All Chapters of The Price of Forgiveness: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Cassie POVIt was my first day working in Antonia Reeva’s office. To my disappointment, Antonio had been called away. But his son, Marcus, was at the door to greet me and show me around.“My father does a lot of his research in these rooms. The building isn’t new and he and Mila Turner have been renovating the upper levels. We’ll usually be working on the 11th and 12 floor but we’ll be on the 8th floor until that’s done.” Marcus explained. “You will have your own office soon.”“This is great,” I smiled. I didn’t care where I worked. I was just excited to work. I was excited for this opportunity. I bashfully warned, “I’m pretty sure I’m too out of practice for all this.”“Non-sense.” He smiled warmly and put a hand on my shoulder. I flinched away from it instinctively. Nervous, he pulled his hand away and his face turned serious. He said, “you will do great. They’re building everything from the ground up. You won’t have to do anything alone.”He looked around the room, then smiled and

Three weeks had passed, and in that time, something strange had happened.Jacob—my disingenuous, playboy husband—had become devout, loving, and compassionate. He came home every night at the earliest hour he could and spent every possible minute with me until he had to leave again.He called and texted me while at work, he told me about his day, he made jokes, he bought me flowers and presents, he asked to watch the stars together, and took me on late night boat rides, and went on early morning hikes, and he took me shopping, and made me lunch—Although I tried to be doubtful, he made my heart flutter again.All calls from Coral were sent immediately to voicemail.Tonight we sat at dinner at a restaurant at the top of a skyscraper.“Can I see your phone?” I asked after the main course had been served. He paused but then pulled out his phone and handed it to me. “What’s the code?”“Your birthday.”“Really?”He nodded.I typed it and it worked.I glanced up at him as he focused on the va

I got home around 6pm. Jacob was sitting in the living room. I don’t know what he was doing before I arrived.“Where were you?” He asked when I walked in.I stopped, startled to see him sitting there.Then I stepped towards the kitchen and said, “I was at work?”“Who picked you up from the school?”I stopped again. I turned back to him. He glanced up at me, his elbows resting on his knees. He was playing with something – a piece of paper or lint maybe – between his fingers.“We don’t need to have this kind of relationship.” I told him firmly. I desperately held onto control over my emotions.He raised an eyebrow slightly.“We don’t need to pretend to care about the other’s day.” I finished.He scoffed and shook his head, “you think I’m asking about your day?”“What else would you be asking?”“I’m asking who the hell picked you up from school.” He sat up straighter. Then stood and started around the large coffee table towards me. I stepped back and he paused.“Who were you carrying to y

I was making the guest room bed when my phone buzzed. It was from the number again. Multiple pictures of Coral and Jacob together looking intimate, cozy, and happy. The caption read, if only he could be this happy at home.I turned off my phone and tossed it to the side. I was lifting the blanket so I could get under when someone grabbed me from behind.I knew his body, and I could smell him so although I tried to break free of his arms, I didn’t panic.He tightened his hold on me.“You can’t get away with everything just because I love you.” He said.I scoffed and choked out a laugh of disbelief.“You don’t love me.”He turned me, pushed me backward onto the bed, and fell over me. A hand on my arm and another one on my throat. It didn’t hurt but his hands were tight.“Why are you being like this again? I helped an employee.”“At the expense of your wife.” I grabbed his hand on my throat as if I could pry it off with one hand. “You wrecked my academic career.”“It’s one TA position.”

I was fuming when I walked into the house. This wasn’t a normal argument. This was war. This was unstoppable – unbridled – unpredictable – war.He had taken my life and was now threatening my friends and family to keep it. For what? What did he gain by holding me hostage? What did he get from being married to me?!I’m not sure how long I paced along the front foyer. My mind imagining over and over – every conceivable argument we could have when he got home.He would be home soon – I knew that. He wouldn’t trust me at home alone for that long. Not right now. He shouldn’t.Were he not the main financial resource for my father who still needed 3 medical check ups, I would’ve already run.The door finally opened and I whirled to yell at him. But I was instantly frozen in place.Teresa Aster – Jacob’s mother – stood in the light of the door. I could practically hear the theatre orchestra playing a somber and pensive dramatic piece. She draped herself in expensive white firm and massive diam