Ex-Husband’s Love Dilemma

Chapter 4

Cassandra’s retort left Orlando speechless. His gaze, heavy with frustration, still fixated on her. Seeing the quarrel going nowhere, Cassandra decided to retreat. As she tried to skirt past Orlando, her hand was held in a firm grasp by him.

“Are you trying to dictate terms to me, Cassandra?” Orlando’s voice held an edge of raspy tension.

“I’m only asking for some equality,” Cassandra retorted.

“Has his influence made you this sharp–tongued? Was your earlier meekness and obedience just a front?” Orlando challenged.

Cassandra tried to squirm out of his grip, but his hold on her was too strong. Noticing her struggle, Orlando pulled her abruptly towards him. She tumbled into his arms, his icy indifference engulfing her. As if strung up on invisible strings, she remained rigid, motionless.

“Cassandra, tell me, is this his doing?” Orlando was relentless.

Cassandra bit down hard on her lip. The proximity was suffocating for her. His presence tangled up with hers made her feel disturbingly off–balance. But she knew keeping mum was not the way out. Orlando was the type to push until he got the answers he wanted. So, she replied with feigned indifference, “No, you’re reading too much into it. Michael and I are just friends.”

“Is that so?” Orlando asked.

“If you don’t trust my words, why even ask?” Cassandra retorted.

“Cassandra,” Orlando began, his tone taking on a paternalistic quality, “You and Michael–you’re worlds apart. It’s best to keep it that way, alright?”

Cassandra’s anger flared up again. With a bitter chuckle, she hit back, “We’re on the verge of a divorce. You can dictate who I meet now, but after the divorce, it’s none of your business. Whether I’m friends with, or date, someone–you’ll have no say. Got it? 1-”

Seeing Cassandra’s rosy lips move incessantly, Orlando wished nothing more than to hush her. And that’s precisely what he did. Without a second thought, he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.

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Cassandra’s eyes widened, her body frozen in surprise. Despite being intimate countless times in the past year, they had never shared a passionate kiss like this. It was a new sensation, both unfamiliar and overwhelming.

Her immediate instinct was to push him away. Yet, she was oblivious to the fact that her resistance only fanned Orlando’s desire. His urgency fed into the kiss, their breaths intermingling in the heated atmosphere.

Cassandra felt tears sting her eyes as her strength dwindled under his assertive advances. The only thing she could do was rest her weight against him.

The phone in Orlando’s pocket chose the perfect moment to ring, breaking the escalating tension.

In the lingering aftermath, Orlando pulled away slightly, a soft breath ghosting past her lips. With their foreheads subtly touching, he held her gaze steady. Regaining his composure, he pulled out the phone just before the call timed out and answered without checking the caller ID.

“Hello?” Orlando spoke.

“Landy, I’m scared…” the voice on the other end whimpered.

Upon hearing Rebecca’s soft tone, realization hit Cassandra like a brick. “I’ve signed the divorce papers. We’re going to split soon. What was I just doing with him?‘ she pondered.

Feigning indifference, Cassandra seized this moment of distraction to shove him away. She turned and made a hasty retreat upstairs.

As Orlando watched her porcelain visage melt into the background, a tinge of regret seeped into his eyes. His expression tightened. He asked Rebecca in a worried tone, “What’s the matter, Rebecca? Isn’t your caretaker with you?”

“Landy, I’m scared. I could hear footsteps outside. Is someone after me again? Could you stay with me?” Rebecca

pleaded.

Orlando was silent.

Growing impatient, Rebecca quickly added, “Landy, I think I remember some bits from that night… I can even

recall the man’s face…”