"Easy now, don''t make a fuss. Tonight, I''ll give you what you want, alright?"
It was rare for Timothy to take the time to coax her like this.
He hoped she would realize her mistake and behave herself.
A little sulking now and then-he could tolerate that.
His breath brushed against her ear, his voice low and coaxing.
Jessica felt like she was losing her mind.
What had she done to make him think she was desperate for him?
She reached out, pressing her palm firmly against Timothy''s chest.
He straightened up, his dark eyes fixed on her. The gentle, refined look from moments ago had clouded over, reced by something far more somber.
Jessica red at him, her hands moving swiftly in signnguage: *"I don''t want this. Stop forcing things. If you keep pushing, what happenedst time will happen again."*
She couldn''t have made her feelings any clearer.
He hadn''t caught him cheating-at least, not physically.
But emotionally, that betrayal was just as real to her and just as unforgivable.
She couldn''t pretend to be his loving wife anymore, not in that way.
A surge of anger twisted Timothy''s features.
He wasn''t the type to lose his temper easily, buttely, she''d pushed him to the edge more than once. Not all of it was her fault, but she kept brushing up against his limits.
Looking back, he realized he''d spoiled her over the years, letting her get toofortable, too bold.
He was done negotiating.
Women-he thought-once you take them to bed, they soften up.
He''d make sure this time she didn''t hurt herself, unlike thest time, when she''d bitten her own tongue till it bled.
He gripped her jaw, firm but careful. He wouldn''t let her get hurt again. Blood, after all, meant pain.
Before Jessica could react, he pressed his mouth to hers, silencing her.
She struggled, desperately trying to push him away, but the difference in their strength was absolute. He overpowered her, holding her jaw, controlling her every movement, stopping her from biting down.
Powerless to resist, hot tears slid from Jessica''s wide, beautiful eyes, soaking her thick, flutteringshes. The taste of salt filled both their mouths.
Timothy froze.
He drew back, seeing the redness at the corners of her eyes.
Hershes were dark and wet, tiny droplets clinging to them. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips trembling, her gaze fractured and vulnerable—so heartbreakingly delicate that it tugged at something deep inside him.
He brushed the tears from her cheek with the back of his finger.
"Why are you crying? Did I hurt you?"
Jessica clenched her jaw so hard she thought her teeth might shatter.
She couldn''t speak, couldn''t shout-she was mute, her voice locked deep inside
her. The words she wanted to scream stuck in her throat, trapped.
She raised a trembling arm, signing slowly: *"Timothy, can you please stop?"* "Stop what?"
His arms slid around her waist, lifting her as easily as picking up a child.
Jessica caught sight of the desk behind him...
A wave of shame crashed over her. She buried her face in his neck, wishing she could disappear.
Timothy had no desire to let anything disturb the calm surface of their marriage.
With his job, his endless responsibilities, he could hardly spare energy for this kind of family drama.
If he could soothe her and buy himself some peace, it would save him so much time.
Every marriage needed a little intimacy to keep things running smoothly.
So he held her close, bending down to im her lips again—
He''d barely brushed her mouth when a voice called from outside.
"Timothy?"
It was She.
Then Henry''s voice followed: "Dad, Miss She and I are home!"
Timothy immediately set Jessica down.
"Henry''s back. Fix yourself up, and..." He nced at the desk, lowering his voice, "Make sure the desk is cleared off."
With that, he straightened his rumpled shirt and jacket with effortless grace, transforming in seconds into the picture of a refined,posed gentleman.
Jessica, on the other hand, looked a mess-her blouse half-unbuttoned, hair in disarray, cheeks still streaked with tears.