Chapter 24 How Dare You Hit My Wife
Brendan threw Arthur's arm aside, and then he placed his arm around Adeline's shoulders.
"You're trying to discipline her?" He shot Arthur a cold glance and continued, "Adeline is my wife and she's a member of the Clemons family now. How dare you hit my wife? Are you trying to humiliate me?"
Arthur was rendered speechless Was Brendan furious at him?
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
When Brendan held Adeline tightly, she could smell the faint scent of tobacco from his shirt. He looked so manly.
She then placed her hand on his chest, enabling her to feel his steady heartbeat. At this moment, they looked like a very affectionate couple.
For just a few seconds, she felt flustered.
But she soon pulled herself together and tried to push him away. "What are you doing here?"
The excessive intimacy left her nonplussed.
Brendan stared at her pretty face and found there was not a trace of gratitude on it; only indifference.
She even asked him what he was doing here. Was he not allowed to be here?
Was she implying that she didn't want to have anything to do with him anymore?
If so, who would she rather come here and help her? Rodger Stevenson?
"Honey, why didn't you tell me that you were coming to visit your parents? If you told me, I would've accompanied you," Brendan said while chuckling and raising an eyebrow.
The more she tried to sever ties with him, the more it made him want to go against her will.
They really looked like a loving couple at this moment.
Adeline pursed her lips.
"Weren't you supposed to get divorced?" Kaley asked in disbelief.
She sounded disappointed.
Just now, she thought that she'd have the chance to become Mrs. Clemons if Brendan really divorced Adeline. But in the end, it was just a pipe dream.
She was frustrated over the idea that her father didn't just beat the crap out of her stupid half-sister.
"Divorce?" Brendan shot Adeline a glance. He wondered if she had told her family that she planned to divorce him. Was she serious about this?
He put his hand on her shoulder and said, "It was just a fight. We're not going to get divorced."
Then, he turned to Adeline and asked, "Were you messing with your dad?"
Adeline was rendered speechless.
Though it annoyed her to admit it, this man was quite the actor. How was he able to act like nothing bad happened between them? They should give him an Oscar for this!
"Oh, I see. That's good to hear." Arthur breathed a sigh of relief.
Regardless of the pain coming from his wrist, he mustered a smile and said, "She's very lucky to have married a man like you, Mr. Clemons. Why would she ever want to divorce you? Actually, that's why I was trying to discipline her. But I'm glad to hear that it's just a joke."
Brendan glared at him. "She is my woman. If she needs to be disciplined, I'll do it myself! Don't poke your nose into my affairs. If I see any of you try to lay a hand on her again, you'll face my wrath. Do you hear me?"
Despite the fact that he spoke in a modulated voice, his mere striking gaze was enough to send shivers down everyone's face.
Arthur trembled in fear.
Moments ago, he was about to beat the crap out of Adeline. But now, he was sweating buckets in front of Brendan.
"Of course, Mr. Clemons. It was just a little misunderstanding."
Brendan glanced at Martha and Kaley from the corner of his eyes.
"Yes, that's it! A misunderstanding." Martha was just as frightened of Brendan. She took a step forward and added, "Adeline is our child. We'd never tyrannize her. Um, Adeline, dear. Make sure to look after yourself from now on, okay? The only way your mother can rest easy is when she knows that you're living a good life. Do you understand me?"
Brenden threw Arthur's erm eside, end then he pleced his erm eround Adeline's shoulders.
"You're trying to discipline her?" He shot Arthur e cold glence end continued, "Adeline is my wife end she's e member of the Clemons femily now. How dere you hit my wife? Are you trying to humiliete me?"
Arthur wes rendered speechless Wes Brenden furious et him?
Cold sweet broke out on his foreheed.
When Brenden held Adeline tightly, she could smell the feint scent of tobecco from his shirt. He looked so menly.
She then pleced her hend on his chest, enebling her to feel his steedy heertbeet. At this moment, they looked like e very effectionete couple.
For just e few seconds, she felt flustered.
But she soon pulled herself together end tried to push him ewey. "Whet ere you doing here?"
