Chapter 5 A VERY CRAZY WIFE (II)

HAYLEY

Each word is punctuated by the flail of my legs, and a few heavy punches delivered to Edward’s strong, muscled back.

To my disappointment, he does not react. He doesn’t even flinch. He just stays silent and keeps moving while I hit and kick him hard enough to leave bruises. 

A minute later, I hear a door being shoved open and we walk into a brightly lit, luxuriously furnished room.

With a gentleness that surprises me, Edward sets me down on the bed and steps back, his eyes flashing with fury.

“Have you lost your bloody mind?” He asks, his voice soft but dangerous enough to have goosebumps pebble my skin.

“I should be asking you that damned question!” I scream right back. “You just fucking kidnapped me!”

For the next few seconds, the room is so silent I can hear my heart thunder against my ribcage.

Edward’s expression is half shocked, half awed. And I know why.

Six years of marriage and I never raised my voice at him. Not even once. 

I played the role of the calm, gentle wife so perfectly, I almost didn’t realize that I let Edward and his family walk all over me in the process. 

“Who are you?” He snarls. “Where is the wife I married? I need her back. Now.”

God, this is fucking incredible.

I want to leave. I want to run out that door and never return. But deep down, I know we need to have this conversation.

So I sit back on the bed, lift my chin and give him my husband a scathing look.

“The wife you married? You mean the wife who let your family belittle her for years? The wife who did your every bidding without expecting anything in return? The wife you constantly pushed to the side? Or the one you were too fucking ashamed to be seen with in public? 

Too bad, Mr. DaSilva, the little, submissive lamb you married is dead. You killed her.

A selfish bitch runs this body now. Get acquainted with the programme.”

The silence that follows is heavy, almost uncomfortable. 

Edward scrutinizes me for five seconds straight, those steely grey orbs burning into my skin. Then he gets to his feet and takes off his jacket. 

Like a moth to flame, my eyes follow the thick, muscled slope of his back and biceps, visible even beneath his crisp white shirt.

With fluid grace, he drapes the jacket on the chair and sinks both hands into his pockets.

Even now, while I’m simmering in rage, there’s no denying that Edward DaSilva is a perfect work of art.

He carries himself with a calm grace and undeniable authority that has people scrambling to do his every bidding.

And boy is he gorgeous.

Long lashes. A jaw that can slice through paper. Legs for days. Little wonder why he’s been featured on the front cover of Manhattan’s hottest men for five years in a fucking row. 

Three seconds later, he opens his mouth and every single thought I harboured about his beauty flies straight out the window. 

“If this is about the dinner party, then I think you severely overreacted, Hayley.” His tone is calm and controlled, but there’s no denying the anger that simmers underneath.

“You did not have to embarrass me before my guests. I could have easily given you whatever necklace or dream vacation you wanted to make up for it.”

Once again, my mind blanks.

Without thinking, I spin around, wrap my fingers around the nearest object I can find, and throw it across the room with all the strength I can muster. 

Edward’s eyes widen in horror.

He manages to duck at the last minute. Unfortunately, the vase crashes into the sturdy wall behind him, shattering to the floor in sharp, glinting smithereens.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” He roars.

I shrug, staring at my fingers like they’re the eighth wonder of the world.

“The next time you mention some damn necklace without taking responsibility for your actions, dearest husband, I assure you that I won’t miss.”

All my audacity suddenly flies out the window and fear unravels in my chest when Edward suddenly stalks towards me, his eyes two burning pools of rage.

“All of this madness because I chose to attend Victoria’s birthday party? She just got a promotion for Chrissakes! Aren’t you friends? Shouldn’t you be happy for her?!”

“You still don’t get it do you?” I whisper, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. “You still don’t understand that once again, you abandoned me, for her! 

Yes, Victoria got a promotion, but I had a major accomplishment to celebrate too, and you chose to be with her!

Do you even realize that you haven’t attended any of my birthday dinners for the past three years? We haven’t even celebrated our anniversary in three years because you’re so busy working all the time!

All those nights when I stayed awake waiting for you, you were with her, weren’t you?”

There’s no iota of guilt in his tone when he answers my question. “We were working, Hayley. If I don’t work, how the hell do you think we’d be able to afford that fancy house and Toby’s expensive education?”

“Is that all you think I care about?!” I screech. “Fancy houses and fancy schools? All I need is for you to be present, for my husband to be there for me!”

He steps back, his eyes hardening.

“You’re acting like a child, Hayley. I just gave a few minutes of my time to Victoria today. 

Frankly, with this childish behaviour of yours, I do not regret spending time at Victoria’s party. She is obviously more level-headed and mature than you are. I think you should take some lessons from her.”

My mouth falls open in shock.

For the first few seconds, I blink rapidly, hoping what I just heard was simply a figment of imagination.

When Edward continues to stand there and glare at me, I finally realize that arguing is pointless. This marriage died three years ago.

Even though it breaks me, I lift my chin, hold his gaze and say boldly.

“I am tired of arguing, Edward. Let’s get a divorce.”