4

Chapter Four

Sophie Clarke

•••

I had been staring at the wall and crying for minutes after I got off the phone with Samuel.

My chest hurt badly and I kept on contemplating whether I should actually go over to the location Samuel had sent to me.

After a few minutes, I forced myself up, wiped my face, and went straight to the closet.

I picked out an outfit and got dressed. It wasn’t anything too serious. It was just low-rise jeans and a black tank top. I wore a cardigan over it and tied my hair up in a messy bun.

After that, I searched for the car keys but I couldn’t find them. It was weird because Alexander usually kept one of his cars for me to use.

He must have changed the location of the keys or something. But I didn’t let that bother me. I just picked up my phone and ordered a ride.

After a few minutes, the cab arrived.

As soon as we drove out of the house, it began to rain. As I stared outside lost in thought, soft droplets tapped against the car window. It was as if the world decided to cry with me as the rain poured endlessly.

“Ma’am, we’re almost at your destination.” The cab man said, looking at me from the rearview mirror.

But I was carried away by my thoughts, wondering how I'd react when I see my husband with his ex, and thinking about what I would say to him.

We finally got to the hotel.

I paid the cab guy and rushed out of the car. But I didn’t get into the hotel immediately.

I took multiple deep breaths to calm myself down and wiped off my teary eyes.

“Before I create a scene, let me give him a call first. If he answers I’ll just tell him to come down to where I am, peacefully.” I murmured to myself as I reached for my phone.

I called his number a few times.

But he didn’t answer.

Then I walked to the reception with a smile, trying to hide the sadness in my eyes.

“Hello, ma’am. Would you like to pay for a room?”

“Oh, no. I’m looking for someone, my husband actually. I would like to know if he checked into this hotel.” I responded.

“I’m sorry ma’am. I can’t do that, it’s against our policy. If you’d kindly excuse me, I need to attend to something more important.” She gave me a snappy reply.

I still stood there, trying to hold back my anger. But I couldn’t.

I hit the desk hard with both of my hands. She turned back in shock.

“I’m talking to you and you’re turning away, if it isn’t urgent I won’t be here. Do you know what I’ve been through?”

Tears started rolling down my cheeks uncontrollably.

“Answer me please, I need to know,” I begged.

She looked at me with pity:

I wiped my tears and added, “Please… please.”

“I understand but I can’t, please try and reason with me. I could lose my job over this. I’m just…”

I interrupted her.

“It’s okay, never mind,” I said and walked away.

I decided to head over to the bar in the hotel. I was really down so I could use a drink.

Maybe I could use that to pass the time while waiting for Alexander to answer his phone.

I sat by the counter, watching the bartender work.

He approached me, “Hello, what can I serve you?” He asked.

“Martini is fine, thank you.”

After about ten minutes, the bartender brought my martini and placed it in front of me.

I was about to take a sip from my drink when I spotted my husband with his ex, giggling.

I forgot I had a drink and got up with no hesitation, walking up to them.

“Alexander, really?” He paused at the sound of my voice, then turned around. “How could you? Because of her? Your ex?” I was trying not to yell but I couldn’t help it. “I can’t believe I’ve been home, crying all day, wishing you’d come back to me. Only for you to be giggling with your ex in a bar.”

“Alexander, what is going on?” Leila asked as she stood up, confusion written all over her face.

All eyes were on me but I didn’t mind, I was fighting for my husband. It was my right.

Alexander got up, trying to stop Leila. I went close to him and dragged his hand away from her. “If she wants to leave, she should. It’s even better. I’m your wife, you belong to me, let’s go home please.”

He pushed me away. “Leila please don’t go, don’t mind this woman.” He pleaded but she didn’t listen to him.

“Alexander, just stop.” I continued. “Let’s go back home. Whatever the issue is, we can fix it.”

He hissed under his breath and dragged me away. “Haven’t I told you to leave me alone? Why are you forcing yourself on me? Get on with your life, move on.” Alexander said loudly, his voice filled with anger.

He kept talking but I wasn’t listening. I just stood there in shock, unable to believe what I was hearing. How was it so easy for him to humiliate me like this in public? Why would he say such cruel words to me?

It was a little push he gave me on my shoulder that brought me back to the present moment.

I looked around and people were already making videos, as if it were a movie to them.

The paparazzi were going to have a field day with this one.

“Leave here right now, you’re embarrassing me.” He continued, his eyes burning with rage. “And by the time I get back home, I want those papers signed and I want you gone!”

I couldn’t take it anymore.

My feet were moving before I could think, without knowing what direction I was going. My eyes were blurry with tears and I just wanted to get away from the embarrassment.

That was until I bumped into someone, the drink on their hand splashing against them. I winced. Wasn’t my day already horrible as it was?

“I’m so sorry.” I apologized, looking up to see it was a man. He didn’t say a word at first, he just scanned me with his eyes long enough to make me forget where I actually was.

He wore a white shirt that was now stained with the drink I had spilled. I thought about reaching into my bag for a tissue, but I couldn’t even move.

“Are you okay?” He finally spoke as if I wasn’t the one who bumped into him.

I nodded. “Yes.” Still feeling embarrassed that I was left speechless after bumping into him. “I’m really really sorry. I didn’t mean…”

“It’s fine.” He interrupted softly. “Do you want to go back to the bar?”

I shook my head. “No.”

I had already faced so much humiliation. I couldn’t go back there.

He was quiet for a second. “It seems you don’t know who I am.” He said, brushing a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. “But don’t you want to make your husband jealous?”

My lips parted and I blinked.

Who was this man standing in front of me? And how did he know about me?