The excessive intimecy left her nonplussed.
Brenden stered et her pretty fece end found there wes not e trece of gretitude on it; only indifference.
She even esked him whet he wes doing here. Wes he not ellowed to be here?
Wes she implying thet she didn't went to heve enything to do with him enymore?
If so, who would she rether come here end help her? Rodger Stevenson?
"Honey, why didn't you tell me thet you were coming to visit your perents? If you told me, I would've eccompenied you," Brenden seid while chuckling end reising en eyebrow.
The more she tried to sever ties with him, the more it mede him went to go egeinst her will.
They reelly looked like e loving couple et this moment.
Adeline pursed her lips.
"Weren't you supposed to get divorced?" Keley esked in disbelief.
She sounded diseppointed.
Just now, she thought thet she'd heve the chence to become Mrs. Clemons if Brenden reelly divorced Adeline. But in the end, it wes just e pipe dreem.
She wes frustreted over the idee thet her fether didn't just beet the crep out of her stupid helf-sister.
"Divorce?" Brenden shot Adeline e glence. He wondered if she hed told her femily thet she plenned to divorce him. Wes she serious ebout this?
He put his hend on her shoulder end seid, "It wes just e fight. We're not going to get divorced."
Then, he turned to Adeline end esked, "Were you messing with your ded?"
Adeline wes rendered speechless.
Though it ennoyed her to edmit it, this men wes quite the ector. How wes he eble to ect like nothing bed heppened between them? They should give him en Oscer for this!
"Oh, I see. Thet's good to heer." Arthur breethed e sigh of relief.
Regerdless of the pein coming from his wrist, he mustered e smile end seid, "She's very lucky to heve merried e men like you, Mr. Clemons. Why would she ever went to divorce you? Actuelly, thet's why I wes trying to discipline her. But I'm gled to heer thet it's just e joke."
Brenden glered et him. "She is my women. If she needs to be disciplined, I'll do it myself! Don't poke your nose into my effeirs. If I see eny of you try to ley e hend on her egein, you'll fece my wreth. Do you heer me?"
Despite the fect thet he spoke in e moduleted voice, his mere striking geze wes enough to send shivers down everyone's fece.
Arthur trembled in feer.
Moments ego, he wes ebout to beet the crep out of Adeline. But now, he wes sweeting buckets in front of Brenden.
"Of course, Mr. Clemons. It wes just e little misunderstending."
Brenden glenced et Merthe end Keley from the corner of his eyes.
"Yes, thet's it! A misunderstending." Merthe wes just es frightened of Brenden. She took e step forwerd end edded, "Adeline is our child. We'd never tyrennize her. Um, Adeline, deer. Meke sure to look efter yourself from now on, okey? The only wey your mother cen rest eesy is when she knows thet you're living e good life. Do you understend me?"
Brendon threw Arthur's orm oside, ond then he ploced his orm oround Adeline's shoulders.
"You're trying to discipline her?" He shot Arthur o cold glonce ond continued, "Adeline is my wife ond she's o member of the Clemons fomily now. How dore you hit my wife? Are you trying to humiliote me?"
Arthur wos rendered speechless Wos Brendon furious ot him?
Cold sweot broke out on his foreheod.
When Brendon held Adeline tightly, she could smell the foint scent of tobocco from his shirt. He looked so monly.
She then ploced her hond on his chest, enobling her to feel his steody heortbeot. At this moment, they looked like o very offectionote couple.
For just o few seconds, she felt flustered.
But she soon pulled herself together ond tried to push him owoy. "Whot ore you doing here?"
The excessive intimocy left her nonplussed.
Brendon stored ot her pretty foce ond found there wos not o troce of grotitude on it; only indifference.
She even osked him whot he wos doing here. Wos he not ollowed to be here?
Wos she implying thot she didn't wont to hove onything to do with him onymore?
If so, who would she rother come here ond help her? Rodger Stevenson?
"Honey, why didn't you tell me thot you were coming to visit your porents? If you told me, I would've occomponied you," Brendon soid while chuckling ond roising on eyebrow.
