Chapter 9 Thug Wifey

“Thera…”

Thera gasped. She recognized Sean’s voice. It sounded so clear as if he was very near her. She held on to the edge of the tub tightly for support. She shut her eyes. It felt like her head was spinning around.

“You sent all my belongings to the guestroom downstairs. I didn’t tell you I’d sleep there.”

The hair on Thera's nape was standing up thinking that Sean's gaze was buried behind her.

“Did you even forget now how to use the tub?”

Forget seemed to be the magic word. Thera came to her senses and turned to the one who spoke. She almost slipped when she saw her husband standing behind her. If Sean hadn't grabbed her by the hand, she would probably have fallen into the tub.

"The reaction is delayed for a minute or two, Thera," he said. She was not sure if he was sarcastic or not.

Thera slowly freed herself from him and straightened her back. Sean’s touch gave her a burning sensation. His gaze lingered on her confused face.

Thera looked at herself when she realized something. She immediately hugged her arms across her chest. Aside from a pair of underwear, she wasn't wearing anything beneath the robe.

“W-we can’t sleep together yet. I can't remember anything yet. You can’t force yourself on me.” For heaven's sake, her face must be all red from shame.

“I did not say I want to share this room with you. And I don’t have any memory of harassing any woman even if she's my wife,” Sean countered. “I prefer the room right next to this room, but you sent me to that room on the first floor. That’s where my nanny passed away decades ago.”

“S-sorry. I don’t know.”

And perhaps, Fely was not aware too. Because if she knew, she would tell her for sure. Sean leaned against the lavatory, crossing his arms across his chest as if he still wanted to stay in the bathroom with her.

"Did you mean to send my belongings to the room farthest from you?"

Thera winced. He was a mind reader. But she should be honest with him.

“For safety reasons. You’re a man, and obviously, I’m a woman and I look prettier now. You might.. you know.” Thera bit her lower lip. Gracious, she was told she was nearing her thirties, yet she was acting like a teen who hasn't been kissed.

Kisses told her that men find it hard to control their libido. She must believe her since she had been through many relationships even before they entered college.

Just the thought of living under the same roof with Sean already made her feel awkward and nervous. He was her husband, yet for her, he was nothing but a stranger. And after he mentioned the annulment, she will no longer allow him to take advantage.

"I'll just help you move your belongings to the room you wanted. Do you need anything else?”

“Comforter and extra bedsheets,” he replied. He glanced at the tub and turned to her afterward. “Did you forget how to use the tub? I can ask Fely to—”

She shook her head and wagged her hands as well.

“No. No need. I can manage.” She stilled for a moment when she remembered something. “What made you think I even forgot to use the tub?”

Was he testing her again if she was pretending to have amnesia? She tried her best to hide her disappointment. Behind this handsome face was a doubtful man.

"You were looking at it intently.”

“I-I just remembered something…”

His lip twitched. “Which part? The one when you were mad at me or was it the part when you were taking off your clothes asking me to make love to you?"

Thera stiffened, her face flushed. Her mouth opened to say something, but the voice would not come out. Before she could find anything to say, Sean turned his back on her, leaving her still in disbelief.

Was he doing this on purpose to make her sign the annulment papers? He was giving her the impression that she was a lowly creature. Thera took a deep breath. Sean kept confusing her. He's trying to make her think she's crazy about him.

With that thought, she stormed out of the bathroom to follow him. She found him pulling out a comforter from the built-in cabinet.

“Sean… Mister…” she called.

He stopped what he was doing and turned to face her.

"I don't remember anything now but don't make me believe things I will never do even if I am losing my mind."

Sean put his hands inside his pockets.

“Nothing is impossible for you since you became a De Marco, Thera.”

Her brows furrowed. "I don't understand you. What were we really like before I had the accident? Why are you annulling our marriage? Am I barren? I can't give you a child so you want to annul me? Do you like another woman?"

'Just tell me the truth, please,' she wanted to add but restrained herself.

“Quit faking your amnesia and stop making excuses. You told me back then that you’ll do everything to stop the annulment. And when you say everything, you meant everything. That includes pretending that you lost your memories and deceive us all.”

Thera could not believe what she's hearing. Aside from this man's good looks and money, what’s with him that made her marry him? He was nothing but an inconsiderate, terrible person.

Thera did not know how he treated her before the accident but somehow now, she already had an idea. He does not believe she has amnesia. That was clearly the reason why even if the doctor told him not to force her to remember, he did not care a bit. Sean has his theory.

Sean mentioned the annulment. Thera believed he wants her so bad to sign those papers. Maybe he could not wait any longer for her memories to come back.

According to her Doctor, her injury was not that severe. She would regain her memories sooner or later. There may be a part of her past that her brain denies remembering. Perhaps something painful or traumatic that she wants to forget subconsciously. Thera would not be surprised if that traumatic part was being a part of Sean’s life.

“I don’t know what I’ve seen in you to marry you back then, Mister. You’re so unkind and inconsiderate. Your mouth speaks whatever you want without minding others’ feelings.”

She did not know why her voice suddenly sounded hoarse. But it hurts. Sean’s words made her chest hurt. If she were to choose, she would like to bring her memories back in an instant.

She was afraid. She could not even defend herself from his accusations. All she could do was catch the rock he was throwing at her because she had no idea if it was true or not.

As far as Thera could remember, she did not deceive anyone. Never in her life, she pretended to be sick. She would rather hide it and endured it.

Sean took his cellphone out of the pocket of the trousers. Toss it in bed after tapping and scrolling a bit. Thera's gaze flew there. She picked it up and watched a short video clip that was starting to play.

She held her breath. It was a video of her hurting a gasoline boy whom she accused of harassing her.

"And in case you think I didn't know, just two weeks ago, another man sued you for physical injury. He wants to pursue the lawsuit because you can't lower your pride even for a moment."

Thera turned to Sean and gazed at him, pale and stricken. Sean quickly averted his eyes and clenched his jaw and fists.

It was her. It did not look like the video was altered. She was cursing as if there was no tomorrow. She called the gasoline boy stupid many times. He could not even defend himself after she slapped him twice in the face.

The camera caught her face a few times as a woman in a coat guided her inside the black car.

Thera could not find anything to say. Her neck felt stiff. She could not even move her head. How could she hurt that gasoline boy when she could not even hurt a fly?

Or if she did that as the video shows, perhaps there was a reason. It could be self-defense, and Sean overruled that.

He saw her as a bad person. She could not understand why it has to be that heartbreaking.

Did Sean fall out of love because she acted like a thug? Did money change her to someone even she could not recognize?

When Sean left the room Thera moved to return to the bathroom. She closed the bathroom door then stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Before she knew it, tears welled up in her eyes. Her chest felt heavy. He was ashamed of Sean but more of herself.

What happened to her? She could not believe she had done that to someone who was just like her before she married Sean—weak, poverty-stricken.

She had the nerve to say Sean was inconsiderate and ill-mannered when she was the terrible one in the first place.

Seventeen years and she believed that she had lived a righteous life despite the hardship she went through. She did not even get to hate Tito Jaime and Joshua for what they have done to her.

People say that money could change a person...

Or did becoming rich revealed her true color?