Chapter 10 Shattered Trust

Charles's grip on Suzanne’s waist tightened, dragging her toward the car. She winced, trying to pull away, but his hand was like iron, unyielding. “You’re hurting me, Charles!” she protested, her voice shaking, but he didn’t even look at her. His eyes blazed with rage, and his grip didn’t soften, forcing her to stumble along beside him. He shoved her into the car with such force the door slammed behind her, and without a word, he jumped into the driver's seat. The engine roared to life, and the car shot forward, the tension inside suffocating. Suzanne sat stiffly, her heart hammering in her chest. What was happening? Where was this going? They arrived at the mansion, and without even giving her a moment to breathe, Charles was out of the car. He yanked her wrist again, dragging her toward the house. Suzanne tried to pull back, her voice a whisper now, “Charles, please…” but he didn’t hear her. He dragged her inside, ignoring the startled looks of his mother and sister, who were deep in conversation in the living room. Anna rushed over to greet them, her arms open, but Charles didn’t stop. He yanked Suzanne past her, not even sparing a glance at his family, and stormed up the stairs, taking two at a time. Suzanne’s heart raced as he pushed her onto the bed, slamming the door shut with a loud thud behind them. "Stay here," he snapped, his voice harsh, before locking the door. Suzanne sat on the edge of the bed, trembling, unsure of what was coming next. "Who's he?" Charles demanded, his voice thick with anger as he towered over her. Suzanne trembled, struggling to form a response, but the words seemed stuck in her throat. She stuttered, but before she could explain, he yelled, "Shut up!" and she immediately clamped her lips shut, her mind racing with confusion and fear. The words echoed in her mind: He's changed again. He's changed again. She could feel it now more than ever—the cold, terrifying shift in him. "You are my wife!" Charles spat, his voice rising. "Yet you're looking at another man like that? How dare you?" His hand shot out with a sickening crack, landing hard against her cheek. Suzanne's face jerked to the side, the force of the slap making her vision blur. She cried out in pain, her cheek stinging, as tears flooded her eyes. She clutched her cheek, her body trembling from the shock of it, the tears falling freely. "You're nothing but a disgrace," he seethed, standing over her with fire in his eyes. Seeing the mark he’d left, Charles took a deep breath, his face contorting in a mix of anger and frustration. "I can't deal with this," he muttered, before storming out of the room. The sound of the door slamming echoed through the house, leaving her in the silence of their shattered relationship. Suzanne stayed where she was, holding her cheek, trying to understand how things had gotten so bad. His words replayed in her mind, You're nothing but a disgrace. The pain of the slap, both physical and emotional, gnawed at her. Charles didn’t return that night. The bed felt empty, and Suzanne curled into herself, crying quietly in the dark, knowing he was just playing her. He didn't mean it when he said he changed. Charles walked toward Sarah's house, his mind clouded with frustration and anger. As he reached her doorstep, he could feel the weight of his emotions bearing down on him. Sarah opened the door and embraced him, but his stiff body told her immediately that something was wrong. She pulled away slightly, looking up at him with concern. "What's wrong?" she asked softly. Charles didn't respond right away. He walked past her, his jaw clenched, and sat down on the bed. His hands trembled as he tried to control the storm inside him. Sarah, sensing his frustration, busied herself by preparing coffee for him. As she poured it, she glanced over at him, waiting for him to speak. He finally did, his voice laced with bitterness. "My wife is cheating on me." Sarah froze for a moment, her hand stilling as she processed his words. But she didn’t let it show. She continued preparing the coffee, a calmness to her movements. She handed him the cup and leaned against the wall, studying him. "How did you know that?" Charles took a deep breath before explaining. "I saw her. The way she looked at him… I can feel it. Something’s wrong." His voice was shaky, a mixture of hurt and anger. Sarah raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "Is that just how you feel, or did you see something?" Charles snapped, his voice rising. "I saw them together! I know what I saw!" She met his eyes, her gaze steady. "Why are you even worried about that? You love me, don't you?" The question hung in the air, and for a moment, Charles was silent. His anger simmered beneath the surface, but the reality of Sarah’s words hit him harder than he expected. The question echoed in his mind, and he couldn't bring himself to answer right away. His eyes softened for just a moment before he turned away, clearly conflicted. "Don't you?" Sarah questioned again, her voice calm but pointed. She watched him closely, waiting for a response. Charles quickly forced a smile, a crooked one, and pulled her toward him. "Of course," he said, his tone suddenly shifting, his anger still simmering beneath the surface. "I’m the only one who gets to be like this! I’m the one who gets to cheat! She doesn’t. She’s nothing but a disgrace. How dare she?” The words seemed to satisfy Sarah, her smile widening as she let herself be pulled closer to him. His lips found hers in a kiss, urgent and possessive. The kiss deepened as he guided her back toward the bed, his hands gripping her tightly. The anger still lingered in his chest, but now it was mixed with a desperate need, one that only she could satisfy in this moment.