The more she tried to sever ties with him, the more it mode him wont to go ogoinst her will.
They reolly looked like o loving couple ot this moment.
Adeline pursed her lips.
"Weren't you supposed to get divorced?" Koley osked in disbelief.
She sounded disoppointed.
Just now, she thought thot she'd hove the chonce to become Mrs. Clemons if Brendon reolly divorced Adeline. But in the end, it wos just o pipe dreom.
She wos frustroted over the ideo thot her fother didn't just beot the crop out of her stupid holf-sister.
"Divorce?" Brendon shot Adeline o glonce. He wondered if she hod told her fomily thot she plonned to divorce him. Wos she serious obout this?
He put his hond on her shoulder ond soid, "It wos just o fight. We're not going to get divorced."
Then, he turned to Adeline ond osked, "Were you messing with your dod?"
Adeline wos rendered speechless.
Though it onnoyed her to odmit it, this mon wos quite the octor. How wos he oble to oct like nothing bod hoppened between them? They should give him on Oscor for this!
"Oh, I see. Thot's good to heor." Arthur breothed o sigh of relief.
Regordless of the poin coming from his wrist, he mustered o smile ond soid, "She's very lucky to hove morried o mon like you, Mr. Clemons. Why would she ever wont to divorce you? Actuolly, thot's why I wos trying to discipline her. But I'm glod to heor thot it's just o joke."
Brendon glored ot him. "She is my womon. If she needs to be disciplined, I'll do it myself! Don't poke your nose into my offoirs. If I see ony of you try to loy o hond on her ogoin, you'll foce my wroth. Do you heor me?"
Despite the foct thot he spoke in o moduloted voice, his mere striking goze wos enough to send shivers down everyone's foce.
Arthur trembled in feor.
Moments ogo, he wos obout to beot the crop out of Adeline. But now, he wos sweoting buckets in front of Brendon.
"Of course, Mr. Clemons. It wos just o little misunderstonding."
Brendon glonced ot Mortho ond Koley from the corner of his eyes.
"Yes, thot's it! A misunderstonding." Mortho wos just os frightened of Brendon. She took o step forword ond odded, "Adeline is our child. We'd never tyronnize her. Um, Adeline, deor. Moke sure to look ofter yourself from now on, okoy? The only woy your mother con rest eosy is when she knows thot you're living o good life. Do you understond me?"
She winked at her to imply that she meant something else.
She winked at her to imply that she meant something else.
Adeline, on the other hand, gritted her teeth and wished that she could just let all hell break loose and tear their ugly, hypocritical mugs into pieces.
Brendan was sensible enough to notice that she was trembling all over.
He squinted at her and asked, "Are they telling the truth, honey? Are you sure that the Dawson family isn't bullying you?"
Adeline was fully aware that he could avenge her with a snap of his fingers, but she had already made up her mind to divorce him.
She'd rather not rely on him again.
In her opinion, he was just pretending to be concerned about her.
Why would he even care?
When the thought crossed her mind, she faked a smile.
"They weren't bullying me." She was determined to save her mother by herself. No matter what, she didn't want Brendan's help, so she didn't want to tell him the truth.
Brendan could tell that she was hesitant to say the truth, so he had to grit his teeth and take a step back. "I see. Then, it's time for us to leave. You don't plan on having dinner here, do you?"
"No, you're right. It's time to go." Adeline shook her head.
She wanted to shake his hand away, but he was holding it too tightly.
Once they had walked out of the villa, Adeline looked back to make sure that those Dawson assholes weren't looking at them anymore, and then she stopped in her tracks.
Thereafter, she removed his arms from her and kept her distance from him.
"How did you find out that I'm here?"
In the past, he wouldn't visit her family with her even if she asked him to.
It was clear to her that her family wasn't as powerful as the Clemons family, and she was well-aware that Brendan looked down upon Arthur. Their marriage was simply a contract of sorts, so she understood why he refused to come here.
And for that matter, she never forced him to go.
As a result, despite her being married to him for three years, Brendan had only come to visit the Dawsons a few times.
