Chapter 68: 68 ~ Jace
"I’m not your wife. I’m your whore with a wife title." She stated.
I watched her walk away, feeling too paralyzed to speak. I hated that she saw herself that way even when that was not entirely my intention.
But then I had to keep her at arm’s length for now for my own sanity. I was letting too much of emotions show and it was not befitting for a man of my status.
A part of me desperately wanted to go after her as she left. But I couldn’t. I could not let her see that she was beginning to get through to me. That was not the plan.
She came back into the room some minutes later and walked straight into the closet without sparing me a glance.
"I told you I’d get someone to clear it out for you." I called from where I was seated as I heard shuffling in the closet.
"I can do it myself," I heard her grunt, probably lifting something heavy.
I sighed. What was it with women being so stubborn? Especially Mira and her petite little frame.
I walked into the closet and saw her battling to bring down one of her suitcases.
"You know you can spend the night here and do all this tomorrow." I suggested.
"I don’t want to be in the same room as you for much longer."
Okay the sassy mouth Mira was back. It made me wonder why she was being so nice and obedient before now. It was an odd switch. But I decided to not pursue the question.
I heard her mutter some things in Italian and fought back a chuckle. It sounded like something she learned from Duolingo. This woman was hilarious without even trying.
I watched her as she tried to shove her undies from a drawer into a transparent zipper bag. I had seen her angry but never this animated. Something must have snapped.
I was indeed the only thing or in this case, person, that could tick her off like this.
When I tried to help her, she slapped my hand away. I was genuinely shocked and even more amused by it. Yeah she wasn’t scared of me anymore that’s for sure.
I left her to keep packing while I ensured that the room she was moving into was sparkling clean. It was. She had the green light to move in and didn’t have to see my face as often anymore. It was a win for her. She just didn’t realize it yet.
Without saying a word, she rolled out her boxes one after the other. I tried to help her pick up one of them.
"Don’t touch them." She gritted out in a warning.
"Mira I got you these boxes."
"So?"
I was stunned to silence by her retort. I swallowed.
"Remember who you’re talking to."
That made her flare up even more. "Well damn you Jace Romano. I don’t give a fuck-"
I shut her up with a kiss and felt her melt into my arms like a puddle. I kissed her softly, like I meant it. Maybe I did.
When we pulled apart for air, I felt caught in her honey brown eyes as she stared into mine.
"Stop messing with me," she said and walked away.
~
Mira didn’t come back into the room afterwards. She sent a help to help move all her stuff and that was the last I saw of her for the rest of the day.
She didn’t come down for dinner. I preferred to let her be. I had them send her food upstairs with strict instructions for her to eat or deal with me.
"Trouble in paradise?" My mother asked.
"Paradise?" My brows arched in confusion.
"You two were getting pretty cozy."
"You need to stop speaking about her like she’s not my wife." I said.
"This doesn’t look like a marriage."
I scowled. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
"You two barely know each other. You’re almost like two fuck buddies that live together."
I dropped my cutlery, not expecting such use of raw language from my mother who constantly cautioned me against it whenever we spoke.
"Mom!" I exclaimed.
She was unfazed as she continued speaking. "Oh you know that I’m saying the truth. The only difference here is that she did not choose to be that. She was forced. These are grounds for getting arrested you know."
I swallowed. "I know. But she wouldn’t dare."
"That’s because she doesn’t want any harm to come to her only brother when she can help it."
I exhaled. "This is an already established fact. So what are you getting at?"
"Let that girl go and stop torturing her." She stated.
"I am not-"
She cut me off. "Yeah right. You can’t even answer me when I ask you why you married her. Do you love her?"
"I don’t believe in silly things like that." I said, looking back at my plate. I had lost my appetite no thanks to her pep talk.
"That girl deserves to be with a man that loves her."
"What’s this about mom? I thought you don’t like her."
"I don’t hate her either. I’m indifferent." She said, gesturing with her index finger.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. She really needed to stay out of my business.
"Why can’t you just say why exactly you married her? I see it though. She’s a pretty girl, not from a messed up family. She has good genes and you two would make beautiful babies. That’s why right?"
"Stop making assumptions mom. It doesn’t befit a person of your caliber." I muttered angrily.
"Then answer the damn question Jacopo! Tomorrow, Ricardo and Enzo would be here to judge and scrutinize that poor thing and you would do nothing to protect her. I’m sure she has no idea they’re coming."
"She’s better off not knowing anything!" I snapped.
"You’re causing you two a lot of trouble by keeping her in the dark. Stop being so stubborn!" She returned in the same vein.
I pushed my chair back and it made a scratching sound just as I got on my feet.
"I’m done here. Have a good night." I said and walked away from the dining room without looking back.