Chapter-12

Kara’s POV.

As soon as Derrick placed me on the bed, I pulled the blanket over my body, mortified. I wished that he and Jade would leave me to get dressed in peace, but that didn’t seem to be happening.

Jade loudly demanded that she clean out the bathroom and make sure I hadn’t broken any glass, and she removed herself from the bedroom for a moment.

Derrick, however, did not make that much sense.

“You’re so careless!”  Derrick went on nagging as if he hadn’t just hauled my naked butt out of the bathroom right in front of his girlfriend. His arms were crossed as he stood next to my bed, pointedly not meeting my eyes. “Always damaging things everywhere. I might have plenty of money but that doesn’t mean I enjoy fixing things after you. First that pond, then the plates, and now this! You know, I’m starting to think that this is a childish ploy of yours to get my attention?”

I gritted my teeth, refusing to answer. I desperately wished that I could towel myself off because I hated getting the sheets wet. I don’t think Derrick had ever seen me like that. How could he, when he hated me so?

Once upon a time, I would’ve been thrilled at the opportunity, even if it was an accident.

Now, it just made my heart hurt and my mind confused.

I didn’t know what to think of this. Any of it.

“What, got nothing to say?” Derrick asked, and the expression on his face almost looked like concern. I had to be wrong about that. “Did you hit your head or something? Usually, you’d be biting my face off. You know what, I don’t want to deal with you having a concussion, I’m going to call my driver to take you to the hospital.”

With that, he actually reached into his pocket to pull out his phone. Wait, he was serious about it?

“Stop that,” I snapped at him, my voice cold. “Put the phone away, Derrick. You’re not going to do any of that. I didn’t hit my head. Besides, I can take care of myself, I don’t need your half-assed attempts at ‘helping’.”

“Oh, really?” Derrick snarled, immediately angry again. “You don’t want my help? Fine! You know what’s wrong with you, Kara? You’re always so ungrateful. I’m only trying to stop you from getting potential brain damage, but maybe I should just mind my own business rather than waste my time on the likes of you.”

“Don’t pretend like you care about what happens to me,” I muttered.

“I’m not pretending to be anything,” Derrick snapped. “I do not care about you, not at all. I don’t even want to take you to hospital. Lunch’s delayed enough as it is, I need you in the kitchen as soon as possible.”

Oh, of course, that was what his sudden change of demeanor was about. Not that he cared about my health, he was just worried that his meal ticket was invalid. Typical.

Derrick had chronic stomach issues, and I was the only one who’d ever cared enough to manage his diet, so he wasn’t in constant pain. Derrick had the habit of hiding this part of him, thinking it was a weakness, so no one knew that half the things he ate away from home upset his digestive system so much that sometimes he had a hard time getting out of bed.

So, throughout our marriage, I’d spent so much time researching about the types of food that were okay for him to eat and preparing them in different ways, so he didn’t get bored. It sucked having stomach issues, and Derrick had a lot of self-confidence issues about it.

And I loved him so much that I couldn’t bear seeing him hurt like that, not when I could help it.

But of course, I never got a single ‘thanks’ for my effort.

For someone who spoke so much of gratitude, Derrick sure didn’t seem to think it applied to anyone other than him.

Or maybe it was just me. He didn’t seem to hate anyone else like he did with me.

Honestly, I was just about had it with his condescending attitude. I just wanted to be left alone. Was it too much to ask? The divorce couldn’t come sooner with Derrick being this much of a jerk. At least before Jade came around, he’d been ignoring me. Now, he seemed to be everywhere!

“Derrick, I got released from hospital this morning, had to haul all my belongings back into my room after Jade’s little stunt, and then I fell down in the bathroom. I’m still a patient! I need to check my wounds and see if I tore any of my stitching! I seriously cannot cook now. Besides, if you really want a homecooked meal, I’m sure Jade would be more than happy to cook for you.”

“Yeah, Derrick,” Jade appeared at Derrick’s shoulder, looking at him with hope in her eyes. “Kara’s right, she’s clearly still out of it. I can take care of you while she’s recuperating, Derrick, I’d love to!”

“No, Jade, you’re injured too,” Derrick insisted. “First that incident at the pond and then the nasty fall in the runaway! You got banged up pretty bad, and unlike a certain someone, you didn’t get to lie in a hospital room doing nothing for three days. You were working while injured, for pity’s sake.”

“Besides,” Derrick gave me the hairy eyeball. “Cooking’s Kara’s duty, and she’d been slacking for long enough. That’s pretty much the only way she contributes to this household. What value does she have, other than being a good, little housewife?”