On His Terms

○×32: grieving hearts and broken sobs○×

<People cry, not because they're weak. It's because they've been strong for too long.>

|Kian|

"ARE WE going to talk about how you violated me?"

Flustered at the sound of her voice, my gaze shifted from the road to Jadesola's slumped form in the passenger's seat. I'd thought she'd drifted to sleep, exhausted from her drinking fest.

"Huh?"

Her tone was quiet and drained. "You heard me, Kian. Are we going to ever talk about it or are you going to pretend that it didn't happen?"

"Sleep, Jadesola. You're drunk and your head and stomach hurts," I commanded gruffly, as if I hadn't heard her and slid my focus back to the road ahead.

We were heading back to her apartment after her mother had cornered me, imploring me to take her daughter home. Simisola, thank fucking goodness, had intervened right before Jadesola spilled the beans. An intervention that had ceased the incoming chaos at her cousin's reception.

Speaking of said cousin, Jamila, the damned lady had threatened me afterwards, a cold smile gracing her lips, "If you ever make Jadesola cry, I'm going to find you wherever your cowardly self hides and make sure your miserable life is in ruins. Bet me on that, Kian."

As I recalled her caustic words now, I scoffed bitterly, pressing down against the accelerator's pedal harder. I'd already made her dearest cousin cry and I was certain that if Jamila was aware, she would be acting on those threats sooner than later.

Jadesola must have been reading my thoughts because she bit out, "Olayinka asked me whether I was sleeping with you for money."

My hands tightened on the steering wheel. "What was your reply?"

She didn't make a sound.

Annoyance coated my voice with ice and I snapped, "Jadesola, what did you tell her?"

"I can't remember."

"Of course," I muttered. Either she'd reverted to her drunk, hyperactive self or she was lying. It was definitely the latter.

Silence reigned again until she fired, "I also asked Chloe about the contract and guess what she told me?"

Oh shit.

Fixing my gaze strictly to the paved paths ahead, I tried to counter the trouble headed my way, "That you need to stop talking and sleep?"

"That you lied!" she hurled out, the lioness in her rousing, bit by bit.

"I lied, and so?"

"You don't even have the decency to pretend to be sorry!" From the corner of my right eye, I peeped Jadesola's silhouette. She'd sat upright, a withering glare shot in my direction.

Venom coated her harsh sentences, caustic and dripping with the sting of a snake. "Anu mpama! Oponu! Omo oshi! You lied to me and the worst part is that you're not sorry. Not one bit. Ọlọrun mi yóo jẹ yín níyà!"

Her insulting tone struck a nerve and I growled, fierce, "We are not doing this right now, Jade! As you can see, I'm driving and your ceaseless speech is distracting me! I am already stressed enough as it is so please just close your fucking eyes and shut your mouth up!"

"I will." Jade sank against the plush seat, resigned. "The sight of you disgusts me after all."

Whether her eyes were shut or not, I had no idea. Fury and self-loathing waged a war within the confines of my mind. It pushed me to drive past speed limits, an aching roar thudding in my ears. Guilt was a menace, itching to devour me but I shoved it back. Not again.