Chapter Two

As the car pulled into the driveway, a heavy silence filled the air between Maximo and me. The ride back home had given me time to gather my thoughts and summon the courage to confront Maximo about this fucked up and strained relationship. 

I heavily sigh while looking in front of our dark porch and closed door. It's now or suffers forever, Cza. 

I face my husband but before I could even utter a word, he swiftly exited the car, slamming the door shut—leaving me speechless with my jaw dropped to the ground. 

What the hell?!

He 

has the audacity to be the one to be angry? For what reason? I was the one being belittled by him, rejected and neglected, and now he's acting

 I have done something worst!

I hurriedly get out of the car and called after him, but he paid me no heed, striding towards the house with determined steps.

"Maximo, let's talk!" I exclaimed, following closely behind, while my heart is pounding in my chest, unsure of how this conversation would unfold. 

Maximo never lay a hand on me nor hurt me physically but his aura tonight seems he can and he will. But I pay no worry or have a mum about it. 

I am not just anyone who 

he can take a claim whenever he 

feels like claiming me in front of other people just 

he thought I have stepped on his ego as a husband. 

He's not even worthy of such a title!

"God, let's talk and stop this push and pull, Maximo!" I once again wailed. 

My steps doubled in pace when he finally entered the threshold. However, upon entering our home, my breath caught in my throat at the sight of Jasmine sitting casually on the couch.

"Conri!" She quickly called out as soon as Maximo neared her.

My lips parted. So, Conri, huh? That is the reason why he didn't like it when I call him with his first name. Because Jasmine was the only one allowed to use it?

Heaven, why is this so painful to bear?

The sight of her hugging Maximo in an instant rendered me speechless. An uncomfortable knot tightened in my stomach as I stood there, feeling like an intruder in my own home—our home. 

Don't cry. I whispered to myself, looking to my right while trying so hard not to look unaffected by how they embraced each other in front of me.

No. Maybe he is just faking it. I know he can feel the bond between us, he is the next Alpha of his lineage, and he should know better than me. 

With my chin up, I face Maximo back. "Why did you really come to the bar looking for me?" I mustered the courage to speak although my voice trembling slightly.

Maximo's eyes met mine, the usual warmth from his looks at Jasmine, replaced with an icy glare. 

"Your family has been blowing up my phone all day, worried sick about you. I had to find you to avoid any unnecessary attention." He kissed Jasmine's temple. "Cly has been bombarding me with messages asking about you. You haven't visited them since the wedding?"

"So, it wasn't because you cared about me? It was just to keep up appearances?" I asked, not answering his question.

He heaved a deep sigh, looking like he was so done with all the bullshits I have asked him. "Let's not kid ourselves, Cza. You know this marriage is nothing more than a business arrangement. It's better to keep them in the dark about our issues. Besides, your family got what they want, right? Your business is already back, what else do you want this time?"

My heart wrenched at his callousness. How could he? I had hoped that somewhere within him, there might be a glimmer of care for me—because for one, we are mated. We knew that this might be an arranged marriage between families at first, but as soon as that night happened, I felt the bond. There is a bond! I may be half-breed but I am not dumb!

Yet even if I am completely aware of his attitude, his words were still like a dagger to my already wounded heart.

I wiped out the tears streaming down my face. "Our issues? Do you mean the fact that you reject our bond and treat me like a stranger? Is that what you're trying to hide from my family?"

Maximo's expression remained impassive as if my pain meant nothing to him.

"We both know this marriage was never about love. It's about maintaining appearances and securing our families' interests. Emotions have no place in this arrangement."

I felt a mixture of anger and sadness building within me. I couldn't believe I had allowed myself to be blind to his true intentions for so long.

You see, it was very dumb of me to think that this marriage could still be a good catch, considering that he's a pure breed and I may learn things from him that our father didn't tell, but no. Maximo is heartless and selfish. 

"Is this what you really want, Maximo? To be bound in a loveless marriage..." I give Jasmine a light glance before I continued my words. "While you chase after someone else?"

"What?!" The woman intervened but Maximo spoke with her.

"It's not about what I want. It's about what's expected of me. I have responsibilities as the next Alpha, and my choices are dictated by duty, not desire." He looks at Jasmine. "And before you arrived, there's already Jasmine, Cza, I am chasing no one here because she's already been mine."

Bullseye. Wow. That was... painful. 

My voice quivered as I struggled to hold back my tears, but it just keeps on flowing, damn it.

 I had hoped that Maximo would at least show a hint of regret or remorse, but his cold demeanor shattered any remaining illusions.

Wiping the tears harshly on my face, I face him one more time. "So, I'm just a pawn in your game? A convenient way to keep up appearances while you pursue your own desires?"

"In a way, yes. But it's not like you're entirely innocent either. You knew what you were getting into when you agreed to this marriage."

"I may have agreed to this marriage, but I never expected to be treated with such indifference and disrespect. I deserve better than this, Maximo!"

Maximo's stoic expression remained unchanged, leaving me feeling more alone than ever.

If only I had known, I wish I haven't met him.

"If you want to avoid any further disappointment, it's best not to expect anything from me. This marriage is what it is, and we both have to accept it."

My heart ached as his last words sank in. I knew I couldn't force him to love me, but I also couldn't bear the thought of living in this loveless and heartless facade any longer. It has been a month, but I am already suffering too much.

"Come on, Jas. Did you wait long?"

Pain flashed through my eyes as I watched Maximo assist Jasmine upstairs, the weight of their actions sinking in. A crushing feeling sense of betrayal dawned inside me, realizing that while he claimed me in public, his heart lay with someone else.

As soon as they are inside Maximo's room, I hurriedly retreated to mine, tears still streaming down my cheeks as if each drop is a testament to the pain that consumed me.

And yes, Maximo and I are not sharing a room. We only happened to sleep together on the night of our wedding. He didn't want it, but we are forced to share each other's warmth as part of the mating rites. 

He had me. 

He was my first. 

"Damn it," I mumbled to myself as I sat on top of my bed. 

I spent another hour agonizing in pain when I hear the sounds of unnecessary noises from Maximo's bedroom. The thought of an unmistakable scene appeared inside my mind, a reminder of the intimacy he shared with Jasmine while I, his wife, was left alone in my won't sorrow after all the words he had thrown at me.

"How could he? How could he do this to me?"