Chapter-3

Kara’s POV.

When I came home, it was still afternoon, and frankly, I was exhausted even though all I had done that day was get injured. So, without much thought, I decided that I deserved a break. 

I'd long since stopped trying to share a bed with Derrick and moved to a guest room where I could spend the night sleeping.

So, after coming home, I went to my room, took my painkillers, and fell asleep, trying not to think about Derrick, Jade, and how much the whole thing hurt. 

 But unfortunately, I couldn't sleep for long. 

"...it was completely unnecessary for her to make such a scene, when I asked her multiple times not to be such a nuisance, but does she listen?"

It was Derrick, yelling his head off, and I knew that I couldn't just hide in my room to avoid him. He would actually burst into the room to harass me, and I didn't want him to taint the safety I found in my room. Of course, I could lock the door, but that would only lead to an escalation. 

Better to nip the bud then and there. 

So, I unwillingly dragged myself downstairs to get in the newest dose of drama.

"You shouldn't be too harsh on her, Derrick, she was probably just in a bad mood," Jade was saying. "She did get injured after all, and it looks harmful. I don’t think she meant to actually do that."

I froze as soon as I saw them. What was Jade doing here? Did Derrick invite her? How was he going to explain my presence here, then? What was he trying to play here? Our marriage was supposed to be a secret from everyone!

Before I could ask them what they were doing, Jade saw me.

"Oh, Kara, there you are!" she smiled as if we were still best friends. "Sorry for not knocking, but the door was unlocked so we invited ourselves in. By the way, nice place you have here. It’s great that you can afford a place like this, all on your own!”

I just blinked at her and turned to Derrick.

“I didn’t want to come,” Derrick grumbled. “She dragged me here.”

Oh, so he hadn’t told her the truth. That’s good.  

"Why are you here?" I asked tiredly. 

Derrick frowned and answered before Jade could. “Because Jade here is too much of a good person to leave you on your own like you deserve so she talked me into coming with her and taking care of you. You can learn a thing or two from her kindness, because I'm one hundred percent certain if the roles were swapped, you'd never do the same for her."

"Derrick!" Jade said chidingly, but she was clearly trying to bite back a smile at the defense. She was a cartoon-level villain at times. "Be nice to her, she's in pain. How’s your wound, Kara? Have you taken your medicine? I hope you have something to eat beforehand. Did you have dinner already?"

Maybe if I tried not to bring up everything that was wrong with how they were acting, they'd go away and leave me alone. The very thought of playing happy house with them made me want to throw up. 

"Look, can you two just leave me alone?" I asked instead of trying to defend myself in any way. Why waste words that would only fall on deaf ears? "Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t need your help; I just want to sleep. Please, leave."

Derrick looked thunderous, shaking his head minutely to tell me to knock it off. I ignored him.

"Nonsense, you shouldn't sleep on an empty stomach,” Jade replied. “Come on, come on, I'll make something for the three of us. You’re always so stubborn when it comes to getting help from others. Loosen up a little." 

With that, she made her way to my kitchen as if she had been here before.

Derrick rushed to me as soon as she left the hearing range.

"Can you try and be decent for at least this evening, Kara?" Derrick asked, peeved. "No matter what I say, Jade still seems to think there’s a good person somewhere there, so try not to destroy her faith in you for the thousandth time."

I didn't say anything. Just kept glaring at him until he rolled his eyes and made his way to the kitchen. 

Well, this was going to end in disaster, I just knew it. 

Still, I followed him, limping to the kitchen. For two people who were supposedly there to 'take care of me', neither of them cared much to help me walk without putting weight on my leg. Typical. 

Just as I neared the kitchen, however, a loud noise of shattering glasses ripped through the air, and I rushed to the kitchen as soon as possible. 

"Is everything okay?" I couldn't help but ask. 

Jade looked contrite as she stood up next to a mess of broken plates on the floor.

"I'm sorry, Kara, they just slipped," Jade said demurely. "I thought I could handle cooking but this hand..."

What was wrong with her hand? It wasn’t even bandaged or anything.

"Of course, your hand hurts, Jade, it took a nasty fall!" Derrick replied, all kind and caring, holding her arm for her, just moments away from rubbing it himself. Then, he glared at me. "Kara, go make us something, will you? We’re the guests here anyway. Jade can't use her hand."

I boggled at him. 

"I got stitches for my leg," I pointed out. "That literally means I should not be standing, and you want me to cook?" 

"You're standing just fine now," he pointed out. 

"That doesn't mean I'm not in pain. I've downed so many painkillers just to keep standing, and the doctor said I needed to keep my leg elevated as much as possible." 

Derrick rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't be a baby. It's not even that bad, I once conducted an entire business trip with a broken leg. Can you stop being difficult for once? It’s your home." 

"Maybe she really can't keep standing, Derrick," Jade decided to intervene then. "I'm sorry, this is my fault. I'm just so clumsy in the kitchen, I always end up making a mess. I've only made things worse for both of you." 

"No, Jade, you didn't do that. You're just injured," Derrick turned back to her, with gentle eyes and soft smiles.

Derrick and I have been married for three years, but he had never been that soft with me. Somewhere deep in my heart, hurt resurfaced, because I couldn't believe that he didn't see how unfair he was being to me.

 As soon as the hurt resurfaced, it turned into disgust. 

"I can't cook on a wounded leg," I replied clearly. "Just order some takeout. I can't cook tonight. Or better yet, leave." 

Derrick's face darkened, and he stepped closer to me, menacingly. Then, out of nowhere, his hand came to snatch mine, pulling me closer to him. His hand was clenched tight around my wrist, and I wanted to whimper in pain, but couldn't give him satisfaction. 

"You will do as I say," he growled, clearly expecting me to back down. 

"I will not!" I spat back. "I'm not your maid!”

Derrick sneered and then pushed me away from him so hard that I stumbled back and promptly stepped on a particularly sharp piece. 

I cried out in pain, feeling the glass piercing my skin and hurt my leg all over again. I braced myself against the counter, having a hard time standing up. Tears prickled in my ears, and I got so mad that I couldn't see straight. 

"Oh, god, Kara, are you alright-" Jade cried out, trying to come to my aid.

But I have had enough of them both. 

So, straightening my spine despite the pain, I looked them both in the eyes- Jade looking truly panicked, maybe because of how much I was bleeding, and Derrick shocked as well, probably because of the blood- and shouted from the top of my lungs. 

"Get out!"