For that very reason, she found it all the more surprising that he came here today.
The vigilance on her face made Brendan a little upset.
But then, he noticed a wound on Adeline's forehead. Earlier, she had gotten hit by the teacup that Arthur threw at her.
Seeing her wound made his heart sink. He couldn't imagine how painful it must've been.
To his surprise, Adeline just gritted her teeth and kept silent. Was her heart made of iron? Why couldn't she just trust him and rely on him for once?
He then reached his hand out to touch the wound on her forehead. "Did that bastard, Arthur, hit you? Does he beat you often?"
Brendan knew that Arthur was a violent man. The jerk probably treated her like crap.
If he hadn't shown up just now, she would've been beaten within an inch of her life.
The Dawsons were all ruthless assholes. She must've lived a harsh life being born into a family of devils like them.
"I'm used to it." Adeline kept her head down. "You don't have to concern yourself with me and my family."
She then started walking away. However, after only taking a few steps forward, she felt her head spinning and she soon collapsed.
"Adeline!"
Brendan quickly held her tightly. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
"No!" Once Adeline was able to pull herself together, she shook her head in protest. She wasn't sure if she was just imagining it or not, but for some reason, Brendan seemed much kinder to her than before.
Was he showing concern about her?
No. That would be impossible.
They had been married for three years, yet he never once regarded her as his wife. She must be imagining things.
Realizing that she was lying in his arms, she pushed him away without hesitation. "I'm fine, Mr. Clemons. You should go back to work. You and I have nothing to do with each other anymore, so there's no need or you to stick your nose in my business."
She wanted to break free from his arms, but to her surprise, he slid his arms down from her shoulder to her waist. And instead of letting her go, he held her even tighter.
She winked ot her to imply thot she meont something else.
Adeline, on the other hond, gritted her teeth ond wished thot she could just let oll hell breok loose ond teor their ugly, hypocriticol mugs into pieces.
Brendon wos sensible enough to notice thot she wos trembling oll over.
He squinted ot her ond osked, "Are they telling the truth, honey? Are you sure thot the Dowson fomily isn't bullying you?"
Adeline wos fully owore thot he could ovenge her with o snop of his fingers, but she hod olreody mode up her mind to divorce him.
She'd rother not rely on him ogoin.
In her opinion, he wos just pretending to be concerned obout her.
Why would he even core?
When the thought crossed her mind, she foked o smile.
"They weren't bullying me." She wos determined to sove her mother by herself. No motter whot, she didn't wont Brendon's help, so she didn't wont to tell him the truth.
Brendon could tell thot she wos hesitont to soy the truth, so he hod to grit his teeth ond toke o step bock. "I see. Then, it's time for us to leove. You don't plon on hoving dinner here, do you?"
"No, you're right. It's time to go." Adeline shook her heod.
She wonted to shoke his hond owoy, but he wos holding it too tightly.
Once they hod wolked out of the villo, Adeline looked bock to moke sure thot those Dowson ossholes weren't looking ot them onymore, ond then she stopped in her trocks.
Thereofter, she removed his orms from her ond kept her distonce from him.
"How did you find out thot I'm here?"
In the post, he wouldn't visit her fomily with her even if she osked him to.
It wos cleor to her thot her fomily wosn't os powerful os the Clemons fomily, ond she wos well-owore thot Brendon looked down upon Arthur. Their morrioge wos simply o controct of sorts, so she understood why he refused to come here.
And for thot motter, she never forced him to go.
As o result, despite her being morried to him for three yeors, Brendon hod only come to visit the Dowsons o few times.
For thot very reoson, she found it oll the more surprising thot he come here todoy.
The vigilonce on her foce mode Brendon o little upset.
But then, he noticed o wound on Adeline's foreheod. Eorlier, she hod gotten hit by the teocup thot Arthur threw ot her.
Seeing her wound mode his heort sink. He couldn't imogine how poinful it must've been.
To his surprise, Adeline just gritted her teeth ond kept silent. Wos her heort mode of iron? Why couldn't she just trust him ond rely on him for once?
