Chapter 12
Chapter 9
Iris was crying, starting to walk away, but Matt caught her. The poor soul broke down all over him, her tears soaking his cost as the wept with her head lolling on his shoulder. He watched Colette closely, trying to discern any sign of repentance on her face, but there was none. No guilt, no sorrow. Instead, she looked at him with an air of haughtiness, daring him to scold her. “Why?” he spat the words at his wife, but she didn’t reply. She stood there like a marble statue, utterly unmoved by the strong cold wind.
It was Iris who replied between broken hiccups. “I came to give her the prescription you told me to order for her, and–and Mrs. Angelis got angry and slapped me.” If looks could kill, Colette would be dead and buried by the way Matt glared at her. But Colette forced herself to meet his eyes, standing there unflinching, her head held high. “You have gone mad!” His eyes, filled with anger, hatred, and disgust, would haunt Colette forever. “You ought to be locked up in a mental institute with your hands tied behind your back for the way you’re behaving. Apologize to Iris! Apologize to Iris right now! he shouted. Colette could feel the attention they were drawing from the people around them, but Matt didn’t care. All he cared about was Iris. He hadn’t even asked for
her side of the story.
“Colette, apologize!” he roared again as the crying woman in his arms stayed curled up against his chest. Colette sighed, taking one final look at her husband’s angry, dark, but still handsome face. “May God forgive you, Matt, because I never will!” And she walked out–out of the hotel, out of the watchful eyes, and out of his life. “Colette!” She heard his angry call but didn’t worry for even a second that he would follow her. Iris would never let him come after her. Funny, she thought, how she had more faith in his mistress than in him.
Colette stumbled out of the hotel, her vision blurred by tears. The first place she found became her sanctuary for the night. She booked a room and spent the entire night crying, the weight of her broken heart pressing down on her. As morning approached, she waited. She waited until the clock struck ten, certain that Matt had left for the office. Only then did she muster the courage to go back to their home to pack her things.
She had thought it over. Her aunt and uncle wouldn’t welcome her back; she had overstayed her welcome long enough. She decided she would collect her belongings and go to her friend Zoe’s place for a while. Then, she would need to find a job. With only a high school diploma, the best she could hope for were jobs as a waitress or janitor. But she didn’t mind. She had never been afraid of hard work. Maybe after a few years, when she had saved enough, she could go to college and get a degree. These were supposed to be hopeful thoughts for a brighter future, but all she felt was a dim, bleak darkness slicing her heart in half.
Never mind, she thought. She would get over this. She had to. She had watched her parents die in front of her when she was just a child, and she had gotten over it. She had felt the cold detachment of her uncle and aunt, who hadn’t cared for her either way, and with time, she had gotten over that too. She would get over her husband’s betrayal as well.
Colette took a taxi to Matt’s apartment. She walked quietly into the bedroom, trying not to alert the housekeeper. She didn’t want to talk to anyone right then. But as she entered, she was greeted by the biggest shock: her husband, leaning against the windowsill like a wounded lion. His presence struck her like a physical blow.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
