novelxo Chapter 28 Ego or Love- Colin's Dilemma
Colin looked at Sophia as she spoke a thousand words a minute.
She was very chatty today because she was in a good mood.
You could describe her as stubborn, eloquent, calculating and a lover of food. Her physical appearance was a testament to her passion for eating. "Colin..." she stuffed a melon seed in her mouth, "... Umm, I want to resign."
Colin looked at her in silence, then replied.
"Good."
This response made Sophia frown. She wasn't expecting him to respond so coldly.
"I will only quit after they pay me my salary."
This grabbed Colin's attention. "Why are you going to wait for you salary? That's a stupid idea Sophia." Colin's words flowed out, uninhibited.
Sophia stood up from the stool immediately "Colin, why would you say something like that? I'm not stupid!"
Colin shook his head. Sophia had a bad habit of hearing what she wanted to hear.
Her listening skills were wanting. Sophia, furious with rage boiling underneath the surface, blamed herself for marrying Colin, who was simply an asshole. He was always insulting her and she didn't know why. Colin reached out and took her hand, gesturing her to sit back down.
"Sophia, you didn't listen to what I said. I said that your idea is a stupid one, not that you are stupid."
"But since the idea came from my mind, and its a stupid one, then aren't you inadvertently calling me stupid?" Sophia retorted, taking Colin by surprise. Colin looked at his wife, and for a second, felt that he was wrong to underestimate her capability to reason. However, he was a proud man and never apologised. His ego couldn't allow him to.
"Let's not argue over semantics. My issue is with your plan.
So, let me get this straight, you plan to quit, go back to Nation A, get close to your enemy, find a job, and take a chance to revenge him?" Sophia saw him differently. Could he read my mind? She thought. She nodded to the affirmative to his words.
Colin laughed sarcastically. A flush of anger washed over Sophia's face. "What are you laughing at?"
"Sophia, you do have a pig brain. What makes you think that you can take revenge on the daughter of Lien Clan? The Lien Clan could ruin you easily using their power and influence. It's a fool's errand." They both knew that Colin was telling the truth.
The Lien Clan held a stable position in Nation A. Though Dorothy, her sworn enemy, had no power, her family did have.
If the daughter of Lien Clan was hurt by anyone, They would make sure that the person responsible was dealt with accordingly.
It was very dangerous, and Sophia knew that she had to be careful.
But deep down she knew that she would take her revenge someday. "I will not take my revenge right now." She responded to her husband's searching looks.
Colin leaned back in his chair and squinted at her. "Okay, but if you are dead set on taking any revenge, I would be more comfortable if you had support."
"Well, I have you..." Sophia looked longingly into his eyes.
"Ha! What can I do? Not me Honey. Another powerful clan, perhaps one that is of a high rank and has a greater influence than the Lien's." Colin chuckled at his wife's naivety. Sophia sat back and thought for a moment. "Perhaps the Huo Clan. I heard that they have a great influence in Nation A. Maybe I can find support from Herring..."
Colin was speechless. He couldn't believe that she was thinking of Herring.
"Sophia, you are my wife but you are thinking of another man. How dare you?"
Sophia bit her tongue. She was disappointed in herself for not thinking through her words. She had a history with Herring, one that Colin knew all too well about. It was no secret that Colin despised Herring because of this.
But despite this, she was angry. "Your wife? Colin, you never treat me like your wife? You belittle me and always threaten to divorce me. Why do you care all of a sudden?" Colin squinted his eyes and sat speechless.
Unbeknownst to Sophia, Colin did want to divorce her, and asked the playboy Herring to seduce her. He wanted to get rid of her.
However, he changed his mind just as soon as he asked Herring to undertake this task. Twice, he had caught Sophia and Herring in an embrace, and Sophia looked very happy. He became jealous and forbid her from seeing Herring.
Even though he didn't love her, he didn't want her to be with another man. It was embarrassing for him.
Especially tonight, he wanted to fight Herring when he heard Herring introducing Sophia as his girlfriend to make Shelly Li angry.
