Chapter 158 (1/2)

I had said a lot, every word straight from the heart. Jonathan didn’t respond at first. A long silence stretched between us before he finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse. “I know nothing is going on between you two. I just don’t like it.”

“Don’t like what?” I asked.

“I don’t like the way he wants to be close to you.”

He suddenly leaned over me, his hand gently stroking my hair. “Elise… Can you just stay away from him? Please?”

“No,” I rejected him flatly. “He’s my friend.”

I spoke with complete certainty. “Whatever feelings he may have had for me, I know for a fact he has no intention of pursuing anything now. He’s been keeping a respectful distance. He even tells everyone I’m like a sister to him, because he’s trying to protect me. He’s good to me, so I’ll be good to him, too.”

Jonathan’s hand suddenly clamped tightly around my waist, nearly crushing me. “Am I not good to you?”

I let out a cold laugh and didn’t bother answering. If he had to ask, didn’t that already say enough? If he’d truly treated me well, why would I have been pushed so far that I’d try to end my life?

I stayed silent, and he didn’t speak either. He just held me. His weight made it hard to breathe. I gave him a little punch, but he didn’t move. Eventually, I gave up trying. I just lay there, motionless beneath him, like a lifeless body. There was no point in fighting anymore—might as well just let it happen.

I shut my eyes, but my body trembled slightly. I knew every inch of me was recoiling. My instincts were screaming, filled with fear and anxiety, but my mind kept trying to soothe it all. It was fine. It was okay. We were married. We’d probably done this a hundred times. Even if I didn’t remember, our bodies must know each other by now. It was just like getting bitten by a dog, that was all.

Chapter 158 (2/2)

I kept telling myself that it’s nothing, just a dog bite. That’s all… But Jonathan didn’t make another move—he just held me.

A long time passed before he finally leaned in close to my ear and asked, his voice low and heavy, “Is it because of Frederick?”

“What did you say?”

“You want a divorce… Is it because of him?”

My eyes flew open in disbelief. “Jonathan, don’t you dare throw that kind of accusation at me. If we’re getting divorced, it’s because I don’t love you anymore!”

Jonathan let out a soft, mocking laugh. “You don’t love me? Isn’t that just because of Frederick? I don’t believe it. After everything we’ve been through, you expect me to believe you’re just over it?”

He lifted himself slightly, staring straight into my eyes. “You still love me. You’re just using him to get a reaction.”

I laughed right in his face. “Jonathan, do you think I’m a child? What kind of immature logic is that? This has nothing to do with him. It’s us. This marriage doesn’t work.”

I paused, then added quietly, “Let’s just end things peacefully.”

Jonathan didn’t respond right away. He just stared at me. “Marriage isn’t a game.”

After a long silence, he finally said, “You think you can just start it when you want and end it when you feel like it? It doesn’t work that way.”

My hands clenched into fists. If I weren’t so afraid of him finding out I’d lost my memory, I would’ve asked him the question that haunted me most—why did we even get married in the first place? If he loved Alicia so much, why didn’t he marry her? Edward clearly supported their relationship, so why choose me? Why marry someone you don’t love? Why me?

It was the one thing I couldn’t figure out. No matter how many people I asked, no matter how closely I searched for clues, there was nothing. No answers at all.

Chapter 159