CHAPTER 11: TURBULENT

Sydney sat up with a jolt, her heart lurching. Tears were running down her cheek. The bed was empty, and Gavin wasn't there to comfort her. She heard the sound of running water from the bathroom and she stood up.

Gavin's tux sat carelessly by the edge of the bed. Had he seen her sulking in her sleep and didn't bother to wake her up?

Steam poured out of the bathroom as Gavin stepped out with a towel wrapped around his waist.

She gulped as she saw the V-line of his waist. "You didn't tell me you were coming home."

He wiped his hair with a towel. "I didn't tell you I was leaving either so why does that matter." He said, intone.

Sydney walked in front of him since he wouldn't look at her. "What's all this about Gavin?"

"You know the answer so why ask?" He spoke with unhidden sarcasm which made her blood boil.

"You are not playing fair."

"And you are the master in the game." He said tersely.

Gavin maneuvered her and walked to the sleek and sophisticated smart closet. She followed.

"Gavin, where were you? I know you saw my missed calls."

He pressed a button on the wall and suddenly, the room came to life. Sections of the closet began to glow, and panels slid open, revealing neatly organized rows of clothes. "I was busy Sydney. You called my business line, you don't expect me to call you back."

"And what was best was to ignore my calls?"

He sighed and looked at her. "I'm sorry. If that's what you want to hear, you've heard it." He took out a black shirt and gray sweatpants.

"You are incorrigible."

His eyes darkened. She felt the devil amongst them but she was too eager to prove her point to care.

He opened his mouth to speak but shook his head. "I'm not in the mood for your stupid fights. Get out of the way."

"We are going to talk, who knows, you might just run away like you did days ago."She shot, defiantly.

Gavin gritted his teeth and nodded. "Fine, watch me then."

He removed the towel and flung it across the closet aggressively. Her brown eyes darkened as she saw him naked. She felt heat rise in between her legs. He was just a reach away.

No! He wants to distract her. She looked away but he grabbed her elbow hotly and spun her around. "I love the way you look at me."

Her throat ran dry instantly. He held the back of her head and he pressed his lips against hers. She gave in immediately and ran her hand through his moist hair.

When his hands began to trail up her thigh, she came back to her senses. She pushed him away and panted. Her eyes were wet. " Is this all our marriage is about?" She goaded.

His eyes flashed from desire to contempt. "You always find a way to prove your point all the time, don't you?"

"That's because I'm right, Gavin, and you know it. You have always cared about yourself, you've never for once put me first." She accused.

He stared heatedly into her eyes. He couldn't recognize this woman. "You've had this thought in you all the time, haven't you?" he said calmly.

She looked away and folded her arm. "No, I haven't." But her tone said otherwise.

He released a frustrated breath when she began to cry. "I thought I was giving you what you wanted, you could have told me if you felt I wasn't."

"You'd never listen."

"I always listen!"

She glared at him. "No, you don't! You never do." But it was the entire opposite.

"You have no right to point fingers Sydney. You are too burdened with your insecurities to see how much others care for you." He reached out to her but she moved away.

"And you are too self-absorbed to consider my feelings. You've always wanted a wife you could push around, haven't you?"

He pointed at her. "Sydney you-"

"You'd go to work from morning till evening, and when you return, I'm there on your bed for you to get your satisfaction."

"Sydney-"

"When I decide to get a job, you treat me like I'm nothing and when Xavier died, you blamed it on me. Worst of all, you let your contempt towards me, almost ruin Ethan's chances of playing in the internationals!"

A fuse in Gavin broke and his anger flared. " I'm tired of listening to you rant about how I'm holding grudges towards you. I could tell you I love you countless times and you wouldn't believe me. You may be a good mother but you are a terrible wife! If Ethan hates me because of you, I would never forgive you."

He buttoned up his shirt and stormed out of the room.

Sydney broke into tears. How could he call her a bad wife? Didn't he love her? Sydney managed to take herself out of the closet.

Her eyes widened when she saw Ethan standing by the door. "Dad left the house, he isn't coming back, is he?"

Sydney cleaned her tears and smiled. "He'll never leave you and Emily. He's just mad; you should go to bed; you have school tomorrow."

Ethan stared at her. She wasn't okay, he had noticed it. He had heard most of their conversation. He wanted to scream at his father for making his mum cry. He knew if he told her, she'd cry again.

"Goodnight mum."

"Goodnight sweetheart."

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If anyone saw the look on Gavin's face, they would think he had caused the storm. Thunder clapped, and lightning struck. Gavin didn't take his car. Before Logan could ask if he wanted a ride, Gavin sent a fist to his jaw. Logan was used to being his boss's punching bag.

Sydney's words echoed in Gavin's head. If he had stayed one more minute with her, he would have done something that he'd regret.

A rusted old Lexus skidded to a stop beside Gavin. It revved uncontrollably for a minute before smoke emitted from the engine and the noise ceased.

Avery coughed on the smoke before speaking. "What are you doing all alone without a car or bodyguard Gavin?"

Gavin sneered. "Do I need permission to go out alone?"

"No, but you don't look good. Does Sydney know you are here?"

"Drive along Avery." He continued walking down the alley. Avery got out of the car and ran to him.

"It would rain soon and you'd get soaked."

"Let it."

"Gavin, don't be unreasonable. If you get sick, your kids and Sydney may get worried." She scolded. He turned around so quickly that she almost bumped into him.

"You should be the least to put them into consideration after all, you are blackmailing me to divorce Sydney." His voice dripped with raw condescension.

Avery's eyes turned soft. "I said that because I know how toxic Sydney can be. She'd turn your children against you and blame you for her problems if you keep staying with her."

"Why would I ever trust your words?" He was starting too. He had been so angry when he found out Ethan had a match, and Sydney didn't feel the need to tell him about it.

"Give it time and you'll see her true colors."

Gavin sighed tiredly, " If I enter that thing, would you guarantee I reach the grand hotel alive?" He gestured to her car.

Avery ignored his disdain. "Why don't you hop in and we'll find out?"