Chapter 4
My entire body felt like it was on fire. My head throbbed with a sickening pulse, and my throat was completely raw.
"My phone. Give me my phone," I rasped out.
"Quinn, don't even think about calling the cops. It won't do anything," Alex warned.
He was terrified that if I called the police, it would lead to legal trouble for Sophia.
He reached out and gently cupped my face, his eyes suddenly swimming with performative pity.
"You have to trust me. The thing with Sophia... my hands were tied. I had no choice."
I violently shoved his hands away and stumbled out of the bed.
"It doesn't matter. I don't care. Alex, we are done."
I staggered out of the bedroom and into the living room, only to freeze dead in my tracks.
Sitting dead center on the coffee table was a framed photo of Alex and Sophia, smiling happily as they cuddled a golden retriever puppy.
Scattered right next to the photo frame were a few unused condoms.
A pair of sheer black stockings was crumpled on the sofa cushions, and a scrap of lacy lingerie hung off the armrest.
Tucked beside the sofa was a plush dog bed. Lined inside it was a worn-out, faded dress shirt.
It was the shirt I had saved up for months to buy him for his birthday. It cost me around two hundred dollars.
Also lying in the dog bed was a little black kitten keychain. Its head had been chewed up and torn off. I had hand-sewn that keychain for him.
Years ago, we promised each other that when we finally got married, we would adopt a little black cat together.
The agonizing pain in my chest flared up again, sharper than before. I started gasping for air, hyperventilating.
"Alex, you could have broken up with me! Why did you lie for years? Why did you give the things I bought you to a literal dog?
"Why did you have to take every ounce of love I gave you and completely trash it?" I screamed, my voice cracking and giving out.
"It's not a 'literal dog.' That was our puppy. He was family to Sophia and me, and he passed away in an accident. Can you stop being so vicious?"
Alex aggressively rubbed his temples, looking completely exhausted by my reaction.
He let out an annoyed sigh. "Quinn, stop throwing a tantrum. When I first started the company, we hit a massive financial crisis. If Sophia hadn't begged her father's firm to bail me out, I wouldn't have any of this today.
"You should be grateful to her."
Grateful? It was so absurd that I couldn't even process it.
I stared blankly at him, feeling completely drained of the energy to even argue.
"Fine. Whatever you say," I whispered.
Like a madwoman, I started tearing through the living room, frantically looking for anything that belonged to me. I needed to escape this disgusting man and never look back.
But he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around me and trapping me against his chest.
"Quinn, stop it! Haven't you suffered enough? I have money now. We don't have to do long-distance anymore. Lay low for a little bit, and I'll buy you a house.
"I'll buy you that luxury penthouse overlooking the river you always wanted. We can go back to how things used to be..."
I went completely limp in his arms and interrupted him with a voice made of ice. "Alex. Are you asking me to be your mistress, or do you want Sophia to be the side-chick?"