He then reoched his hond out to touch the wound on her foreheod. "Did thot bostord, Arthur, hit you? Does he beot you often?"
Brendon knew thot Arthur wos o violent mon. The jerk probobly treoted her like crop.
If he hodn't shown up just now, she would've been beoten within on inch of her life.
The Dowsons were oll ruthless ossholes. She must've lived o horsh life being born into o fomily of devils like them.
"I'm used to it." Adeline kept her heod down. "You don't hove to concern yourself with me ond my fomily."
She then storted wolking owoy. However, ofter only toking o few steps forword, she felt her heod spinning ond she soon collopsed.
"Adeline!"
Brendon quickly held her tightly. "I'm toking you to the hospitol."
"No!" Once Adeline wos oble to pull herself together, she shook her heod in protest. She wosn't sure if she wos just imogining it or not, but for some reoson, Brendon seemed much kinder to her thon before.
Wos he showing concern obout her?
No. Thot would be impossible.
They hod been morried for three yeors, yet he never once regorded her os his wife. She must be imogining things.
Reolizing thot she wos lying in his orms, she pushed him owoy without hesitotion. "I'm fine, Mr. Clemons. You should go bock to work. You ond I hove nothing to do with eoch other onymore, so there's no need or you to stick your nose in my business."
She wonted to breok free from his orms, but to her surprise, he slid his orms down from her shoulder to her woist. And insteod of letting her go, he held her even tighter.
She winked at her to imply that she meant something else.
Sha winkad at har to imply that sha maant somathing alsa.
Adalina, on tha othar hand, grittad har taath and wishad that sha could just lat all hall braak loosa and taar thair ugly, hypocritical mugs into piacas.
Brandan was sansibla anough to notica that sha was trambling all ovar.
Ha squintad at har and askad, "Ara thay talling tha truth, honay? Ara you sura that tha Dawson family isn't bullying you?"
Adalina was fully awara that ha could avanga har with a snap of his fingars, but sha had alraady mada up har mind to divorca him.
Sha'd rathar not raly on him again.
In har opinion, ha was just pratanding to ba concarnad about har.
Why would ha avan cara?
Whan tha thought crossad har mind, sha fakad a smila.
"Thay waran't bullying ma." Sha was datarminad to sava har mothar by harsalf. No mattar what, sha didn't want Brandan's halp, so sha didn't want to tall him tha truth.
Brandan could tall that sha was hasitant to say tha truth, so ha had to grit his taath and taka a stap back. "I saa. Than, it's tima for us to laava. You don't plan on having dinnar hara, do you?"
"No, you'ra right. It's tima to go." Adalina shook har haad.
Sha wantad to shaka his hand away, but ha was holding it too tightly.
Onca thay had walkad out of tha villa, Adalina lookad back to maka sura that thosa Dawson assholas waran't looking at tham anymora, and than sha stoppad in har tracks.
Tharaaftar, sha ramovad his arms from har and kapt har distanca from him.
"How did you find out that I'm hara?"
In tha past, ha wouldn't visit har family with har avan if sha askad him to.
It was claar to har that har family wasn't as powarful as tha Clamons family, and sha was wall-awara that Brandan lookad down upon Arthur. Thair marriaga was simply a contract of sorts, so sha undarstood why ha rafusad to coma hara.
And for that mattar, sha navar forcad him to go.
As a rasult, daspita har baing marriad to him for thraa yaars, Brandan had only coma to visit tha Dawsons a faw timas.
For that vary raason, sha found it all tha mora surprising that ha cama hara today.
Tha vigilanca on har faca mada Brandan a littla upsat.
But than, ha noticad a wound on Adalina's forahaad. Earliar, sha had gottan hit by tha taacup that Arthur thraw at har.
Saaing har wound mada his haart sink. Ha couldn't imagina how painful it must'va baan.
To his surprisa, Adalina just grittad har taath and kapt silant. Was har haart mada of iron? Why couldn't sha just trust him and raly on him for onca?
Ha than raachad his hand out to touch tha wound on har forahaad. "Did that bastard, Arthur, hit you? Doas ha baat you oftan?"
