Chasing His Rejected Wife
Chapter 45 -

Her gaze flew to me. "Is this some kind of sick joke, Aiden?" She asked, her voice at once incredulous and dismayed.

With a heart of lead, I slowly shook my head. I hated everything about this moment; the hurt and anger in her eyes, the mortification she must be feeling as she saw her name splattered all over the Internet. And I was responsible for all of it. My hands balled into fists, my jaw clenched.

"I'm sorry Jess." I said. Even though I knew that apologies were useless, I still needed to say something.

She had been reading the rest of the story, her expression worsening as she read the sordid details of my supposed affair. It exposed the late nights I had spent outside my home supposedly in the house I had bought for the 'other woman'. There were photos of me and Elisa, our arms entwined, looking like a couple deeply in love.

The most damning of all was that these photos had been carefully edited to include Jessica in the background, always looking at us with sadness.

Whoever had written that article knew details about our personal life, especially mine. It even alluded to the cause of the separation - the final straw in my string of infidelity- Elisa's pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage.

"Oh my god!" Jess said again, a sickly look on her face. She slammed my phone facedown on the counter as though unwilling to see those damni g words any longer. She was shaking all over, both hands coming up to cover her face. I watched Jessica in anguish, knowing she was already aware of my infidelity and was still coming to terms with it. Seeing it on a news article had brought up the pain and hurt all over again. Her face contorted with a mix of anger and humiliation.

"Aiden, how could you let this happen?" She uttered, her voice trembling with a mixture of betrayal and humiliation. She picked up my phone and waved it at me, the damning headlines still displayed on the screen. "Our personal pain, our problems, are now public knowledge."

I winced at her words, the reality of what I had done sinking in further. "Jess, I'm so sorry," I said, my voice heavy with remorse. "I never wanted it to come to this."

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she turned away, hugging her arms to her body, as if she were cold. "Your being sorry doesn't change anything, does it?" Her words were shaky, her entire body trembling.

I came towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She stiffened at my touch then shrugged me off angrily.

"Don't touch me." The rejection stung like a knife thrust into my gut.

She whipped round to glare at me through eyes that were red and puffy. "I hope you're happy, Aiden. Our relationship is now a spectacle for all the world to see and judge."

I winced again and shook my head. "Jess," I said, as gently as I could, my hands held up placating. "This is not what u wanted, I-"

"Really?" She scoffed. "You didn't seem to have a problem parading around with the love of your life in public before. Everyone who knows us, knows that I'm just the third wheel, a pathetic deluded fool clinging to you. What's a billion more people thinking the same thing?"

"You're not pathetic and neither are you a fool." I refuted hotly. "You are not to blame in any of this, the whole blame is on me."

Another scoff and she turned away, unable to bear the sight of me. "That's rich, coming from you of all people." Her voice had risen, shrill and mocking. "Up until a week ago, you thought I was the cause of every nasty, unfortunate thing that's ever happened to you since we got married."

She glanced at me over her shoulder, her face tear streaked. "You only changed your tune when you found out about the baby. But you know what? You're right. I'm not a fool. I know you're just being nice to me because you don't want to lose the baby."

I opened my mouth, but words would not come out. Or rather I knew that denial was a futile exercise. At this point, it wouldn't matter if I told her the truth, she would not believe me. The timing of me learning the truth about Julian and replaceing out about the pregnancy was too close. She'd simply assume I was making things up.

I raked fingers through my hair in frustration and risked a step closer only for her to whirl around again and back away.

Instead, I chose to go another route. "I promise I'll make this right, Jess. I messed up, really screwed things over, but I will do everything in my power to ensure that you don't get hurt anymore."

"I don't want you to do anything for me." Jess replied."You've done enough, I've endured enough and I can't take any more. You asked me once if I thought we would come back from this? Well I have my answer now."

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I felt a new dread rise within me. "Don't do this," I pleaded,

She set her shoulders, eyes filled with determination. "I do. I want to. I want a divorce, Aiden. As soon as possible."

**

Jessica's POV

"Are you sure you want to do this," Anna asked, watching me intently.

My attention strayed from the prominent logo on the wall behind the expansive marble reception desk, behind which a throng of pretty and smartly dressed young ladies stood, engaged in whatever it was they were doing.

"I am sure." I took a deep breath, my nerves ready to disagree with my statement. Then I narrowed my eyes on her, curious. "This is like the dozenth time you've asked me this same question since I told you about it. Why? I thought you of all people would be pleased that I finally made up my mind."

Anna's lips curled into a gentle smile as she reached out, delicately prying my clenched fingers loose. I looked down and winced as I saw the state of my palms where my nails had dug in so hard, the soft skin was broken, miniscule droplets of blood were smeared all over. She clicked her tongue at the mess and rummaged through her bag for tissues, which she used to dab at the mess.

"I am happy, ecstatic to be precise." She paused in her task and met my gaze. "But I also know you are doubting yourself, questioning whether you've made the right decision, wondering how it will affect your baby. So, I keep asking you if you're sure because as long as you keep saying yes, your mind will accept it too."

I chuckled wryly and raised an eyebrow. "What kind of modern day nonsense are you spouting now, Dr. Phil?"

"Mock me all you want, but at least you can't deny that it's effective." Anna retorted, looking extremely smug. "I mean. Look where we are now."

I rolled my eyes in indignation. "Glory stealer. I came here of my own accord, thank you very much. You're simply here to lend emotional support -"

"And to hold you down in case you chicken out and run away." Anna cut in. Then added with emphasis. "Again."

"I didn't run away." I hissed, whisper shouting the words at her, mindful that one of the girls at the desk was giving us weird looks. "I walked out. There's a difference."

She raised her brows at that. "Really?"

I chose to ignore the knowing look on her face and nodded firmly, though my cheeks heated because yes, this was indeed my second time coming here; and yes, I had lost my nerve, changed my mind and walked back out. And I had gone back home, curled up in a ball on my bed, blankets over my head and cried.

So, on this second try, I'd wisely brought Anna with me.

"You don't have to be so smug," I grumbled, adjusting in my seat. Anna just laughed and went to dispose of the used tissues and use the restroom.

Left alone to my thoughts, my smile faded and I sighed, exhaustion coursing through me. I was barely getting any sleep and my eyes felt gritty and sore, every muscle in my body ached.

In the past week since I'd told Aiden I wanted a divorce, not a single moment had passed where I did not second guess my decision. Even sleep did not give me respite and I had woken up bathed in sweat, heart racing from the same nightmare.

The one where I stood on the stern of a ship...a cruise liner that was slowly sinking into the depths of the ocean. And as always, Elisa and Aiden stood arm in arm, laughing at me.