Dina was also angry; she threw the test tube in her hand back into the treatment box, "Fine, let me be nosy." With that, she slammed the door and left.
Avery's body fell against the hard door, her palms covering her eyes, tears continuously flowing out from the gaps of her fingers.
How could the pure Dina understand? If she did that, she would only be bringing about her humiliation. Her wounds were already bleeding profusely; why would she even need to sprinkle salt on them?
She’s hurting. She was not as strong as she had imagined.
With her condition, there was no way for her to operate, so she took sick leave and returned home early.
Her home was a garden house located halfway up the mountain. To be more precise, it was not a home but a house that Blake bought for her.
Her slender body was nestled in the window, quietly gazing at the garden scenery. There were no flowers in her garden, only large patches of golden plane trees.
She remembers the first time she stood here, pointing to the empty garden, and she excitedly said to Blake, ‘I want to plant a lot of French parasol trees in the garden.’
Blake only coldly replied, "As you wish."
In fact, she really wanted to tell him that it symbolizes undying love.
There was a drizzle outside the window. In a trance, her memory regressed to three years ago.
That day, she had caught Alex and Willa in bed together. Of the two, one was her boyfriend, and the other was her sister. Willa begged her to give Alex to her as she cried. She said that they truly loved each other.
What else could Avery say? She felt that she was just a joke. Then, she went to a bar and got drunk.
“One more bottle—”
“You’re already drunk, Miss. You must go—”
Avery glared at the bartender. “Don’t you dare—”
“Just give her one. Charge it on me,” a deep yet husky voice blended with the soft music in the bar.
Avery squinted her eyes and turned to the man who moved closer to her. “T-Thanks.”
Blake nodded her head and raised his glass. He was watching Avery the moment she entered the bar. Who wouldn’t recognize nor see the woman? She has all the charm—beauty and brain. She was a well-known doctor, and her family is one of the most powerful families in the city.
Blake admits that he had a crush on Avery, and now, he can even hear his heart beating too fast.
“Why are you alone?” he asked, making him curse inside his head. Stupid question!
Avery arched her brow. She rubbed her eyes, trying to see the man clearly, but she can’t. The bartender must be right; she was already drunk.
“Have you tried cheating or being cheated on?” she asked. She wants to, at least, lessen the agony she was feeling inside.
Blake frowned and drank from his glass. “Why do you ask?”
Avery let out a giggle and slammed the counter. “I want to vent my anger. I want to kill someone, but he is not worth it!”
Blake looked around and then to the bartender.
“I’ll leave her to you,” says the bartender before he moves to the other side of the bar counter.
Blake sighed. “What’s wrong?”
“Can I trust you?” she asked, making Blake grin.
“Maybe?” He took a sip from his glass once again.
Avery stood up and walked closer to Blake, making the latter’s body tense.
‘Damn it!’ Blake cursed inside. He was not expecting this.
“S-Stranger. Can I kiss you?”
Blake’s jaw dropped. f**k! He was not expecting Avery Foster to be like this.
“You’re drunk.” Blake held her, restraining her not to get closer to him. “I’ll send you home,” he added, as if they were close.
“Home?” Avery laughed. “I don’t want to go home! I want you to kiss me!” she uttered.
“s**t,” Blake cursed. He roamed his eyes around and gazed toward them. “I’ll take you home—”
Avery tried to escape from his grip, but Blake held her tighter. She might trip if he let her go.
“I… I don’t want to go home.”
Blake heaved a deep sigh. “Come on. I’ll drive you—”
“No.” Avery pulled her arm and glared at Blake. “Why don’t you want to kiss me? Am I not attractive?” Tears started to welled up from the corners of her eyes. “Is that why he cheated on me? Does Willa attractive?” She began to sob, making Blake curse under his breath. He didn’t mind others’ stares and carried Avery.
He walked toward the exit at the left wing.
“P-Put me down—”
“Stay still.” Blake clenched his jaw and glared at her.
Avery wiped her tears and pouted like a baby. “Why don’t you want to kiss me—”
“I’m not doing it here—”
“Why not?”
Fuck! Blake didn’t know that a drunk Avery Foster was annoying.
Since Avery didn’t want to go home, Blake brought her to his house.
“Kiss me…”
Blake's body tensed when Avery touched his face while he was carrying her toward his bed. God knows how hard he tries to control himself, not to grant what she wants.
He put her down on his bed. “Get some re—” he didn’t finish his words when Avery pulled his tie, making his lips pressed on hers.
He groaned in shock and was about to pull up when Avery grabbed his head and deepened the kiss.
Her lips started to move, making Blake’s grip on the sheet tightened.
‘Stop it, Blake. She’s drunk!’
He tried to resist, but she was teased.
