Chapter 8 Said Those Things to Get to Her
The punishing kisses landed densely across her neck and shoulders.
Chandler’s hands were drifting lower, and just as his touch became unbearable, Ginny stopped struggling. Silent tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Chandler was pressed close to her neck, and even the faintest shift in her emotions didn’t escape him. When he finally looked up and saw her lying there, her face blank but wet with tears, staring at the ceiling, something twisted hard in his chest.
“What?” he said irritably, sitting up. “I’m
not allowed to touch you?”
He got dressed quickly, and when she didn’t move or react at all, he let out a
long sigh and reached out to pull her up.
ATM
But before his hand even touched her, she shoved his arm away like someone suddenly unhinged, then broke into sobs.
They’d known each other for six years- met, married, and lived through all the days in between-and yet this was the first time Chandler had seen her cry like this.
She was five-foot-six but curled into herself now, her arms wrapped tightly around her body. Even with her head down, he could see her tears falling.
2/10
In that moment, she looked like a ship lost at sea, overwhelmed by storm and tide. Helpless. Alone.
Chandler hated that image. He was right
there. She wasn’t alone.
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ESTERE
Still, it was clear-he’d pushed her too far
this time.
TTOTEFTATE#A
“Stop crying,” he muttered. “You’re not fully recovered. This kind of crying… it’ll hurt your body.”
He wasn’t good at comforting people. Throughout their marriage, it had always been Ginny yielding to him. He’d never had to coax or soften.
And he had always assumed she’d stay like that-gentle, obedient. But lately… she hadn’t been fitting into that mold, and it made him uneasy and irritated.
A
“I asked you to apologize to Melody-” He caught himself and corrected, “I asked
you to apologize to Melody for your own good. You’re the wife of a public figure. Everything you do reflects not just on you.”
He added, “And you’re a doctor. If word of what happened today gets out, it could
ruin
your career. You know that.”
“If I apologize to Melody,” Ginny said, eyes bloodshot, her voice hollow, “does that mean I can go home?”
That was exactly the outcome Chandler had been aiming for. But now that she was actually agreeing, why did it feel so wrong? Why did his chest feel even
heavier?
Still, Chandler didn’t let it show. “Yes.”
Ginny stared at him for a moment, then let out a cold laugh.
Right in front of him, she dressed and climbed out of the car.
Chandler followed behind as the two of them returned to Melody’s hospital room.
Melody hadn’t expected Chandler to actually bring Ginny back to apologize.
When she saw the redness around Ginny’s
eyes, clearly from crying, her pride nearly gave itself away on her face.
But she still kept up appearances. “Chandler,” she said gently, “why did you bring Ginny back? As long as you care about me, that’s enough. And after she slapped me earlier… in front of you… how could I hit her back? That would be so inappropriate.”
Ginny stood silently by the bed, watching Melody perform her little scene. At the same time, she wondered if Chandler would step in himself to return the slap on Melody’s behalf.
Melody, too, was waiting. After a moment passed with no response from him, she deliberately lifted her hand to touch the
side of her face and murmured, “It doesn’t hurt as much now. Really didn’t expect Ginny to hit so hard. She looks so fragile.”
Chandler frowned and shot a glance at Ginny. Then, turning to Melody, he said, “I’ll get you an ice pack from the nurses’
station.’
་་
As he passed Ginny, he gave her a meaningful look-an unspoken warning.
The moment he left the room and it was just the two of them, Melody’s smile returned. “One slap for a house in chaos.
Not a bad deal.”
Ginny’s eyes widened. She suddenly understood. “You… you said all that earlier because you saw Chandler was
nearby?”
Melody tilted her head, smug. “Not completely brainless, are you? That just proves again that I’m the one he really cares about. Look at you-your eyes swollen from crying-and he didn’t even blink. Not only that, he made you come back and apologize. Ginny, would a man who loves you do that?”
STEERREY
Ginny had always known Chandler didn’t love her, but hearing it out loud was something else entirely.
Her fists clenched at her sides. Her
swollen eyes fixed on Melody. She opened her mouth to respond, but the door burst open before she could speak.
Ryan walked in, his face dark. “Melody, since you’re so convinced that Chandler loves you, then do us all a favor and convince him to finalize the divorce.”
He crossed to Ginny in two strides. Her face was unnaturally pale.
He reached out and touched her forehead.
His brows furrowed. “You have a fever.
You’re not a kid. How do you not even notice this? Come on, let’s get you to outpatient.”
When he touched her arm, he found it icy cold. Without hesitation, he pulled off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
The two of them moved toward the door, completely ignoring Melody behind them.
They walked side by side, like no one else
existed.
Melody’s earlier triumph twisted into rage. Her face contorted. She opened her mouth to spit something cruel, but before she could get the words out, the door
swung open.
There stood Chandler, holding a bag of
ice.
