Chapter 8
A nauseating wave of revulsion washed. over me as I looked at Leon standing in the doorway, his familiar scent–one I used to tolerate–now cloying and unbearable. He had once laughed, teasing me about my “dog–like sense of smell,” a playful jab at how I could pick up on the faintest traces of perfume or cologne. But today, it felt as though that sensitivity had heightened and his presence was like a lingering stain in the air. I shuddered, trying to focus my mind on the only thing I wanted: to end this once and for all.
In that moment, an unexpected memory floated to the surface–the soft, floral scent in Oliver’s car. I turned to glance over my shoulder, finding Oliver watching the scene with a calm, almost bemused expression. The warmth of his silent support only magnified the disgust I felt toward Leon. There was no comparison between Oliver’s quiet strength and Leon’s arrogant
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desperation. I drew a deep breath and faced Leon, my voice steady, each word a final, firm boundary.
“Leon, I really am married. We ended a long time ago–probably the day you booked a hotel room with another woman, or maybe even before that. Seven years, but it’s over now. I hope we can part ways with dignity; making this ugly will only embarrass us both.” I held his gaze. “This is my husband’s home. Please, just leave.”
At my words, Leon’s face flushed a deep shade of red and I could see the anger bubbling up inside him. Before I could react, he reached out, trying to pull me into his arms with a rough, desperate motion. His voice was thick with emotion as he muttered, “Emily, I’m the only man you’ll ever be with. Why are you doing this, huh? You said this is your husband’s house, then why doesn’t he come out? I’ll take you home myself and teach you a lesson!”
I felt my heart pound in my chest, my
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desperation. I drew a deep breath and faced Leon, my voice steady, each word a final, firm boundary.
“Leon, I really am married. We ended a long time ago–probably the day you booked a hotel room with another woman, or maybe even before that. Seven years, but it’s over now. I hope we can part ways with dignity; making this ugly will only embarrass us both.” I held his gaze. “This is my husband’s home. Please, just leave.”
At my words, Leon’s face flushed a deep shade of red and I could see the anger bubbling up inside him. Before I could react, he reached out, trying to pull me into his arms with a rough, desperate motion. His voice was thick with emotion as he muttered, “Emily, I’m the only man you’ll ever be with. Why are you doing this, huh? You said this is your husband’s house, then why doesn’t he come out? I’ll take you home myself and teach you a lesson!”
I felt my heart pound in my chest, my
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anger flaring. Just as Leon’s face moved dangerously close to mine, I was about to slap him–when a sudden gust of wind rushed past me, followed by the sound of a heavy thud. Before I could even react, Leon was shoved backward, stumbling three feet away from the door.
I spun around to find Oliver standing there, his posture strong and protective as he pulled me closer to his side. His eyes, now cold and steely, were locked on Leon. “I’m her husband,” Oliver said, his voice low and controlled.
Oliver’s faint scent of alcohol lingered in the air and the slight dishevelment of his shirt–still slightly unbuttoned from our earlier intimacy–didn’t escape my notice. The sight of him like this, standing tall and resolute, sent a rush of warmth to my cheeks, but I couldn’t deny the sense of safety that came with it. Even Leon, for all his arrogance, could sense the shift in power. He staggered, leaning against the wall for support, his eyes now widening
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with disbelief and anger.
Leon scoffed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Oh, so this is how it is, Emily? Using the money I earned to keep a man?” His words were dripping with venom and resentment, but I couldn’t believe how shameless he was being.
Oliver’s fist clenched at his side, his knuckles going white with the tension in the air. I could see the anger building in him, the impulse to strike Leon right there. But I stepped forward, placing a hand gently on Oliver’s arm to stop him. This wasn’t just about physical confrontation; I had to deal with Leon in my own way.
With a sharp intake of breath, I turned to Leon, my voice steady but laced with contempt. “Leon, have some shame,” I spat, my words cutting through the silence like a blade. “Your salary? Have you forgotten that you can’t even support yourself on it? I’m the one paying the rent for the place you’re living in, the shoes on your feet, the
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watch on your wrist–all of it bought by me. And you dare say that to me?”
The words were out before I could stop them and the weight of their truth hung heavily in the air. Leon’s face twisted into something almost unrecognizable–a mix of disbelief and anger–as he realized how much I had been supporting him, how much I had given, only to be taken for granted. I had spent years trying to fix things, to make him into someone he wasn’t. And now, I was done.
Before Leon could say anything else, Oliver took a decisive step forward, his hand shooting out to grab Leon by the collar, his grip tight and unyielding. His voice was cold, each word laced with a controlled fury that sent a shiver down my spine.
“Let me tell you this: Emily is my wife. Today, I’ll let this go once, but if you dare pull something like this again, I’ll make sure you crawl out of Greenwoods.”
With that, Oliver shoved Leon against the
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wall with a force that made the air crackle. The sound of Leon’s body hitting the hard surface echoed through the hallway. Blood began to trickle from the corner of Leon’s. mouth, but there was no pity in Oliver’s eyes, no hesitation. It was the action of a man who had already made up his mind to protect what was his.
Leon wiped the blood away with his sleeve, his eyes flashing with anger.
“Emily,” he growled, “this isn’t over. You betrayed me and I’ll make sure you pay for
His words were harsh and vengeful, but he couldn’t hide the fear that lurked beneath them as he turned and limped away, his figure disappearing into the darkness outside.
As the door slammed shut behind him, a heavy silence fell over the house. My breath caught in my throat and my pulse raced, but a deep sense of relief washed over me. I had finally stood up for myself
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and now, with Oliver beside me, I felt stronger than I ever had before.
I turned to face him, my heart still pounding in my chest. Despite the intensity of the moment, I could feel my cheeks flush, embarrassed by the whole scene. “I’m sorry,” I said softly, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “I didn’t expect him to show up like this.”
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