Forcing a smile, I try to suppress the anger and the tightening in my chest, emotions brewing hot. I turn around. “Hey, Jake?”
Jake stands frozen, his eyes darting between me and Logan. Trying to piece together the dots between me and Logan and I can feel that Logan’s jaw is clenched tightly you can see that he is trying to contain his anger based on the ugly history
“Nadine, so you’re my…” Jake begins, but before he can finish, Logan steps closer, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back.
“She is my wife,” Logan says with a sharp voice leaving no room for further questions.
Jake stumbles back, least expecting as he looks at me and Logan in shock “What do you mean, ‘my wife’?”
“You want me to say it again?” Logan’s voice drips with anger. “Nadine and I are married. The earlier you get that into your head the better for you.”
Jake laughs. “Nadine, this must be a joke. You’re married to Logan?”
“Do I need to spell it out for you?” I snap, raising my hand to show him the ring on my finger. “I am married to Logan, get that into your skull.”
“Nadine, if you’re trying to pay me back for what I did by marrying Logan, you’re going to get hurt. Logan is a dangerous man.”
Tired of his nonsense, I step forward, jabbing my finger into his chest. “Whoever I choose to marry is none of your goddamn business. I dodged a bullet by not ending up with you.” I say looking at him with disdain. As I thought of how he was having sex with Nathalie, it clouded my mind.
Gasps ripple through the parking lot, but I don’t care. Who is he to dictate my life?
I step back and link my arm with Logan’s. “I’ll stick with Logan, and I’m sure he’ll drive you straight to hell.”
Logan smirks, with a satisfied glint in his eye. Jake’s expression turns icy, and I glance at Nathalie. “You seem a lot happier with him,” I say.
A broad smile spreads across Nathalie’s face as she steps closer to Jake. “Why wouldn’t I be happy? I have a wonderful husband who would go to any length for me. You are nothing but pathetic and penniless. What you did there was just a show-off.”
I can’t help but laugh, but Logan taps my arm gently. “Let’s leave now,” he says.
Without another word, I turn and walk toward the sleek Mercedes S-Class we arrived in. As we settle into the plush seats, I glance back one last time, catching a glimpse of disbelief on Jake’s face. Logan’s hand finds mine, squeezing it reassuringly.
As the car pulls away, I exhale a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
The drive home is steeped in comfortable silence, each of us lost in thought, reflecting on everything that has just happened.
I’m jolted from my reverie when the chauffeur opens the door. “Thank you,” I murmur, stepping out and making my way to my room.
I need a hot bath immediately. Stripping off my clothes, I head to the bathroom and let the steaming water envelop me.
As the water cascades over me, my mind drifts to my encounter with Jake. Anger simmers beneath the surface at the sight of Jake and Nathalie’s apparent happiness while I feel trapped in a contract marriage destined to end in two years.
When the water becomes too much, I step out and wrap a towel around myself. Looking into the mirror, I see my skin reddened by the heat-a reflection of my inner turmoil.
My phone starts ringing, jolting me from my thoughts. I rush to pick it up, seeing it’s from the hospital. Swiping to answer, I place it to my ear. “Hello, how is my mother?” I ask urgently.
“She is fine, but we need you to come to the hospital.”
My heart races, imagining all the things that could be wrong. “Is my mother alive?” I ask, panic rising in my voice.
“Yes, she is alive. We’re sorry for the inconvenience.”
“It’s not a bother. Why do I need to come to the hospital?”
“We’d like you to come and sign the necessary documents since she is due for a transplant.”
“Oh. I’ll be there in the next hour. Let me clear my schedule. Is that alright?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Thank you and goodbye,” I say, ending the call. I hurriedly dress in a comfortable outfit, style my hair, and apply a hint of makeup. With my bag securely in place, I step out of the room.
As I enter the living room, the sight before me makes me stop in my tracks. A pang tugs at my heart as I struggle to comprehend the scene unfolding.
The thought of history repeating itself plagues my mind as I move closer. Logan and a woman I haven’t seen before are locked in a passionate kiss, their bodies pressed together as if they might consummate their desires right there.
Sensing my presence, Logan jerks away from the woman as if burned.
I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts so he can’t see how much this scene bothers me. “I’m sorry for interrupting your moment,” I say, clearing my throat.
Logan wears a mask of calm, but his eyes flash with anger.
The woman is the epitome of beauty, with dark wavy hair, a slender model-like figure, and flawless skin.
“Hi, I’m Samantha, Logan’s friend,” she says, extending her hand to me.
I look at Logan, expecting him to say something-anything at all about the scene I just witnessed-but he remains silent.
Taking her hand, I reply, “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Nadine.” I deliberately omit that I’m his wife.
I glance between them and say, “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you two.”
Immediately, I step outside, stifling the cry threatening to burst forth as I make my way to the car.
After what feels like an eternity, I resolve never to let emotions cloud my judgment again, focusing instead on the reason Logan and I came together.
I arrive at the hospital and meet with the doctors, expecting to finally meet the kidney donor. But to my surprise, they inform me that the donor has chosen to remain anonymous.
I’m taken aback, my mind racing with questions and curiosity about who it could be. But I don’t dwell on it for too long; my focus shifts back to my mother’s recovery.
I head to her private ward to check on her, but she’s sleeping peacefully. Not wanting to disturb her, I decided to step out and head home, feeling determined to get some much-needed rest.
Today has been eventful, to say the least, and I’m ready to recharge for the days ahead.
As I walk back to the house, I notice the eerie silence that surrounds me. I assume Logan might be in his office, engrossed in work.
I head to the fridge and retrieve the leftover food from last night’s dinner, placing it in the microwave to heat up.
Then, I move to the dining table and start eating. My mind wanders back to the hospital and my mother’s transplant surgery.
I can’t believe the donor has chosen to remain anonymous. Who could it be? A stranger? A friend? Maybe even someone I’ve met before? The questions swirl in my head, but I push them aside, concentrating on my mother’s recovery.
After dinner, I’m not ready to retreat to my room, so I settle into the living room, mindlessly surfing through channels with the remote.
Just as I’m about to give up on finding something that catches my interest, a familiar face flashes on the screen. “Nathalie… What happened to her?”