for a long moment before finally saying , Get in .
Ill take you back .
Write your comment π Gifts 7/7 Her Sacred Lie 1/8 Chapter 20 Whats There to Be Jealous About ? No , Im not going home , Elizabeth said , shaking her head drunkenly .
Im sleeping at the office tonight .
I hadnt expected this .
She stumbled toward me and tilted my chin up with her finger .
Julian , I know whats bothering you , she said , her voice suddenly gentle .
Tonight you showed up , and Im doing what you want .
Gideon and Callum are at the house , but Im not going back .
Does that make you happy ? Faced with Elizabeths soft probing , I instinctively took half a step back , my emotions in turmoil .
It was ironic that after five years of marriage , she was finally willing to compromise and accommodate me , but only after Id firmly decided on divorce .
Even her attempts at meeting me halfway now just felt like a cruel joke .
Elizabeth knew what I was upset about all along .
Yet when I still had hope for us , she stayed silent and made unilateral decisions .
in our marriage .
Its too late now , Elizabeth .
I dont care anymore .
Chapter 20 Whats There to Be Jealous Abo … If you only learn to value something after losing it , then you never deserved it in the first place .
Where will you sleep at the office ? I asked .
Lets just go home .
I didnt take the olive branch she extended , my expression remaining as detached as a strangers .
2/8 Elizabeth hesitated in her tipsy state , then explained , I have a small bedroom in my office .
I often rest there when Im tired from work .
A bedroom in her office ? As her husband of five years , I was just learning about this today .
So shed kept a backup plan at the office all along .

Elizabeth , you probably wouldnt realize that your instinctive explanation just revealed how little respect you had for me .
I couldnt help wondering if she and Callum had private meetings there .
Was that where their child came from ? I was in the dark about everything , like some clueless idiot who never saw the truth .
But Elizabeth , if you two had a private meeting spot , why did you go to a hotel that day ? Looking at this perfect woman standing before me , I suddenly Chapter 20 Whats There to Be Jealous Abo … 3/8 felt like she was a complete stranger , as if Id never truly known her at all .
Fine , I said .
Go up then .
A mix of complicated , ironic emotions swirled inside me , but on my face , they translated into nothing more than a bland smile .
We were getting divorced anyway , so what did it matter how much Elizabeth had lied to me or kept from me ? She clearly wasnt the right person for me , so why keep torturing myself over her ? Sure , she replied .
Elizabeth had no idea what I was actually thinking .
Seeing me finally smile , she assumed I was satisfied with her concession .
My change in attitude even brought a hint of a smile to her face .
Little did she know , that smile wasnt forgiveness , just me finally cutting my losses .
For the next five minutes , I helped her with her bag , locked the car , and escorted her to the executive office on the top floor .
There was a time when Id followed behind her like this countless times , worried about her stomach , concerned when shed had too much to drink .
But now , though the scene looked the same , my feelings couldnt Chapter 20 Whats There to Be Jealous Abo … 4/8 be more different .
We were barely 20 inches apart .
Before , that distance existed because Elizabeth practiced Buddhism and didnt want me touching her , not even to help her walk .
Now , I simply had zero interest in her .
I kept my distance like I would with a stranger , polite , but cold .
For some reason , though , as we walked , Elizabeth began drifting closer to me .
She was mumbling under her breath , giving off an enticing scent .
Julian , Ive had too much to drink .
Im a bit unsteady … could you help me ? Just hang in there a little longer .
Were almost there , I said flatly .
There was a time when Elizabeths request would have sent me over the moon .
I wouldve jumped at the chance to hold her close and gently tuck her into bed .

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But now , keeping my distance from my soon to be ex wife seemed like the smarter move .
As Elizabeth moved closer , I sidestepped away .
I couldnt let her actually fall , though , so I reluctantly extended my hand like an assistant and gave her arm the lightest support possible .
Careful , I murmured .
5/8 Chapter 20 Whats There to Be Jealous Abo … Elizabeth froze al my warning .
Her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief , like she couldnt comprehend that the husband who had bent over backward for her , whod spent five years chasing her cold shoulder with nothing but warmth , would treat her this way .
Thanks , she muttered , suddenly deflating .
She stopped leaning toward me and walked ahead on her own .
We entered the office where she expertly retrieved a key from the drawer and unlocked a small door hidden beside the bookcase .
That was when I stopped in my tracks , refusing to go any further .
I had zero interest in seeing the bedroom shed kept secret from me , and even less desire to discover evidence of another man living there .
What did her bedroom have to do with me anyway ? Julian , where are you going ? Elizabeth turned around with a confused look when she noticed I wasnt following her .
Ive dropped you off .
I should get going now , I replied calmly .
My response left Elizabeth completely stunned .
What do you .
mean ? Youre not staying with me tonight ? she blurted out .
Now I was the confused one .
You want me to stay ? Chapter 20 Whats There to Be Jealous Abo … 6/8 This wasnt Elizabeths style at all .
Throughout our marriage , shed been constantly irritated with me , practically wishing Id disappear from her life forever .
Only on that one day each month the day she actually needed me would she show me even a hint of warmth .
Of course youre staying .
Why else did you come over tonight ? Elizabeths voice suddenly rose as realization seemed to dawn on her .
You pulled a false fire alarm to force me to come here , I reminded her .
My response hit a nerve .
Elizabeths expression immediately crumbled .

Her brows furrowed tightly as her tone shifted back to the cold , superior questioning Id endured for the past five years .
Julian , I think you know exactly what I mean when I ask you to stay … I know what youre getting at .
And my answer is no , I said firmly .
We were both adults , married for five years , no less .
Some things didnt need to be spelled out .
Elizabeth taking this step had already surprised me more than I expected .
But so what ? I was supposed to jump for joy just because she made a move for once ? Chapter 20 Whats There to Be Jealous Abo … 7/8 No way , Elizabeth .
From now on , that Julian who loved you so much , who cared about you was history .
Goodnight , I said quietly , turning to leave .
Behind me , Elizabeths voice immediately cracked with frustration .
Enough , Julian ! What more do you want ? Or what do you want me to do for you ? she demanded .
Do you really want me , a woman , to beg you for this ? The untouchable goddess begging me to sleep with her ? I wouldnt dare dream of it .
Of course not , I replied coldly .
Youre the untouchable goddess , and Im just a normal guy , a mortal .
I wouldnt dare .
hope for anything more .
This was the cold , hard truth .
It was also the lesson Elizabeth had taught me throughout our five year marriage .
A mortal couldnt make demands of a goddess .
That would be sacrilege .
Yet somehow the very class difference shed made me internalize had now become the reason she was breaking down .
Stop with that passive aggressive bullshit ! she snapped .
You know damn well thats not what I meant .
Julian , dont think I dont know what this is about .
Youre just 8/8 Chapter 20 Whats There to Be Jealous Abo … jealous , arent you ? When is this going to end ? I seriously dont understand what you could possibly be jealous about .
How can you be so incredibly petty ! Write your comment