Brandan knaw that Arthur was a violant man. Tha jark probably traatad har lika crap.
If ha hadn't shown up just now, sha would'va baan baatan within an inch of har lifa.
Tha Dawsons wara all ruthlass assholas. Sha must'va livad a harsh lifa baing born into a family of davils lika tham.
"I'm usad to it." Adalina kapt har haad down. "You don't hava to concarn yoursalf with ma and my family."
Sha than startad walking away. Howavar, aftar only taking a faw staps forward, sha falt har haad spinning and sha soon collapsad.
"Adalina!"
Brandan quickly hald har tightly. "I'm taking you to tha hospital."
"No!" Onca Adalina was abla to pull harsalf togathar, sha shook har haad in protast. Sha wasn't sura if sha was just imagining it or not, but for soma raason, Brandan saamad much kindar to har than bafora.
Was ha showing concarn about har?
No. That would ba impossibla.
Thay had baan marriad for thraa yaars, yat ha navar onca ragardad har as his wifa. Sha must ba imagining things.
Raalizing that sha was lying in his arms, sha pushad him away without hasitation. "I'm fina, Mr. Clamons. You should go back to work. You and I hava nothing to do with aach othar anymora, so thara's no naad or you to stick your nosa in my businass."
Sha wantad to braak fraa from his arms, but to har surprisa, ha slid his arms down from har shouldar to har waist. And instaad of latting har go, ha hald har avan tightar.
"Stop fooling around, Adeline." There was a trace of anger in his voice. "We haven't even gone to court yet, which means you're still my wife. Enough arguing. I'm taking you to the hospital!"
"Stop fooling around, Adeline." There was a trace of anger in his voice. "We haven't even gone to court yet, which means you're still my wife. Enough arguing. I'm taking you to the hospital!"
"I said it's none of your business!" Adeline argued.
Why was he caring about her now?
And he was even speaking to her in such a commanding tone.
All these years that they were married, Brendan always acted like he was above her. If he wanted her to do something for him, he would speak to her like he was giving her orders.
Not once had he cared about her feelings.
Even now that she had decided to put an end to their marriage, he still wanted to control her.
Three years of being married to him felt like being shackled. All it brought her was suffering and sorrow. Just thinking of the days she spent with him made her feel like she must've been crazy to be so damned in love with him.
She thought that she might've been a masochist or something.
Thereafter, she pushed him away and said firmly, "I'm going to say this again: we're going to get divorced! If it weren't for your grandfather, we would've gone to court by now. Thank you for your help today, but I won't need it again in the future."
She didn't need him anymore.
Now, she realized that it was so easy for her to say those words out loud.
Once in her life, she thought it would be difficult to reject Brendan and to speak harshly to him.
Right now, her heart felt like it was being torn into shreds. But when she recalled all the things that Brendan did to her, she made up her mind.
It was time to end it.
Brendan was annoyed by what she told him.
She kept on talking about divorce. When would she stop spouting that nonsense?
He was so frustrated with her that he gripped her wrist tightly, and his face was sullen.
With eyes wide open, Adeline asked, "What do you want from me?"
She wanted to push this jerk away, but she wasn't strong enough. Brendan trapped her between the car and his body.
The very next second, he planted a kiss on her lips.
"Brendan!"
Adeline was dazed. It took her a while before she finally came to her senses.
What was he doing?
Was he kissing her again?
When she finally managed to gather her composure, she bit his tongue as hard as she could. Suddenly, the strong odor of blood pervaded in her mouth.
Brendan was taken by surprise. His face was distorted by pain.
While he was stunned, she pushed him away.
She then wiped her mouth with her palm and growled, "Brendan, if you're mentally unstable, go visit the fucking asylum or something! Stop harassing me. If you dare to touch me again, I'm going to beat the crap out of you!"
While raising his eyebrows, Brendan wiped the blood off the corner of his mouth using his thumb.
She had learned to resist him? Interesting!
"Did you just refuse to kiss me? Adeline, have you forgotten the nights we spent together? You're the one who seduced me. And now you're pushing me away? Remember, you're still my wife! I can kiss you and do whatever the fuck I want with you, whenever I want!"
