Chapter 65
“Contested divorce.”
The words hung in the air between us, sharp and dangerous. I watched Henry’s expression harden, his jaw tightening as if the very sound of those words physically pained him.
“Divorce,” Henry repeated, his voice low and controlled. “That’s all I’ve been hearing from you lately. Divorce, divorce,
divorce.”
He stepped closer, continuously creating an atmosphere of Intimidation around me. His entire body radiated a violent aura that would have made my legs tremble had this been our first encounter.
“What happened to you?” he questioned, his eyes constantly appraising me. “The woman I married would never have behaved this way.”
I lifted my chin defiantly. “The woman you married was naive enough to believe you might eventually care for her.”
His fingers suddenly gripped my chin, forcing me to look directly into the fire of anger in his eyes. This was trick, using such pressure to establish his dominant position.
his usual
“Is that why you want to leave?” he asked, his thumb tracing my lower lip. “Because I don’t care enough? Besides me, is there anyone else who can satisfy you in that way?”
The crude implication sent heat rushing to my face. “Don’t trouble yourself worrying about it,” I shot back without thinking. “After all, your technique with women, I find quite average.”
Average?
I could see the shock in Henry’s eyes.
I’d meant it as an insult, wanting to wound his precious ego, but he didn’t get angry at all. Instead, a dangerous expression spread across his face.
“Is that so?” Henry practically purred, backing me into the corner of the hospital room. “Strange. I don’t recall hearing any complaints before.”
His hand moved with startling speed, gripping my buttocks with possessive familiarity. I gasped, both from surprise and from his touch, feeling a tingling electric current running through my body.
“What are you doing?” I hissed, acutely aware that Billy and William were just outside on the balcony, separated from us only by a glass door. “Stop!”
“Is this what you want?” Henry leaned closer, his breath hot against my ear. “Because I clearly remember how you moaned beneath me. Why don’t you ever admit that you actually desire me? Desire my body.”
His words made my whole body feel feverish.
I hated how my body always betrayed me under Henry’s provocations.
“You seemed perfectly satisfied then,” he continued, his hands boldly exploring, moving toward my chest. “So why the complaints now?”
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My mind flashed back to our encounter in the walk in closetow I’d locked him Inside, how I’d used my body to taunt him, Remembering his hungry eyes watching me through the glass made my pulse beat even faster.
Henry noticed my reaction, his smile now resembling that of a Hunter confident of his prey.
And I was nothing more than his possession.
His fingers played with the waistband of my jeans, threatening to slip beneath.
“Stop,” I whispered desperately, glancing toward the balcony where Billy was pointing at something in the distance, William smiling beside him. “They could see us.”
“Then stop provoking me,” Henry replied, though his hand stilled. “Every word out of your mouth lately seems designed to
infuriate me.”
“I just want my freedom,” I said quietly.
“Freedom?” His laugh was bitter. “To do what? Run to Thomas? Or this mysterious Sam you dream about?”
At the mention of that name, his voice grew increasingly cold.
“Please,” I said, hating the pleading note in my voice. “Let me go. We’ll discuss this elsewhere.”
Henry finally stepped back, straightening his jacket with practiced ease.
As his heated body moved away from mine, I felt my fear gradually dissipating, along with a stirring from deep within.
I was afraid Henry might be right.
Did I truly desire his body?
“Grace is downstairs in the emergency room,” he said, abruptly changing the subject as if our heated exchange had never happened. “She said you pushed her.”
I took a deep breath, grateful for the physical distance between us. “I slapped her,” I admitted. “Because she threatened to take Billy away. She brought security guards to intimidate me at his school.”
Henry’s expression shifted, a flash of concern crossing his features before the mask of indifference returned.
“And the fall?” he asked.
“She tried to attack me afterward. I stepped aside, and she lost her balance on her high heels. I met his gaze steadily. “I didn’t push her, Henry. She fell because she attacked me and missed.”
“That’s not what she told me.”
“Of course it isn’t,” I replied tiredly. “When has Grace ever told the truth about anything, especially when it comes to me?‘
Henry studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable “She’s my family.”
“And I’m not?” The words escaped before I could stop them.
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The silence that followed was deafening.
“You should visit her.” Henry finally said, ignoring my question entirely. She’s your sister–in–law, regardless of our…
current situation.”
I laughed incredulously. “Visit her? After she threatened our so? After she’s spent five years trying to humiliate me at every opportunity?”
“I’m not asking,” Henry’s voice hardened. “As long as you’re still my wife, you’ll fulfill certain obligations. Visiting Grace is
one of them.”
“Fine,” I conceded, seeing an opportunity. “I’ll visit Grace. But not to apologize–to confront her about threatening Billy.”
Henry’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. “I wouldn’t expect anything else from you these days.”
The balcony door slid open, ending our private conversation. Billy bounded in, his eyes bright with excitement.
“Mom! Dad! Great–Grandpa showed me a cardinal and a blue jay!” Billy exclaimed, unaware of the tension between us. “Can we come back tomorrow to see if we can spot more?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” I smiled, kneeling to his level.
When I stood up, Henry’s hand reached for mine, his fingers intertwining with my own as if it were the most natural gesture in the world. I stared at our joined hands in confusion.
Once, I’d dreamed of these simple moments–walking hand–in–hand, sharing our son’s excitement, becoming a real family.
Now this touch felt hollow, a performance for William’s benefit
“Shall we go see Grace?” Henry suggested, his thumb casually stroking the back of my hand.
I didn’t pull away, though every fiber of my being wanted to do so.
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