The Marvelous Elijah's Return novel Chapter 2

After an hour’s drive, the cab came to a stop in front of the villa, and Elijah paid the driver before getting out of the car.

The way Melina had spoken angrily on the call made Elijah feel a sense of worry as the guard opened the front gate for him, and he sped his pace, hurrying toward the front door.

The years they have been married have never been happy ones. He had hoped she would have grown up with better manners by now since she has always been rude to him and has never respected his decisions.

But he loved her enough to try and understand why she was acting this way.

The last time she had done such a thing, it was because he asked her out at one of the events her company was hosting, and she got mad, wanting to go alone and saying that the party was not something of his class.

That night, she claimed Elijah needed to spend more time doing things at his level rather than trying to impress people like her family or some other business acquaintances.

A situation like this was common in their marriage, Melina being ashamed of him and plain rude when Elijah tried to do something different to prove his love to her and make her see how wonderful he could be.

When Elijah entered the house, he walked calmly down the hallway, calling her name out, “Melina!”

It took a while to find her, and when he did, she was seated in the living room, on a fluffy white couch, and the scent of alcohol hit his nostrils.

“Honey,” Elijah called out again, his voice firm but soft, so as not to startle her. “I’m home.”

No answer came from Melina as she picked up the glass of wine next to her, sipping the drink slowly as if she were taking pleasure out of the taste.

From how strong the scent of the wine was in the living room, Elijah guessed that she must have had a lot of it already, and he felt his stomach churn, wishing he knew just what was going on in her head.

“How much glass have you had?” Elijah asked cautiously, trying to keep his voice calm and soothing, as though he were scolding a small child.

“What? Are you going to punish me, dear husband of mine?” Melina questioned with sarcasm in her voice, her head tilted slightly to look at Elijah. “What? Do you think you are man enough to  discipline me?”

Conversations like this were so common between them since they had met, that even when she acted like a childish brat, he was used to her abuse and behavior.

“No, I don’t want to discipline you,” Elijah explained calmly, stepping closer to the couch until he was standing right in front of his wife. “I just want to talk.”

A sneer crept across Melina’s lips as she looked up at her husband from underneath her lashes, mumbling, “Like you have the power to put me in my place.”

Those words cut deep, causing Elijah’s heart to ache, but he took no offense to her word.

It was clear that Melina was drunk beyond her senses, and that only made him worry more about her welfare.

“Please let me take you to bed,” he said gently, placing his hand on her cheek.

Frowning, Melina  brushed his hand away harshly, muttering, “Don’t you dare talk to me like someone who’s in charge, especially when you are feeding off me!”

“Have I ever asked you for money?!” Elijah exclaimed defensively, feeling hurt by her words, yet also angry that his wife was thinking like others who knew nothing about him.

“Why would you need more when I provide every damn thing for you, housing, clothes, food, what else?!”

“Melina!!”

“What?! Huh?!”

With a look of hurt on his face, Elijah held back his tongue, realizing he should not lash out at his wife and say something he might regret later.

Darting her gaze away from Elijah, Melina rolled her eyes, reaching for the wine bottle, but he suddenly grabbed her wrist, letting out, “I don’t want you drinking that anymore. You are already drunk.”

“Well, too fucking bad, darling!” Melina spat, trying to pull her hand out of Elijah’s firm grip. “Now, let go!!”

His eyes on hers, Elijah let out another sigh, holding onto her wrist weakly before letting Melina go. Then he grabbed the bottle of wine, and when she tried to fight him for it, he turned around and threw it against the wall, glass shattering all over the floor.

As a result, Melina froze, staring at him with wide eyes, unable to believe the scene unfolding before her.