Edward's voice came through the phone, "Why did you run off again? You..."
"Don't ever call my wife again, understand?" Evan glared fiercely at Zoe's pale face as he growled into the phone.
Despite the bandages around his head, he looked menacing.
Zoe tried to snatch the phone again, stretching on her tiptoes.
Edward paused, realizing the couple was having a disagreement. "My apologies." He hung up.
Evan gripped her phone tightly, his lips twisting into a sneer before he slammed it onto the floor.
Crack. The phone landed face down with a loud thud.
"What are you doing?!" Zoe exclaimed, bending down to retrieve her phone.
Evan gritted his teeth, his face paling as he touched his ribcage gingerly, leaning against the wall.
Anger made her shoulders tremble, her eyes reddening. "Evan, can you please stop acting crazy?"
He glared at her. "If you sneak off to the hospital again, I'll make your life miserable."
He then slowly made his way to the sofa.
"How many times do I have to say it? We have nothing to do with each other!"
Evan sat on the sofa. "And I'm supposed to believe your lies?"
Zoe's lips quivered with anger, but her voice remained steady. "Since that's the case, let's..."
"Divorce? Don't even think about it." He sneered, ignoring the sharp pain in his ribs. "Have you forgotten I promised your parents to take care of you for life?"
She hadn't forgotten.
He had.
A tear slipped from her eyelashes, and she quickly wiped it away, her words clear and pointed. "You have the nerve to say that, Evan? Your mistress is pregnant. Are you planning to take a concubine like in ancient times?"
Evan's face changed, a hint of guilt surfacing.
"I admit I went too far, but my wife can only be you."
Zoe nearly laughed in exasperation.
"I don't want it, I find it disgusting." She started walking towards their room.
"You... said... what?" His voice was icy, each word forced through gritted teeth.
"I said, I find you disgusting, I want a divorce, do you understand?" She was on the brink of madness, wondering how she had been so ignorant of his true nature before.
He grabbed her by the collar, veins bulging at his temples and neck.
Without warning, she was shoved to the floor, her knee throbbing in pain.
Before she could react, Evan's face darkened, his eyes bloodshot. "Don't even dream about it."
He released her.
Zoe fell back, her palms hitting the cold floor, her swollen hand from the earlier forced needle removal aching further.
Evan stood up, casting a condescending glance at her before returning to their room.
She got up, dusted herself off, her heart growing colder. This marriage had to end.
Neither of them ate lunch.
Zoe researched the process of filing for divorce and the costs involved in a lawsuit.
But if Evan refused, the chances of getting a divorce were... minimal.
She froze, then continued her research, determined to try, unwilling to continue living a soulless existence.
Evan didn't get much sleep last night. As soon as he covered himself with the quilt, he plunged into a deep slumber, oblivious to the time.
When he woke up again, it was already dark.
"Zoe," he sat up and called out.
There was no response.
Rubbing his face, he raised his voice, "Zoe!"
