IS IT TIME FOR ME TO GIVE UP?

37

Jennie POV:

All night, I did nothing but cry, letting the tears fall until I was completely drained and dozed off.  I woke up with the heaviness in my chest as I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, the bruise on the side of my lips stirred a deep sadness within me.

I'm such a horrible person to turn you into this, Lisa, I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of running water.

I let the water cascade over my body, mingling with the warm tears streaming down my cheeks. The incident from last night played over and over in my mind.

I woke the beast inside her.

My sobs were muffled by the continuous sound of water dripping. It took several minutes before I decided to step out of the tub, my fingers wrinkled from soaking too long.

My eyes were swollen, and as the CEO, I needed to look presentable. Sunglasses became my shield, hiding the evidence of my sorrow from my employees. I didn't have the energy to cook for Lisa, so I planned to order food from a nearby restaurant instead.

Expecting Lisa already left, I fished my phone out of my bag to ask her secretary if Lisa had eaten. Regaining her trust, or even her love, had become my mission. Her secretary was my ally in this, delivering the food I prepared without ever mentioning my name. Lisa believed it was her secretary who cooked, never suspecting me.

As I was about to head to my car, When Lisa emerged from her room, causing me to stop. Her eyes scanned me, pausing at the bruise on my lips. Even through my sunglasses, I could see the remorse in her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry about last night, Jen," she said, her gaze shifting away from mine.

"It's not your fault, Lisa. I'm oka—" I tried to move closer, but she stepped back immediately.

"You weren't... Stop saying such things when you're obviously not okay. I messed up. I hurt you... physically." I wanted to hug her, to comfort her, but I was terrified of making things worse. She seemed so fragile, like she could shatter at any moment.

"Lisa, you were just drunk. You didn't—"

"Jennie, please," she interrupted, her eyes meeting mine with a look of desperation. "Let me go. Tell your parents you don't want to be with me anymore, that I cheated on you again."

I shook my head slowly, unable to find the words to respond. She sighed heavily.

"Jennie... We're already hurting each other. The worst part is I hurt you physically! I've never been like this, Jennie. I don't want this, but look what I've become. The pain is consuming me, and I'm losing control. Being under the same roof isn't good anymore."

I stared into space, avoiding her gaze. She was desperate to escape, but I couldn't bring myself to let her go.

"We're trapped in this marriage... So, please, let me go, Jen. Let's let each other go."

Lisa's eyes bore into mine, but I couldn't look at her. My heart felt like it was about to explode. She sighed again.

"I'm already setting you free, Jen. But what you did only made things worse. You were supposed to be with him by now."

"I ended whatever we had, Lisa," I said softly. Her expression remained blank, but her fists clenched.

"Should I be happy? Are you expecting me to thank you for that, Jennie? No one told you to leave him. I was giving you a chance to be with him freely. Why did you leave him? It should have been me, not him!" Her voice rose with anger, her face reddening.

"I don't love him," I said, the words slipping out. "I know you might think I'm lying again—"

"Yes! You are, Jennie, please—" Lisa turned her back on me, grasping her hair.