Female Novel
Chapter 15
Chapter 15 Chapter Fifteen
My words had barely left my m*uth when Bella’s trembling voice reverberated in the space. “Mark”Her voice quivered with raw emotion and her eyes glinted with unshed tears as she gazed at him,“Stay,” she whispered. “My friends are all waiting for you. If you leave, they’ll mock me endlessly.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her dramatics.
It was her fault if her friends mocked her. Ever since she returned from her
elopement, she had made me look like the villain before her friends and anyone who cared to listen.She would always tell them that she and Mark were t the real deal and I, who had always enviedher, had taken the opportunity to force my- self on Mark when she went abroad for her medicaltreatment. The bitterness of her accusations still lingered till this day. I had felt betrayed when I hadheard it. When I had thought I was saving her name, painting me bad was all I got in return.
I rolled my eyes some more when I saw Mark’s expression softened. Even in my grasp, I felt himlightly leaned forward. Before he could utter a word, my hold on his arm tightened. I was surprisedat the possessiveness in my grip.
“Sorry, love. No can do,” I cooed, my voice dripping with saccharine sweetness.
“But my husband,” I placed my other hand on his ch*st , “is very busy. He has to
take me home and unlike some people, he has commitments and responsibili-
ties so he has tons of work to get to.”
Anger flared in her eyes, her eyes shooting daggers at my palm on his ch*st .
“You two–faced b**ch!” She scowled and her face reddened. I flinched back and
raised my brows at the hatred in her eyes, “Didn’t you just announce that your
were going to divorce him? Now you’ve changed your mind, clinging to him like he’s your lifeline.”
I rolled my eyes, “Look, couples have issues like this more often…” I trailed off
and flicked my wrist in the air, “you’re not married, so you won’t understand.
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Chapter 15 Chapter Fifteen
This is just a little fun between my husband and I. Haven’t you noticed that our relationship hasimproved since we left the courtyard? We’re good now.” I turned to Mark, fluttering my lashes, “Isn’tthat right, darling?”
Mark’s Jaw tightened, the muscles in his face tensed as he gritted his teeth. “You’re right.” Hesounded like the words were forced out of him as he muttered through clenched teeth. All the while,his gaze remained fixed on Bella showing his longing. I bet he was practically itching to run to her.
I lifted my chin, the corner of my l*ps lifted in a subtle smirk. I rested my head on his shoulder, hiswarmth seeping into my skin. “See?” I murmured softly with fake affection, “We’re good. Now runalong, tell everyone we’ll be out soon.”
Ignoring my presence with a deliberate disregard that almost stung, she turned her attention solelyto Mark, her words were accompanied by desperation and forced vulnerability. She placed atrembling hand over her ch*st , “My ch*st feels tight, Mark.”
Her brows creased and her l*ps turned down as she tried to make her non exis- tent distressevident, “It feels like there’s a weight crushing my ch*st , Mark. It hurts,” she murmured, her voicewas strained as she slowly rubbed her ch*st area. “Please, can you stay with me? Just for a littlewhile,” she implored, her voice trembling with a mix of pain and longing, as if hoping it would prompthim to bow to her.
I marveled as I watched her display. She could as well be an actress. It was less wonder Mark wasdeeply fooled by their lies. novelbin
I let out an exasperated breath and snorted. She was good but I still wondered how Mark could stillbe oblivious to her manipulative tactics. It was almost as if he were under some kind of spell, unableto see through her facade. With her ample figure and glowing face, she looked nothing like a sickperson, let alone someone suffering from a disease. Just because dad had publicly announced thatshe had a heart disease after she had fled on her wedding day, she made sure to always capitalizeon her ‘hurting heart‘ every now and then, especially whenever Mark was around.
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The frustration bubbled up inside me as I thought deeper about the situation. Mark and the otherswere really fools to be honest, their unquestioning accep- tance of her supposed illness didn’tmake sense. How could they be so naive,
so easily manipulated by her deceitful facade? With each of their pretenses that I witnessed andlies that I heard, my patience wore thin. My gaze lingered on her as I silently prayed for themoment when Mark’s blind trust would crumble and the hidden truth beneath the carefully craftedlies will be out for everyone
to see.
The hallway was bathed in silence, the only sound was the faint echo of our
breaths as I waited to see what Mark would do. I rolled my eyes, not surprised
when he untangled himself from me. “She needs me,” his said as he took a ten- tative step towardher. “Bella…”
A stifled yawn threatened to escape my l*ps as I moved away from him, fed up of the utter boredomof the situation. So pathetic and blind. I watched as Bella sigh heavily and rested her head on hisch*st . His arms instinctively wrapped
around her, drawing her close, as if to shield her from me.
I casually swung my bag over my shoulder, the act added a confident swagger
to my steps as I walked past her down the stairs. I could feel each of their eyes trailing me as Idescended the stairs.
Suddenly, as I reached halfway down the stairs, an idea lit up in my mind and my steps halted.
I stopped walking and with a sweet smile in place, I turned to Mark. “Oh Mark
darling, I forgot to tell you.” His brows drew down as he listened. “Remember the
man from the bar? You know, the handsome hunk that interfered that night?
The one who said he owned the bar. He’s Italian. I know this because he gave
me his card.”
The clench of his fists and tightness in his jaw widened my smile and edged me on. “So in case youcome home late tonight and I get bored of waiting, I’ll go to the bar by myself. You will find methere.” I shrugged, “That’s if you bother to
find me.”
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He instantly and roughly let go of Bella and in a few strides, he was before me, trapping me againstthe stairs‘ handrail. He grabbed my arm and his vice–like grip bit into the skin there. His voicethundered through the stairway, filled with rage at my insinuation, “You dare to even think aboutcheating on me, and I’ll make sure you regret it, Sydney,” he growled, his eyes blazing with… Isthat jeal- ousy I see?
I couldn’t help the hearty laughter that bubbled up my throat. “Why not?” I smirked, my amusedgaze met his raging one with defiance, “The Italian guy is quite to my taste, to be honest,” I taunted,my voice coated with mockery.
His fist clenched and unclenched at his sides, I could see the sinews of his forearm tense under thetransparent material of his shirt as his grip on my arm tightened, his knuckles whitening with theforce of his anger. “Sydney…” his voice carried a warning, a low guttural rumble..
Were v
I could see Bella, in my peripheral vision, her eyes with disbelief at the scene unfolding before her,her gaze flickered between Mark and me as if she was trying to decipher if she was in a dream.Even I, amidst the tension filled air, couldn’t help but feel quite amused and surprised at the sight of
Mark’s jealousy boiling over. Who would have believed that he could get this jeal- ous? Yet, Ithought with contempt, he cheats on me without a second thought.
He roughly pulled at my arm, his grip firm as we descended the stairs together. He was so enragedthat he seemed to have forgotten all about her, not even sparing a glance or a goodbye.
It felt good, I thought as a rush of satisfaction washed over me. It felt good to possess this power topush him to such extremes and make him blind with anger. I wondered in annoyance why I chose tolive the past three years like. some pathetic puppet.
As we reached the foot of the stairs, I couldn’t resist the itch to turn back. Bella still stood there,gaping, her eyes widening with each step Mark took.
With a full–blown smirk spreading across my l*ps, I raised my middle finger tri- umphantly andm*uthed, “B**ch!” The thrill of my small victory coursed through
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me, a surge of adrenaline fueling my defiance. It was a fleeting moment of satis-
faction as her brows drew down and face suddenly turned red in anger.
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