Chapter 3 Husband

• Isla's POV:
• The elevator door opend.I didn’t think Aiden was waiting me outside.
• There were only two units on this floor—his and mine. He just sat before his home.
• “Isla...” He sprang up, “You’re finally back!”
• I looked at me, calm and distant, my lips pressed together in a tight line.
• “I waited for you all night. It was raining so hard. It’s dangerous out there—why didn’t you come home?”
• He reached for myr hand, but I pulled away, my voice firm. “We’re done. I’m not taking it back.”
• “No, I won’t accept that. I’ll never see that woman again. I’ll break all ties with her. I’ll love you and only you...”
• But suddenly,hestared at my clother and my neck, “Where were you last night? Why are your clothes different? Where did you change if you didn’t come home?”
• “It’s none of your business,” my voice cold and detached.
• “Who were you with last night?”He angrily asked again.
• “Does it matter to you?” My voice was icy. “We’ve broken up. Who I’m with is my business.”
• The door behind me opened, and my parents appeared, clearly disturbed by the commotion.
• “Isla, Aiden, what’s going on out here?” My father, Rowan, asked, his brows furrowed with concern.
• I lowered her head, stepping into the house without a word.
• Not fully understanding the situation, my mother, Mila, waved Aide in, her voice warm and welcoming as always. “Come on in, kids.”
• He hesitated but followed, stepping into the living room, the tension thick around us.
• Rowan turned to me, oblivious to the storm brewing. “Did you and Aiden go out last night? You should have told us.”
• “Dad, Mom!” my voice was steady, cutting through my attempt to explain. “We broke up.”
• The room went dead silent.
• “Broke up?” Mila’s voice was laced with shock. “What do you mean?”
• Rowan’s confusion deepened. “Explain yourself. Who did you break up with?”
• Mila looked between us, a knowing smile on her face. “Oh, you two are just having a little lovers' spat, huh?”
• “No, it’s not just a fight.”
• I couldn’t stand hearing anyone call me and Aiden a couple anymore. It made me sick. I didn’t want any ambiguity; my parents needed to know, even if it hurt them.
• “He cheated on me. I broke up with him last night. Don’t ever call us a couple again, Mom.”
• Mila’s face changed, and she looked sharply at Aiden. “You cheated on her?”
• His face darkened. “Auntie, I didn’t.”
• “Are you still lying? I saw it with my own eyes, hearing it with my own ears. Are you still going to lie?”
• But he shamelessly insisted, “I don’t agree to break up. We’re getting engaged next month. I told you I’ll change.”
• My face turned pale. “Aiden, it doesn't make you sick to say that? It makes me sick to hear it.”
• “Sorry to interrupt.” A man voiced was at the door.
• Matthew stood outside, dressed in his usual black. His presence, intense and out of place in the modest apartment building, filled the space.
• His gaze locked onto me. “Isla, how long are you going to make me wait?”
• I didn’t expect Matthew to come up. I was uneasy.
• This man was incredibly domineering. He insisted I come back to get my household registration book so we could go to the civil affairs office and get married. Said I had to take responsibility for him. Claimed that, as a lawyer, I couldn’t escape him.
• His sudden appearance made me panic.
• I fidgeted with the hem of my dress. “I...”
• “Matthew?” Aiden stared at Mattew in surprise. “How did you know this is Isla's place?”
• He suddenly realized something and turned to me, “Were you the guy she was with last night?”
• Aiden’s anger boiled over.
• A sharp slap landed on my face.
• In a fit of rage, Aiden had struck me.
• He pointed at me, still shouting, “You do something this low ? After all these years of treating you like gold, you end up in other man’s arms…”
• A punch to his jaw cut Aiden off.
• “Bastard.”Matthew, no longer caring about decorum, had stormed in and hit Aiden, sending him stumbling back.
• “How dare you hit her,” he growled, his fist crashing into Aiden again.
• The slap had stunned me, leaving me dazed and seeing stars. I swayed, almost losing my balance.
• I hadn’t even processed that Aiden had hit me.
• The man who promised to protect me had actually struck me.
• My face burned with pain, my ear ringing, but I felt as cold as ice.
• I hung my head, biting my lip hard as silent tears streamed down.
• I’d always thought my life was smooth. Loving parents, a protective boyfriend who treated me well, a job she liked. It was ordinary, but I was content.
• But that slap had shattered my illusions.
• “How dare you hit her,”my fathergrowled, his fist crashing into Aiden.
• “Honey, it hurts, doesn’t it? Don’t cry, don’t cry.” My mother held me close, crying with me. Wiping my tears, she told my dad, “Rowan, hit him hard, beat that b*st*rd to death. I’ll take the blame, I’ll go to jail. No one can bully my precious girl like this.”
• I leaned into Mila, sobbing uncontrollably.
• The pain in my face was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.
• Mattew’s POV:
• I stood aside, watching Isla cry, my knuckles cracking as I clenched my fists.
• I walked over, crouching in front of Isla. Her sobs tore at my heart.
• I looked at Mila. “Mrs. Eliana, do you have any ice?”
• Mila snapped out of it and wiped her tears. “Hold on, I'll get some ice to put on your face.”
• She hurried to the kitchen.
• Isla kept her head down, sniffing, her shoulders trembling with sobs.
• I saw how heartbroken she was, my frown deepening. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”
• Isla shook her head gently. “No.”
• Her voice was choked with tears.
• Her hair hid her face, but from where I was crouching, he could see the swelling on her cheek.
• Feeling a pang of sorrow, he instinctively lifted his hand, wanting to touch her face, to comfort her.
• “Here, let’s get some ice on that.”
• Mila returned with a towel-wrapped ice pack, pressing it gently against Isla's swollen cheek.
• I quickly withdrew his hand.
• Mila looked at me. “You said you're Isla's friend?”
• I gazed intently at Isla.
• Isla leaned into Mila's embrace. The ice numbed the burning pain on her face, helping her calm down.
• Before she could speak, I stood up.
• “I'm Isla's husband,” he declared firmly.