Used and betrayed.

MARISSA'S POV.

Lucas looked like he had just seen a ghost, and watching the usual calmness on his face dissolve into guilt broke me. I shook it off, deciding that I would not break just yet. 

“What's wrong honey? Did I say something wrong?” I asked in the tiniest tone I could muster, finding a little pleasure in the way sweat ran down his forehead. 

“I'm sure I haven't said anything wrong.” I grabbed the black scrunchie lying on the counter right next to the bed and started to tie my hair into a bun, my eyes fixed on him and the way he pulled his tie down like it was suddenly made of thorns. 

“Kade is a good friend of yours, your best friend even.” I continued. “You were hanging out with his wife, Lana, so we decided to have a little fun together as well.” I said that so casually, like it wasn't tearing me apart on the inside, and I saw his eyes widen. 

“Marissa, what the hell are you talking about?” He finally asked. 

“I believe you know exactly what I'm talking about, Lucas.” I looked him dead in the eyes, and his jaw hung open. 

“I know what all your meetings and trips have really been about. You come in here everyday smelling like peaches and you… you have the guts to lie to my face every single time.” 

Tears stung the corners of my eyes, burning until I had to wipe them away. My fingers dug into the sheets as he scratched the back of his head. 

“Baby, I really have no idea what you're talking about. Did Kade say something to you? What were you two doing alone?” The way he switched the topic had my blood boiling but I was ready for him tonight. 

“The same thing you were doing with Lana alone in your office.” I shrugged. 

“Wha—” he paused, the crease on his forehead suddenly melting away. He was still trying to keep his cool, still trying to lie even after being caught red-handed. 

“Lana wasn't at the office, I don't know what you're talking about.” He laughed it off. “Is my wife perhaps missing me and now making up scenarios in her head?” He chuckled.

That laugh would have driven me crazy before, but all it sounded like now was acid on skin. 

“Scenarios?” I scoffed. “You're still gonna lie?” 

“What do you mean?” 

I groaned heavily, exhausted and desperate to get this conversation over with. 

“I know you're cheating on me, Lucas!” I blurted out, the tears returning to my eyes. “I know you're cheating with Lana!” 

“What!?” He stepped back, palms tightened beside him like I was the one who had wronged him. And then when I looked past him, his mother was right by the door, meddling as usual. 

“Marissa, have you lost your mind? Do you know what you're saying?” He queried, keeping his cool. 

“Stop it already!” I rose to my feet, sniffing back my tears and digging my fingers into my palms. “Stop it, okay? I was with Kade today and I saw you, I saw everything.” 

He raised his brow at me, but before he could speak, Susan beat him to it. 

“So?” She entered, rolling in on her wheelchair. “So what if he's seeing another woman? That doesn't excuse the fact that you're sleeping with the man who brought you home.” 

“You're sleeping with Kade?” Lucas asked almost immediately, his voice laced with rage, and my heart fell into my stomach. 

“That's… that's not…” 

“You're fucking my best friend?” He asked again and my face paled. I stepped back, shaking my head, trying but failing to understand what the hell was going on and how this conversation became about me.

“You have been seeing Lana for years now. And I have been faithful!” I countered, but he closed in on me, his broad shoulders making me feel small as he cornered me by the bed. 

I saw his eyes darken, I saw something in his eyes that I had never seen there before. At that moment, I realized that I had never truly known the man that I had been married to for five years. 

“Faithful? You spread your legs like a whore for my best friend and you call yourself faithful?” 

I sobbed, my chest twisting in pain.

“Lucas, you have been cheating on me. You can't do this, you can't blame me.” My words were almost inaudible. 

“I am the man of the house, Marissa. I feed you, I clothe you and I make sure you don't lack a thing. I can do whatever I want. Your job is to remain a good wife, and do whatever I tell you to.” 

Every sentence came harsher than the first one, leaving me in shambles until my knees almost gave out. What was wrong with me? Why did I give up my dreams and my career for this man? Why did I let myself be trapped in this marriage with such a monster? How did I even fall so deeply in love with him?

“If you didn't love me, why did you marry me?” I asked, sniffing, and he grinned. 

“Because you were an easy target, my dear. Perfect for my public reputation, and naive enough to abandon her own life to care for my mother because I said so.” 

So he wanted a trophy wife and a maid in one? 

“Fuck you, Lucas!” I screamed, but his large palm circled my jaw instantly, pressing hard until I felt intense pressure in my bones. I squealed and tried to push him, but he didn't budge. 

“Know your place.” 

I continued to push until I successfully got him to leave me alone. He staggered back, and I clung to the wall like my life depended on it. 

“You're a monster!” 

“The monster that you're so helplessly in love with and can't do without.” He laughed, turning to face his mother. She smiled at him, and he started wheeling her out of the room. 

I couldn't do without him? 

I wasn't going to sit quietly and watch him make a fool out of me, use me and keep treating me like a house accessory. Not anymore. 

As soon as they left the room, I dove for my phone, immediately texting Kade.

“Please come and get me now.” 

After hitting send, I scrolled through my contacts frantically, panting heavily, until I found Grace's number. She was an old college friend, and a lawyer. 

“Hey, Marissa.” Her cheerful voice boomed from the other end. “How have you been?” 

“Grace, I need your help. I need you to draft my divorce papers.” 

My heart sank right after I said that. I had nothing to lean on, nowhere to go, my parents were in Europe and they didn't give two fucks about my wellbeing. But I wasn't going to stay here either.

“What? Marissa, are you sure about this?” Grace sounded concerned, but I nodded, as though she was standing in front of me. 

“Yes, please. I want to divorce my husband.” 

I sighed, but then, I heard footsteps. 

“What!?”