The Breaking Point

Zoe yanked her hand away from Adonis’s grip, her face set in frustration.

“I’m tired of your little games, Adonis, let’s just go home.”

Adonis stared at her, clearly not expecting that response. He let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Home? Zoe, we just got here.”

“I don’t care.” Her voice was firm, her eyes cold. “I don’t want to be here, pretending to be something we’re not. This is no honeymoon. This is not even a real marriage so we don’t need it.”

His jaw clenched. “You’re overreacting.”

“Am I?” She crossed her arms. “You act like this is all a joke, like you enjoy pushing my buttons. But I’m done playing along. So if you don’t mind, Get the PJ ready we’re going back to New York.”

Adonis exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “You’re not going anywhere, Zoe.”

She scoffed. “Watch me.”

She turned to leave, but he caught her wrist again, this time gently. “Fine, let’s go back to the hotel.”

Zoe hesitated, surprised by his sudden agreement, but she nodded. Without another word, they walked back to the car.

The ride back to the hotel was quiet.

Adonis glanced at Zoe, who was staring out the window with her arms crossed. She looked tense, like she was holding something back.

“Zoe.”

She didn’t look at him, but he continued. “Why do you always get upset when I’m nice to you? Are you scared of something?”

Zoe sighed. “I don’t get upset.”

Adonis scoffed. “Then why do you push me away every time I try to be decent?”

She turned to him, her expression tired. “Because this marriage isn’t real, Adonis. We’re not going to be together forever. You love someone else, so why don’t you just leave me alone and stop messing with my head?”

He frowned, but she wasn’t done.

“I agreed to this marriage, but I didn’t sign up for this emotional torture. If you’re not going to love me, then don’t act like you care. It just makes everything harder.”

Adonis didn’t say anything right away. He just watched her, as if trying to understand what she really meant. But for once, he didn’t argue.

The rest of the ride was silent.

—

When they reached the hotel, Zoe walked straight to their room without waiting for him. She set down her purse, took off her coat, and turned to Adonis, who had just closed the door behind him.

“We’re going back home tomorrow, right?” she asked.

Adonis met her gaze, but his answer didn’t come right away. He leaned against the door, his gaze steady on her. “I don’t want this marriage to feel like torture for you.”

Zoe crossed her arms, waiting for him to continue.

“I’ve actually been nice to you, Zoe,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “But if you really don’t want to see that side of me…” He gave a small, cold smile. “Fine then.”

He turned away, unbuttoning his cuffs as he walked toward the wardrobe. “From now on, I’ll stop trying. And yes, we’ll go back to New York tomorrow.”

Zoe’s fingers curled into the sheets as she turned to face him. “If you really love her, then why do you try to act sweet with me?”

“Abigail?”

Adonis sighed, rolling his shoulders as if the conversation was exhausting him. “Because you’re my wife,” he said simply. “I just have to, so I’d enjoy this marriage. But if it upsets you, then fine.” His voice turned colder. “All of this… was to make Gran happy.”

Zoe let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “It’s mutual,” she said. “I did it for my father. Don’t think for a second that I’m happy to be your wife.”

Adonis studied her for a moment, then smirked. “I know,” he admitted. “And since it’s mutual… then how come you get jealous when I send flowers to Abigail?”

Zoe’s eyes burned with frustration. “I’m not jealous,” she said firmly. “But I find it disrespectful that you’d do that to me.”

Adonis let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “Disrespectful? The nerve…” He turned to her, his expression hard. “She’s the woman I’m in love with, Zoe. If she asks for the world, I’d give it to her without a second thought.”

Zoe scoffed. “Yeah? And that’s exactly why she keeps using you for your money.”

Adonis’s jaw clenched, his temper flaring. He turned to her sharply. “And what kind of therapist are you?” he snapped. “You use the things I told you against me now?” His voice dripped with anger. “The whole world revolves around money, Zoe. And guess what? That’s the reason you’re married to me. The reason you’re Zoe Walter.” He leaned in closer, his eyes cold. “So don’t throw stones when you’re in a glass house.”

Zoe’s breath caught as his words sank in. Her hands tightened into fists.

“Adonis,” she hissed, her voice shaking with fury. “How dare you?”

Adonis’s tone grew colder. “Maybe I’ve been wrong from the start,” he said, the words feeling heavier. “From now on, you’ll get the real me. I tried being kind, but if that’s not what you want, fine.”

Zoe didn’t back down. Her voice was steady, but firm. “Emotional torture isn’t kindness, Adonis.”

“Go to bed Zoe.”

🌸

The next morning, Adonis woke up to find Zoe still asleep. He couldn’t help but think about how, during their time together, there were moments when he had been kind to her, even kissed her, but guilt always followed. He loved Abigail, and those moments with Zoe felt wrong because of it.

He gently tapped Zoe’s arm. “Zoe, you better get ready. Let’s go home.”

She quietly got up and walked to the bathroom.

~~~🌸~~~

The flight back home was quiet. Zoe didn’t speak to him at all, and her silence made things feel even more awkward. Adonis tried to joke around, but it didn’t help—his attempts at humor just didn’t land, and the tension between them was impossible to ignore.

When they arrived back at the villa, Zoe noticed a woman standing near the entrance. The villa security was trying to hold her back, but she was insistent, pushing to get through.

Zoe’s confusion grew as they walked closer. Her eyes were wild with emotion. The moment she saw Adonis, she stormed toward him, tears streaming down her face. Without a second thought, she slapped him hard across the cheek.

“So it’s true…” she said, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. “You’re a devil.”