Chapter 3

Cassandra

"Where have you been?" I heard Sebastian ask.

The moment he saw me, I knew he was focusing his gaze on the black suit jacket draped over my shoulders.

 I don’t make a sound, walking past him and into the house. "Or should I ask, who were you with today?"

Today, Sebastian felt different than usual. He never cared, he never asked anything about me. The conversation always started and ended with Isabella.

I was so tired of facing him. Because our relationship wasn't close, I was going to respond with a short answer, but before that could happen, he shoved me, making me fall onto the sofa.

"Sebastian." I called his name.

Sebastian always acted cold toward me. This time, our eyes lock on each other. His large body was positioned above mine.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

I tried to escape from this situation, pushing against his hard body, but to no avail. Even as I struggled, he didn’t care. His piercing eyes and deep voice echoed.

“You betrayed me, Cassandra?” He began accusing me, and I was already amused by his words.

Betrayal? Why is that even being discussed when he took care of another woman for nearly three years?

“Get out of my way, Sebastian. I’m so tired.” I ordered him. Even with his sharp gaze, he didn’t do what I wanted.

Then I felt my body being pressed more and more by him, making me even more immobile. At that moment, Sebastian was completely different from usual. His breath, so close, made my body react.

I kept my eyes open, but Sebastian held my chin and forced me to look at him. “Don’t even think about betraying me, Cassandra.”

In three years of marriage, this is the first time he’s kissed me. I knew he was doing this without love, but I let him do it anyway. From the rough kiss, he took off my clothes roughly.

I had always wondered what it would be like to make love to Sebastian. Finally, he did it out of anger because I hadn’t acted the way he wanted. With a rough finger that entered my mouth, he made me continue to look at him.

His other hand was on my throat. “You don’t seem to understand. You have to comply with whatever I want.”

His eyes that gleamed thorned my heart. Making love with him turned out to be this rough, yet with such extraordinary care. I never expected to shed tears because of it—it's so sad.

The rough lovemaking on the sofa ended an hour later. My body weakened, I felt an immense exhaustion and lay on the sofa. From here, I saw his back moving away.

I was completely exhausted, even when I woke up from my sleep, I still felt pain all over my body.

How did I feel after satisfying my curiosity about making love with the man I had loved all this time?

It gave a very strange sensation. A storm might have suddenly appeared, making my heart feel like it was pierced. It hurt so much that every breath I took caused more pain."

"I sat on the sofa, I don’t move. I was filled with emptiness that made me realize that the love from that man would never be mine. He did it because he considere me just as his property, he wanted to assert that so I couldn’t resist.

I might never get his love, but I have the right to escape from a situation that felt like poison to me.

After I understood that, I picked up my phone. I called him repeatedly until he finally answered my call.

“What’s up? You’re bothering me.”

His cold voice made my whole body react, causing pain. I cleared my throat and squeezed the phone tightly.

All the emotions I had bottled up I could no longer contain.

“Where are you?” I said flatly.

I remembered it well, after he did what he wanted with me roughly last night. He just left me without saying a word. He didn’t even turn back.

“With Isabella.”

A cold grin appeared on my face. Already knew about it, clearly.

I can sense my emotions exploding, pushing me to act on everything I’ve been avoiding."

"Ah, right." I thought I managed to say it calmly, but the pain still lingered. "Will you be by my side and take care of me if I get sick?"

He didn’t need to think to answer my question. "Do you think you can get sick? You need to keep donating blood to Isabella."

Silence.

A sour smile curled my lips.

His answer only made me more certain. Thank you, God, for allowing me to hear the answer I wanted. There would be no more doubt. This was the final conclusion of everything I’ve been through.

“Let’s get a divorce.”

“What do you mean?”

“There won’t be any more blood donations for her.”

“Cassandra, you—”

I immediately hung up the phone. What would come out of his mouth was just nonsense I didn’t want to hear.

The pain was real. I closed my eyes, my heart pounding, as if it wanted to crush my ribs...

It took a moment for me to calm down. Mentally exhausted from this toxic relationship, I wanted to end it quickly.

My phone call was connected to Dylan. Right now, I needed his help. “Can you help me divorce Sebastian?”

“You want to divorce him?” Dylan’s voice was full of surprise. Some noisy sounds were heard before quickly quieting down.

“Yes. I want to divorce him.” I was sure.

“Congratulations.” Dylan congratulated me, making me slightly surprised, but I understood.

Several times, Dylan talked about Sebastian, the man who behaved badly and didn’t deserve to be my husband.

“I’ll do it. You’ll divorce him.”

The phone call ended, and I immediately went to my room to pack my things. I know I need to leave this house and avoid meeting him...

But it’s a mistake because I should have never fallen in love with him. I wrote a letter and placed it inside his desk along with the rose brooch.

A few days passed, and I met Dylan at a quiet café.

“Everything’s ready, Sandra. And I’ll make sure you get the divorce assets you deserve,” Dylan said with confidence.

A successful lawyer, it seemed, I was sure he could do it.

“No need, Dylan. I won’t take anything from this divorce.”

He looked at me, frowning. “Are you sure?”

From a man like Sebastian Monclaire, I could gain a huge advantage. Everyone might not pass up this opportunity, but I was already so tired. Mentally, physically, and emotionally.

“Sure. Please, Dylan. Just make this process as quick as possible.”

He slowly nodded, understanding me. I felt relieved.

I watched him, then suddenly a wave of nausea hit me. I covered my mouth. I guess the divorce had a surprising effect on me.

“Sandra, are you okay?” Dylan moved. He panicked and quickly helped me to the hospital.

Luckily, it wasn’t too far. I was helpless and had to be carried by Dylan.

But something even more surprising was the doctor’s gentle gaze, the smile that seemed so pleased, making a terrible feeling rise within me.

“Mrs. Monclaire, congratulations.”

Ah, I was even more confused and tense hearing those words from him.

“You’re pregnant.”