Chapter 5: The Mad Husband

Livia Washington’s Point of View 

Dirty white ceiling, vague surroundings yet familiar one. 

Gradually, I opened my eyes and prowled around. I’m at Janice’s apartment, laying on her body still wearing the dress I had yesterday. I tried to sit on the bed, but my head hurts like Janice had pounded my head hard. 

“Drink this. I knew that you’d wake up soon that’s why I made you tea,” she said. “It’s good for sober boosting.” 

Janice put a glass of tea on the side table while I fixed my dress, hoisted my eyes on her then spoke. I felt that my tongue was dry, yet a couple of words came out of my mouth. 

“Damn, my head hurts…” I bleed. 

My best friend arched her eyebrows, and put herself across me on the sofa I was facing. “Tell me, what happened last night?” she inquired, as if she was expecting me to say something when in fact, I have none. 

I rolled my eyes and arched my brows. “Wasted, obviously,” I sneered. 

She smirked. “Girl, do you know that you almost slept with Ajax Steel yesterday?!” she stumbles in astonishment. 

“And who would that be?” 

“He was the one who brought you last night. Ajax Steel, the coldest, affluent, good-looking widowed man in our country. Can’t you imagine? A woman like you had the chance to sleep with him!” 

Cold, affluent, good-looking. It honestly rings a bell on me. I became silent momentarily. My head hurts for the second time, however, as my memories from last night flew into my mind once again, making me shrink on my bed and think thoroughly about who it was. 

I can remember a part of what transpired last night. The man’s low baritone, frigid voice, fine structure, and presence would eat me alive as if I was his prey. I saw the man’s face and the word hunter suits him. His voice, presence… all of it seemed familiar. 

But where did I exactly hear it? 

“Tell me, did you seduce that man to get rid of your stupid husband?” Janice intervened, raising her one eyebrow whilst smirking at me. 

“What? No!” I denied. “I won’t change my husband ever, Janice!” 

Janice’s mood changed as quickly as the fan. An aggrieved face welcomed me. She then rested her back on the sofa, crossed her arms then put her feet on the table. 

“I wonder when you're going to wake up? That man doesn’t love you at all, Livia. That man wouldn’t dare to care about what I saw yesterday. I just hope that someone will come and makes you realize he’s not worth loving at all!`` Her harsh words made me silent. 

I’m already used to Janice. She often tells me that yet I’m stupid to still hope for the amelioration of our marriage. 

A familiar ringtone rang. It’s mine. I stood straight and looked for my phone until it was hidden under my pillow. Seeing my husband’s name on it, I instantly answered his call. 

“Archer-“ I trailed off. 

“Come to my condo. Now.” He said frigidly, ending the phone call right away without letting me speak. 

“Who’s that?” Janice asked. “Your husband?” she scoffed. 

I sighed and scanned the whole bedroom to look for my things. “Can you drop me off in his condo, Janice?” 

Janice’s face screams disapproval when she rolls her eyes. “Fine! If I were you, I wouldn't let someone treat me like a dog; doing what he asked for!” she proclaimed. 

“I just want to disappoint her Mother. She’s sweet, and I can feel that she wants me a lot for his son. He roots for us, Janice…” 

“Argh. Whatever!” She only rolled her eyes then stood up, and came out, probably looking for her keys. 

No matter how much Janice disliked Archer, she wouldn’t decline if I was the one who asked her. Janice cared for me and I can feel that. She hates that Archer treats me however he wants but I’m lucky to have a friend like Janice. 

As I went down to Janice’s car, she put the window down first and then sighed. 

“Call me right away if something happens, got it?” 

I smiled, then bobbed my head. “Okay.” 

I waved goodbye to my friend and then went directly to his condo. Seeing bottles of wine on top of the table in his living room made me grip my shoulder bag tight, looking everywhere to locate where he was. 

Slowly, I went to the kitchen and went through the fridge and the small cabinet inside. Nothing was touched, and the quantity of the food I bought gained nothing at all. Archer lives in a condo without me. Nevertheless, I still bought stocks and a bunch of food for him monthly. Yet, even one canned good wasn't touched. Archer doesn’t eat the food I bought no matter how much I try to be a good wife to him. 

As I walked through his small bar space, I opened its cabinet and saw that all his hard or light alcohol had been washed out. It means he drinks it often at night. 

I went directly to his bedroom and didn’t bother knocking it thinking that he might be there, napping or taking a shower when I froze where I was standing, catching a scenario that would tear my world apart. 

Archer and a woman, on top of the bed, fucking. This time it’s no longer Emily Brooke but a different girl I haven’t seen in my entire life. Archer’s eyes narrowed at me, continued to fuck the girl hard causing her to moan loudly. 

My bag fell off my shoulder and my eyes started to get wet. Nevertheless, I refrained from crying and witness him betray me. 

I could feel my inner core bursting with anger. However, I never moved to slap him even just an inch. Did he just call me to slap it into my face that we will never reconcile and fix our marriage? 

I feel outraged. I already had two steps backward when he spoke, halting me from walking away. 

“Dare to take another step away and you’re dead Livia,” he outspoken. “Face me.” 

I closed my eyes and slowly veered around. Archer got off the woman he was fucking. My eye accidentally went through his private part, slowly pulling it off into her femininity. Archer grabbed his pants, put them on then went to where I was standing. 

“Answer me honestly. Who was the man with you last night?” he merely asked because the critical tone was recognized in his voice. 

I scoffed, raised my one eyebrow, and then spoke. “So you care about me now, huh,” I said. 

He didn’t answer my question. “Someone saw you last night with another man, Livia. Don’t you dare avoid my question again.” He darted. 

“Yes! I was with a man last night. And so?” I mocked. 

The fact that I told him the truth made Archer’s eyes darken. He seemed annoyed, provoked… and resentful. 

“I was asking his name, woman. Do not make me repeat myself,” he demanded. 

Instead of giving him a sensible answer, I gripped my shoulder bag tight and then spoke. “None of your business.” 

Archer’s voice echoed in his condo, trying to stop me from running away completely from him. He was outraged and I feel like I had my revenge for the things he had done to me. 

On my way to the other side of the street, a Maserati GranCabrio was approaching fast as the raindrops fell from the sky— almost hitting me.