Jovana stared at the ashes left in the fire pit.
With a faint, hollow laugh, she said, “It’s nothing, just some useless junk. It was taking up space in the bedroom.” Armando, unaware of anything amiss, noticed a momentary daze in her gaze as she looked at the ashes.
He bent down, gently lifted her up, and rubbed her cold hands between his own to warm them. “Just let me handle this. You should rest at home,” Armando said.
Jovana stared blankly at their hands clasped together.
Her hands were always cold, no matter the season, but he never tired of warming them for her.
Yet now, those same hands had touched another woman.
A
Jovana blinked away the tears, pulling her hand free, offering a half–hearted reply,“Okay…”
But it was too late. There wouldn’t be another chance.
They hadn’t always been rich. She used to think that whatever he gave her was the most precious thing in the world, and she treated it like a
treasure.
But now, she wouldn’t pour her heart into it. She no longer cherished the things he gave
“Put out the fire,” she said softly.
her.
“Alright, stand back. Don’t let the sparks get on you,” he replied, pulling her behind him, his broad back bracing against the fire.
She used to think it was her safe haven…
Jovana turned her head, her eyes stinging with tears.
The fire in the pit slowly died, just like their love, which Armando had extinguished with his own hands.
“Let’s go,” Armando said as he cleaned up the fire pit, wrapping his arm around Jovana’s shoulders as they walked back.“I’ve left some hot cocoa in the bedroom. Go rest. I’ll heat up a hand warmer.”
His eyes were soft with affection, but it only reminded her of the time she saw him with Juliette, his reckless side.
“How ironic,” she thought.
“Go ahead,” she said, pushing him away and climbing the stairs without changing her expression.
Behind her, Armando clenched his empty palm, staring at Jovana’s retreating figure. Though she was still there, a strange emptiness gnawed at him, like something was slipping away.
Jovana used to cling to him, always by his side, calling him “darling” with a sweetness that made his heart flutter.
But now, she didn’t even call him that anymore.
Armando’s frown deepened as he pondered the thought, “Could it be that she had found out?
“No, it’s impossible.
‘I have kept it all hidden. She couldn’t know.”
Jovana entered the bedroom, washed away the remnants of her disheartened state, and collapsed on the bed, utterly exhausted.
Her phone lit up with a new message, showing a photo.
Her heart skipped a beat, and her hand instinctively clenched into a fist.
The photo was of Armando and Juliette being caught in the act.
Armando’s face was full of satisfaction, his usual stoic features now darkened with a feral edge.
He looked young and wild, just like when she first met him, but now, something had changed.
The message beneath the photo read, Oops, sorry, sent this to the wrong person.”
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< Chapter 25.
‘Armando asked me to send it, said it would help when he was bored.”
“It’s strange. Doesn’t he love you? Why did he say behind your back that he’s annoyed with you?”
Jovana thought, “So, this is how he really feels about me.”
Before marriage, she had been radiant and full of energy, like a bright, warm presence that everyone was drawn to. Now, she was no longer that youthful, carefree girl. She had become ordinary.
It was no wonder that he grew tired of her.
Jovana’s eyes burned as she bit her tongue, the pain sharper than before.“Animals are only meant to relieve boredom.” After sending it, she tossed her phone aside, waiting for a reply that never came.
She felt completely exhausted, as if every ounce of energy had been drained from her, lying there like a lifeless puppet. Then, just as she lay there in the dim room, Armando quietly entered. Seeing her asleep, he didn’t disturb her.
Menu
Instead, he turned off the bright lights, leaving a soft glow, then tucked her in gently. Knowing she suffered from cramps, he placed a hand warmer on her stomach.
“Sleep, love…” he whispered, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
It was all so tender, yet Jovana remained tense.
