Chapter 10 ~ Pump sense into him

| lift my head, my eyes blazing with something between anger and devastation. But he doesn't care. She provoked me. That's what | want to say, but | realize it won't matter. He won't believe me. Maybe he never has. "Say it." His voice is ice-cold, sharp, and cutting through like a blade. Alexander King has always been ruthless. Calculating. Cold. But this- this side of him is new even to me. This is the look of a man who always gets what he wants, and right now, my humiliation is what will soothe his anger. Too bad | have no interest in it. Leah may have been his first love, but she is a pretentious bit, and it's annoying how Alex turns a blind eye. My lips press together. I'm stubborn, always have been. The urge to fight back burns in my veins, but his grip tightens on my wrist, a silent reminder that fighting him won't anywhere. His face tells| won't leave this place until | apologize. How degrading is that? Here | am, in my nightdress, my knees forced to stay on the cold, hard floor, while he towers over me, demanding that | bow to the woman who shattered everything. To the woman who crawled back into his life and made him forget all the ways, | tried to love him. "Apologize to her, Athena. Now." "No." His eyes blaze with fire, frustration tightening his grip on my arm. His knuckles turn white, his jaw clenches, and | can feel the rage rolling off him in waves. "Alex..." Leah's voice is soft and carefully measured as if, when she speaks a little louder, he'll see behind her mask. Her hand gently touches his jacket, and | hate how easily she can pull him back from the edge. The scene from earlier flashes before me. Reminding of a love that can never be broken. Their love. "It's okay. | understand how angry she must be... knowing you'll be divorcing her soon. Maybe | shouldn't have cback. Maybe | caused you this pain-" "Hey." His tone shifts, gentle and soothing. The contrast cuts deeper than | expected. "It's not your fault. You did nothing wrong. Things will be okay, just trust me. "I'm sorry, Athena. | only approached you to apologize for what | did at the gala. It was wrong and I'm truly sorry. You might have injured | deserve it." Her voice cracks as a tear slips down her cheeks. The bitch is good. She could pass for a very talented actress. "You don't need to apologize. It's the least she could do after using your position and all that belonged to you for three years." Alex responds. His voice was low and bitter. My heart is ripped open a thousand times over. It shouldn't hurt this much. It shouldn't feel like someone just reached inside my chest and crushed the last remaining pieces of me. But there's little you can do to soothe a breaking heart. My breath hitches, but | refuse to let the tears fall. Not in front of them. Not when he already thinks so little of me. "If you won't, I'll make you," he says, voice like steel. "And you won't like it. Don't play with me." He brings his gaze back to me, and | can't tell if he's enjoying this. If breaking is just another thing he has to do before he finally lets go. But they're right. I'm the one who shouldn't be here. I'm the one who has no place in his life anymore. Slowly, | exhale and clench my fists against my thighs. My pride is a storm inside me, raging and wild, but | swallow it down like poison. Because there is no winning this. Not tonight. My voice is barely above a whisper when | force the words out. "I'm sorry." Leah pretends to hesitate, her eyes flickering between Alex as if debating whether to accept it. But | see the slight tilt of her lips, the satisfaction hiding beneath the surface. Stupid bitch. "You don't sound sorry," Alex says. | snap my head up, meeting his gaze. "I said it. That's all you're getting." Something flashes in his eyes, something dangerous and unreadable. But then he lets go of my arm and steps back as if touching any longer might taint him. Leah sighs, feigning sympathy. "It's okay, Alex. | don't think she means it, but maybe in time, she will." "There won't be a next time because we are divorcing soon. Con, let's take you to the hospital." "My legs hurt so much, Alex. | can't walk." Why am | still listening to this bullshit? "I'll lift you." He says as he picks her bridal style and walks away, leaving her standing in the huge living room. But | refuse to look back. | refuse to see them because right after my graduation, I'll sign the papers and go far away. "What the fuck is going on?" A voice pulls back, making a turn to face him. I'm sure he saw Alex carry his precious angel out. It's humiliating, and I'm speechless. "Are you okay? Should | go pumpsensee into him?" Knowing that the attempt will end with his body dead on the ground. | shake my head. This is Alexander we are talking about. A bastard above everyone. "No." | fix my gaze on him, "What are you doing here so late?"