Chapter 1 Chapter 1

FLASHBACK

Jewel immediately stood up as she noticed her husband stepping down the stairs, well-dressed and in a hurry. "Where are you going?" I ask as I get near him.

"Why are you asking where I'm supposed to go? Mind your own business!" Coldness and anger were there as he spoke those words.

"I just want to know what time you'll get home," I responded.

Without any second thought, he came closer to me and held my chin. "Want to know where? To another woman! And you don't need to know what time I'll be back. Do you understand me, bitch?"

I can still feel how tight his grip is on my chin. I'm hurt by what he does, but I can do anything because I love him dearly. I stumbled near the sofa as my tears continued to stream down my eyes.

"What kind of drama is that? Oh, please don't give me that shit!" He hissed.

"Aren't you tired? Is this how you want us to live? When will you change?" I sobbed.

His chin tightened because of what I said. He immediately approached me and quickly pulled me upright while holding my hair. "You have no right to question me like that! You don't own me or my life! I can do whatever I want to do."

"You're already married, Thunder!" I shouted in response, which made him mad even more.

"SHUT UP YOU BITCH!" He shouted and slapped me. "What now if we're married? Huh? Huh? Nothing will ever change. I'm still Thunder Alcantara, and you are Jewel Mercyl Dawson-Alcantara, my useless and desperate wife! We're just married by papers, and you're carrying my surname, but you don't own my heart!"

After he said that, he let me go and quickly left the house.

Jewel POV

When I woke up, I felt that my stomach was starving already. Without a second thought, I stood up and looked at the wall clock; it was already ten in the evening. It seems like I overslept. I looked outside to see if Thunder was home already; his car is not in the garage, so that means that he was not home yet.

I can't help but think about him. I know he's in the arms of another woman.

My eyes started to get blurry again just thinking of it, and tears started to flow again. Honestly, I don't know what I should do to him. He keeps on blaming me for our marriage. He thinks that I planned it all along because I had feelings for him when, in fact, our parents made the decision.

Yes, we're married, we're together, and we're living under one roof, but he treats me like trash. We always argue and argue, even over small things that lead him to hurt me physically.

Since we got married, he has never treated me right. All he did was loathe and despise me.

"You'll regret marrying me." Until now, it's been clear like a camera megapixel in my memory as he spoke those words.

I just went to the kitchen and prepared something to eat. I'm sure he won't come home, so I'll be eating alone again. I took some rice and put it in the microwave with the dish I cooked earlier to preheat it. I finish my food quickly. I was washing the dishes when I heard the sound of his car. I immediately wipe my hands and walk towards the main door to open it for him.

As soon as I opened the door, a beautiful and sexy woman was there, assisting my drunk husband, Thunder. I felt a sudden pain in my chest as I watched them together. It hurts to see the one you love being held by someone.

"Babe, come in," Thunder said.

"Oh my gosh, babe, aren't you feeling tired? We've done it the whole day, and now you still want it here in your house? But even though I wanted to be with you, I can't because I need to go home," the woman responded as she clung to my husband.While I was standing here like a statue and watching my husband with someone else,.

"Even though we've been doing it the whole day, I still want you—to be with you and taste you all over again." Thunder whispered to his woman, but I could still hear it.

I can't take it anymore. "Miss? Maybe I should take care of him?" I called out for the woman's attention.

As her eyes gazed upon me, she raised her eyebrow right away. "Yes? You're saying what? Babe, do you know her?" he asked Thunder, not minding my presence.

"Yes, babe, she's my maid," Thunder responded dryly.

"Oh, I see. She's lucky to be your maid, and I hope nothing beyond that because I know you too well, babe,'' she replied.

There was this urge inside me to want to tell this woman that I was Thunder's wife, but I tried not to because I knew it would make Thunder mad.

"Don't worry about it, babe. Be careful on your way home; I love you." Thunder sweetly responded and put his arm around her.

"Okay, I'll see you again next time, babe. Thank you for this day; I enjoyed it. I love you too," she replied, kissing my husband on the lips.

I saw Thunder respond to the kiss before his woman bid goodbye. My chest tightened at what I saw; I felt like a thousand stabs in my heart. Why do they have to do it in front of me? It's way more painful than being introduced as his maid.

I approach him and help him get inside the house, but he shoves my hands away. Let me help you, Thunder." I tried to hold him again, but he pushed me.

"Why did you come home this late? And you drink too much," I said calmly.

"Why do you care? I enjoyed spending my time with her. Can you stop minding someone's business and don't you dare touch me?" he replied coldly and walked past me.

I followed him. "I care, Thunder, because I'm your wife! Is this how a married man is supposed to be coming home?" I don't know where I got the courage to speak to him like this.

He stopped and stared at me coldly. "Don't act like a good-fine wife; it doesn't suit you." Then he went up the stairs.

I have left again with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart. It hurts knowing that my husband is happy with someone else, and I can't be that someone. Never be.

I did everything for him to love me, but I think it's still not enough. As I was about to enter my room, I found myself looking at the half-open door of Thunder's room.

Since then, we have never slept together. I walked towards his room and found him sleeping peacefully. I came near him, sat beside him, and carefully stroked that hair, trying to cover his handsome face.

"Maybe everyone thinks that I am stupid and martyr enough for staying even if all you did was to hurt me emotionally and physically, but I don't mind it all. I can take it. I can endure all the pain because I love you, and I'm still hoping that one day you'll love me back the way I love you and you'll change as a loving husband. I'm willing to wait for that day to come, but for now, I'll just accept all the pain, Thunder, but please don't leave me to cause that's the only thing I can't bear to take." My tears flowed like a waterfall as I spoke those words to him, even if he couldn't hear me.

I wipe my tears and give him a soft kiss on his cheeks before leaving his room. I love you, Thunder, and I am always well, even though it's tearing me apart.