I Am Not Stupid
Emerson looked away, rubbing the back of his neck and wiping his face as if to clear whatever confusion was clouding his mind.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice softer now. “know how much you loved Eric, and it wouldn’t be the first time people got divorced only to realize they were still in love with each other. So yeah… I considered it.” He admitted sheepishly.
I was stunned, staring at him in disbelief. My mouth opened, but no words came out. A part of me wanted to scream, to yell that he had no idea what he was talking about. How in the hell would he think that?
But instead, all that came out was a soft,
“No.”
“No, please don’t tell me that you thought that,” I said, “Please don’t tell me that you thought I would get back with that cheater, with that ‘asshole.‘ Seriously, Emerson, give me some credit.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The sheer audacity of it made me want to scream. “You think I would have married him if I knew what kind of man he would turn out to be? Do you think that after everything I went through, I would just go back to him?” I shook my head at him,
“Forgetting all the ways he hurt me, how he broke my heart? Went behind my back? And let’s not forget he is a married man. He’s married now…to my sister, for God’s sake!”
Emerson’s face remained stiff, though his tone softened slightly. “Yeah, I know, but you’re so hell–bent on getting one over on her, on getting revenge, that I thought maybe you’d…” he hesitated, “sleep with her husband.”
“Really?” I stared at him in disbelief. “*Really? You think I want revenge so badly that I’d be with the one person who caused me so much pain? Who Betrayed me in the worst way? You and I have an agreement. We have a plan. Why would I throw all that away just to go back to Eric?!” I nearly shouted, widening my eyes at him.
He didn’t respond, and the silence was too loud.
“I would ‘never‘ do that,” I continued, shaking my head as if trying to shake away the absurdity of the possibility. “Going back to him just to hurt Rita would be stupid. It would make me no better than her. She slept with her sister’s husband. If I slept with her husband, it would make both of us look pathetic. And I’m ‘not‘ stupid.”
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1 Am Not Stupid
I stood there, trying to keep my voice steady as I confronted him, needing him to understand.
“I need you to know that I’m not stupid, Emerson. When I asked you to marry me, it wasn’t because I was out for revenge or because I was not thinking straight. Eric would ‘love‘ to see us tangled in his mess, going back and forth between us like fools, playing his little game. But I’m not playing. I would never steep that low.”
My heart pounded in my chest as I felt the weight of every word I spoke.
“Eric made a vow to me, in front of you, in front of Rita, in front of God. He swore he would be faithful. He is the one who broke those vows. He’s the one who deserves my wrath the most between the two. And I won’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he can just come back into my life like nothing happened.”
I took a deep breath and looked him in the eye, my voice firm. “Eric is nothing but dirt under my shoes now, and that’s all he’ll ever be.”
Emerson raised an eyebrow as I continued,
“Sorry, I know he’s your son, but he’s a disgusting human being. Why would I ever cheat on you and go back on my word? Why would I leave you…this perfect, gentle, trustworthy, and loyal man..for him? And don’t get me wrong, I’m not comparing the two of you. You’re in a league of your own.
He stood there, processing my words as I added, “I may have married him, but that’s
over now.”
I know that. But we both know why we are doing this. This isn’t love, it’s not real. We are not getting married because we are in love.”
“Yes,” I said softly, “and I’m thankful you decided to help me. But think about it, If you made that whole declaration at the wedding reception, and then I turned around and went back to him, wouldn’t that make you feel… betrayed? Make you feel like a fool, a laughing stock? If I accepted your proposal and then went back to your son, the man I was married to?”
I locked my gaze on him, hoping he understood how absurd that sounded.
“Yeah, that would’ve made me look like a fool,” he agreed, his voice low.
I moved closer, pressing my chest against his. I could feel the tension in his body as he inhaled deeply, eyes flicking toward the ceiling.
He took a slow breath before speaking again, his tone shifting,
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Am Not Stud
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“This room has a balcony, right?” He asked pointing towards the glass windows.
I looked toward the windows.
“Yeah, why?” I asked, a little confused by the sudden change in direction.
“I’m going to go out there for five minutes to get myself together,” he said, pointing toward the glass doors. “Why don’t you go take a shower, get dressed, yeah?”
His finger gently brushed the strap of my nightdress, letting it slip back in place. Then I’ll order us some breakfast. You need it,” he added with a faint smile.
I chuckled softly. “Yes, I probably do,” I agreed.
“All right, go on, then,” he encouraged with a nod.
I smiled at him, feeling a flicker of something between us. As I turned to leave, I hesitated and came back toward him, grabbing the hem of his t–shirt. It clung to his chest, revealing the well–built sculpted body. Something Eric vied to achieve and worked tirelessly for in the gym.
He looked down at me, a playful smile teasing his lips. “What are you doing?” he asked, amused.
“I haven’t gotten a kiss yet,” I pouted.
He raised an eyebrow, his voice deepening as he replied,
“Maybe that’s because you haven’t earned it.”
Before I could respond, he slipped from my grasp, leaving me standing there in stunned silence as he walked toward the balcony.
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