Chapter 49
Sophia didn’t wait for Jayden to recover from his shock before she sneered and said, “Jayden, I’m Joshua’s legal wife. How I treat him is a matter between us as husband and wife. It’s not your place to meddle!”
“Sophia, you
“Jayden, stop,” I said, cutting him off. “I don’t want to divorce Sophia.”
“Jeshua! Do you even hear yourself?” Jayden turned to me, his face full of disbelief. His dark eyes reflected shock and confusion.
Jayden clearly remembered Joshua saying he wanted to divorce Sophia and start taking care of himself for once. So why was he refusing now, with the opportunity right in front of him? What was going on? Did she threaten him?
That thought crossed Jayden’s mind. He immediately turned back to Sophia. “He’s lost everything now. What could you possibly be using to threaten him?
“Joshua, have 1 threatened you?” Sophia asked with a half–hearted smile.
She raised her eyebrows slightly, like she was joking, but I knew better. Beneath her smile was a sharp blade. If I dared to say anything she didn’t like, I was certain tragedy would strike those closest to me by tomorrow.
I couldn’t afford to gamble anymore.
I turned my head slightly to meet Jayden’s worried gaze and shook my head gently. “No, she hasn’t threatened me. I just can’t let go of her. I don’t want a divorce.”
“Why?” Jayden’s eyes widened in disbelied as he stared at me. “Joshua, you’ve loved her for so many years. Isn’t that enough? What has she ever given you besides pain? Why can’t you let yourself be happy for once?”
“Because I’ve loved her for so many years, I’ve grown used to it. I can’t imagine living without her,” I replied, clenching my fists by my sides.
The words tasted bitter in my mouth, but I forced them out because they were exactly what Sophia wanted to hear.
Sophia’s lips curled in satisfaction. She cast a provocative glance at Jayden. “Now, do you understand?” Jayden fell silent.
Sophia glanced at me once more before saying indifferently, “I have other matters to attend to. I’m leaving ” After she left, Jayden walked over to the edge of my bed and sat down, his face full of complicated emotions. The silence between us stretched until I finally broke it “Jayden, don’t interfere in my affairs anymore.” Jayden sighed deeply, his frustration evident, “What is she using to threaten you?”
I froze, caught off guard by his question. But it made sense–Jayden was my closest friend. It wasn’t surprising that he’d ask
I let out a bitter laugh “It doesn’t matter. I don’t have much time left anyway. Once I’m gone, she won’t have anything to hold over me anymore.”
As soon as I finished speaking, a mocking voice came from the doorway. “With me around, you’ll have plenty more days of wishing you were dead.” Jayden and I both turned toward the door, surprise flashing across our faces.
Jayden stood up and walked over. “Juliette, what are you doing here?”
“If I hadn’t come, I would’ve missed such a good show.”
Juliette walked to the side of my bed, taking down the nearly empty IV bag and replacing it with a fresh one
After she finished, her gaze fell back on me. “Joshua, honestly, seeing you live a life worse than death is incredibly satisfying ” “Juliette!” Leyden frowned, his displeasure clear.
I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, no words came out
I knew Juliette had always held a grudge about the past and resented me for it. But that was still better than her learning the truth.
