Chapter 5

Caleb looked at the housekeepers around before saying with a soft voice, "Everyone is excused. Go and get some rest."

"Yes, Mr. Goode," replied the employees.

I held my suitcase and happened to be facing him head-on.

"Where are you going at this late hour?" Caleb stared at my suitcase without a shred of warmth or emotion on his face.

"It's none of your concern. Go back to keeping your stepmom company," I replied, not bothering to entertain Caleb anymore now that I had decided to get divorced. Hatred burbled in me so intensely that I kept hoping to offend him as much as possible.

As expected, Caleb's expression darkened, and he reached ahead to snatch my suitcase.

Even with both hands, I didn't have the strength to beat his. So, out of frustration, I sat on the suitcase to hold it in place. "These are my belongings from before we got married. I have every right to take them away."

Caleb said nothing. He just picked me up from the suitcase. Because I was now higher off the ground, I couldn't grab my suitcase and had to let go of it.

"Let me leave, Caleb! Release me! Don't touch me with your filthy hands that you've used to touch another woman!"

"Be quiet," he ordered with a suppressed tone while jolting me with both hands.

I was scared of falling, so I could only tightly put my arms around his neck.

Once we arrived at the upper floor, he dumped me onto the big bed of our main bedroom. Then, he took off his shirt and watch. "It's almost 3:00 am. Quit fooling around."

Did he assume I was only making an empty threat like those young couples who would threaten to break up whenever they got into an argument?

"Caleb, I think…"

Before I could say, "I think there's no point in our marriage anymore", Caleb lowered himself onto my body and pinned it down. He gripped my chin with one hand while kissing me the next moment.

I wanted to move his hand off me, but he grabbed my two wrists with his free hand and pinned them above my head.

He nearly drowned me in his intense kiss, as if I were a toy he could use however way he wanted.

I could only summon all my strength to turn my head the other way. "I don't want this, Caleb. Let me go—"

"You said you wanted to have my baby a few hours ago. What's with this act now?" He rebutted.

Caleb kissed me without any concern for me, pulled my clothes off, and left trails of bite and kiss marks all over my body.

Shame and guilt washed over me as my body reacted positively to his actions, like always. However, I knew I couldn't keep going on like this. So, I struck his cheek when he happened to loosen his grip.

A resounding slap filled the air.

Caleb froze in surprise, his eyes growing wide at me.

Even I was shocked as I stared at my palm. Did I just hit Caleb? I couldn't believe I had been so bold as to slap him!

"Have you lost your mind, Winifred?" Caleb glowered at me.

I could even see the handprint on his handsome face under the moonlight. At that point, I wanted to laugh.

My chest swelled with relief as if I were a trapped bird that got set free. That slap was like me stretching my wings for the first time. Then again, perhaps I was so sad today that I couldn't smile even when I was happy inside.

"Let's get divorced, Caleb."

Only after I said this did my lips curl slightly.

I didn't want to submit and be an insignificant person anymore. I could tolerate being submissive to my husband during intimacy, but why did I put up with being miserable because of another woman?

"You're acting out because I didn't see a doctor with you? Your measly little wound would've been fine if you washed it with cool water. Is there a need for such an emotional outburst?"

Caleb seemed adamant that I wouldn't be in pain just because my wound could heal on its own. It was much like our relationship. He would never think I was still sad if I willingly accommodated him and settled the matter peacefully during our arguments.

"Maura's not emotional. She just throws herself into the embrace of someone else's husband and cries about how much pain she's in. You two have really opened my eyes when I saw you both hugging so intimately," I sneered.

Maybe it was because I had slapped Caleb, but I no longer feared making a bigger fuss. I attacked him in all his weak spots. In that instant, I even wondered if my spirit animal was a porcupine.

Caleb's expression dimmed completely.

"Maura is my dad's wife. What's wrong with her depending on me, her stepson, instead of anyone else? Is your heart so ugly that you're even suspecting your mother-in-law?" He questioned.

Then, he sneered and added, "How dare you accuse Maura so shamelessly? Have you already forgotten how you had a condom ready in your bag during our first date after our arranged blind date?"

The tips of my ears reddened at once.

I liked Caleb a lot back then and feared another woman would beat me to win him over. So, I always prepared condoms for our dates in hopes of speeding up our relationship. Yet, we only got intimate for the first time after our wedding because he didn't like me back at the time.

I stated, "The past is behind us. We're in the present now. Yes! I used to love you so much that I was willing to throw away my pride and dignity.

"But I only ever loved you, so I didn't realize such a relationship was unhealthy. Now, I don't want to keep going on like this anymore."

"So, who do you plan on loving now?" Caleb's gaze locked onto me like I was his prey. "Winifred, do you seriously think you can call the shots on our relationship? What do you take me for? Someone you can order to stay or leave at your will?"

In truth, I was a little scared after seeing his stern expression. I even shivered.

Yet, I didn't want to succumb to my fear and be disadvantaged, so I remained stubborn. "You don't have feelings for me, anyway. And I don't like you anymore. Wouldn't things be how you prefer it if I left?"

He didn't answer me. Instead, he lowered his head to kiss me once more. His hand then touched my body, an electrifying sensation filling me at once.

"No, Caleb! Stop…"

Caleb moved more roughly and forcefully than before, likely because he was upset. "You don't like me anymore, huh? I'd like to hear you say it to my face."

Moans of pleasure and cries of pain spewed from my lips. I ignored the aching from my ankle and hoped to kick Caleb off me, but I couldn't seem to move him at all. "Let me go! I don't want this! I don't want to do it with you!

"You've already used me however way you want for three years! Can't you do it to someone else instead? It hurts, Caleb… It really hurts!"

Caleb only stopped when he heard my agonized cries. He kissed the tear stains down my face, asking, "Was I too rough? Where does it hurt?"

My heart hurt. I turned to look the other way, not wanting to deal with him. I knew there was no escaping now, so I shut my eyes and decided to endure this long night. I could leave once Maura called for Caleb tomorrow.

Caleb lay beside me, pulling me into his embrace as he gently kissed the back of my neck. "Is there anything you want to eat tomorrow? I'll get a famous chef to cook for us at home. Let's not go out."

He was trying to lock me up at home!

At that rate, I knew to mimic his usual indifference toward me. I pretended not to hear him.

"If you don't have a preference, we'll have Feltan cuisine. Maura likes that," said Caleb.

The urge to rebel surged in my veins once I heard Maura's name. I immediately blurted out, "We're having Jazonian cuisine."

Caleb chuckled. His strategy had worked. I knew he was provoking me, yet I was still foolish enough to respond accordingly.

I stared at the bedroom window, wondering if I could escape through it after the meal tomorrow. I wouldn't be the ultimate loser in this fight if I managed to escape.