Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Pierre’s face was bruised and swollen, but his expression stayed stern, although his eyes betrayed a complex mix of emotions when he looked at Talia.
Feeling ashamed yet unwilling to leave Pierre alone, Talia sat across from him. “Let’s head to the hospital later to check for any broken bones.”
Pierre clenched his fists, his voice tight with frustration. “When you needed money, why didn’t you ask me?”
It had only come to light during today’s altercation that Talia’s father had needed a kidney transplant, incurring a debt of over a million to Nichol.
What had once been considered a spousal duty had turned into a tool for manipulation. Whenever Talia stood up against Nichol’s abuse, he would demand repayment. Over time, Talia had learned to suffer in silence.
Talia gave a bitter smile. “Back then, you were swamped with Aitana’s debts. Could you really have helped me? Anyway, Pierre, thank you for today. I’m okay, really. You don’t need to worry.”
Pierre had been drawn into today’s events by Nichol’s machinations, for which Talia felt profoundly uneasy.
Lowering his voice, Pierre responded, “You helped me immensely when Aitana needed it. I can’t just turn away now.”
Talia’s eyes filled with tears. “Aitana’s last wish was for you to stay out of trouble. Please, don’t get dragged into my problems.”
Their conversation was interrupted by Corey’s arrival. His stature commanded attention, and his presence made Talia visibly tense, causing her to retreat into a corner.
Pierre stood and faced Corey as he approached. “Mr. Hampton, what brings you here?” he asked.
Corey’s gaze shifted to Talia, huddling behind Pierre. “What happened here?” he asked.
Pierre responded with the truth, “I got caught up in a brawl on impulse.”
“Really?” Corey scoffed. “Then why did that woman run off? Were you involved in prostitution?”
Pierre averted his gaze, maintaining an indifferent expression. “If you doubt my word, you can ask the police.”
Corey’s tone hardened. “If it weren’t for Gemma, I wouldn’t have bothered coming here to bail you out.” Pierre, visibly distracted, merely frowned and remained silent.
“Let’s go,” Corey commanded.
Leaving the station, Pierre touched his wound and was relieved to find it minor.
Meanwhile, Gemma watched from the car as Pierre exited the building. Her face lit up with a smile. She was just about to step out when she noticed Pierre veer off in another direction.
Hesitating, Gemma tracked his movements with her eyes. Under a sprawling tree outside the station, a woman stood waiting.
Pierre approached her, and she leaned into him, clasping his hand.
Gemma felt like a dagger had just stabbed her heart. She slumped back into her seat, her eyes glued to the woman and Pierre.
From where she sat, she could see the woman’s intense expression as she said something in a low voice, then suddenly broke down, crying into Pierre’s arms, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Pierre didn’t move an inch. Those broad shoulders, the ones that used to protect Gemma, were now wrapped around someone else.
Even with Pierre’s back to her, Gemma could feel the heavy tension radiating from him. Was he upset? Feeling heartbroken? Or just trying to comfort the woman?
Pierre and the woman stayed close, clinging to each other as if they were the only ones who understood the pain they shared.
Gemma couldn’t tear her eyes off them. Why did Pierre seem so broken? Was it because she still loved him and wanted him by her side, leaving him feeling guilty about that woman?
Gemma kept her face blank, but inside, she was laughing bitterly at herself. A voice in her head told her to look away, to stop torturing herself by watching. But she couldn’t. She hated how her eyes stayed glued to the scene, even as they started to blur with tears. She hated herself for waiting eight hours for Pierre. What a joke her anticipation had turned out to be.
Gemma was furious at Pierre for lying. He had made up some story about a friend being in trouble, purposely hinting it was a guy so she’d agree to let him go. It also made it clear that Pierre was pretty fed up with her trying to control his freedom.
Gemma sobbed, feeling that the proud, aloof young lady she used to be was now just a clingy nuisance to Pierre. Tears rolled down her cheeks, snapping her back to reality. She wiped them away quickly and started looking for her brother. But she couldn’t find Corey anywhere. He had been inside for a long time and still hadn’t come out.
Frustrated, Gemma reached for the car door to leave. The bodyguard outside the car immediately stepped in her way. “Miss Hampton, Mr. Hampton said you can’t go in.”
Gemma’s eyes filled with more tears, her frustration boiling over. She was like a cat ready to pounce. “Move aside!”
Her voice grabbed Pierre’s attention. He pulled away from Talia and turned to see Gemma ignoring everything, rushing into the police station.
Pierre’s mind went blank for a moment before he remembered how important today was. He had totally forgotten that Gemma was still waiting for him. He quickly turned to Talia and said, “Take a cab home. If anything happens, call the police.”
Talia shook her head. “Pierre, are you really going to be this stubborn? You can’t mess with Corey. You should get out while you still can.”
Talia had cried earlier when she realized it was Corey. He was a ruthless person. Pierre seeking revenge on his own was like walking straight into danger, so she had snapped at him out of frustration.
But now, Pierre wasn’t listening to anyone. He turned and walked straight toward Gemma, grabbing her hand. “Miss Hampton!”
Gemma froze for a second and then yanked her hand away.
But Pierre wouldn’t let go. He figured she must’ve seen Talia earlier. Gemma had been waiting all day, only to find him with another woman. No wonder she was so mad.
Ignoring everyone around them, Pierre pulled Gemma into his arms. “Just hear me out.”
In the struggle, Gemma noticed the scent of perfume on him, mixed with a hint of blood, reminding her of this woman before her and how far he had gone to protect her.
Normally calm and gentle, Gemma was anything but that right now. She quickly freed her other hand and slapped Pierre without thinking. It didn’t hurt, but it caught him off guard for a second.
