred to him, the air around him seeming to chill.
But Joanna’s anger was a fire that wouldn’t die so easily. She marched back to him and snatched the glass of water from the table, splashing it right in his face.
“And for the record,” she snapped, “as a gigolo, you’re terrible in bed. Maybe you should get some help with that, so you don’t lose all your clients.”
The nurse, who had just brought Kenneth a glass of water and was now stepping out, overheard the exchange. She cast a sidelong glance at him, a hint of disdain in her eyes.
‘What a shame,” she thought, shaking her head. ‘He’s handsome, but if he’s an escort and a bad one at that…
Water streamed down Kenneth’s face as he punched the wall. His dignified demeanor remained untouched despite the water. He watched Joanna vanis around the corner, his valce a low prowl of fury “Joanna, you’ve got some nerve.”
“You keep pushing your luck, and you better hope you never cross my path again, he thought
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Chapter 9
Joanna stumbled through the door late at night, het energy drained. She was greeted by the sight of a young boy in her living room, brandishing a magic wand and poking at Luna. Luna stood there, winding but not fighting back, silently taking the absuta
“Luna” Joanna rushed over, pulling Luna close. She recopired the boy as Jonah, her heart sinking “Where’s your a
Jonah ignored her, his voice a mix of innocence and malice as he waved the wand again. “Bad woman, I’ll destroy you”
Luna had been quiet when Jenah bullied set, but seeing him target Joanna sparked a protective instinct. “Don’t bully my mom,” she said, shoving Jonah
back
Jonah tumbled to the floor, his laughter replaced by loud sobs.
“Jonah.” A voice rang out, one that Joanna knew all too well. Her heat leaped as she spotted Susan emerging from an upstain bedroom, clad in a
nightgown.
Joanna’s eyes bulged in disbelief. Not only was Susan in her home, but she was wearing her clothes..
“Jonah, what happened? Why’d you fall?” Susan asked, her face etched with worry as she helped her son to his feet.
From the kitchen, a man’s voice cut through the tension, “What’s all the commotion?”
Joanna’s gaze snapped towards the sound of the voice, her shock deepening as she saw Norbert, who’d been absent for what felt like forever.
He was donning an apron, mid–cook, and strolled over to Susan with a tenderness that belonged to a loving husband. But Joanna was his wife, not
Susan
“Dad, the mean lady pushed me,” Jonah wailed, pointing an accusing linger at Joanna as he complained.
“No,” Luna interjected, looking up at Norbert. She tried to explain, her words tumbling out in a clumsy defense, but she was cut short by his stem rebuke. “Joanna, Jonah’s just a child. How could you?”
Susan’s eyes welled up with tears. “Joanna, if you’re angry, take it out on me. Jonah didn’t deserve that.”
Joanna didn’t bother with explanations. She tucked Luna safely behind her, her tone sharp with accusation, “Norbert, what is she doing here?”
Norbert’s eyes flicked to the man’s coat draped over Joanna’s shoulders, a memory of the video Clara had sent him flashing through his mind. His voice took on a chill. “Susan and Jonah will be staying with us for a bit-
“No, they won’t,” Joanna interjected, cutting him off. “Norbert, this is our home, and I won’t have her here.”
“Joanna, if it bothers you this much, I’ll just take Jonah and go, Susan said, her face drained of color as she clutched Jonah, ready to turn away.
But Norbert’s hand stopped her. “Susan, just go back to your room for now.” Once Susan had retreated, Norbert turned to Joanna, a tinge of imitation creeping into his voice. “Joanna, who are you to argue with me?”
“I’m your wife,” Joanna retorted, her voice quivering as she gritted her teeth
“Wife?” Norbert echoed, casting a fleeting, cold glance at Luna. “Joanna, have you forgotten why I married you in the first place? But things have changed, I’m not the same man I was five years ago. I have everything now.”
Joanna’s eyes widened, meeting Norbert’s icy state, which held no trace of the warmth,
“If you can’t accept Susan, then I can’t accept you.”
1,” he declared.
“Dad, it wasn’t Mom who pushed him. It was the Luna spoke up, her voice strained with the effort to make herself heard.
At that moment, Jonah reappeared, tugging at Norbert’s attention. “Dad, I’m hungry”
Norbert dismissed Luna’s words and gently ruffled Jonah’s hair. “Just a little longer. Your snack will be ready soon.
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11:40 Sat, 31 May Gu
Chapter 9
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As he turned to leave, his gaze swept over Joanns once more, pausing briefly on the men’s coat she wore “I don’t care what you’ve been up to outside, but just don’t bring any dat back home.”
i
Joanna’s vision blurred with tears, a wave of helplessness washing over her.
“Don’t cry, Mom,” Luna whispered and handed her some tissues after they retreated to the bedroom. Luna was delicate, and Joanna didn’t want to add to her worries, so she påsted on a suvile.
Once Luna was tucked in and asleep, Joanna returned to her own room, shedding her coat and thinking of its owner, Kenneth
While Fraser had put her in danger twice, Kenneth had come to their rescue–once for her daughter, and once for her. It was such an ironic contrast to her
husband’s callous behavior.
Pushing thoughts of Kenneth aside, Joanna took a shower and changed into her nightgown. With a deep breath to steady herself, she stepped out of her
room once more,
Joanna glanced around the dining table, finding no one, She made her way to Norbert’s bedroom. The door was ajar, and through the gap, she saw the cory tableau of Norbert, Susan, and Jonah. The sight was a punch to the gut.
Pushing the door open, Joanna entered. Susan locked up first. “Joanna”
But Joanna’s focus was on Norbert, who met her gaze with a frosty stare. With a smile that felt more like a wince, Joanna said, “Norbert, it’s getting late. We should head back to our room!
AD
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