Chapter 2 I Surrender

Paige’s POV

“Paige?” Noah noticed me. I gasped as I realized the emotions in his eyes. He’s not scared or shocked that I saw them making out. Instead, he looked pissed. Oh God! I thought I managed to tame his wild heart within a year of our marriage. I was so wrong.

“What are you doing here?” He asked again, fixing his long-sleeves polo. The polo that I gave him last month.

Instead of watching him, I turned to his mistress. Thalia, the well-known actress and model is standing before my eyes, looking at me with disgust when I am the one who should be disgusted by her. I balled my fists and attacked her without a word.

“OUCH!” She screamed after I pulled her hair. I even scratched her arm and tried to choke her but she was able to move away.

“FCK! STOP IT, PAIGE!”

I ignored Noah and continued pulling Thalia’s hair.

“I SAID STOP IT, PAIGE! JUST STOP!”

“NOAH, HELP ME! LET ME GO, YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU CRAZY!”

I laughed without humor. “YOU ARE A DISGUSTING MISTRESS–”

I was pushed to the ground. I whimpered after I twisted my right wrist. Tears rolled down my cheeks again because of pain but the fact that Noah pushed me to the floor is more painful. He’s now looking at me with rage while hugging his mistress.

I sobbed while looking up at him.

“WHAT THE FCK, PAIGE!” He shouted while his face was so red in anger. He angrily pointed a finger at me. “LEAVE! YOU’RE THE ONE WHO’S DISGUSTING HERE. YOU DISGUST ME!”

I lifted my wrist, showing it to him, hoping he still cares. “I’m hurt, Noah.”

“I DON’T FCKING GIVE A DAMN! LEAVE BEFORE I DRAG YOU OUT MYSELF.”

I felt my heart break. I cried harder as I watched him cupping Thalia’s cheeks. Slowly, I tried to lift myself up. Oliver helped me. I saw the employees of Hanson Group watching us through the open door. I bit my bottom lip as I feel like I’m drowning in shame. I slowly walked to the door. For the last time, I looked back at Noah, hoping he’d change his mind and choose me but he’s too busy taking care of his first love.

I sucked my breath as I realized the situation. I pity myself. I’m so helpless and broken. I swallowed hard and sobbed again. He just broke me completely. Why did he have to punish me like this?

***

“You shouldn’t leave the hospital, Paige. Look what happened to you. Why did you injure your wrist?”

Aunt Precy keeps on nagging at me while looking at the bandage in my right wrist. I can’t answer. I’m staring at the ceiling while keeping my lips pressed. My mind was blank. I don’t understand anything that Aunt Precy is saying. My mind wasn’t able to process everything that happened. It’s still not clear ‘cause my mind won’t accept it.

Two days later and I’m not going back to Noah’s mansion. I stayed in my Aunt Precy’s house together with her three sons, my cousins.

I was watching television when the news suddenly flashed. It was a photo of two familiar people. The shot was taken secretly but their faces are clear as a crystal.

“Is that Noah?” Aunt Precy asked aggressively. She was pointing at the television while looking at me.

I looked away, avoiding her eyes.

“Tell me what really happened, Paige. Is this the reason why you’re acting strange? Is this the reason why you’re not going home?”

I chewed my bottom lip. I saw one of my cousins going down the stairs. His eyes landed on the television and his forehead creased. “Noah is having an affair? What the hell, Paige!”

I rose from the couch. I winced when my injured wrist accidentally hit the couch. The doctor said I need surgery but I’m not in the condition to think about anything.

“Paige!” Aunt Precy called me, annoyed. That’s when I silently burst into tears. I’m not going home because I don’t want to accept the fact that Noah is divorcing me. Now that their relationship has been publicized, I don’t know what to do anymore.

Unable to take the pain and shame, I ran upstairs and locked myself in my bedroom. I cried my heart out. I cried in pain. I cried everything as I slept through the pain, hoping that when I woke up, I’d feel better. But it was still the same. When I woke up the next day, shocking news exploded in my face. Noah was sent to a hospital because someone beat him up yesterday. I have a hunch about who did it but I’m too worried to confront him.

I was running down the stairs when Ares, one of my cousins, blocked my way. He was staring at me with anger in his eyes. “Where are you going, Paige? You’re going to him?”

I stared at him. “I know it was you who beat him up, Ares.”

He clenched his jaws. “He deserves it, Paige.”

“Why do you have to do that, Ares?” I asked, raising my voice.

I saw Aunt Precy, Achilles, and Alex looking at us. I clenched my jaws as I glared at Ares. “You don’t have to beat him up!”

“I know you’re so freaking in love with that bastard, but think about yourself, Paige. He disrespected you. He hurt you. How stupid can you be? Let him go now!”

I shook my head and wiped the tears that rolled down my cheeks. I pushed him away and ran out of the house. I heard them calling me but I ignored them. I called a taxi and went to the hospital where Noah is admitted. I opened the door with my heart pounding in so much worry, but for the nth time, I died. Seeing him kissing and pinning Thalia down on the bed as if he’s not injured made me realize something.

Ares was right. He disrespected me and kept on disrespecting me. This is our end. I’m going to accept it now. I give up. I… I surrender.