<h1>Chapter 5</h1>


    1395 Words


    Jasper’s POV I stare down at the te Virginia sets in front of me, the eggs overcooked and rubbery, the bacon crisp to the point of being charcoal. My stomach turns. For three years, I’ve woken up to the aroma of fresh bread, the sound of Scarlett humming softly as she moved around the kitchen with that graceful efficiency she possessed. There was never the smell of burnt food in the house. Never food that looked like a mass of glob on the table. “I made your favorite scrambled eggs,” Virginia says, sliding into the chair across from me with her own te in one of Scarlett’s aprons. The yellow one with tiny sunflowers that always made my wife look like she was shooting an advertisement. On Virginia, it just looks wrong. “Thanks,” I manage, forcing myself to take a bite. The eggs taste like rubber, but I chew it anyway, trying not to think Scarlett, how she used to make them fluffy and perfect, seasoned with just the right amount of salt and pepper. I wonder how long her tantrum willst this time. The thought of having to stomach this kind of food until she returns to her senses is unbearable. But… Virginia watches me eat with those wide, innocent eyes, and instead of spitting out the unappetizing eggs, I force myself to swallow it down. “Jasper, what if Scarlett really means it this time? About moving out and the divorce?” I set my fork down hard. “We both know Scarlett. She doesn’t mean it. This is just another of her tricks to attract my attention.” “But what if she does?” Virginia pushes, her fingers toying with the edge of her coffee cup. “What if she actually goes through with it? Would you… would you let her go?” Would I let her go? As if I have any control over what Scarlett does. As if I ever had control over her, really. “She can’t divorce me while she’s pregnant. The state won’t allow it.” I say, my toneing out harsher than I intend. Virginia flinches at the sound and for a second, shame swamps me for being the one to cause it. I’m taking my anger at Scarlett out on her, and this isn’t right. I want to apologize, but can’t find the words. I’ve never been good at apologizing. Whatever. I’ll just make it up to her with a bag or something. She likes those things. They should be able to make her happy. “What about after the baby is born?” I push the te away, my appetitepletely gone. “Why are you asking me this?” “I…I just want to know what I am to you, where I stand,” she says, and there’s something in her voice that makes me look at her more carefully. “I’ve been waiting for you for so long, Jasper. Even after you married her, I kept waiting. I thought maybe someday…” “Virginia.” I run a hand through my hair, suddenly exhausted. “I need to get to work,” I say, standing abruptly. “Jasper, wait—” “I said I need to get to work.” I grab my keys and jacket, leaving her sitting at the table with the burnt breakfast with a hurt expression on her face. I didn’t mean to hurt her. But she needs to understand I’m a married man now. And one about to be a father. Our rtionship will never be what it once was. The days pass in a blur of meetings and phone calls, but my mind keeps drifting to Scarlett. It’s been three days since she left, three days since I’ve heard her voice or seen her face. Three days of waiting for her toe home, to apologize, to admit her mistake so we can move on with our lives. But my phone stays silent. By five o’clock on the fourth day, I can’t stand it anymore. I dial her number, listening to it ring once, twice, three times. When her voicemail picks up, my heart sinks. What is this woman ying at now? She isn’t really nning on living on her own, is she? I hang up and stare at my phone. The thought of setting down my pride and bringing her back isn’t appealing. Because of her, I’ve endured all kinds of humiliation over the years. Still, she’s carrying my child. Not knowing whether she’s eating right and sleeping well, I can’t just ignore her. I try calling her again. And again. By the sixth call, Virginia’s words ring in my ears, and my temper starts to re. Pushing aside the strange restlessness, I drive back home. This isn’t the first time she ran away from home. And every time, she came back on her own. I have no doubt this time will be the same. She can forget about me ever bringing her back. Scarlett’s POV My phone buzzes for the sixth time, Jasper’s name shing across the screen. I stare at it until it stops ringing, and the screen goes dark, then set it face down on Chloe’s coffee table. “That’s the sixth call today. Are you sure you don’t want to answer?” “I’m sure.” “Scarlett.” Chloe walks out of the kitchen with two steaming mugs she sets on the table, before settling beside me on the couch. “Maybe you should hear what he wants to say.” I take one of the mugs, wrapping my hands around its warmth. The baby has been restless all day, kicking and shifting like it can sense my agitation. I rub my belly absentmindedly, trying and failing not to think about him. “There’s nothing he can say that will change my mind.” “I know, but—” “No but.” I turn my head, looking her in the eyes. “Chloe, for three years I’ve been making excuses for him. I’ve tried to be an understanding wife, notining when his childhood sweetheart called him at odd hours of the night. I’ve been patient and supportive and grateful for whatever scraps of attention he threw my way. Not anymore, Chloe. I’m done with him, with her.” My voice gets louder, months of suppressed anger finally boiling over. “Do you know what he said to me when I told him I wanted a divorce? He asked if I could even walk away from him. As if I’m some pathetic creature who can’t survive without him.” Chloe reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You’re not pathetic.” I take a shaky breath, shaking my head. “But I was. I allowed him to treat me like trash for years, grateful for being his wife, failing to see how little I mattered.” And this is what hurt the most. I loved this man for years, and believed he felt the same for me, until the day after our wedding, when his childhood friend showed up on our doorstep. My phone buzzes again, and I nce at it automatically. Another call from Jasper. “Answer it,” Chloe urges. I don’t know why she insists I talk to him. She’s never approved of my marriage to Jasper. And now that I decided to cut him off… I stare at the phone, watching it ring. Part of me wants to answer, wants to hear his voice and pretend that everything can go back to the way it was. But arger part of me knows that going back would just be a return to the old vicious cycle, maybe worse now that Virginia is proven to be my parents’ daughter. The ringing stops, and I flip the phone over, standing up, pacing to the window. “I talked to thewyer who’ll help me file for divorce.” “During your pregnancy?” “After the baby is born.” I turn back to face her. “But we canplete the paperwork before then.” Chloe just studies my face, not saying anything for a moment. I’m starting to think she’ll dissuade me when she suddenly says, “are you sure this is what you want, Habibiti? Your parents won’t help you this time. Once you leave him, it’ll be near impossible for you to get back together.” So that’s what she’s worried about. I chuckle, nodding my head. “I’m sure.” And I am. I want divorce, and nothing will change my mind. Not only because I deserve better. But also because my baby deserves better.<fna014> Original content can be found at find~novel</fna014>