Billionaire, Let's Divorce (Mark and Sydney)

Chapter 0198

+25 BONUS

I closed my eyes and willed myself to relax. Relax, Sydney, you still have things under control. I took a deep breath, pushing down the rising panic. One misstep and this whole plan could unravel. I can't let my fear or disgust show through. I am the actor here and he is the audience. I must play my role flawlessly.

I stood from the bed with a yawn and stretched as I made my way to the bathroom. In the bathroom, I turned on the tap and washed my face. The cool water helped clear my head a bit. I stared at my reflection - my eyes looked hollow, devoid of the light they once held. How much more of myself would! have to sacrifice?

Then I went into the shower and set the water temperature to 'cold' and stood under it. Goosebumps rapidly spread all over my body and I felt the urge to turn it off and have a warm bath instead but a warm bath would not prepare me for the day ahead. I needed a scrub bath. I needed to scrape away every last remnant of him from my skin.

As I took my bath, memories of last night flashed in my eyes and I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I didn't stop them. Thank God I was in the shower - a cold shower at that. The icy water masked my sobs as I cried for Aiden, my sweet boy who I may never get to see again. I cried for Lucas, the man I'loved, now just a ghost of a memory trapped behind this horrific facade.

I cried as I scrubbed my body like a mad woman just to get his touch and cologne off me, even though I knew he would still touch me again. No matter how hard I scrubbed, I could never be clean. His violation had stained my soul.

I wrapped a towel around my damp body and stood before the bathroom mirror. I looked at my tired far even after the shower, the bone-deep exhaustion I felt still shone through. The fear that filled my eyes was easy to hide but the hate was the hardest to hide. It filled me up everywhere to the brim, dripping off me in multifolds. As much as I'd like him to see this - how much he repulsed me I had to replace the hate with love; love for my beloved Dylan. At least on the surface.

I smiled at myself in the mirror, a hollow, practiced smile. I gave myself a small nod and left the bathroom, my game face on. No matter how hard this was, I had to see it through. Survive first, then live. Naturally, my gaze riveted to him as I stepped into the room. He was still asleep. Or he was still pretending to be asleep. I wouldn't put it past him to be testing me even now.

As I passed by, I accidentally bumped into the coat rack, causing the gun to slip out of the pocket and drop on the floor with a resounding thud.

"Shit!" I muttered under my breath but then, I frowned at the gun on the floor. What?

Almost immediately, Dylan quickly sat up, looking dazed. In a blur, he was on the floor, he reached for the gun and pointed it toward me.

I took reflexive steps back. Stay calm, I told myself, don't let him sense your fear.

"I'm sorry," I pleaded, making my voice tremble. "I didn't mean to wake you up, I'm really sorry."

There was a nasty sneer on his face and his voice was low and dangerous. "You want to kill me, don't you? It was your plan all along."

I shook my head and said in a weak, quivering voice, "I didn't." I made my eyes wide, full of innocent fear.

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Chapter 0198

+25 BONUS

He scoffed and his eyes became even colder as he snarled, "Do you think I would believe you?"

"I really didn't, I just got up to take a shower," I cried, making the tears flow. I was the picture of a terrified woman, pleading for her life.

I should be hit with the hot sting of a bullet that will go right through my neck, right? Yes, but nothing happened.

I tried to look as surprised as I could as a triumphant smile spread across his face.

"Just kidding, there are no bullets in this gun."

My face turned pale and my eyes filled with tears and fear. "You can't scare me like this anymore," I cried, my voice quivering. "My heart literally stopped beating, Dylan."

I watched as he laughed and walked to me. "God, you should've seen your face."

I gave him a blank "I'm angry but it's hard to be mad at you because I freaking love you' expression, "It's not funny, Dylan. I was terrified."

He smirked and just moved closer. He stroked my chin tenderly and I giggled in response.

Thanks to my past self defense classes and Mark's insistence in ensuring I underwent three months of shooting training, the moment the gun hit the ground, I knew there were no bullets in it. So, this was a test, afterall. A dumb test, if you ask me. But I'm glad that I passed.

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