PAYBACK'S A BITCH

r 7. M

al burden he couldn't shake. The luxury that normally enveloped him, calming his nerves and soothing his mind, now felt hollow and uninviting. The f

into the armchair by the window, he let out a deep sigh, feeling the tension seep from his muscles. The city lights stretched before him, a s

llness was deafening. He glanced at the clock, the hands ticking past midnight. She was either asleep or... He pushed the thought aside, unwilling to entertain the possibility. Jan

ey'd shared, the triumphs they'd celebrated, and the quiet moments like this, when it was just the two of them. The silence seemed to grow thicker, heavier, an

ould

rk and his insinuating words g

eserves bett

g paranoia. He downed the rest of his drink in one

stared at her phone. Jared's offer for dinner tomorrow played over

the way his voice seemed to melt the walls she

ne buzz

no for an answer. I

ssing her hands

ze, her pulse quickening. She glanced at th

she called, h

voice came through, mu

omach

nd racing to think of an explanation for why

ng her face for answers she hadn't yet g

voice defensive. "You just..

ence filling the room. He looked around, noticing the untouched win

lly turning to face her. His tone w

e replied, folding her

his expression unreadable. "We ne

ach twisted.

is gaze locking onto h

ut she forced herself to st

in his eyes making her feel cornered. "

nsinuating something, just say it, Jon

oice rising. "I know y

ike a thundercloud. Janet's mout

y afloat," Jonathan continued, his frustration boiling

ected me for years! You treat me like a trophy wife, someone to show off at your eve

time to hold your hand while I'm trying to save everything we've

trembling with emotion. "All I ever wanted was you, Jonath

"And you think Jared will give you what you want? He's using

elled, the words spilling ou

weight of her admission

sk of hurt and disbelief. "So it's true,

d to let them fall. "I didn't plan for this to

d through his hair. "Unbelievable,"

u don't get to play the victim, Jonathan. You pushe

g. "So that's your excuse? I wasn't enough for you,

mple," she said,

"You made your choice, J

er heart sinking. "W

Jonathan said coldly. "I'll have t

l down her spine. She opened her mou

athan walked out, the doo

at the cup of coffee in front of her. She hadn't slept all night

her out of her trance. It

ill on for

er emotions a tangled mess

ent, she ty

t: "

n made. Whatever the future held, s

promptly at 7, his charmin

taking her hand and placing

Janet said, h

e mix of anticipation and unease. She knew she was c

ive and engaging, his laughte

id, his voice sincere. "And I want to b

g with the weight of his words. "I

ed with a smile. "But we'l

ng, her walls slowly crumbling. For the first time

and, a small voice in the back of her mind whispere

me woul