The Past Is The Past

(Claire's pov)

There I sat in the car, trying to get myself, I was still shaken from the whole incident. I rested my head on the steering wheel.

I stepped into the apartment, my eyes scanning the entire house, I guess Jonathan must have gone to bed. Heading into the kitchen, I unlocked the refrigerator and took out an orange juice.

I stared at it, before pouring it into the glass, I needed Jonathan far away from me, he was ruining my peace and I didn't sign up for this.

Lifting my head, Jonathan stood in front of me, his gaze cold, I guess he wasn't asleep, so I ignored him, taking a sip of my juice.

"Do you want something," I asked

"I never knew you got remarried after the divorce," he asked, his eyes filled with doubts

"Well we all had to move on Jonathan," I told him

"Was that the reason you wanted a divorce, because you were already cheating on me," he accused

"I guess we were both not sincere in our marriage," I said, trying to hide how disappointed I was that he had the guts to accuse me of such a thing.

It was best he thought of me as such, I have no reason to prove anything to him.

I drop the glass cup in the sink, placing the juice back in the fridge as I walk passed him, but his words stop me halfway.

"I always knew, you were too rotten to be a good wife, I guess it took a while to finally see you for who you truly are, a two-face bitch" his word carry hatred.

I clenched my fists, my eyes stink as I turned to face him, I picked up the pillow and threw it at him, and he stood there accepting each throw.

"How dare you, how dare you call me name, when you are worse than anything compared, you bastard" I yelled

I held firm to the stairs hand for support, my stomach churned with hatred, and I glared at him. Swiftly turning around and headed upstairs to my room, am not ready to hear whatever nonsense he has to say.

(The next morning)

I couldn't sleep, his words haunted my thoughts, enraging me. I slowly spread the butter on my toast, taking a bite. My attention was shifted to my phone as I picked it up.

"Hey babe," I responded

"I guess you are too busy for your babe now," Matthew said at the other end of the call

"Ohh come on, you know that's not true, just been busy with a lot of stuff lately" I explain

"With your Ex-husband" I could sense the anger in his voice, I know he's trying too hard to get used to the idea.

"Matthew, you know very well that nothing is going on between me and Jonathan, You need to trust me. We've been over this so many times. Jonathan and I are just acquaintances, nothing more."

"I don't know if I can believe that," Matthew replied, his voice filled with skepticism. "It's hard for me to understand why you would still allow in your life and offer him shelter after everything that happened between you two."

I let out a sigh, frustration building up inside me. "Matthew, I get it. I do. But Jonathan and I have a history together, and it's not easy to completely cut ties. We've both moved on, and I thought you trusted me enough to believe that."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Matthew finally spoke again. "I do trust you, but it's just hard for me to see you living in the same breathing space as him. I can't help but feel insecure."

"I understand that, and I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable," I replied, trying to sound as sincere as possible. "But you have to know that you're the one I'm with now. You're the one I love, and nothing will change that."

Matthew sighed, his anger slowly fading away. "I know, I know. It's just difficult sometimes. I don't want to lose you, and I fear that he might still have some hold over you."

I could hear the vulnerability in Matthew's voice, and it softened my resolve. "Listen, I promise you that my feelings for Jonathan are in the past. He means nothing to me now, and I want to focus on our relationship. Can you please try to trust me on this?"

There was a long pause before Matthew finally spoke. "I'll try, but it won't be easy for me. Just... keep reassuring me, okay?"

"Of course, Matthew," I replied gently. "I'll always be here to reassure you and remind you of how much you mean to me. Just give me a chance to prove that you're the one I choose, every single day."

We continued talking, slowly mending the rift that had formed between us. Despite the lingering doubts and insecurities. as the conversation came to an end, I hoped that we could find a way to move forward together, leaving the past behind us.

I turned to stare at Jonathan who stood at the stairs staring at me, his eyes filled with rage.

"Assuring him, that nothing is going on between us" he slowly walked down. His eyes fixated on me.

"Now eavesdropping on me, that low of you" I spat out.

"Is this what has become of you, are you that desperate for love that you are ready to succumb to this?" he told me

I tried to hold it in, his words this time cut me so much that I felt so small and I hated this feeling. I clenched my fists, trying to regain some semblance of composure

"I am not desperate for love," I said my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and hurt. "You have no right to judge me or assume you know what's going on in my life. And just for the record Matthew and I are in love, I guess you won't know how that feels since you lived all your life cheating on me."

Jonathan scoffed, his face contorted with disbelief and rage. "Oh please, spare me the lies. Matthew knows what he wants, I bet he's just toying with you. Don't think I haven't noticed how you are the one always making efforts"

I felt a rush of frustration and unfairness wash over me. "You bastard, is this the reason you desperately needed a room here to taunt my life? And even if something was going on, it's not your business anymore."

His eyes narrowed, and his voice dripped with sarcasm. "Not my business? Are you forgetting that we were once together? That we meant something to each other?"

I took a deep breath, desperately trying to keep my emotions in check. "Yes, we were once together," I admitted, my voice steady now. "But that's in the past. We both made our choices, and we both moved on. It's time for you to do the same."

Jonathan's anger flared, and he took a step closer to me, invading my personal space. "I can't believe you would stoop this low. You've changed, and not for the better."

His harsh words pierced through the walls I had built, chipping away at my self-esteem. But I refused to let him see how deeply they affected me. I stood my ground, my voice firm.

"I haven't changed, Jonathan. I've simply grown. And if you can't accept that, then maybe it's best you go find somewhere you won't have to deal with me or my love life to stay because right now you are becoming unbearable."

Deep down, I knew I was stronger than he gave me credit for, and I would not allow his anger to consume me any longer.

"Are you driving me away, because of that good-for-nothing, that two-sided face jerk" he yelled

"Am not driving you away Jonathan, am giving you an option, stay out of my private and personal life, who gave you the right to berate me in my own home, I think you have forgotten your place, you are not my husband anymore, or friend, right now you are currently a tenant and I am your boss" I reminded him

His eyes held no expression as he stared at me, I could see his hand clutched in a fist, and I knew deep down that my words hit a nerve, he was overstepping his boundaries and it was getting out of hand.

He went upstairs to his room, I collapsed on the couch, I was holding it in for long, where did I get the courage to say all this, just then Jonathan came back downstairs, fully dressed, with his car keys in his hand

I stared at him, as he shot me a deadly stare, walking towards the door, I watched him unlock it and step out, slamming the door so hard, I could feel it vibration from where I stood.

I should be concerned but deep down I wasn't, he started it, so why can't he take what he fished out? I plopped down back to the couch relieving in this silence.

"This is much better" I murmured