“Kiss me—”
He claimed her lips and started to savor. The taste of the liquor blended into her sweet lips, making it addictive. His hands started to roam around her body. It crawls on her left thigh until it reaches her sensitiveness.
“Ahh…”
Her moan makes Blake even want more.
Slowly, their clothes fell on the floor, leaving nothing.
Blake cursed under his breath when he felt an electrifying sensation every time he caressed Avery’s body. His hand started to explore her nakedness. He slipped one finger inside her.
He wants to savor every moment.
“Stop me before I lose myself—”
“Don’t stop!” Avery uttered when their eyes met.
“I’m a stranger—”
“Come on! I had enough. I don’t care! I want you!” she asserted and pulled him closer as she initiated a deep, hot kiss.
The next day, she woke up completely naked on Blake’s bed. The bright red light on the bed sheets stung her eyes, causing her heart to ache as well. She ran away.
However, the next morning, she and Blake’s one-night stand was published in the daily newspaper.
The Anderson and Foster families could not afford to lose their dignity, so they were forced to marry each other.
Unknowingly, it was already pitch-black outside the window. The antique clock on the floor made a low sound, one strike, two chimes, a total of twelve chimes.
The night was dark and quiet, causing people to feel suffocated.
Avery rubbed her aching forehead, then stepped on the soft wool carpet with her bare feet and followed her memories to feel the switch on the wall. However, a slender finger was one step faster than her.
The wall lamp was lit. Perhaps it was because she had stayed in the darkness for too long; the rays of light caused her eyes to ache. She subconsciously closed her eyes.
Blake narrowed his eyes and looked at her, his body emitting a strong smell of alcohol and a faint aroma of tobacco.
"Why did you come back?" Avery blurted out.
"Today is the eighth." He took off his jacket naturally and threw it on the sofa. He then walked into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water could be heard.
Avery slumped onto the sofa and laughed bitterly.
Yes, today was the eighth, his only day of the month.
Remembering the wedding night, he calmly told her, "I'm very busy. If there's nothing else, I might not come back. However, our parents are waiting to carry their grandson. You should calculate the date of ovulation and make an appointment with my secretary. "
Therefore, he would only come back on the night of the 8th of every month. The marriage had lasted three years, and for three years, they had been together for only forty-eight nights.
Avery felt like a grieving concubine in a harem in ancient times. She had been looking forward to seeing him but had lost hope in the endless darkness and waiting.
When Blake came out of the bathroom, she was already lying on the bed.
She felt him topple over on her side, the mattress deeply sunken, the clean scent of shower milk in the air.
In the darkness, the familiar large palm caressed her smooth skin without restraint. Cold and aggressive, it climbed up her flat belly.
"Must it be like this? I don't want to do it today.” She suddenly pressed his hand and coldly refused.
His arms were wrapped around her waist, and his warm chest was pressed against her cold back. “Why?" he asked emotionlessly.
"I'm not feeling well today." She spoke half-heartedly, but the next moment, his broad palm had already covered her head. "I don't have a fever. I'm just a bit tired." She pulled his hand off her forehead.
"Great." He snorted and turned away.
Avery was finally relieved. Perhaps this was the only advantage of this man, as she very rarely said no to him. However, as long as she said that, he would never force her to do anything, and that included making love.
Avery woke up in the middle of the night. She saw that the jacket on the sofa was still there and he had not left.
She quietly sat on the bed. Through the slightly opened door, Avery heard the man's gentle voice coming from the direction of the balcony. ‘Also, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?’
‘Good girl, I'll go back and accompany you tomorrow …’
Avery held tightly onto the thin blanket on her body. She really wanted to rush out and interrogate him loudly, ‘Blake, is our marriage a joke?’ But she couldn't. There were some things that, once broken, meant they were about to be lost. Right now, this marriage was the only thing she had. She couldn't afford to lose it.
She waited for Blake to drop the call, and when she got the perfect timing, she called his name.
“Blake…”
Blake frowned and turned around to face her. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you tired?”
Avery heaved a deep sigh and walked closer to him. “Make love to me, Balke,” she said softly.
Blake’s jaw clenched as his grip on the phone tightened. “Get some rest—”
“I’m fine.”
“I don’t want something bad to happen to you while I am taking you. We can postpone this. Get some rest,” he said, and he walked away.
Morning came…
Avery had not slept for the entire night. She fumbled her way into the bathroom and revealed a pale and haggard face in the mirror. She smiled bitterly as her fingertips pressed against her sore temple and used her other hand to grab the foundation powder.
She hurriedly lowered her body to pick it up. Her fingertips stung, and the sharp shard ruthlessly cut a deep wound on her palm. Blood immediately gushed out.
"Ahh!" She helplessly fell to the ground and buried her face in her knees. Her shoulders trembled, and tears flowed down her face with an indescribable feeling of grievance.
What had she done wrong? Why did she have to suffer?