NovelEnglishThe pain was so intense it robbed him of breath.
Having tidied up the room, Andrew drew all the curtains and shut the windows, as if by doing so, Aubree's essence would linger a little longer.
He slumped onto the couch, the incessant ring of his phone piercing the silence. It was the Clements family calling, but he had no desire to answer.
A few empty beer bottles lay in the trash can, remnants of the past couple of days' attempts to drown his sorrows.
Sleep evaded Andrew, and he could not invite it. Every the closed his eyes, that video played in his mind, accompanied by Aubree's pleading cries. Tears welled up in his eyes.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe made his way to the master bedroom, to the bed where they had once been so entwined.
Now, lying there, he felt every cell in his body screaming emptiness. Clutching the comforter to his chest, hugging it close, the misery ebbed slightly.
His phone continued to ring, but he just stared blankly at the ceiling, ignoring its persistent call.
After half an hour, there was a knock at the living room door.
Hope flickered in Andrew's eyes. He even splashed his face with water in the bathroom, trying to slap slife into his listless features.
As he approached the door, his fingers curled nervously. He was also afraid. Afraid that it really was Aubree at the door, coming to collect her things and then leaving his life forever. Andrew was torn between pain, fear, and the longing to see her.
Every attempt to see Aubree lately had ended in being ignored or ridiculed, but the desire to see her made the hurt bearable.
Trembling lashes gave away his emotion as he heard Marissa's voice from outside. "Andrew, what on earth have you been hiding out here for?" It wasn't Aubree. Relief washed over Andrew, quickly replaced by a profound sense of loss.
Marissa, about to knock again, saw the door swing open to reveal Andrew, his eyes red-rimmed. Unaware of what had transpired, she wrinkled her nose at the smell of alcohol wafting out.
"You've been missing from the company for two days, and the executives have been bombardingwith calls. The Clements family elders are concerned. What's gotten into you?" Andrew opened his mouth, the video Marissa and Tessa had mentioned flashing in his mind. Could it be the sone he had seen? His marriage to Tessa, what was it really? Did everyone know about Aubree's misfortune except for him, who foolishly thought she was fickle? Tears fell again as Andrew's arms limply dropped to his sides. "Mom, I want a divorce." No sooner had the words left his mouth than Marissa's hand flew up in a slap. "Have you lost your mind? You were the one who wanted to marry Tessa, and now just two days in, you want a divorce? Think about the Clements family's reputation!" The slap twisted Andrew's head to the side, and he tasted blood. In that moment, the despair in his eyes faded. Right, he wanted a divorce. "Mom, I'm serious about the divorce." "You!!" Marissa raised her hand again, threatening another blow.
Andrew closed his eyes, his Adam's apple moving in a hard swallow. "Even if you kill me, I'm still getting a divorce." "Over my dead body! If you divorce, you'll have my corpse to answer to tomorrow. Pull yourself together, and go to the office. Tessa's at hcrying her eyes out every day. You brought this upon yourself, so deal with it." Marissa's brow was etched with impatience, She whipped out a compact mirror to touch up her makeup. "I've got a tea date with et stadies this afternoon. You're not a child, Andrew. Stop spouting such juvenile nonsense." Her tone was dismissive as she stowed the mirror back in her purse and strutted away in her heels.
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Marissa was known for her iron will, just as she had promised Tessa al wedding into the Clements family within a week. Divorce was not taken lightly in the Clements family. It was their creed.
Left alone, Andrew could only taste the blood in his mouth andremember Aubree's words. He and Tessa were the ones who deserved to go to hell. Aubree had endured in silence, revealing the video only on his wedding night.
Bound by family pressures, he found himself unable to leave Tessa just yet, leaving him no legitimate reason to pursue Aubree. The more he tried to salvage their relationship, the more he clung to her, the more his selfishness showed.
This was Aubree's ultimate revenge.
How deeply she must have hated him.
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