Chapter46
Lucassatbehindher,watchingherobedientlydrinkwater.Agentlelook shedinhiseyes,butitdisappearedquickly.
Afterdrinkingthewater,Avelinedidn’tliedownagain<b>.</b>Sheleanedagainsttheheadboardandcheckedherphone.Manypeoplehadsenthermessages,mostlycolleaguesaskingaboutherconditionandafewfromSelena.
ShecalledSelena.
“Ave,dideverythingworkout?”Selenaansweredquickly,hersweetvoicingthrough.
Avelinereplied,“Yes,itdid.Youwereabighelp.Haveyoudecidedwhatyouwanttoeat?”
Selenaresponded,“Inthatcase,I’llmakemyrequest.”
Avelinesaid,“Noproblem.”
Selenachuckled.“Ihaven’thadyourcookinginalongtime.Canyou
makemesomething?I’lleatwhateveryoucook.”
“Sure,”Avelineagreed.Selenahadhelpedhersomuch;she
deservedanythingshewanted.
Selenacontinued,“Hey,yourvoicesoundsabitoff.Areyouokay?<b>”</b>
Avelinereplied,“Icaughtacold,andI-”
Beforeshecouldfinish,someonesnatchedherphoneaway,ending.thecabruptly.Lucasputthephoneinhispocket.
“Lucas,whatareyoudoing?”Avelineredathim.
“Youneedtorestnow,”Lucassaidfirmly.
Avelineretorted,“Butatleastletmefinishmysentence!AmIabout.
+15BONUS
todieorsomething?Can’tIevenfinishasentence?”
Lucaslookedathercoldly.“Ifyouwanttodierightnow,Icanmakethathappen.”
Avelinewasspeechless.
Shecursedhimahundredtimesinherheadbutdidn’tdaresaya
wordoutloud.
Howinfuriating!Hewassooverbearing!Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
Wherewasthatgentlepuppyfrombefore?Givehimbacktoher!
Fuming,Avelurnedherheadawayandignoredhim.
Lucasstaredatherprofile,hiseyesdarkandbrooding.“Youdidwellthistime.SecuringthepartnershipwithBrightonmeansthedepartmentheadpositionisyours.”
Hisdeepvoiceechoedintheroom,metwithonlysilence.
“Saysomething!”
Avelineretorted,“Areyoucrazy?You’retheonewhotoldmetorest,andnowyouwantmetotalk.”
Lucasfrowned,lookingatherpaleface,andsaidnothing<b>.</b>Hejustclosedhiseyes.
Avelinegrittedherteethandeventuallygaveup.
Afteralongwhile,hervoice brokethesilenceintheroom.
“Lucas,whydidn’tyoe tohelpmstnight?”
Lucas‘breathhitched,seeminglynotexpectinghertoasksodirectly.
Avelinecontinued,“Didn’texpectmetoask,didyou?Butwhyshouldn’tI?You’re<b>my</b>husband,thepersonI’vealwaysreliedon,theoneI…oncelovedthemost.Inthatsituation,youshouldhave
2/3
steppeduptohelpme.”
Asshespoke,afaint,bittersmileappearedonherface.“Butyouactedlikeanoutsider,watchingmymisery.”
Lucas‘eyeswerefixedonher.“Whatdoyoumeanby‘onceloved.themost?Doyounotlovemeanymore?Howcanyoubesofickle?”
Avelinelookedhimstraightintheeye.“Whydon’tyouaskyourselfwhyit’s‘once‘?”
Lucas’slipspressedintoatightline,andtheatmospherearoundhimbecameevenmoreintense,makingtheroomfeelseveraldegreescolder.
Aveline,exhausted,said,“Stoptormentingthispatient.”
Hepaused,hisgazeunreadable,butafireseemedtoburnwithinhischest,leavinghimdeeplyunsettled.
Didshereallyprefertheversionofhimwholosthismemory?
Theroomfinallyfellintoaprolongedsilence.
Avelinedriftedbacktosleep,andwhen shewokeup,theIVdripwasfinished.Daylightstreamedthroughthewindow,andshesawherphoneonthebedsidetable.
Whensheopenedit,shesawamessagefromLucasonWhatsApp.