“Don’t mention it, girl.” She squeezed my shoulder affectionately. “You know you deserve the best. Always.”
And before I knew it, it was Monday. And Monday marked the beginning of a new working day. After showering, having breakfast and getting dressed in one of Ashley’s dresses, she drove me home. I needed to have a change of clothes and pick up my work ID.
As we approached the house gate, I silently prayed that Jared had left the house. I might have decided to let things slide, and get on with our marriage, but I still was not ready to face him yet. I just wanted to breeze in and out of the house without interruption.
As for Sofia, I doubted she would be anywhere but home, but somehow, I prayed the house would be rid of her too. Since the fall, I had developed a strong phobia for being alone with her. I might act tough when Jared is with us, but behind that feisty attitude was an underlying fear for her. She was capable of so much bad, and I do not want to ever fall victim to her antics.
“We’re here,” Ashley announced, stopping at the gate. “There’s no point driving in. Just have your clothes changed and we’ll be on our way.”
I nodded and opened the car door.
“Hey, do you want me to come in with you?” Ashley asked, holding my arm.
“No. I have got this under control.”
“Alright, be quick.
I nodded, and hurried out. I typed in a code on the gate and it went open. I hurried inside the compound and into the house. I stepped into the foyer, and surprisingly the house seemed different in just a day of my absence. I shook off the feeling and walked on, and as I walked, I couldn’t help but notice how the house looked dirty. I arrived at the living room and it was in a much worse state. A bowl of unfinished popcorn sat on the centrepiece, with crumbs of different food littering the floor and couch.
Anger rose inside of me as I knew it was the handiwork of no other person but Sofia. What the hell was wrong with her? I fumed, as I walked on, careful not to step on a food crump.
I got to the corridor that led to the dining, and paused when I heard Sofia call out to Jared from the kitchen.” Jared, do you need more syrup?”
I scoffed. Just a day of my absence, and she was already playing the role of a wife to my husband? This woman was unbelievable.
Still rooted to the spot, I didn’t realize when she walked out of the kitchen until it was too late. If she was surprised to see me, she did a good job hiding it as we both stood in the corridor, staring at each other.
At that moment, I took a sweeping look at her. She had a free dress on with stains of food coating it on some places, and her head was packed in a messy bun for the first time since I knew her. My eyes traveled further to land on her legs, and my brows furrowed. She had my favorite flip flops on, the one Jared had got me on our second wedding anniversary.
Her eyes must have followed mine as she quickly flashed me a smile. “Oh, your flip flops? Jared said I could have them because I misplaced mine. And with how fluffy they feel, I’m thinking of keeping them. I hope you don’t mind.”
I exhaled, willing myself to stay calm. I was not there for her, and I have to get on with my reason for being there.
1/2
Chapter 35
And so, without a word to her, I brushed past, heading for the stairway.
“You can’t just walk out on me, Arielle,” she said, grabbing my arm. I froze, and slowly turned to face her. She had a smile on her face, but her eyes were cold and unsmiling. immediately felt shivers run down my spines at how sinister she looked.
“Hands off, Sofia!” I growled, trying to sound intimidating even though I was growing scared. Maybe declining Ashley’s offer to come with me was a bad idea. And where the hell was Jared? I wondered, my eyes discreetly darting around in a bid to catch a glimpse of him.
“You ran off on Saturday like a teenager who caught her boyfriend cheating, and I thought you wouldn’t come back. Why are you back now, huh?” Sofia asked, her grip on my hands tightening.
I tried not to wince in pain, as I struggled to loosen her grip on my arm. But she wouldn’t budge. She had a surprising strength for a pregnant woman. 1
“You realized that the world out there can not provide you with the luxury lifestyle you enjoy under Jared’s roof, so you came running back shamelessly, with your tail in between your legs,” Sofia went on, her fingers beginning to dig into my skin.
I recoiled at her harsh accusation, and just when I feared she would draw blood from my skin, Jared’s voice sounded behind us. “What’s going on here?”