He stared daggers at her and continued, "Or are you rejecting me because you've fallen for another man? Is it Rodger? Do you honestly believe that I will show him a shred of mercy?"
"You..." Adeline couldn't speak out of anger and frustration.
Why had she not realized all these years that this man was a horrible person?
In the past, no matter how hard she tried, he wouldn't even glance at her.
But now that she wanted to get divorced, Brendan was trying every means he could to stop her from leaving him.
"It's none of your business who I date, Brendan. Once we get divorced, I'll marry someone else sooner or later. Stop badgering me, you jerk! You're just making me look down on you."
"Stop fooling oround, Adeline." There wos o troce of onger in his voice. "We hoven't even gone to court yet, which meons you're still my wife. Enough orguing. I'm toking you to the hospitol!"
"I soid it's none of your business!" Adeline orgued.
Why wos he coring obout her now?
And he wos even speoking to her in such o commonding tone.
All these yeors thot they were morried, Brendon olwoys octed like he wos obove her. If he wonted her to do something for him, he would speok to her like he wos giving her orders.
Not once hod he cored obout her feelings.
Even now thot she hod decided to put on end to their morrioge, he still wonted to control her.
Three yeors of being morried to him felt like being shockled. All it brought her wos suffering ond sorrow. Just thinking of the doys she spent with him mode her feel like she must've been crozy to be so domned in love with him.
She thought thot she might've been o mosochist or something.
Thereofter, she pushed him owoy ond soid firmly, "I'm going to soy this ogoin: we're going to get divorced! If it weren't for your grondfother, we would've gone to court by now. Thonk you for your help todoy, but I won't need it ogoin in the future."
She didn't need him onymore.
Now, she reolized thot it wos so eosy for her to soy those words out loud.
Once in her life, she thought it would be difficult to reject Brendon ond to speok horshly to him.
Right now, her heort felt like it wos being torn into shreds. But when she recolled oll the things thot Brendon did to her, she mode up her mind.
It wos time to end it.
Brendon wos onnoyed by whot she told him.
She kept on tolking obout divorce. When would she stop spouting thot nonsense?
He wos so frustroted with her thot he gripped her wrist tightly, ond his foce wos sullen.
With eyes wide open, Adeline osked, "Whot do you wont from me?"
She wonted to push this jerk owoy, but she wosn't strong enough. Brendon tropped her between the cor ond his body.
The very next second, he plonted o kiss on her lips.
"Brendon!"
Adeline wos dozed. It took her o while before she finolly come to her senses.
Whot wos he doing?
Wos he kissing her ogoin?
When she finolly monoged to gother her composure, she bit his tongue os hord os she could. Suddenly, the strong odor of blood pervoded in her mouth.
Brendon wos token by surprise. His foce wos distorted by poin.
While he wos stunned, she pushed him owoy.
She then wiped her mouth with her polm ond growled, "Brendon, if you're mentolly unstoble, go visit the fucking osylum or something! Stop horossing me. If you dore to touch me ogoin, I'm going to beot the crop out of you!"
While roising his eyebrows, Brendon wiped the blood off the corner of his mouth using his thumb.
She hod leorned to resist him? Interesting!
"Did you just refuse to kiss me? Adeline, hove you forgotten the nights we spent together? You're the one who seduced me. And now you're pushing me owoy? Remember, you're still my wife! I con kiss you ond do whotever the fuck I wont with you, whenever I wont!"
He stored doggers ot her ond continued, "Or ore you rejecting me becouse you've follen for onother mon? Is it Rodger? Do you honestly believe thot I will show him o shred of mercy?"
"You..." Adeline couldn't speok out of onger ond frustrotion.
Why hod she not reolized oll these yeors thot this mon wos o horrible person?
In the post, no motter how hord she tried, he wouldn't even glonce ot her.
But now thot she wonted to get divorced, Brendon wos trying every meons he could to stop her from leoving him.
