CHAPTER 3 - Jealousy

"YOU miss him!?" Xander yells as he drives fast. 

Hannah's hand trembled and could only cling to her seat firmly as Xander drove 100 km/h on a 50 km/h road. He is clearly upset about the scene he saw and the words he heard.

He sneered, "You must be celebrating when I told you I'm filing for divorce. I didn't know you were already dating someone. Did you really even go there for me? Have you forgotten you are still my wife?" He added as his hold on the steering wheel tightened.

She shook her head, her heart was pounding. She knows when Xander is angry he doesn't listen to reason, but it will anger him more if she can't provide an answer. He might not love her, but he values his name and dignity. His main concern is if someone saw her with another man while still married to him, "He... is Zane... A friend from high school. I'm just telling him I miss them too. Him, his girlfriend Clarise, and another friend of ours. It's a coincidence that I saw him there. After I moved to the Miller mansion I grew apart from them," she said stammeringly, her voice raspy and her eyes teary. 

He sighed, the way she spoke sounded believable to him, "Don't you ever do that again. At least wait for divorce." He replied, his eyes devoid of emotion.

Soon he drove slower. 

The car ride turned silent, but Hannah could feel his burning gaze as if he wanted to poke a hole in her.

She could smell the alcohol as he breathed, she wanted to tell him to park the car, and she'd drive. It was much safer for them.

But she could vividly remember how he slapped her, and it still frightened her that she didn't want to make unnecessary movements that would anger him.

Soon they reach the Miller mansion and she heaves a sigh of relief.

After he parked the car, she waited for him to leave, but it seemed like he had no plans to go out.

She clears her throat, slowly unlocks her side of the door, and gets out.

Soon he followed her. None of them spoke, but she could feel his dark aura surrounding her.

She brushed it off and walked to the east side of the mansion before she could take her first step. He held her wrist and dragged her to the west side where his room was.

"Xander," she cried out as she tried to free herself.

He scoffed, "What? Are you refusing me now? You think too highly of yourself, Hannah." He clamored.

Her eyes reddened in exasperation. He has no right to treat her that way. She's his wife, the mother of his child, and most of all, she's the person who saved him from the scandal 3 years ago.

"Why are you treating me like that? Am I not a good wife to you? I always keep my mouth shut, even if your family humiliates me. You, as my husband, should defend my name and honor. You know the truth, Xander." She exclaimed.

He grunted, "What are you even blabbering about? Should I thank you for throwing yourself at me?" He cried out his voice so loud that it started to wake people in the mansion.

She wants to retort his accusation as that's not what happened.

"What's the meaning of this?" Lani screamed while looking at Hannah in disdain. "It's in the middle of the night and I hear shouting."

Hannah glanced away and took advantage of the situation to escape Xander's grasp.

Xander stared at his mother, "Why don't you go back to your room? This is between me and Hannah." He said as he gestured for her to go away.

Lani sneered, "Are you drunk?" She mumbles, moves to Xander, then glares at Hannah. "Did you get my son drunk so you could charm him to have another child with you!" Her accusations are so absurd that Hannah can't help but chuckle.

Lani's face contorted in rage, "Are you laughing at me?" she exclaimed, then suddenly pulled Hannah's hair, but Hannah did not fight back and only raised her hands in defense. 

"You gold-digging."

"Money-sucking.

"Vile woman."

At every harsh word, Lani yells, a piece of Hannah's dignity leaves her body. 

"Enough!" Xander screamed dominantly. "Go back to your room, mother!" 

His words were so authoritative that Lani felt her heart skip a bit. She glowered at Hannah one last time and then marched back to her room.

Hannah's eyes were red in shame, in anger, in frustration. Her dry black hair made her look deranged. She took care of Xander so much that she let herself go.

When she saw Lani walk away, she thought of leaving as well.

"Did I permit you to leave?" Xander questions in a deep husky voice. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared at his dark brown eyes that matched his clean-cut hair. 

"What do you need from me?" She inquired in a low voice. Like a scared bunny in front of a dangerous predator.

He breathes out, "Fulfill your marital duty." He declares, then holds her arm and walks her to his room.

Inside the room. 

He stripped her down, pushed her belly flat on the bed, and penetrated her from behind. No kisses. No foreplay. Straight down to business. As if she's a prostitute. 

After he relieved his desires, he would throw her out of the room like a dirty peasant, but tonight is different. He let her stay and hugged her till they fell asleep. 

THE NEXT DAY.

Hannah was awakened by a ringing phone. She checked hers but it was not it. She searched for the source of the sound and found it was coming from his pants which were now on the floor.

Still naked she gently got out of bed and slowly fished his phone from his pants. She looked at the caller ID and it was an unsaved number. Not thinking anything about it she's about to answer the call. 

But Xander suddenly woke up. "What are you doing?" He asks in a cold tone.

"Unsave number calling. I don't want to wake you up so--"

"You decided you'll answer the phone? What if it's something important, what will you do then?" He intervenes.

"I'll pretend to be your assistant and take the message." She explains.

He scoffed, stood up, and took the phone away from her. Sight still blurry, "Wear some clothes would you and make some coffee." He demanded. His face clearly shows displeasure. 

She was still picking up her clothes when his phone rang again. She saw that it was the same number. She witnessed how he answered the call and the expression on his face changed from annoyed to calm. She even saw him smile.

Her eyes dilated in disbelief, "Who is he talking to?" She asks herself, as she tries to listen to their conversation.

When he saw her staring at him, he moved away from her and went to the balcony while gesturing to her to leave the room, shooing her like a dog. 

Her heart sank as she walked away. She could feel that a storm was coming her way.