"He now makes you happy, huh?!" Ben asked, his voice echoing from the darkness. He sat slumped on the couch, drunk, devastated, and drenched in jealousy as Ella stepped into the living room.
She froze, startled, and quickly reached for the switch.
"What are you doing sitting in the dark?" Ella asked, her breath unsteady. "I don't know what you're doing, or why you're doing this to yourself, but get a grip. Stop this. I'm heading to my room."
As she turned, Ben's voice thundered through the room.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! You can't walk out on me like that!"
Ella didn't flinch.
"Suit yourself," she muttered, disappearing into her room and shutting the door without another glance.
Ella had found something that made her smile again, Jasper.
He took her to movies, dinner nights, picnics, long walks, and every small thing that brought peace to her tired heart. Never for once did he take advantage of her vulnerable state.
"Heyyyy…" Ella said one evening, staring into Jasper's eyes with a soft smile.
"Why are you so perfect?"
He chuckled gently.
"You've been good to me," she continued. "You make me happy, laugh with me, listen to my worries… and you've never pushed me to accept you. Why?"
Jasper's smile softened.
"Because you're worth the wait and the time."
Ella exhaled deeply, her entire body relaxing.
"Thank you."
They spent the rest of the evening together, and he later drove her home.
This became their pattern, and Ben… Ben couldn't take it anymore.
Fueled by fear and anger, Ben traced Jasper's address.
Over the weekend, as Jasper dressed for his brunch date with Ella, a heavy knock rattled his door.
He opened it and froze.
"What are you doing here?" Jasper asked sharply.
Ben stepped forward, eyes burning.
"Leave her alone. She's mine." His tone was low, threatening.
Jasper smirked, almost amused.
"Oh wow… I thought an arrogant, cruel man like you didn't even understand what love means."
Ben clenched his jaw.
"Money can't buy real love, something you'll never understand," Jasper added, brushing past him with a confidence that twisted the knife deeper.
"If you'll excuse me… I'm late for my date."
He locked the door behind him.
Ben stood there in the hallway, boiling in rage, his heart aching in a way he could no longer ignore or control.
He went home in anger.
"Ritaaa! Ritaaa! You must leave here today!" Ben yelled, unable to contain himself any longer.
"All this… all this I have been doing with you was pretense, and I'm tired of it. You must leave my house today!" He began throwing Rita's belongings from upstairs to the ground floor, every object crashing as if it could sweep away the pain she had caused.
"All you've brought me ever since I knew you was pain! I am tired. Do your worst! And if you lay a finger on Ella after leaving here, you'll have me as your biggest enemy!"
Rita stood there, sobbing, desperate, falling to her knees as she clutched his legs.
"She doesn't love you anymore… I do!" she cried, her voice cracking. "Please don't do this to me… please! I'm pregnant!"
Ben froze, his anger momentarily replaced with shock.
"You're pregnant?! How…? We've not had intimacy for a while now."
"I'm two months gone, but I couldn't gather the courage to tell you. I was scared you'd reject us," Rita said, tears streaming down her face.
Ben had no choice but to relent. The weight of the news pressed on him, conflicting with his desire to get Ella back.
"You'll be sleeping in one of my guest rooms," Ben said softly, his tone still firm but tempered by the reality of her pregnancy.
"Your guest room?!" Rita exclaimed, but upon seeing the change in his face; the mix of pain, frustration, and controlled restraint, she reluctantly agreed.