Chapter 4 Someone Else in Your Heart?
Chandler’s accusation came fast and sharp, like a slap in the face.
Ginny froze. It took her a full two seconds to catch up, her thoughts dragging behind her like something half-drowned.
It had to be Melody-whispering, stirring things up again.
Ginny turned her head away, her eyes cold with mockery. “Does it matter? I’ve already decided to divorce you.”
Chandler’s gaze turned stormy. He stood abruptly, his hand clamping down hard on her shoulder, forcing her to meet his
eyes. “Ginny, talk to me properly!”
“Let go. You’re hurting me!” She tried to shake him off, but he didn’t budge.
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“Don’t treat me like one of your
subordinates,” she snapped. “I’m not your soldier, and I’m definitely not your maid.”
His eyes darkened, his entire presence cold and oppressive.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, the image of her being close to another man- one that Melody had conveniently painted -fueled a strange, bitter fire in his chest.
Very few people ever challenged him. Ginny had always been obedient, gentle, and careful around him.
But today, it was like she’d grown thorns. And they pricked at every part of him.
Was it because of that man?
The thought made his expression even colder. “What exactly is your relationship with him?”
Ginny’s fingers curled into tight fists.
“He’s like a brother to me. We grew up in the same orphanage. But you wouldn’t know that. You’ve never cared enough to ask about my life, so of course you don’t know who’s been in it.”
Chandler stared at her for a long moment before finally pulling his hand away.
His voice, when it came, was icy. “I don’t like him. Stay away from him.”
Ginny’s lashes trembled slightly. She stared at his tall, rigid frame, her mind spinning.
Was this… jealousy?
Could it mean he still felt something for
her?
That thought sat in her chest like a pebble in the throat-bitter, dry, painful.
But what difference did it make? She’d already made up her mind to leave. She was done trying to scrape sweetness out of the cracks.
With a quiet sigh, she closed her eyes, not bothering to argue anymore.
Just then, Chandler’s phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID. The words he’d been about to say-words that might’ve sounded like concern-froze in his throat. He answered the call.
Melody’s soft, delicate voice echoed unnaturally loud in the stillness of the hospital room. “Chandler, my chest feels tight… I think something’s wrong…”
A wave of nausea twisted in Ginny’s gut. Her chest constricted so hard it nearly crushed her lungs. She opened her eyes slowly, bracing herself-hoping, and yet
dreading.
There was silence for a few seconds. Then she heard his footsteps, turning away.
“I’m coming,” he said.
At the door, he looked back. “I’ll be out for a while. Remember what I said-stay away from that man.”
His voice was firm, clipped. The door clicked shut behind him.
Ginny’s heart throbbed, sharp and hollow. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
What was she even hoping for?
Chandler-so proud, so untouchable -answered Melody’s call like a soldier obeying orders.
Of course. In his heart, Melody would always be the priority.
Ginny didn’t sleep that night. And Chandler never came back.
Around 1 a.m., her phone buzzed.
She picked it up and tapped the screen. A message. Multimedia.
Somehow, Melody had gotten her
number.
There were two photos.
The second Ginny saw them, her heart lurched. The pain was almost physical.
Chandler was asleep on Melody’s living room sofa. Even his clothes had been changed-he was wearing loungewear.
So… his pajamas were already there? And had been for a while?
She’d known-of course she had. But
seeing it… seeing it with her own eyes… It crushed her. Like being thrown from a great height and hitting every branch on the way down.
The wound on her head throbbed harder.
Then came the message.
[Ginny, so sorry, but Chandler’s sleeping at my place tonight. Don’t wait up, okay?]