Gemma pulled her hand back, her voice shaky. “You’re just my bodyguard. Why are you grabbing me? Don’t let her get the wrong idea.”
Pierre felt a lump form in his chest. Gemma indeed had the wrong idea. His eyes locked on Gemma’s face as he tried to explain, “Today, I…”
But before Pierre could finish, Corey cut him off. “What are you doing standing here?”
Gemma instantly ran to Corey, and Pierre’s chance to speak disappeared.
Pierre watched as Gemma hid in Corey’s arms, looking like she was about to cry. His heart was in chaos, feeling like it was being torn apart.
Corey shot Pierre a cold look. “I step away for one minute, and you make Gemma cry?”
Pierre straightened up. “Mr. Hampton, it’s a misunderstanding. Just give me a minute to explain.”
“No need.” Gemma’s voice came from Corey’s arms, sounding weak. “Corey, I want to go home.”
Corey picked her up and walked to the car, locking the door behind her.
Corey then turned to one of the bodyguards. “What did Pierre do just now?”
The bodyguard hesitated. “It looked like he was holding a woman, and then rushed over when he saw Miss Hampton.”
Corey’s expression hardened. “Drive Gemma home.”
“Understood, Mr. Hampton.”
As the car pulled away, Gemma didn’t bother looking out the window. Even though she was upset, her pride kept her from showing it.
Corey stayed behind, lighting a cigarette to calm himself down. After a puff, he looked at Pierre and asked, “That was your ex, right? Why were you holding her? You still can’t get over her?”
Pierre’s mind was still on Gemma. “Mr. Hampton, I need to go back and check on Miss Hampton.” Pierre barely got two steps before Corey grabbed him by the collar and shoved him to the ground.
Corey’s face was cold as ice. “My sister waited for you at home, and you were out with another woman? I’ve never let her suffer such grievances!”
The pain hit hard, but Pierre gritted his teeth. He glared at Corey, rage bubbling up inside, though he had no intention of fighting back. He said firmly, “That’s why I need to see her right now.”
Corey scoffed. “You still want to see her?” He let Pierre go, sparing his life for Gemma’s sake. “You’re just a bodyguard. Replacing someone like you for my sister won’t be hard. Stay out of her life, or I’ll make sure you regret it.”
After returning home, Gemma slipped out of her date dress and collapsed onto her bed, her appetite entirely gone.
Later that evening, Corey arrived home and gently coaxed her into eating a little.
As Gemma reached for the bowl, her eyes caught the angry swelling on the back of Corey’s hand. She froze, instantly realizing what must have happened-he had fought with Pierre.
Biting her lip, Gemma retrieved some ointment and knelt beside Corey, carefully applying it to the injured hand. “How could you get hurt so badly?” she whispered, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and concern. “You really went too far this time.”
Corey could easily detect the underlying meaning in her words. His lips curled into a faint smirk, his gaze unwavering. “He cheated on you, and you’re still worrying about him?”
Her head snapped up. “I am not!” she shot back.
“It’s best if you aren’t.” But his next words landed like a punch to her chest. “I disabled his limbs. He’s crippled now and probably won’t make it through the year.”
The color drained from Gemma’s face. Grabbing his hand, she clutched it tightly, not caring about his hiss of pain. “Is that true?” Her voice cracked, tears welling up and spilling over. “What did you do to him?”
Corey was silent. Seeing her so distressed, he sighed. He had been right to restrain himself earlier. If he had truly gone too far and crippled Pierre, it would have shattered her completely.
“I was just teasing you,” Corey finally said, his voice soft as he gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. “You’re going to drive me crazy, Gemma. But listen to me. Pierre got into that fight today because of his ex-girlfriend. He’s been playing with your feelings all along. I need you to understand this-whether Pierre survives or not, you have to end things with him. Promise me you’ll let him go.”
Gemma’s breath hitched. That woman was his ex-girlfriend? So, all this time, the person he was truly thinking about wasn’t her but that woman?
Her face crumpled as realization sank in, and Corey noticed the shift. A pang of heartache struck him, but he kept his voice steady. “He’s just one guy, Gemma. I can find you someone so much better.”
But Gemma couldn’t stop her tears. Was it really that simple? Could someone she had poured her heart into be replaced so easily? Turning away from him, she curled up on the bed, her quiet sobs filling the room. “Corey, I just want to sleep now. Can you leave?”
Corey lingered by her side for a while, reluctant to leave her alone in such a fragile state. Unable to shake his concern, he decided to spend the night in the guest room. As Corey lay down, his thoughts drifted to Talia, who had caught his attention earlier that evening. There was something oddly familiar about her timid demeanor. He wondered if he had slept with her before.
For the next few days, Pierre seemed to vanish without a trace.
Gemma had no idea this was Corey’s doing. She assumed Pierre had simply taken the opportunity to escape and leave her behind. Determined to move on, she tried to harden her heart, forcing herself not to think about him. But no matter how much time passed, the weight in her chest refused to lift. Her spirits remained low, and everything felt like an uphill battle without Pierre’s care and attention.
In an effort to help, Corey began introducing Gemma to several charming and handsome men. Yet, no matter how polite or interesting they were, not a single one managed to stir her heart.
Corey groaned in exasperation, running a hand through his hair. “You tell me not to worry, but look at yourself! You barely eat more than a few bites a day. Do you have any idea how much you’re worrying me? You’re going to drive me insane!”
Gemma lowered her gaze, her voice subdued as she replied, “It’s okay, Corey. I’ll be fine soon.”
Corey stared at her, at a loss for words. She used this same excuse to brush him off every day, her situation dragging on for over half a month.
When Gemma finally fainted from low blood sugar and ended up in the hospital, Corey was pushed to his breaking point. He finally relented. “I’ll bring that bastard back for you.”