Page 63 of Falling for the Wife

My eyes were set ablaze as I pierced my gaze into her soul. “I am not and will not sign those papers!”

“Why the fuck not, huh?” she furiously spat back. “Does it hurt your oh so fragile ego that I’m no longer lapping at your feet? You want to know why, Jared? It’s because of you. You fucking disgust me! How can I respect and stay associated with someone who has no morals? Who only sees women’s sole purpose as sex and to be discarded once you’ve gotten bored with them? Tell me, oh so mighty one, why the fuck would I stay linked to a heartless womanizer?”

Her claws were out. Mine were locked and loaded. If she wished to play dirty, so be it. “That’s rich coming from you—a certified slut! From the time you claimed you lost your virginity, you’ve slept with three men in a short amount of time. And you have the audacity to call me heartless? Virginal, you bloody aren’t!”

“How fucking dare you!” she bellowed as her hand connected to my face, striking it.

An animalistic growl emanated from me as I savagely took hold of her hands, imprisoning them as I roughly shoved her against the wall. “The truth hurts, doesn’t it?”

“You two-timing asshole!”

“Just to clarify, we weren’t ever together. You’ve desperately thrown yourself at me, so don’t go acting the innocent now, Gisele. It’s truly unbecoming. We both know you’re quite the brilliant actress.”

“I hate you!” She frantically struggled, earnestly trying to get away from my steel grasp, but all her efforts came to no avail. “Why don’t you just leave me alone and go back to your stupid Rose? Is that so much to ask?”

“I did.I have.I’ve had her every night since,” I stated with derision and precision, knowing each word would penetrate her wounded pride. “Well, some nights more than once. It all depends really.”

All her erratic efforts came to a full stop. Her chest gravely heaved as she gazed fixatedly at me, aghast.

A minute passed. Her shocked expression remained unmoving. It was as if she’d frozen in time. Then she swallowed with difficulty, licking her lips. Our battling eyes immediately disconnected when she lowered her gaze, conceding, withdrawing.

“Okay,” she eerily whispered, “you can let go of my hands now.”

After minutes upon minutes of mounting aggravation and hysteria, Gisele’s abrupt withdrawal left me dumbfounded. Still, my hands banded around her wrists, averse to yielding to her command just yet.

“Is this one of your performances again, Gisele?”

Her eyes stayed downcast as she shook her head. “I’m not going to fight you. It’s pointless.”

It was the most sensible thing coming out of her lips today thus far. “There’ll be no more talk of divorce!”

“Not until I’m engaged…” she delivered in a monotonous tone before finally lifting her gaze to me. “Expect to resume this conversation in a month, then.” Another calculating motive took form, one that left a foul taste in my mouth.

“Wyatt,” I bit out.

Her defiant eyes flashed, unyielding, threatening. “I’m done talking.”

Ah, Gisele…You’re really becoming such a bloody pain, a true brat inside and out.I wanted to strangle her for toying with me. And again for bombarding me with this new development of her wanton ways. How did she function being such a cold-hearted bitch, manipulating men as though they were nothing but entertainment to momentarily cure her boredom?

“May I remind you that this isn’t what your father wanted? Why are you so adamant in pursuing divorce when you’re free to do whatever you want? I’m not stopping you from anything. I’ve provided you with everything. Do you need more allowance, cars, vacations,what? Bloody tell me so I can fucking fix it!”

Her face turned scarlet as she stood her ground. “I don’t want anything.”

“Then tell me how to fix it, Gisele!” She wanted something, or this wouldn’t even be happening. So what was it?

“Divorce me. Annul it. I don’t care.”

“Anything—anything but divorce!”

“Why? I don’t understand why,” she fiercely argued. “If this is about the company, I assure you, I’m quite content you’re running it. I have no plans to go behind your back.”

Why? Bloody hell. For all sorts of damn reasons! If she wondered what those specifically were, well, I didn’t bloody know. I just knew with every fiber in me that I simply despised the very thought of it. “I don’t know why…I just don’t want a divorce. It’s that simple.”

She growled, spitting at me. “You’re insane!”

She could be right. Each time I pictured her walking down the aisle, it made me feel downright mental.

“Maybe I am.” I loosened my hold, freeing her hands. With the use of my forefinger, I tilted her chin, eager to find a solution. “So, I ask again, how can I fix this?”