In The Midst of Trouble

Chapter 14

Even though a tiny part of me was excited to see Jack, many of my emotions were directed towards being nonplussed, unaffected even. I gave him an unimpressed look and picked up a random dress that I’d picked earlier and went over to the mirror, holding it up to my body to see if it matched my skin tone. It was a burgundy polo neck, long sleeved bodycon dressed and even though I was absentminded when I chose it, it was pretty gorgeous.

“So, you remembered that you have a wife back home,” I voiced calmly, holding back the snark in my tone. Did this guy really think he could just disappear on me and then reappear like Houdini or something? He would definitely be receiving the cold shoulder.

Jack sighed and paced over to me, stood behind me whilst staring at me through the mirror. He looked as good as ever, like he’d gone to get an upgrade and I couldn’t for the life of me help but want to kiss him until he couldn’t breathe. “Gen, I’m sorry,” he muttered in regret, a sorrowful look in his eyes.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed, before walking back over to the couch and picking up some white ripped jeans next. “Sorry for what? Treating me like a mistress, going AWOL on me or jeopardizing our marriage?” I droned sarcastically.

His face turned in perplexation. “When did I treat like a mistress?” he asked, looking like he was genuinely in oblivion.

That made me march over to him, fumes practically coming out of my nose and ears. “Let me see…moving me and keeping me hidden from the rest of the world, sending me on shopping sprees, keeping me readily available for your libido and oh, not being able to cater for my actual needs? Did I miss anything?” I retorted acidly, and he stepped back in bewilderment.

“Is that what you think? Gen, you are the reason I wake up in the morning. I couldn’t possibly imagine my like if you hadn’t entered it…how much of a mess it would have been right now. I love you, and all I want to do is make you happy. You are not a mistress; you are my beloved wife. The apple of my eyes, the prized jewel in my treasure chest. I’m sorry for leaving abruptly but I had some matters so handle out of town and I had little time to myself to call. But I’d ask about you all the time,” he went on and I glared at him straight in the eye before punching him in the chest.

I punched him repeatedly until tears were streaming out of my eyes and he had to restrain me from crumbling to the floor. “Y-you say you love me, but all you do is hurt me,” I cried out loud putting my forehead against his chest. He immediately pulled me into a hug, and I didn’t hesitate to wrap my arms around his torso.

He rubbed by back soothingly and placed his chin on top of my head. “I hate myself for unwittingly hurting you with all my dumb actions.”

I sniffed. “I wish we could go back to the way we were in college because I don’t like us right now. I don’t even know who you are anymore,” I continued in a gloomy breath, and he flinched. I know that one hit him hard, but I was just being honest. I guess people were right about marriage being anything but roses.

“I’m the same man who you took a chance one, baby. And you’re the same woman who I vowed to love till my dying breath. I know I don’t always do the right thing, but I swear I will change. We can go back to how it was,” he said trying to placate me, but I didn’t believe him.

I stepped out of his hold and wiped away my tears. “Jack, I’m going to ask you a couple of questions and I want you to answer them honestly,” I spoke, and he nodded, sliding his hands into his pocket. That was a nervous tic of his…I had him cornered and there was no escaping from this. “One, how did you get your money? Are you really a lawyer or you are fronting?” I inquired with a granite face.