When She Ended It With Divorce (Chiara and Titus) novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174

Chapter 174

“I know, so what exactly am I doing to you right now that you’re asking me to behave myself?” Titus shot back.

Chiara’s throat tightened, and she gritted her teeth. “If you’re not doing anything, then what the hell are you doing right now?”

Titus glanced down at the close distance between them and their intimate posture, letting out a low chuckle. “Didn’t want to wake anyone up, and I figured you might not hear me otherwise,” he said.

Chiara wasn’t stupid enough to buy that excuse. She fixed him with a cold stare. “No need. I can hear clearly.”

Titus suddenly dipped his head. Chiara instinctively pulled her neck back. She heard him take a deep breath, and her heart started pounding. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice tense.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m just breathing you in. It’s been ages since I got this close; I can barely control myself…” Titus teased, his voice low and intimate.

At that, Chiara instinctively tried to push him away, but he quickly grabbed her wrist. Titus wrapped her in his arms with a low, almost resigned sigh. “Don’t blame me, you touched me first.”

Chiara’s face went pale, though in the darkness, it was impossible to see. “Titus, let me say this again: we’re supposed to keep things peaceful between us. If you insist on crossing that line, I swear I will—”

“What can you do? Run off with Ryan again?” Titus cut her off.

Chiara fell silent. Titus let out a low, mocking chuckle. “Go on, I dare you.”

Chiara pressed her lips together, and she got his message loud and clear-he was basically telling her she wasn’t getting out of Halinston this time, no matter what. “So, are you really going to fall out with me?” she asked.

“Fall out with you?” Titus gave a bitter laugh. “You really think I’d have the guts?”

Chiara didn’t say a word, but being trapped in his arms made her feel stifled, like she was suffocating. “Let me go!” she snapped.

“What, my hugs are really that unbearable for you?” Titus teased.

Chiara’s gaze chilled. “Yeah, it’s not just unbearable; it’s suffocating.”

She could feel his body tense up for a moment, but she didn’t stop there. “Every time you get close, all I can think about is that picture of you with someone else. You’ve had way too many women in your arms, Titus. I want nothing to do with that, so please, just stop making things hard for me,” Chiara said.

Hearing that, Titus slowly let her go. He almost never felt guilty about anything, but with Chiara, he always seemed to be the one at fault.

Chiara didn’t even spare him a glance as she tried to walk away, but he grabbed her arm. “I didn’t hug her. She was the one who came onto me,” Titus said.

“Let go,” Chiara said.

“You don’t believe me?” Titus asked.

Chiara just didn’t want to get into all that old drama again. ‘What’s the point? All it does is drag up those crappy memories and make me feel worse,’ she thought. She always tried to steer clear of it, but Titus just couldn’t help poking at her scars.

“There’s no point talking about this now. Let go,” she said.

“I didn’t hug her…” Titus protested.

Seeing he was still hung up on it, Chiara closed her eyes for a second, then turned to face him, her stare cold as ice as she met his dark gaze. “Alright, even if she was the one who threw herself at you, couldn’t you have just pushed her away?” she snapped.

Titus was left speechless. He knew he could’ve pushed her away, but the truth was, he hadn’t. “I honestly thought she was…” Titus began.

“Stop!” Chiara cut him off, her voice firm. “Titus, I’m asking you, please, can you not keep bringing up all that stuff from two years ago? Does it really make you feel better to keep poking at my wounds?”

Titus rarely felt suffocated, but right now, he could barely breathe. Still, he wanted to explain himself. “I just don’t want you to get the wrong idea,” he said.

“I already told you, it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s in the past. You’re Ryan’s dad, and that’s something I’ve accepted. I hope you can accept it too,” Chiara said. With that, Chiara shook off his hand and turned to leave.

“Did you listen to the recording I sent you?” Titus asked, his voice low.

Chiara paused, her mind drifting back to how she’d felt after hearing it. She was lost, bitter, and sad.

She had always assumed the woman from Titus’s past was Elaine, only to learn it had been someone else all along. The realization struck her that the photo Elaine once showed her hadn’t been of herself at all but of her twin sister, Serenity.

She honestly didn’t know which was easier to accept, or maybe she just couldn’t accept any of it. Whether the person in his heart was alive or dead, it was none of her business now. She’d deleted the recording right after listening to it.

At least he hadn’t betrayed her or Grandpa’s trust because of Elaine. Somehow, that gave her the tiniest bit of comfort. But in the end, Titus had turned her from a victim into a complete fool.

“Does it matter?” Chiara replied, her tone icy.

“You really think it doesn’t matter?” Titus shot back, his voice sharp.

“If I’d heard that recording before you left Halinston, maybe it would’ve meant something. But now? It’s completely irrelevant,” Chiara said. She turned to face him, her expression cold yet strangely calm.

“Titus, I don’t want to go over who’s right or wrong anymore. I’ve truly let it go, and I hope you can too. We’re

Ryan’s parents, and because of him, I’m willing to let go of everything and keep things civil between us. But don’t keep testing my limits, and don’t force me into a corner. This is all I can give. Don’t ask for more. Just stop pushing me,” Chiara said.

With that, Chiara turned and walked away, not looking back for a single second. It was like she’d really moved on; maybe she even hated him a little, but she was just holding it together for Ryan.

Titus watched her disappear behind the door, his gaze lingering long after she was gone.

After what felt like ages, Charlie suddenly showed up out of nowhere. “You had it coming!” Charlie snapped.

Titus shot his father a cold look, “Does it really make you happy to see my marriage so miserable?”

Charlie sneered. “Your marriage is unhappy because you’re incompetent.”

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