A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

Matilda’s struggle only served to fan the flames of Yvan’s rage. With a forceful shove, he slammed her against the hallway wall, utterly Indifferent to Declan’s presence. “What are you hiding for, Matilda? Even if you were dead, I wouldn’t let you go!”

The words drained the color from Matilda’s face. She lashed out, trying to strike Yvan, but he deftly blocked her, his anger palpable. “Oh, you’ve grown some spine, haven’t you? Daring to confront me now? I clearly underestimated you, didn’t I? How quickly you’ve managed to hook up with some other guy!”

Tears welled in Matilda’s eyes. “Yvan, you have no right to accuse me!”

“And who does? That stray you had warming your bed?” Yvan was furious; his handsome face twisted with anger. NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.

To Matilda, it was nothing short of terrifying. She wouldn’t allow Yvan to insult Criss like this.

“You can insult me all you want, but not Criss!”

With a burst of strength, Matilda pushed Yvan away. “I told you to stop bothering me. Who I see and what I do is none of your business!”

The audacity! She was defending another man right in front of him!

Yvan was so livid he could strangle her. “So, now you’re speaking up for him?”

“He’s not some stray!” Matilda shouted back, her fury matching his. “Criss is my dear friend, beyond gender! He’d drop everything and fly from Liberty Country just to comfort me if I called. Can you say the same? During our five years of marriage, you never gave me the time of day! If it weren’t for Criss, I

don’t know how many times I would’ve died from the pain I suffered here! Every wound you inflicted, he was there to heal! You call him a stray, but are you even worthy to Say that?”

Her accusations hit Yvan like a hammer, his complexion turning ghostly pale, his refined features etched with disbelief. He was rendered speechless, utterly lost in the force of Matilda’s words.

He couldn’t muster a single retort.

For every harm she suffered, there was someone else to mend her wounds. In her eyes, was he nothing more than a devil?

He had good intentions, but to Matilda, those were always twisted into hurtful actions. She never considered that sometimes, all he wanted was to do right by her.

He had been the one to rescue her when she was kidnapped, to rush her to the hospital, to vigilantly watch over her without rest, to avenge her by bringing those criminals to justice.

She knew nothing of this! She only saw her own grievances, pinning them on him, her cold words only driving him to recklessness. Why did every attempt at a simple meeting spiral into

15

Chapter Tap

chaos?

Matilda saw the dangerous fury in Yvan’s eyes, a look that could tear her apart. She felt an overwhelming urge to flee..

But when she dodged, it only fueled Yvan’s anger. He pinned her against the wall, his arms caging her in a small world of his making, his gaze unyielding.

Matilda couldn’t take it anymore. “Get off me! What do you look like, desperately clinging on like this?”

Her dismissive expression made Yvan feel like the punchline of some cruel joke.

“Matilda, even if I’m nothing in your eyes, I’m still human, and I can still hurt! You have no idea what I’ve done for you, so spare me that disdainful look!”

“I’ll give you those words right back!* Matilda finally shoved him aside. “You have no idea what I’ve lost because of you. You want to talk about sacrifice, Yvan? Your contributions are nothing compared to what I’ve lost! You don’t even deserve to feel sorry for yourself! You got what you deserved!”

Pushing past him, Matilda saw Criss at the end of the hall, who had come out of concern for her. Tears filled her eyes as she threw herself into his arms.

Criss looked up to meet Yvan’s gaze, one filled with predatory intent.

Tightening his hold on Matilda, he led her away from Yvan’s murderous stare, a cold smirk on his lips. “I think you still hate her, Yvan. After all, you never were one for self–reflection.