Natalie walked in full of renewed confidence and a straight face. Just as she was responding to the pleasantries from the butler, she saw Julian coming down the stairs.
She braced herself for Julian's tirade as she walked towards her.
"So, you're back." She said.
Natalie responded with a nod, staring straight at her. Julian just looked at her disdainfully, gave her a one-over, and scoffed before walking past her.
The stand-off was not missed by Daniel as he had stood some considerable distance behind Natalie, observing the women.
Natalie's non-response had eased his mind as she reminded him of the docile wife he always knew. Not long after, he walked up to their room, walking up to her while she was in the closet.
Natalie paid him no mind, as she kept hanging her clothes that she removed from the hand luggage.
"What is it, Daniel?" Natalie asked
He smiled, standing so close behind her, leaving no room for escape as he inhaled into her neck.
"I've missed you," he said.
Natalie sighed, closing her eyes as she swallowed down the pain of his betrayal.
"I'm not up for anything." She managed to say, slightly shaking him off with a slight backward movement of her back against his chest.
He frowned, observing her.
'Care to explain?" He said, "One minute you want me, the next minute you don't?"
"Not like this," She turned to look at him. She inhaled.
Gosh, she still loved him despite everything.
"Yes, I wanted to talk, but I don't see the point anymore."
"Right," He replied, exasperated with her lack of enthusiasm for his approach.
"Right," She nodded, baffled at his arrogance and his refusal to understand her feelings.
What a jerk! She thought.
She walked past him to the bedroom, took off her ring, and placed it on the vanity, then walked back to the closet when he walked in.
Daniel frowned, aware of her attempt to avoid him. He walked to the bed and sat, then got busy with his phone.
Natalie decided to take her ample time with her bath, hoping Daniel would be out of the house or perhaps retire to his study since he was always busy.
She was so shocked when she walked into the room with her towel on to find him there.
Just then, he looked up to find her in a short white towel wrapped around her frame.
She looked delicious.
Daniel was aroused with desire; he wanted to feel her, and he did not attempt to hide his feelings, which made Natalie super nervous.
She walked tentatively with her pyjamas in hand to the bed warily, but was cornered by Daniel, who didn't wait for her to put her clothes on.
"Daniel, please stop." She said, hoping in her heart he would listen to her this time.
"Why should I, babe?" he whispered in her ear. "You said you wanted me. Here I am, all yours for the taking." He said, hugging her
"Please stop. I don't want this." She said, trying to escape his embrace.
Daniel wasn't listening. He was so enthralled by her scent, memories of their passionate nights together overwhelmed him so much that he started kissing her lips.
Natalie was shocked and tried to push him off, but he got aroused by her attempts to make him stop.
She tried to push him away, but he held her firmly, planting kisses on her lips, cheeks, and neck fervently like he couldn't have enough.
"Stop." She managed to say
He paused momentarily, looking into her eyes, and scooped her up, carrying her to the bed.
"Daniel," She called out, her voice in a panic. "Would you stop, please? I'm begging." She cried
"You don't want me to stop." He replied and shoved himself into her, causing her to cry loudly at the sudden movement inside her.
Tears spilling, Natalie lay still, going through the ordeal while her mind raced with a completely oblivious Daniel, who was groaning on top of her.
It's been three hours since Daniel stepped out of the room, leaving Natalie alone with her thoughts.
He had noticed she was unresponsive, causing him to wrap up his act sooner than he wanted. He had frowned, demanding answers to her lack of enthusiasm, but all he got was her tears.
He had taken her despite her pleas to him to stop.
She was his wife for Christ's sake, why was she so difficult to handle ever since the café incident? Fine, he messed up people cheat, but he was a man and her husband, she ought to be more understanding. He thought.
Unable to bear the heat, he decided to go back to talk with her. He couldn't handle this version of her.
"We need to talk." He said, closing the bedroom door behind him.
Natalie sat up, moving away as he approached.
"Cut the crap, Natalie. I'm your husband."
"And it gives you the right over my body because you are?" she asked softly.
"What is it with you? Ever since that incident, you've been acting differently."
Natalie scoffed in response.
"There you go. This is not the woman I know. You spoke rudely to my mum, acted out in front of the staff, latching on to my clothes like some mad woman, and you just left the house without any accountability." He paused, looking into her eyes.
"I didn't know I had to ask your permission to leave the house." She retorted
"Jesus Christ, Natalie!" he raised his voice as he moved his hands through his hair in frustration.
"Fine, what do you want. You saw me kissing a woman; it was just one time, and it was stupid. A stupid mistake-"
"A mistake?" She cut him off. Her eyebrow raised as she stared him down.
His breath caught in his throat, "Yes."
"A mistake?" She shouted in disbelief, standing up to her knees, and got off the bed, walking towards him.
"A mistake was falling for you, thinking you loved me. A mistake was saying yes to your promise of forever." She said. Daniel's eyes widened in shock while she continued.
"A mistake was my believing every single lie you ever told me. A mistake was every birthday and wedding anniversary you missed for the past three years. A mistake was me doing everything to please you, to please your mother, to be a good wife, to learn everything I needed to make you proud of me." She stood in front of him, tears threatening as she stood in front of him. Her heart was in pieces and fragments as she bared her soul to him.
Something in her expression made him panic.