Chapter 10 Death Wish

• The moonlight seemed exceptionally harsh, juxtaposed against the darkness of the night. It only served to amplify the sadness that had engulfed the room.
• Ruth remained slumped on the carpeted floor. Her eyes were devoid of any emotion.
• It's so cold.
• Neither the heating system in the room nor the luxurious carpet could warm the chill that had taken over her heart. She shivered so intensely that she could feel her teeth grinding.
• “Then, you should die.”
• His severe cold demand rang over and over again in her mind.
• The cold harsh words sent trembles that overwhelmed her body. She started quivering and felt that her entire world was crumbling down on her, and her heart broke into a million pieces.
• Aiden, do you really hate me so much that you would wish me dead?
• Wiping the tears off her face, Ruth stood up in a daze. She picked up a fruit knife off the table.
• The blade gleamed brightly as if beckoning her to end her suffering in this world.
• Ruth pressed the blade against her wrist. Just one touch, and it'll break my arteries. I'll start losing blood and possibly my life in less than half an hour. What an irony when death comes so easily while the true struggle was trying to stay alive. Aiden, I was never scared of dying. I was only scared of living alone. I don't want to be a part of this dirty and ugly world anymore. You're the only reason I wanted to live, but now you're asking me to die?
• Ruth's gaze went cold and hopeless in an instant. She tightened her grip on the fruit knife.
• She watched blankly as the blade breached her skin. Her blood dripped on the pristine, white carpet. She uttered softly, “Aiden, I'll die as you wish. But there's something I need to do before that.”
• In a bar across town, throngs of young men and women gyrated on the dance floor. They seemed hypnotized by the pounding beats of the dance music blaring across the floor.
• Brad Campbell had his arm slung around babe with a voluptuous body as he sauntered out of the dance floor and toward Aiden, who was seated on a sofa.
• Aiden was slumped across the sofa with a glass of wine in his hands. He had loosened his tie, revealing a tantalizing patch of tanned skin beneath his throat. The flashing lights illuminated his handsome features from time to time, lending to his mysterious aura. His natural air of regality made him stand out amongst the crowd of crass men in the bar.
• “Hey, Aiden. You're not going to sit here the whole night after calling us out to the bar, right? Look at all those chicks. They're all dying to crawl all over you. Come on, let's party!”
• Brad clinked the beer bottle in his hand against Aiden's glass.
• “Cheers.”
• Aiden raised his glass, but his gaze remained cold and his entire demeanor was permeated with an air of frostiness betraying his foul mood.
• Brad plonked himself down beside Aiden as he teased, “Did you swallow a bomb or something? You look like a prune. Did that pretty wife of yours piss you off again?”
• “Hmph, she's nothing to me. She's not important enough to make me upset.”
• Though he sounded nonchalant, Ruth's pitiful expression immediately surfaced in Aiden's mind. Annoyed, he downed the contents of his glass at one go.
• “I can smell that lie from a mile away. I think she's got you wrapped around her little finger. You used to be the most famous Casanova in town, but you haven't touched a single nightclub or bar since you got married. You'd rush home to spend time with her at ten on the dot. Tsk, tsk, I'd say you're a devoted husband at heart!”
• “Shut up!”
• Aiden knitted his brows as he slammed his glass down on the table.
• “Hey, I'm just joking with you. Why are you so pissed off?” Brad mumbled.
• Aiden pursed his lips but did not gratify him with a reply. His mood had worsened.
• He's right. Why am I even angry?
• He was confused by his sudden burst of emotions.
• Am I angry because I hated Ruth, or because I am still so worried about her after all this time? Oh no, do I love her?
• The thought frightened him.
• Ruth Adams? How can I fall in love with a wh*re like you? The person I have always loved is Sadie. Which reminds me that I should meet her now.
• “I'm busy. I'll go off first.”
• Aiden got up and left, leaving a dumbfounded Brad behind.