Chapter 10 Coincidence

Shaun offered to drive me home after dinner, but I declined his offer. There were a couple of reasons for my refusal. Firstly, I didn't want Aaron to see Shaun again, and secondly, I was apprehensive about returning home after being chased out earlier. I didn't want Shaun to witness any humiliation or potentially become the target of Aaron's anger. So, I asked him to leave first. However, once Shaun had left, I found myself standing there without a clear plan of where to go next. I watched him drive away, feeling somewhat helpless in my current situation. It was then that my phone rang, and I noticed a series of missed calls from Aaron. I couldn't believe the number of missed calls he had made, over ten in total. I hadn't heard my phone vibrating in the noisy restaurant, but it was unusual for him to call so persistently. Not only had he made numerous calls, but he had also sent me a barrage of messages, all questioning my whereabouts and why I wasn't at home. I immediately replied to his messages, and just as I was about to send a response, he called again. This time, I was startled, almost dropping my phone. For some reason, I had an ominous feeling that answering his call would lead to a nightmare when I returned home. I answered the call with trepidation, hearing the familiar ringtone. "Hello, Aaron..." "Why aren't you home?! Where did you go? Why didn't you pick up your phone?" I had left home before, or rather, I had been chased out before, but he had never called me so persistently to urge me to return. "I just needed some fresh air. I'm coming home now," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, even though I knew I would have to face an enraged Aaron when I got home. During the 10-minute walk back, I pondered making some changes. If he chased me out again, I should have more money with me, perhaps even enough for a taxi and a meal. It was crucial to be prepared, as I had no idea when he might decide to divorce me, given the fragile state of our relationship. Upon returning home, I noticed that the door was wide open, and Aaron was in the living room. The dinner that the maids had prepared remained untouched on the table. He was dressed casually, a rarity for him, as he usually adhered to a more formal attire for work. However, he was willing to make exceptions for himself and for Julie, but not for me. He had been staring at me since my arrival, and his expression clearly indicated his displeasure. I wanted to avoid provoking him at all costs, especially considering the constant reminder of the pain on my neck. I couldn't afford to anger him, as I would be the one to suffer the consequences. Swiftly, I put on my slippers and greeted him cautiously, "I'm home, Aaron... I'll go rest upstairs. I went for a long walk, and I'm tired." "Who were you with?" he inquired, surprising me with how closely he had been monitoring my movements. He must have been preoccupied with Julie's presence earlier, as he usually wouldn't give me much thought when he chased me out. I felt like a puppet, moving at his command. When he was upset, he would push me away, but occasionally, he would want me to stay home and behave. My life was even more miserable than that of the dog in the courtyard across from our house. At least that dog had an owner who loved it unconditionally. Aaron was sitting on the couch, and the ashtray on the coffee table was filled with cigarette butts and ashes. It was evident that he was in a foul mood. Julie seemed to be the cause of his irritation, though I couldn't be certain of her feelings as she had already left. Regardless, it was clear that they had some sort of argument for him to be so visibly upset. They rarely fought, unlike me, who had to endure his one-sided rage. There were times when I felt a sense of resentment towards Julie. Whenever they argued, Aaron would direct his anger towards me instead of her. He never threw a tantrum in her presence. I couldn't help but envy her. Looking around, I noticed that he had dismissed the maids, leaving only him in the living room. He extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray and gestured for me to approach him. It was as if he was playing with a pet, but I hesitated, which only seemed to agitate him further. He grew impatient and came over to grab my waist. "Were you having dinner with the doctor?" he inquired, his grip tightening. I clenched my fists, deciding to be honest with him. "Yes." He must have already known about my dinner companion for him to ask. I thought honesty was the best policy. He gently caressed my face, but there was a darkness in his eyes. "You went out just to meet him? He was waiting outside my house to see you?" "It was purely coincidental," I replied, looking up at him, my fear evident in my voice. "He had a consultation nearby, and I went to the restaurant because I was hungry. That's when we bumped into each other." "What a remarkable coincidence," he commented, gesturing towards the dinner that had been prepared on the table. "There's dinner at home. Why did you eat with that man? Did you intend to keep me waiting?" "I... I didn't know," I stammered. "I'm warning you for the last time," he warned, tucking my disheveled hair behind my ear. "If I find out that you're sneaking out with the doctor again, you'll be permanently out of this house." I didn't know how to defend myself. I was frustrated and anxious. "I told you it was just a coincidence. Why won't you believe me?" Aaron, in my eyes, was flawless, but this was one aspect of him that I couldn't accept. He always harbored suspicions about me and would vent his anger on unrelated individuals. I didn't want anyone else to suffer because of me; it would only make me feel more guilty. "You better not be lying," he warned, releasing my hand and instructing me to sit at the dining table for dinner. I pushed the plate away, my appetite completely gone. Even if I hadn't eaten anything earlier, I doubted I could stomach this meal after the way he had treated me. "I don't want to eat, Aaron," I said. He was already upset, and my refusal only seemed to intensify his irritation. "You won't get any food ever again if you don't eat now."