I strode towards the elevator as fast as I could. My heart pounded along with the relentless pouring of my tears. The guards stared at me in confusion. The moment I stepped into the elevator, a distant thud reached my ears.

And I knew very well what it was. He freaking broke the door down.

But it was too late. He couldn’t reach me now.

The moment the elevator’s doors started to slide close, he stormed out of the penthouse. His oddly crazed dark, stormy gray orbs met mine, making my heart skip.

“Emerald, stop!” His voice boomed throughout the corridor. The guards went on alert, looking back and forth at us.

But before he could even move from his place, the doors closed, and the elevator began to go down.

The cool breeze, along with the heavy rain, slapped me in the face when I stepped outside. But the rumbling sky and flashing thunders couldn’t stop me.

I needed to be away from this place. I needed to breathe.

With my soaked clothes, I slid inside my car and drove away as fast as possible, without looking back. I knew he was coming after me. And his finding me so soon wasn’t on my wish list right now.

Once I was far enough from the office building, I slowed down near a park. The road was almost empty except for some passing cars and hurrying people under their colorful umbrellas.

The raindrops poured over my windshield relentlessly with the wipers sliding over them in a tireless motion.

Letting out a breath through my lips, I leaned against the seat, closing my eyes. A tear slipped down my face.

Do you trust me, Ace?

He didn’t answer. He didn’t even say a word. I would have understood if he said he trusted me, but he needed some time. I would have kept quiet. But he didn’t say anything.

My lower lip trembled as I bit back a sob. I knew I was rushing him to give me answers. I knew leaving like that was immature and an act of a coward not being able to face the problem. But I couldn’t stay there after he said those hurtful words to me. I knew he was jealous and insecure, but that didn’t give him permission to accuse me of cheating. That didn’t give him an excuse to tell me I had no right to know anything about his past right in my face.

I knew I pushed him, too. I shouldn’t have started the conversation right then. I should’ve stuck to my decision to give him some space. But I just… burst out.

He remained all night and day out without letting me know about his location or if he was all right when I was dying out of concern. Then he came home and started the jealous boyfriend act. And this time, he crossed his limits.