SWNOVELS Chapter Do you want a divorce?
(ARIELLE'S POV)
Ok. Here he played this 'charming husband' card again.
I stood rooted to the spot, contemplating my response. Truth was, I had made no plans on returning to the house today. Even though I knew I was going to return eventually, it just wasn't today.
"Jared, I don't think I want to come home today," I blurted.
His brows furrowed. "Why? You're still mad at me, aren't you? Come on, Arielle. I promise to explain everything to you if you come home with me."
I hesitated. "But-"
"No buts, Arielle. Please, come home. You can't run from your matrimonial home."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, a matrimonial home invaded by a stranger," I murmured. "What did you say?"
"I said nothing."
Just then, Rebecca walked past us, waving excitedly. I groaned inwardly, and without another word I walked ahead of Jared to the car. I was not ready to give Rebecca the slightest hint that my marriage was going through some rocky times. I got into the car, and threw my face out the window. Jared got in beside me, almost immediately and cast me a concerned look but I pretended like I didn't notice.
"You're really pissed at me, aren't you?" He asked, starting the car.
"Can we just go home?"
"As your highness pleases," he said in an attempt to sound funny, but I was not having it.
The drive home was silent, and the instant we pulled into the garage, I hurried out. I walked into the house, and Sofia was seated on the couch eating away at a plate of junk. For someone who was pregnant, her eating habit was unhealthy. She made to get to her feet when she saw me, but reclined back, hissing loudly. I presumed the reaction was because she thought it was Jared.
"Are you back home now?" She sneered.
"Oh yes, I'm back to my house. Oh, look at that disappointed look on your face," I taunted. "I guess you were expecting me to leave my home for you, but I'm sorry your plan didn't go as expected."
Anger appeared on her features as she gave me a death glare. "I see, your little time away did something to your guts."
Just then, Jared appeared. "Sofia, Arielle is back," he announced the oblivious.
"That I can see," Sofia retorted.
"I'm going up to my room," I announced and turned to leave.
"Will you be down for dinner?" Jared called out.
I paused contemplating the offer, but thought against it when he added, "Sofia made ginger bread and soup."
"No, thank you. I will pass," I said and went on my way.
I got to the room and tossed my bag on the table. I was really exhausted from today's work. We had an unusual flow of customers today, and that meant more cooking. My back ached, and I couldn't wait to get immersed in a hot bath and have the stress of today washed away.
With that thought in mind, I peeled my clothes off my body. I walked into the bathroom, and dropped them in the basket for dirty clothes before stepping into the bathtub. I turned on the faucet for warm water, and let the water fill the tub before adding my bath wash.
I didn't realize how long I spent in the bathroom, but by the time I was out, I felt better. I dried my body with a towel, moisturized my skin with lotion before slipping into my sleeping gown.
Afterward, I made my way
downstairs to fix myself dinner.
There was no way I was going to eat
out of what Sofia cooked. As I got
into the Kitchen, I gasped at the mess sit had become. There were dried stains of food stuffs on the white kitchen wall, island and the counters. There were a lot of used dishes in the sink. The sight was so nauseating that I felt like screaming out.
What has Sofia turned my kitchen into? Didn't didn't she have the decency to clean after using it? I inhaled and exhaled, clenching my fists to stop myself from storming off to confront her.
Seconds later, my anger had
receded and I sauntered to the cabinet that contained cereals. I poured a quantity into a bowl, added milk and sugar after which I shoved it down my throat. As I left the
mental
kitchen after eating, I made a note to call a cleaning service agency tomorrow to come clean the house. I had never sourced the
service of one before as I always did
the house cleaning, but with the mess Sofia had created, I certainly needed help with the cleaning.
Additionally, I was going to speak to Jared about Sofia's poor hygiene. I was a chef, and one of the places I don't joke with both at home and at my working place was the kitchen. The kitchen has to be neat at all times, as the foods that go down our stomachs are prepared there.
I returned to the room, and Jared was seated on the couch, going through his laptop. "Hey," he called, pausing to look at me.
"Hey," I called back and got on the bed.
"Still mad at me?"
"Maybe if you explained to me what happened just like you promised, then I might not be anymore."
He sighed, kept the laptop away, and grabbed his temples. "Look, it was a mistake. Soffa was in one of her lowest moments. You know, she was missing her marriage. I think for someone who got divorced, she didn't show much emotion. She was acting all fine, and it didn't seem right. So she had a breakdown and mistook me for her husband, and so she kissed me," Jared paused at this point to look at me.
I stared back at him, my face neutral.
"I was stunned, and I didn't know how it happened but I kissed her back," and then he quickly added. "Trust me, it wasn't for long because I broke the kiss."
"So why didn't you tell me?"
"It wasn't easy, okay? You already have your reservation about the extent of my friendship with Sofia, you didn't expect me to walk up to you and say, "hey, dear wife, I kissed the woman I claimed was just a friend to me, did you?"
"No, I didn't, but no matter how hard it was to open up to me, I still expected you to."
"I'm sorry, Arielle. It's not gonna happen again."
"Won't it?" I asked, cocking my head.
Jared looked offended. "Are you insinuating that I don't mean what I said?"
"Do you want a divorce, Jared Smith?"