CHAPTER 35
So much for a reunion party
So much for a reunion party.
(ARIELLE’S POV)
Gasps of shock rented the hall as Jared delivered blows upon blows on the man, that for a moment I feared he would kill him. I was stunned to see Jared in such a position; because for all the years we’ve been married, never for once had I seen him engage in a verbal exchange not to mention a physical scuffle with someone.
I was appalled at the sight of his now red eyes, clenched fists and tightened jaws. His hair was now ruffled, and a button of his shirt had fallen off, giving him a wild and dangerous look.
Regaining composure, I screamed at the people who stood on the side, watching two men fight without making any move to stop them. “Stop them!”
But no one moved; it seemed like they were all scared to offend Jared.
“Are you all deaf? Stop them, please,” I yelled. At this point, my eyes had grown misty at how battered the other man looked. Jared, on the other hand looked okay, save for his missing shirt button, scattered hair, and rumpled shirt.
When no one made any move, I had to resort to the only option I had, even if it was a stupid and dangerous thing to do. Without a second thought, I lunged myself at the two men, using my body as a barrier.
That was all it took to stop Jared. He paused, his chest heaving up and down while he eyed the man behind me. “Move away, Arielle! I don’t want to hurt you.” Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“Exactly! I know you would never hurt me, and that’s why I’m not moving an Inch. Stop this madness, Jared. Please, let him be.”
“That bastard laid his hands on you. I’m gonna kill him, Jared sneered.
“Well he wouldn’t have, if you hadn’t ditched me at a party you brought me to!” I yelled, before I could stop myself. Murmurs rose in the air, as the now seemed more interested in Jared’s and my fight than the one they refused to separate.
Jared made to say something but was interrupted by the voice of the man behind me, if not that now, he was no longer behind him. He had stepped away, although he kept a safe distance from Jared.
“I see you’ve not changed, Jared Smith,” the man said with a smirk, as he spat out a thick lump of blood. I winced at the sight, and looked away.
“You’re still the wild animal we all knew you to be in highschool. Not even expensive and designer outfits could change that,” the man continued, his voice a taunting note.
Anger flashed in Jared’s eyes. “Shut up, Denzel. I see your attitude of hitting on any woman that gets close to me has stuck like a second skin. What are you huh? Some guy with a low self esteem that can’t bág his own women?”
A muddled look appeared on my face as I stared from each man to the other. And then it dawned on me that this fight had nothing to do with Denzel dancing with me, these two are sworn enemies from the past, who had not yet buried the hatch.
And then Denzel’s words rang in my ears. “I see you’ve not changed, Jared Smith. “You’re still the wild animal we all knew you to be in highschool. Not even expensive and designer outfits could change that.”
What did he mean by that? What kind of a person vs Jared Smith while in highschool?
“You’re “Denzel made to say but I cut him short.
“Shut up, please! For someone who was badly beaten, your tongue is still as sharp as a two edged sword. That’s my husband you’re disrespecting, and if you go on, I’ll let him finish you up.”
This time, the hall was erupted in louder gasps and whispers. And I realised it was because I had addressed Jared as my husband. I lowered my face in sadness, realizing I was in a room filled with people who didn’t even know me as the wife of the man I was defending.
Denzel gave me one of his mocking and annoying smile. “You see? Everyone is whispering because they don’t know you as your husband’s wife. Tell me, how can you arrive at a party with your husband, and he didn’t even deem it fit to introduce you to his friends but was more comfortable with another woman?” He asked, pointing to Sofia.
I followed his finger to look at Sofia who was now standing protectively beside Jared. I scoffed; where was she when the two men were fighting and I had to risk my safety to get them away from each other? I guess she only plays safe.
but “I see, you have nothing to say because I’m right. Know this, Jared Smith doesn’t care about anyone himself. And if he ever truly cared about anyone, it has to be her,” Denzel said, pointing at Sofia again.
I blinked, trying not to dwell on his words, but they just won’t go away. Maybe because the seed of doubt had been sown in my head.
“Denzel!” Jared growled menacingly. “I will kill you, man
But Denzel didn’t budge. He only gave Jared a knowing smile and continued talking to me. “Do you think he came to fight me because he was jealous another man has his hand on his wife? No, he did it because it was an insult for another man to put his hand on the wife of the almighty Jared Smith. It was more of protecting his ego, than love. And most importantly, because that man was me. He might have batted an eyelash if it was another man in this room, but not me,
“Why?” I blurted. My curiosity was piqued now, nd I wanted answers. I wanted to know what about Jared that I didn’t.
azel knew
“Because we’re not in good terms.”
Finally, he admitted it. I was right after all, Jared and Denzel had an unresolved conflict between them. “You see, Jared and I never got along because I was the only one who stood up to him. Because his parents had money, he felt the world revolved around Him and he could boss anyone around. He would scare off anyone guy who came close to Sofia even if their intentions were platonic –”
“That’s enough, Denzell” Sofla yelled.
“Oh, is it?” Denzel asked.
“Let’s leave, Jared. Come on,” Sofia sold and pulled at his arm.
Jared hesitated, glared at Denzel, and with a look at me that I couldn’t decipher, he walked off with Sofia,
I was rooted to the spot for a moment, as murmurs rose in the air. And with my head lowered in embarrassment, I walked out too.
Phew! So much for a reunion party.