Colin saw this as disrespectful.
Sophia looked at her husband, longing for a response.
But when she got none, she stood up from the stool and said in a low voice. "Colin, please let's not play this game any longer. If our marriage is just bound by a certificate and you no longer want me, tell me. I will ensure that you get rid of me as swiftly and easily as possible."
Sophia fought back tears.
She turned to walk away, but Colin reached out to her and embraced her.
Immediately, his demeanour changed. He noticed that she was shivering and her hands were cold. "Oh My! You are as cold as ice."
Sophia retreated from the embrace. "Like you care! I'm fine." She responded, her teeth chattering as cold breeze made her shiver.
Colin took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
Despite her anger, she welcomed the warm embrace of his jacket suit. She would be a fool to refuse the warmth that it offered. "Thank you."
Colin reached out to cup Sophia's cheek. "Sophia, if you ever leave me or think about divorcing me, I will destroy you.
Do you understand me?"
Sophia wasn't the least bit shocked, because this was not the first time that Colin had threatened her. It had become a sort of game between them- a dangerous one nonetheless.
She knew that Colin could destroy her if she did anything to cross him on a large scale. His threats were never idol, and she had witnessed what he did to those who were once friends and now enemies. She played along this time, feigning brevity. Her arms climbed up his neck, as she teased the hairs along his nape. "Colin, what kind of man makes threats on a woman he purports to love? Such boyish behaviour, when will you ever grow up?"
Sophia knew that those words would annoy him, but she didn't expect in this intensity. Colin took a step back and held Sophia by her elbows. Sophia loosened her grip on his neck and turned to walk away. She saw something in his eyes that scared her. She felt as if she had finally driven him over the edge.
Colin did not give her the chance to escape but pushed her hard against the pillar behind her.
Sophia's back hit the pillar, painfully, but Colin didn't care. He was angry and this blinded him from seeing the extent to which his wife was scared.
"I'll show you how much of a man I am." He said, dryly, fixated on proving his statement. Colin pinned Sophia to the pillar and kissed her roughly. His hands grabbed hers, and pinned them above her head, with Colin securing them with one hand. With the other, he placed it on her neck.
Sophia struggled to push him away, but it was nearly impossible.
Colin was bigger and stronger than she was. Her protest roused lust in Colin's eyes, as he continued to savagely kiss her. Sophia didn't kiss back.
At this point, the hand that was on her neck had travelled down to lift her red dress, that was now wrapped around her waist. This came to her attention, when the cold wind blew and she could feel it on her thighs.
Aware of his intention, Sophia bit his lip slightly and Colin jumped back. "No way, Colin." She said as she pulled down her dress.
Colin gritted his teeth and growled at her. "If other men could have you, why can't I?"
Sophia ducked underneath his arms and took a couple of steps back. So this is why he is acting like this? Sophia thought to herself, the tears that had threatened to escape, landing on her cheeks.
"So that's what you think of me Colin? I give you my heart and soul, and even though its clear you don't love me, I've stayed. You've threatened and belittled me and I still stay. How dare you accuse me of seeking other men's affection?" Sophia was in sobs at this moment.
Colin wasn't listening. His rage had blinded him to the point that he was fixated on showing Sophia how manly he can get. He breathed heavily, grasped her wrist, and walked towards the banquet hall. "Leave me alone Colin. Where are you taking me?"
"We are going home. Stop resisting. You are coming with me and that's final."
Colin tagged at her wrist to yank her forward, but Sophia didn't move. "Colin... Please... " Colin turned to face his wife, and his anger dissipated.
Sophia's once put-together immaculate make-up, was now streaked down her face. She looked worn out and in pain. What have I done? Colin thought to himself.
Sophia looked up at Colin. "Why are you doing this to me?" And before he could answer, Sophia took the opportunity to get out of his vice-like grip, threw his coat at him, and walked away.
This time Colin didn't stop her. He watched as she walked away from him. Why can't she just listen to me and do as she is told? Colin thought to himself. 000☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