Chapter Three

Jasmine’s POV

“You know exactly where I was planning to go, Adonis. Far away from here,” I yelled. Tears stung my eyes as my escape plan fell apart right in front of me.

Adonis suddenly burst out laughing. The sound shocked me. It was loud and bitter, echoing through the room.

“Jasmine, look around you. Everything has changed. You’re not the spoiled rich daughter of Jose Almonte anymore. You’re my wife now. This is your home. Not with anyone else, especially not Sebastian.”

“I don’t care where I end up,” I shot back. “I’m not staying on this ranch a minute longer. Let me go.”

His hand moved fast. Two sharp slaps landed across my face. The sting burned hot on my skin. Tears slipped down my cheeks, but I quickly wiped them away. I refused to break down in front of him.

“You slapped me?” I whispered, holding my burning cheeks.

Adonis ran a hand through his hair and started pacing. “You always bring out the worst in me, Jasmine. I’m sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have forced myself on you. But don’t even think about leaving me.”

He reached out to touch my cheek. I jerked away.

“Don’t touch me. Don’t you dare touch me.” My voice shook with anger. “You make me sick. I told you that already. I can’t stand being locked up here. If you feel any guilt at all, then let me leave. You can’t keep me here like a prisoner.”

“This is your life now,” he said coldly. “Get used to it.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Sebastian will come for me. You dragged me out to this ranch, but he’ll find me. And when he does, you’ll have two choices. Kill me or let me go.” I turned and walked toward the closet.

Adonis grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “You’re threatening me now?”

I looked him straight in the eyes. “When the time comes, you’ll see which choice you end up making.”

He let go of me and stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.

I walked over to the bed and lay down. My mind felt empty. I had cried. I had fought. Now I had nothing left. All of this was because my family went bankrupt. My high end ambitious mother couldn’t handle the idea of losing her status, so she sold her only daughter to the richest man in Texas.

~~~

I woke up later with a pounding headache. The room was dark. I had no idea how long I had slept after the fight. My whole body still ached. I got up slowly and went to the vanity mirror to check the marks on my face. That was when the door banged open.

Adonis walked in and came straight toward me. “Dominga said you haven’t eaten anything today.”

“I’m not hungry.” I turned away and headed back to the bed.

“You didn’t eat yesterday or the day before that either. You can’t keep doing this to yourself. Your food is on the dining table downstairs, or I can have them bring it up.”

“I don’t want anything,” I yelled.

“And I don’t want you getting sick.” He grabbed me and pulled me against his chest, holding my arms tightly.

“I hope I do get sick and die,” I said, staring at his hands. “That would solve everything for you, wouldn’t it?”

“Jasmine, stop pushing me. You’re not in your father’s house anymore. This is my house, and you will listen to me.”

“Then let go of me. I can walk downstairs by myself.”

I pulled free from his grip and walked out of the room. He followed close behind. When we reached the dining table, Maya was already seated. She rolled her eyes at me and acted like I wasn’t even there.

“Adonis, I’ve been waiting for you,” she said sweetly. “You don’t like cold food, remember?”

“It’s fine. I went to get Jasmine. Let’s eat.”

I sat down and poked at the food on my plate. I had lost my appetite days ago.

“Adonis, I need to tell you something,” Maya said after a few minutes breaking the silence.

“Can it wait until after dinner?” he asked.

“It’s nothing big. When can I move into the main house? I can’t keep staying in the staff quarters.”

Adonis took a sip of his wine. “You can move in tomorrow, Maya.”

“Really?” She squealed and jumped up to hug him, kissing his cheek. “Thank you so much. I love you.”

I sat there in silence, watching them. The whole scene made my stomach turn.

After a while, Maya left to get something from the kitchen. I looked up at Adonis.

“Why did you tell her she could move into this house?”

“Are you talking about Maya?”

“Yes. Thanks for respecting me as your wife,” I said with a bitter laugh.

“Her father was the ranch foreman. He died taking a bullet for me during a robbery. Gabriel is bringing a new foreman tomorrow. That man will need the house Maya and her father lived in, so it makes sense for her to stay here with us.”

“Why here? She’s a staff. She belongs in the staff quarters. I’m not claiming rights or anything, and I don’t care what’s going on between you two, but letting her live in the main house is ridiculous.”

“Maya is different,” he said simply.

“Different to who? To you?”

“What do you want from me, Jasmine? Just say it,” he yelled, standing up.

“I don’t want her here, Adonis.”

“Why? Give me one good reason.”

“I don’t like her.” I stood up too.

“She’s my childhood friend. I’m not going to push her away just because you don’t like her.”

“It’s either your wife or your childhood friend.” I suddenly wanted to use this against him to rile him up even further.

“Wife?” He laughed harshly. “You may be my wife on paper, but you’ve never acted like one.”  

“The fact that we slept together last night doesn’t change anything.”

He shook his head.

“You’re still thinking about Sebastian. Still choosing him.”

His laugh was cold.

“And you expect me to throw Maya aside for you? A fucking cheat.”

He walked out, leaving me standing there feeling completely miserable and at his mercy.

This was my reality now. Trapped in a house with a man who hated me as much as he wanted me, and a woman who clearly had his ear. I didn’t know how much more of this I could take.