Chapter 44

The noise around me was loud, but I could still hear the voices from across the bar. “Jonathan, I’m sorry. I just feel so terrible…” Alicia said. Her face was flushed red as she lay on the bar counter. In front of her sat a triangular glass filled with a sky-blue liquid that reflected the rosy color on her cheeks.

Jonathan sat beside her, frowning. Though his expression remained cold and serious, he patiently stayed by her side. I snorted coldly, pretending not to see them, and turned to leave.

Gabrielle instinctively called out, “Elise…” The people nearby seemed to notice the commotion and all looked our way. The moment Jonathan saw me, his expression shifted, and he stood up to approach.

“You said you were going to the hospital. Why are you here?” he questioned sharply. I caught the dark emotion flickering in his eyes, let out a bitter laugh, but didn’t respond, simply brushing past him.

People around us froze, clearly surprised by my disregard for Jonathan. Gabrielle quickly followed, calling out, “Elise…” Her worried expression prompted a reassuring look from me.

Jonathan’s face darkened as he grabbed my wrist tightly. “Why are you here?” he demanded. I frowned and tried to pull away. “Let go of me!” I snapped. Since he already had me, there was no point in lying. “Where I go is none of your business! I’ll go wherever I want!” I shot back.

“Why did you lie to me?” he pressed. “Because you wouldn’t let me go out. What choice did I have but to lie?” I replied defiantly. My blunt words clearly angered Jonathan. His face grew stern, and his grip on my wrist tightened painfully.

“Come back with me,” he ordered. “I’m not going! Let me go!” I insisted. Just as we reached an impasse, Frederick stepped forward. With a smile, he gently pulled Jonathan’s hand away and stood by my side.

“If she doesn’t want to go back, then don’t force her,” Frederick said calmly. Jonathan’s expression instantly darkened. “Who do you think you are, interfering in our marriage?” he spat.

Frederick’s expression also turned cold. The two men locked eyes, and the air grew thick with tension. Alicia, unable to bear the atmosphere, tugged on Jonathan’s sleeve. “Jonathan, I’m sorry. Did I make Elise angry again?” she asked nervously.

Jonathan glanced at me deeply. I snorted coldly, refusing to respond to Alicia’s attempt to cause trouble. “Elise, come back with me,” Jonathan said with a frown.

“Take care of Alicia and stay out of my business!” I snapped, yanking my hand free and shooting them a scathing look. “And don’t bother questioning why I’m not at the hospital. You lied too. You said you were visiting Alicia’s grandmother, but somehow ended up in a bar.”

My words were blunt, laced with sarcasm and accusation. Jonathan’s face flushed red. “What else are you making up now?” he growled.

“Am I the one making things up?” I asked, glancing at the tipsy Alicia, whose cheeks were flushed. “She’s drinking herself miserable, and you’re better off comforting her! That’s what bars like this are for, isn’t it? People come to drown their sorrows, and if a man and a woman hit it off, they just end up in bed. Problem solved, right?”

I knew how badly my words sounded, and I said them on purpose. Jonathan’s handsome face flushed red, and his eyes burned with suppressed anger. “Elise, do you even know what you’re saying?” he growled.