Page 88 of Down the Aisle
Sadly, reality was a bitch.
Seeing Adam's face this morning was not a welcome sight. The only thing his goofy morning smile did was bring back the memories of last night. I mean, how could he do it? Commit crimes at night while I was in bed, then smile so innocently at me as if he didn't have any blood on his hands.
God, he touches me with the same hands he snuffs lives out with. The same one that choked me so tenderly was the same one to break someone else's neck!
God, I can't do this!
Without a word, I shoved his arms and body away from me to scramble out of bed. Silently, I rushed my morning routine to get away from Adam. I needed space from him, which was a hard thing to do considering how I was stuck on a fucking yacht with him! Well, at least the floating hunk of metal was more than big enough for us to go about without seeing each other.
Okay, slight correction: it was big enough for us to go about without crossing pathsifAdam allowed it. He probably did think before, but I only noticed it now because of how on edge I was after last night; I could feel his eyes on my back and see him out of the corner of my eyes. I didn't bother addressing him. Was it annoying to have him stalk me? Yes, very much so, but he wasn't doing any harm, nor was he bothering me.
Breakfast went by very awkwardly, which sucked because the meal was amazing, and the scenery was romantic as fuck. This whole thing was a scene right out of every damn romance movie involving a rich guy charming over a woman. Yeah, rather ironic because I always hated those movies and the stupid women in it because they were so shallow, dense, gave in too easily, yet I ended being one of them in the end.
Shoveling the delicious food down—shame because I really wanted to enjoy it—I left the instant the last spec of food was cleaned off my plate. I thought about shoving the plate of food away, but that'd probably prompt Adam to force feed me because going without breakfast was a sin in our relationship.
How stupid of me to think I'd get rid of him so easily, though.
Persistent jerk was hot on my heels the moment I left the table. I was half tempted to whirl around and snap at him to give me space, but I figured him following me around like a lostpuppy for reassurance was better than him killing James in the next room over from me.
Although… Speaking of James…
It was probably a bad idea—oh, who was I kidding, it was certainly a horrible idea, but I found myself standing before a heavily guarded door when I came to it. My feet somehow carried my stunned body back to the root of my problems.
I should turn away. I was done with James. I made my peace with him on the patio.
…right?
Everything around me faded away to nothing the more I stared at the door that grew further and further with each pounding beat of my heart. Maybe that was a sign for me to leave because the door was out of reach, but I stepped forward.
Soon, the freezing metal of the doorknob bit the palm of my hand, and the creak of the gears turning assaulted my ears, along with the hinges giving away.
"And look who came crawling back to me." His heavy but weak chuckle echoed throughout the empty room. "Finally come to your senses?"
Unsure of what I was doing, I remained tight lipped as I approached his bloody, chained up body on the floor.
Groaning in pain, James slowly got up to his knees before spitting his venom at me. "Where's your illegal lover? Off killing the man who looked at you wrong? Finding some other chick who is actually worthy of his time and attention?"
If I had doubts about Adam's devotion to me then James's words might've affected me to some extent. Too bad his attempts won't do anything to shake the foundation that's been laid.
Sighing heavily, I leaned down and started to reach out to James. I never got to touch him, though. He knocked my hand away with a violent jerk of his head and snap of his jaws. "James…" Swallowing the lump in my throat, I looked at himwith eyes full of pity. "I am so sorry. I didn't ask or want for any of this to happen, really. I had no idea that Adam had anything bad planned, you have to believe me."
I don't know why I was apologizing. There was no denying the blackhole of guilt that consumed me when I saw James last night. No matter how shitty of a husband he might've been, he was still a human at the end of the day—and no one deserved the treatment he was getting.
…Well, maybe I shouldn't say that because I was pretty sure there were many exceptions in the world…
Either way, James didn't deserve the murder coming his way. I mean, yeah, he may have nearly killed me once… or twice… three times… more…
Still!
A sudden wet slap against my face had me reeling back in disgust when it hit me. The fucking asshole literally spat a glob of bloody spit at me!
"Don't act so fucking innocent. I don't need your fucking pity or apologies for anything. The only thing you should be doing right now is begging me for a second chance, for me to not beat some fucking sense into you after you get me out of here." Taking some deep breaths, he let out a deranged chuckle that border lined a laugh. "And the only damn apology that should be leaving your mouth is how sorry you are for not listening to me in the first place! Because just like always, I was fucking right!"
"I can't believe it." I scoffed in slight disbelief.
Falling back onto my ass, I laughed at myself as I shook my head in my hands. "God." Running my hands down my face, I groaned deeply. "Why did I think for a second that you'd be different? That maybe you actually changed."
I felt so fucking pathetic.
