The CEO’s Ex-Wife Can’t Escape

To Love You Again, My Husband

Chapter 13: Series of Disbeliefs

Jackson was left dumbfounded at the fallen words she had blurted. Nothing was felt other than discomfort – it was a perturbed feeling that he had felt for the first time in his life.

Her words hit her like being nailed by a laborer over a roof, helpless of what to do. Did her feelings change that fast? It’s impossible since she liked him so much as Nicole had described.

Strangely, he clenched his fists, aiming to stand closer to her yet she took a step back, with her hand raised in the air.

She snickered, “Don’t tell me a person like you didn’t fully understand my meaning?”

She felt so free upon realizing that they were not married anymore. He even cheated on her so making moves like this wouldn’t change a thing between them.

Jackson finally responded, “… Do you hate me?”

“Yes”, without hesitation, “After what you have done to me, do you think I’d like you? Wake up, why would I still like you after cheating on me?”

“I… ”

“Stop making excuses, I already know what you’ll say.” Airina, fearless, approached him, looking at his tailored suit then poked where his heart was settled.

She gazed up at him with a scowl, “You’d say you were apologetic, that it was an impulse of the moment. Then, we’re going back to where we began. What exactly did I lack?”

Jackson’s eyes flickered with exasperation. Now that she had mentioned, where exactly did she lack? Were her feelings insufficient? Did she make troubles in the duration of their marriage? She had never, even once, made it hard for him. Especially, since she slept on their supposedly bed while he was busy with Nicole.

Airina intensely stared at him with grievances then averted her eyes. She dusted her hand off as if she had touched something gross. She then turned her back around from him.

“As expected, you don’t know what you want.”

“Airina, hear me out first.”

“And what words would you utter? Sugarcoated ones, or apologizing to me? If so, you’re late”, she faced him with solemnity, “Too late to even say you were guilty.”

“You didn’t like me, you wanted me.”

Airina smirked, “I wanted you naturally since you were my husband. It would be strange if I didn’t want to make love with you, right?”

“Why didn’t you say so? I was willing, I can give it to you if that’s what you want.”

She frowned, her anger increasing. “Yes, right. Since that’s what you’re good at. How long should I hear you blabbering nonsense, Jackson? For your information, I am not that thoughtful enough to have you stay here.”

Jackson locked eyes with her, which was totally making him uneasy. How can he placate her anger?

“… Are you mad at me?”

Airina scoffed unbelievably. She ran her hand through her silky hair, narrowing her eyes at Jackson’s stupidity of not understanding her words. If she’d remain in this enclosed area with him, she might really explode.

“Get out of my house…”

“But I-”

“I won’t call the police. But if you show your face in front of me again, I’d make sure you’d be unrecognizable.”

“Do it now.” Jackson strode towards her, making her smirk annoyingly. He gritted his teeth. If that was the only gesture he could offer to soothe her anger, he’d be willing.

“For Pete’s sake. I can’t keep this up with you.” She touched her forehead, walked to the kitchen, and gulped cold water to soothe her throat.

Jackson blinked his eyes in frustration. He just permitted her, but she ran away. He couldn’t understand – truthfully, why did he even come here if all the treatment he’d receive was nothing but this hostility? He shouldn’t have visited her when they were divorced.

Airina, calming her nerves, only heard the calm sounds of the door opening and closing. With a soft thud of it, she knew that Jackson had left this area. It felt nice that he wasn’t here anymore.

***

Airina sat on the sofa as the maids cleaned the house. She was wearing her striped pajamas, her head was tied in a pretty bun with its golden brush, clipping it intact together. She munched on the kiwi and then heard her phone calling.

With a curious look, she pressed the ‘answer’ button. “What’s up, cousin?”

[“Hey, I’m on a business trip today and something is surprising here…”]

Airina laughed in perplexity, “Something fun? Bothering my day off, hmm?”

Matthew placed his hand inside his pocket, staring at the paintings neatly placed as collections of one of the business partners he has.

Matthew sighed, [“You let me see your paintings the other day but you forgot to tell me you’re selling it pretty well. I mean, if you had sold me one of your paintings, I would have also put it as one of my collections.”]

“… What are you saying? My paintings are private.” Airina frowned, continuing, “No one knew of that ability of mine other than my stepmother, father, mother, and Nicole…”

Matthew blinked his eyes. [“Private? But before me was clearly your realistic drawing of ‘Cupid’s Arrow’. Could you sell one of your pieces to me, too? I bet Sir Montage paid you quite the money to possess this.”]Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Airina hurriedly rose from sitting, ascending to the stairs. In a panic and realization, she searched her pieces on the Internet but was baffled.

“Matthew, I showed you my paintings just because. I had never, even once, sold my pieces.”

[“Uh? Are you kidding me? This was the same piece you showed off to me.”]

Airina’s eyes flickered in both confusion and anger. Was someone using her skills for the money?

“Matthew, can you send me a picture?”

[“Taking pictures is actually prohibited but I’ll try not to be caught. Hold on for a while.”]

She couldn’t believe it. Her paintings were hidden in her old bed at her father’s home, and she made sure that no one will steal them.

“Nicole… hah. Really ridiculous.”

This time around, she called Matthew who answered within a matter of seconds.

“Matthew, can I talk to Sir Montage using this phone of yours?”

[“Huh? Why? You sold your piece to him, just call his number.”]

Airina scoffed, “This might be surprising, but someone used my paintings. Now do as I say, please.”

Matthew was slightly taken aback, he even gasped, [“Oh, surely. Let me find him first.”]

Airina wasn’t sure how Nicole had an acquaintance like Elisa Montage but if she had a connection with her, does Elisa know that she was Jackson’s ex-wife? No one, even the media, who Jackson’s wife was since he kept it hidden.

She took a deep sigh until a voice she wasn’t accustomed to, reached her voice.

She politely greeted back, “Greetings, Sir Montage. I apologize for reaching out to you using Sir Halton’s number. I am Airina Beverly, an exclusive shareholder of Halton Group.”

[“Ah, the recently announced shareholder of the Halton group. My daughter is very fond of you, Miss Beverly.”]

Airina smiled, “Yes, we met her a few days back in regard to our partnership. She was a very good, and kind person. But this call wasn’t related to Montage and Halton’s business.”

The man was baffled, [“Is that so? How may I help you then, Miss Beverly?”]

Airina had a mischievous smile on her face. [“Sir Halton told me the piece of ‘Cupid’s Arrow’. I am just curious, who sold this piece to you, Sir?”