The elevator doors slid open, and Daniel froze. His blood surged with a cold, violent fury. Inside, a man pinned a woman against the wall, his hand clamped over her mouth, his body pressed against hers. It looked… predatory.
He wanted to tear that hand from the man’s face, rip it off at the socket. He wanted to pulverize the man’s body. But he didn’t understand the feeling. It wasn’t hate. It was…possessive.
The woman’s body was arched, her shoulders straining against the man’s grip. He watched as she tried to push him away. She wasn’t enjoying this. She was trying to escape.
The elevator doors opened again, and she glanced at him, a desperate plea in her eyes. Maybe, just maybe, someone would help.
“Excuse me,” Daniel’s voice cut through the air. The man glanced up, startled. “Could you maybe…hold your hormones for a moment? I don’t enjoy watching this.”
The woman’s hope flared, then died. She had believed he would help, that he would see her terror. But she heard the contempt in his tone, and she knew he wouldn’t believe her. The pain was a familiar ache, twisting in her chest.
“You think I’ll protect her?” Daniel’s voice was laced with bitterness. “You think I’ll protect *you*?”
She hadn’t expected his indifference. She thought that no matter how much he hated her, he would protect her. But how could she expect that when he was the one making her life miserable?
“Just say I don’t have time for you,” he spat, his voice grating.
She flinched. He didn’t care anymore. He wanted to end it, to erase the pain. He wanted to kill her.
“H-He was forcing himself on me…trust me, Daniel. I didn’t do anything.” The words tumbled out, stuttering and broken. He had made her like this.
“And why would I trust you?” He sneered, his eyes cold. “Who are you to me? Nothing. A whore. But remember, if you want to whore around, do it somewhere else. I know everyone knows that you are my wife. Don’t do that again.” He rose and reached for a cigarette.
Aadhya was used to his harsh words, but this was different. He didn’t just hate her; he despised her. There was no proof she could offer, no way to make him believe she was innocent.
“Today morning its your day, but now it’s mine. So get the fuck out of here, and don’t show your face, get lost.” He barked.
She swallowed, her throat burning. She wanted him to trust her, but she didn’t know how.
She knocked on his door, knowing he’d forbidden her from coming down. She had to see what he was doing, to check on her.
A woman in her late twenties opened the door, annoyance etched on her face. Aadhya looked past her and saw Daniel, naked except for his boxer shorts. Her heart sank. She didn’t understand why.
“What do you want, bitch?” the woman snapped.
“I-I wa-was…”
The woman shoved her inside and slammed the door, locking it.
Aadhya hated her stutter. It had always been a weakness, and now it felt like it was all she had left. She didn’t resist when the woman pushed her. She didn’t resist when someone else started to yell.
“Who the fuck was he?” Daniel’s voice was a low growl. He held her hand, squeezing it so tightly her knuckles throbbed.
“Let go of my hand, please…you’re hurting me.” She closed her eyes, willing away the pain.
“Not before you tell me who the hell he was. Who you were talking to a minute ago.” His voice rose again.
His eyes burned with rage. If he thought she’d betrayed him, she’d done so for herself.
“If you think bad about me, then it’s your fault not mine.”