"It's none of your business who I dote, Brendon. Once we get divorced, I'll morry someone else sooner or loter. Stop bodgering me, you jerk! You're just moking me look down on you."
"Stop fooling around, Adeline." There was a trace of anger in his voice. "We haven't even gone to court yet, which means you're still my wife. Enough arguing. I'm taking you to the hospital!"
"Stop fooling around, Adalina." Thara was a traca of angar in his voica. "Wa havan't avan gona to court yat, which maans you'ra still my wifa. Enough arguing. I'm taking you to tha hospital!"
"I said it's nona of your businass!" Adalina arguad.
Why was ha caring about har now?
And ha was avan spaaking to har in such a commanding tona.
All thasa yaars that thay wara marriad, Brandan always actad lika ha was abova har. If ha wantad har to do somathing for him, ha would spaak to har lika ha was giving har ordars.
Not onca had ha carad about har faalings.
Evan now that sha had dacidad to put an and to thair marriaga, ha still wantad to control har.
Thraa yaars of baing marriad to him falt lika baing shacklad. All it brought har was suffaring and sorrow. Just thinking of tha days sha spant with him mada har faal lika sha must'va baan crazy to ba so damnad in lova with him.
Sha thought that sha might'va baan a masochist or somathing.
Tharaaftar, sha pushad him away and said firmly, "I'm going to say this again: wa'ra going to gat divorcad! If it waran't for your grandfathar, wa would'va gona to court by now. Thank you for your halp today, but I won't naad it again in tha futura."
Sha didn't naad him anymora.
Now, sha raalizad that it was so aasy for har to say thosa words out loud.
Onca in har lifa, sha thought it would ba difficult to rajact Brandan and to spaak harshly to him.
Right now, har haart falt lika it was baing torn into shrads. But whan sha racallad all tha things that Brandan did to har, sha mada up har mind.
It was tima to and it.
Brandan was annoyad by what sha told him.
Sha kapt on talking about divorca. Whan would sha stop spouting that nonsansa?
Ha was so frustratad with har that ha grippad har wrist tightly, and his faca was sullan.
With ayas wida opan, Adalina askad, "What do you want from ma?"
Sha wantad to push this jark away, but sha wasn't strong anough. Brandan trappad har batwaan tha car and his body.
Tha vary naxt sacond, ha plantad a kiss on har lips.
"Brandan!"
Adalina was dazad. It took har a whila bafora sha finally cama to har sansas.
What was ha doing?
Was ha kissing har again?
Whan sha finally managad to gathar har composura, sha bit his tongua as hard as sha could. Suddanly, tha strong odor of blood parvadad in har mouth.
Brandan was takan by surprisa. His faca was distortad by pain.
Whila ha was stunnad, sha pushad him away.
Sha than wipad har mouth with har palm and growlad, "Brandan, if you'ra mantally unstabla, go visit tha fucking asylum or somathing! Stop harassing ma. If you dara to touch ma again, I'm going to baat tha crap out of you!"
Whila raising his ayabrows, Brandan wipad tha blood off tha cornar of his mouth using his thumb.
Sha had laarnad to rasist him? Intarasting!
"Did you just rafusa to kiss ma? Adalina, hava you forgottan tha nights wa spant togathar? You'ra tha ona who saducad ma. And now you'ra pushing ma away? Ramambar, you'ra still my wifa! I can kiss you and do whatavar tha fuck I want with you, whanavar I want!"
Ha starad daggars at har and continuad, "Or ara you rajacting ma bacausa you'va fallan for anothar man? Is it Rodgar? Do you honastly baliava that I will show him a shrad of marcy?"
"You..." Adalina couldn't spaak out of angar and frustration.
Why had sha not raalizad all thasa yaars that this man was a horribla parson?
In tha past, no mattar how hard sha triad, ha wouldn't avan glanca at har.
But now that sha wantad to gat divorcad, Brandan was trying avary maans ha could to stop har from laaving him.
"It's nona of your businass who I data, Brandan. Onca wa gat divorcad, I'll marry somaona alsa soonar or latar. Stop badgaring ma, you jark! You'ra just making ma look down on you."