Page 75 of My Destiny

“I was,” he says, bowing his head.

“Then why?”

“I had a lunch meeting with a client one day, I was tired and stressed out and he sensed that. He slipped something into my drink and said it would take the edge off. He was right, it did. For the first time in a long time, all my worries seemed to vanish, I felt on top of the world.” He sighs as he shakes his head from side to side. “That’s how it all started.”

“You should’ve talked to me, Jake.”

“I didn’t want to worry you. I wasn’t coping well, and you seemed so proud of me.” His eyes meet mine once more, and it hurts to see the tears that now well in them.

“I was just being a supportive wife. I wasn’t happy with the changes in you or in our relationship. I wasn’t happy in Melbourne.” I bow my head. “I was miserable.”

“I didn’t even know I was hooked until it was too late. That’s when the affair started.” He shakes his head once more. “Jenny put the hard word on me as soon as I started working there. Please believe me when I say I wasn’t interested in the slightest, but she eventually found out about the drugs and used it to blackmail me.”

His reasons don’t justify what he did. If he’d only reached out to me, we could’ve handled this together. “I trusted you, Jake. I gave up my life to move to Melbourne with you.”

“I know.” The grip he has on my leg tightens, and memories of that day flash through my mind. The force he used around my neck still makes me shudder. “We can have what we once had again. I know we can.”

“It’s too late for that,” I say. “I’ve moved on.”

His nostrils flare at my response, and I can tell I’ve just poked the bear. “With him?”Shit.I should’ve lied, or at the very least said nothing. “Answer me!” he screams, bringing his fist down onto the bed. His sudden movement makes me flinch.

“Does it really matter?”

“You’re my fucking wife, goddamn it. Of course it matters.” He rises from the bed, fisting his hair in his hands. “I never picked you for a cheating whore.”

“I never cheated on you. We’ve been separated for months.”

Reaching out, he wraps his hand around my upper arm, dragging me from the bed. My feet are still bound, so I stumble.

“Get up,” he says, pulling me to my feet. Pain shoots up the side of my leg as I roll my ankle trying to regain my footing. My face is just inches from his, and the murderous look I see in his eyes terrifies me. “You were fucking him down in Melbourne.”

“No, I wasn’t.”

“Don’t lie,” he shouts, making me cower.

“I’m not lying, I swear.” I can hear the fear in my voice when I speak. “I didn’t even know him then.” Just talking about Logan fills me with despair. I’d give anything to be back in his apartment right now, tucked safely in his arms.

His hand fists in my top. “Do you think I’m an idiot? You didn’t come home that night, remember? I found his card in your purse.”

“I didn’t come home because I was in the hospital.” I can see the puzzled look in his eyes as they scan my face. “It’s the truth, Jake. I was pregnant with our child.”

“You’re lying.” When he tugs on my shirt, my heartbeat accelerates.

“I’m not. I swear I’m not.” He lets go of me, retreating back a step. “That night I had bad pains; I went outside to look for you…” I bow my head. “That’s when I saw you with your secretary.” Although that’s all behind me now, talking about it makes all those feelings resurface. “Minutes later, I collapsed. I was haemorrhaging.”

“And the baby?”

“I lost it.” I clench my eyes shut, trying to fight back the tears that threaten to fall. I’ve often thought about the what-ifs, but as my mother always said, ‘Things happen for a reason.’ But those words still don’t lessen the grief I feel for our child.

He steps forward and gathers me in his arms. “I’m sorry. You should’ve told me.”

“You never gave me the chance.”

“Bullshit.” He grabs hold of my shoulders, drawing back. “You’ve had plenty of opportunities to tell me. You should’ve said something.”

“You tried to strangle me remember?”

“And you took off. You should’ve stayed and talked to me.”