CHAPTER 3: Filthy Piece of Gum

Genevieve’s POV:

My eyes shot open with a start, drenched in a cold sweat, my clothes stuck to my body and I couldn’t help but shake all over, my eyes struggled to look at the clock in this dim light until I could make out to see that it was 4 in the morning. Jaxon wasn’t home yet; the left side of the bed was still cold and empty. My hand lingered on his pillow and my heart ached at his absence.

I still remember those days when Jaxon wouldn’t even sleep with me on the same bed, the exact words he said, and I quote was that ‘he was repulsed to even stand near me. I was thankful when his father made him sleep in the same bed with me as the constant nightmares of my parent's car accident wouldn’t allow me to sleep peacefully.

I had forgiven him for these words a long time ago, I understood that he was forced into this marriage against his consent; he didn’t like me because he didn’t know me, it’s okay to fear the unknown, and besides the one thing Jaxon Black hated was to lose control.

I remember when I was 10 and my best friend had broken my favorite doll; I was furious, even swore to never talk to her, but that one promise, had made me cry for 3 days, although my father had brought me a new doll I had missed Sarah more, my mother had come inside my room that night and she had told me in that sweet sugary voice she had that forgiveness was the most powerful weapon a person could have, my 10-year-old self didn’t understand its actual meaning and had asked her why was it so powerful, she had told me that it brought peace, and I couldn’t agree how right she was. I smiled from that sweet memory and my mind drifted back to Jaxon.

I had no idea where he was, and he would never bother to tell me. I started drifting on and off in sleep for a few more hours until I saw the sun peeking from the thick curtains draped over the window beside my bed. I hurriedly rose from my bed and rushed outside to check if Jaxon had arrived yet, but not a single sound could be heard except my growing agitation on where my husband was. I decided to call his number one last time to check if he would attend my call as he repeatedly hadn’t picked any of them all night, he never did.

I was about to turn around when I heard the heavy thudding of someone climbing the stairs and there in all his glory stood my husband with his hair a bit disheveled and his eyes slightly droopy, a faint smile was on his face but it disappeared the moment his eyes landed on me.

“Jax, where were you the whole night? I was worried.” I asked him anxiously

“Not now Genevieve, I’m not in the mood.” He brushed me off with that single sentence and started to walk away from me.

I rushed forward grabbing his arm “Jax I was worried.” I gazed into his eyes pouring out all of my emotions, if only he could understand how much apprehensive I was.

“How dare you touch me?” His intimidating tone caused me to take a step back unconsciously but I couldn’t let his arm go, his arm felt safe, I felt comforted just by holding him, for me this simple touch meant more than anything.

He roughly pushed me aside causing me to stumble and fall. The tears from last night were threatening to escape yet again but I held back, I couldn’t let him see me cry, he would only get wounded I tried to justify with myself.

Still a single tear managed to escape from my eyes and fall on the floor as I heard his next words

“You are not my wife, you are nothing but a filthy piece of gum stuck under my shoe, that benefits no one; you better understand that. With that, I heard him move towards our room and slam the door shut.

I couldn’t make myself stand up from the floor, it felt like the world was finally trying to crush me down will all its might. I had no idea how much longer I could hold. Today, after so long I actually understood the real meaning of being an orphan, of being alone and I started to wonder if my father had made the right decision upon marrying us.

For every girl, marriage is a very magnificent and essential day but for me…

‘No Genevieve, don’t go there.’ I forced myself to think about something else, anything was better than to think about that day, it was already too late, I couldn’t stop my mind from bringing up that day…