Whisper Through The Pain (A Novella) Read Free

what—”
    “The hell you don’t,” he bellowed. “You were so wrapped up in that kiss you forgot I was in the motherfucking room. One thing I thought we had in this marriage was trust. But it seems we don’t. We can end this farce right now.”
    Saying the words brought scathing heat to his chest. But he would be damned if he would hold on to a woman if she wanted to go, even though she was his wife.
    “You’re blowing this out of proportion. I won’t be interrogated. Stop trying to put words into my mouth.”
    “You’re trying to explain away the kiss.” Disgust oozed through the words. “It won’t work.”
    “You’re stubborn and pig-headed. You get a notion in your mind or see something and assume the worse. Nothing can sway you. Everything isn’t black or white, Jake.”
    “For me it is. You still didn’t answer the question. Do you want your ex-husband back?”
    She was silent for so long, he didn’t think she would answer.
    Melissa rubbed at her temples with the palms of her hands. “How can I? I’m married to you.”
    “That’s no fucking answer,” he shouted.
    She charged at him, her feisty temper showing in her eyes. “Watch your mouth. I don’t curse at you and I expect you to respect me and do the same.”
    Stung, he’d forgotten about her sharp tongue when she was cornered. He held back the coarse words he wanted to throw out. How in the hell had the tables turned such that she was angry with him? Her ire fueled his temper even more. He struggled not to lose it.
    “I wasn’t cursing at you,” he ground out.
    “The hell you weren’t.”
    “Now, who’s doing it?”
    “Don’t flip the chart, Jake. You won’t win this.”
    “You’re angry.” He pinched the end of his nose and then ran a hand through his hair. “Unbelievable. You have the audacity to kiss another man—right in front me.” His finger hit his chest. “I’m supposed to ignore or pretend it was nothing?”
    “I didn’t ask you to do that.”
    “Your actions spoke otherwise.”
    He wasn’t a man who wasted time on regrets or mistakes; instead he opted to charge forward and tackle the situation—no matter how difficult. But right now he was in a fight for his marriage—his life. For the first time, he was afraid—he didn’t want to know the answer but he wouldn’t run from it.
    “Do you want your ex-husband back?” he asked again.
    The silence was deafening. It was long and dark. He was looking at her, but not really seeing her. Everything was, at that moment, bleak. A large weight was suspended in the air. It would eventually fall, and he couldn’t decipher where it would land.
    No sound came.
    He waited.
    And waited—no words were uttered.
    Nothing.
    Jake felt himself moving toward the door. The silence was suffocating. Escape—Escape. His mind screamed it over and over. He opened the door and walked out, leaving behind the hollow emptiness in the air. With the closing of the door, the weight finally found its resting spot.

Chapter Three
     
    For the hundredth time, Melissa looked at the clock on the wall. It was midnight and Jake still wasn’t home. Where was he?  She knew she’d made a mess of things and needed to make it right.
    Brent had called to see if she was all right. She’d asked how he had gotten the number but he chuckled and said he knew people. In the old days, she would’ve laughed at his nonsense, but not now. She was concerned about Jake. Hell, she was worried Jake wouldn’t come home tonight—or any other night. He was a prideful man with a large ego. Seeing his wife kiss another man and seemingly enjoying it must’ve been hard. Damn—she knew it was. How would she have felt if the situation was reversed? The thought caused great distress. But she and Jake didn’t have a love marriage. He wanted a wife in his bed, one who eventually gave him children, but more importantly one who shared and understood his drive to continue the growth of his business. Ambition was