A full smirk appeared on Lana's face as she watched Alexander's expression falter, his steps receding. She observed him clearly, his expression suddenly different from what she had seen a couple seconds ago.
It was a mix of confusion and frustration. Not just any frustration as she could now see brimming underneath was anger.
He looked startled for a while, clearly not expecting her to stop him once again with her now favorite words to toss around. 'You're late'. He was indeed late. Thirty minutes earlier compared to the last time but judging from the non existent deadline she had created in her head, he was late already.
His lips parted then immediately he shoved his hands into his pocket like he was hesitating. Lana's heart twitched in her chest, her gaze still steady as she tried to prepare herself for what was about to come next.
Was he going to argue and tell her he wasn't late especially since he came back even later the previous night? Or was he going to finally ask her what the hell she was doing or her personal favorite, was he going to storm out of the house in defeat?
But he didn't choose from any of her options, dismissing all her expectations as he finally spoke up.
"Did you go to the supernova bar?"
Her lips immediately twitched again, this time in both shock and surprise. "What?"
"Do you need me to repeat myself?" It was his turn to take closer steps towards her, Lana finding her feet to take receding steps clumsily. "Or do you need to me rephrase my sentence?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I'll rephrase it then," he didn't stop moving closer to her. "Did you and Nicholas go to the supernova bar? Pull some stupid strings there? Try to fuck up my life?"
His words had both elements of truths and lies in them. She never personally visited the bar but definitely had every intention to fuck up his life. With Nicholas on her side too.
"Answer me," he growled, his impatience on full display. "Did you or did you not?"
"And if I did?" Lana raised her voice at him, coming up with whatever words she could as quickly as possible. She wasn't expecting him to find out like that or even confront her about it so she suddenly wasn't sure what her next line of action was supposed to be. "So what if I did? You're mad? You're pissed? Well you dug that grave for yourself cause tell me what sort of married man can only think about sleeping with random women when his newly wed wife is left at home!"
The words fell out before she could think of their effects, Alexander catching it a bit too quickly. His expression changed into a disturbing smile and with another step towards Lana, wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
"W-What are you doing?" Lana's eyes widened feeling his arm wrapped tightly around her waist. He didn't let go, his fingers teasing the edges of her skin as he looked directly at her, the smile still on her face. "Wh-why- what are you- let me go."
He didn't let go, the smile still on his face. He kept on staring, watching her uselessly try to break free from his grip and eventually giving up, her eyes fluttering as she tried to get used their skins actually in contact.
She bit her lip, sending her gaze to the floor. She suddenly felt hot, color threatening to spill all over her cheeks if she remained that close to him. He was too close. Close enough for her to smell his strong cologne and take in all his features with just a single glance. Close enough to break all her defenses if she allowed her thoughts wander for just a second.
"Are you sex starved?"
The words hit Lana like a punch, her eyes immediately flying open. In sheer embarrassment of the fact that her eyes had been closed all along she immediately pushed him away, adjusting her dress like the trace of his skin would fade away that easily.
"What did you just say to me?"
"Is that why you're doing this?" He moved closer again, Lana almost running from him as she created distance between them. "I can't call this jealousy so is that what it is? You're pissed that I haven't been fucking you but instead choosing to fuck random women. Is that what this is? If that was the case you could have come clean and-"
"You lunatic!" She spat, cutting him off. She felt appalled, insulted and angrier than she did even after catching him in bed with her best friend. "Have you lost it? How dare you? Why the fuck would I be jealous? Why the hell would I want you to touch me?! I'd rather than die than get into the same bed with you!"
"Then act like it," the words felt like a slap. "And stop trying to interfere in my private life. If you're sex deprived, you're free to hook up with anyone random. I don't care who you fuck so you shouldn't care about who I fuck too. Let's keep things that way, don't you think?"
"I'm free to hook up with anyone random?"
"Didn't I make that less than an hour after we walked down the aisle?" He ran his hands through his hair. "Didn't I even make it clear before we went ahead with this marriage at all?"
"Do you mean it?" Her voice cracked.
"Does it look like I do not mean it?" He looked at her in disbelief. "Fuck whoever you want, Lana Sanderson. Do you really need me to tell you this? Your best friend was still in my bed two nights ago. What does that tell you? What does that explain to you? I don't know what has suddenly gotten over you but please snap out of whatever this is. I don't care about you or who you fuck and you shouldn't care about me either. We are nothing but strangers married on paper."
More punches to the gut. He continued to hit her hard until her knees felt weak, her voice completely cracked and all she could do was control herself from bursting into tears.
"Alright then," was all she managed to choke out. "I'll do just that."
She turned around and returned into the living room, picking up her phone on the couch. With tears brimmed eyes, she swiped it unlock and without thinking twice, called her the first person on her recents list.
He picked less than five second later, Lana not wasting another second to pitch out her request.
"Hey, Nicholas, it's me. Can I come over right now?"