Blaise's grip on her jaw loosened slightly, but his eyes… those terrifying eyes never lost that fire. He spoke up, his voice was low, and thick with threat. "If I am forced to. Don't just test my patience"
Estelle froze.
Her blood ran cold. She couldn't believe that the man she had once vowed to love would say something like that. Her own life didn't matter to him, right? She had always known that he never loved her, but he stared straight into her soul and told her that she was disposable.
Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring his face. Her lips trembled as her chest rose and fell, trying to hold back the sob that was slowly curling its way up to her throat.
However, she couldn't hold it back anymore. She burst into tears.
Why?
Why do I have to suffer this way? What did I do? What sin did I commit to deserve a man who wore love like a weapon?
She didn't speak. She had no strength left to speak.
"Let's go" Blaise released her jaw with a rough jerk, but before he could even catch her breath, he grabbed her arm tightly. He pulled her away, dragging her like she was an unruly child. Estelle stumbled after him, barely able to keep up with his long strides, her heels scraping the ground.
From the floor-to-ceiling window, the two men watched everything unfold. The masked man stood there, motionless. His jaw tightened and the cigarette between his fingers paused for a moment before he finally took another drag. He exhaled slowly, a stream of smoke escaping his lips.
"You saw that, right?" The man beside him turned his head to look at him and asked.
The masked man didn't respond.
"That man just manhandled her like she is nothing and she didn't fight back" his eyes narrowed slightly. "Why doesn't she leave him? Why stay in a marriage that clearly breaks her? Is it money? Power? Or fear?"
Still no response.
The masked man finally flicked the cigarette into the ashtray. It landed with a quiet hiss. Then, just as he turned to leave, he spoke, his voice low and calm. "Get me everything you know about Blaise Astor"
The man blinked. "What?!"
The masked man didn't repeat himself. He just simply walked away.
The other man stood frozen, his brows furrowed as he stared at the masked man's retreating back. He was confused and curious and for the first time ever, he was a little bit nervous.
—
The moment the car drove past the tall iron gates guarding the entrance to their mansion and pulled to a stop, Blaise climbed down from the car and grabbed Estelle's arm, dragging her into the house with him. No matter what Estelle did to pull away from him, he would tighten his grip around her arm, making it difficult for her to escape.
Their mansion, which is tucked in one of the most secluded corners of the estate, a place where silence isn't peaceful for Estelle.
She winced when his fingers dug into her skin. Pain shot up her arm and she twisted her body slightly, trying to break free, but he only yanked her closer.
"Trying to run again?" he hissed, his voice low and threatening, laced with disgust. "You just don't learn, do you?"
"I said let go" she managed to say, but her voice trembled like she was losing her breath.
The second Blaise pushed open the door, he threw her inside. She fell flat, almost hitting her head on the edge of the low center table. She gasped as her elbow scraped against the floor. The pain that followed made her body shake, but she covered her mouth immediately so she wouldn't cry out. Blaise stepped into the room, the door slamming shut behind him with a bang.
He sighed, heavily and frustrated.
He ran his fingers through his hair in one rough motion, the veins on his forearm taut with restrained anger. One hand dropped to his waist as he tilted his head down, eyes fixed on Estelle as she struggled to sit up.
Her palms pressed shakily against the cold floor. Her silver hair, once neatly styled, now fell in uneven strands across her face. Her lip trembled, but she didn't cry. She raised her head, her sky-blue eyes meeting his. There was pain in those pitiful eyes of hers. It was obvious and raw, but behind it, there was something else.
"I'm tired" she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I'm just… tired of all this."
His jaw clenched.
"Let's get a divorce"
A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he asked, "Divorce?"
"Blaise, aren't you tired? Aren't you tired of this marriage? We don't love each other anymore. We have grown to hate each other already. Let's end this"
Blaise burst into laughter. It was cold, sharp, and twisted at the edges. An evil laugh, echoing off the walls like mockery dressed in silk.
He tilted his head back slightly, his hands on his waist, as the sound rumbled from his chest and spilled into the room. It made Estelle's stomach twist.
"Tired?" he repeated through a grin, wiping the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. "You're tired? Estelle, you have been in a house I bought, breathing my air, wearing the dresses I picked. I paid for your dowry. You don't get to be tired."
Estelle frowned. "Do you not love someone else? Do you not have another woman?"
The smile on Blaise's face froze. His eyes narrowed slowly, and for a moment, silence filled the space between them. He bent his waist, lowering his body to her level, until his face was right in front of hers. His breath was hot, and his jaw was clenched so tight the vein at his temple twitched. "That…" he said, his voice low and cold. "...is none of your business."
Estelle blinked.
She was stunned for a while before a bitter laugh slipped through her throat. "None of my business?" she repeated in disbelief, her voice rising just a little. "You cheated on me, Blaise and you dare to call that none of my business?"
For a moment, he just stared at her.
And then, slowly, a new expression carved its way across his face, something colder, and more dangerous. His lips curled just slightly. "I've given you everything" he muttered. "A life most women would kill for and instead of being grateful, you dare throw accusations at me?"
Estelle's chest rose and fell quickly. Her hands curled into fists at her sides. "A life?" those words came out from her mouth in a whisper. "This isn't a life, Blaise. It's a prison with diamonds on the walls."