DEAR EX-WIFE: IT'S PAYBACK TIME

CHAPTER 5

Anger scorched through her veins as Rachael stared at her, her little eyes bored at Rachael, filled with hurt, shock and something she couldn't decrypt. Not like she cared.

"Apologise!!! Now." She barked.

"Mum..."

"Don't you dare mummy me!!. Apologise, Jasmine."

Marco stared, disbelief coloured his face just like the other. He gulped down wondering what exactly she heard.

If she did overhear everything he said, then he wasn't spared either.

"Rachael." He called out, trying to control her anger. He watched the little child curled up on the ground, shaking with tears flooding down her cheeks. A hint of worry could be seen on his face.

"Rachael, she is just a child. Children say things they don't mean. You don't have to be angered." He gripped her hands inching close to her. "This isn't a big deal, we...."

"You hear that??." She hissed, glaring at Ryan, who held Jasmine in his arms, still shocked by her actions. "Even after everything that happened he is still defending her. Only if you were half of a man he was..." He stilled. "You aren't even fit to be a father. You go around looking like you were the best father in the world while all you do is raise our child to be an insolent brat." She spat, grabbing Ryan's collar. " Look at her!!! She is a rude, unreasonable child and quick to lash out."

"You don't....."

"No Ryan, no excuses. No matter what Marco said, that doesn't give her the right to talk back, especially since she spoke to him so rudely. He is still a senior, one who respect "

"A senior?" He flared, the last ounce of patience and self-control he gripped was shedded to pieces. He took a step closer, staring her dead in the eyes. "What kind of senior says the things he does?!!!."

"I...."

"Our daughter has been wrong, and instead of you being comfortable or being there for her, you come out here shifting blame and pointing fingers at your own child, supporting the outsider!! What kind of mother are you??! " He braked while she fretted, her resolve growing weak under his piercing gaze. "Jasmine is sick for Christ's sake, she is weak, and you raised your hands to her without thinking twice, is this how a mother behaves??. Answer me!!!!."

"Y...you don't have to shout." She fumbled. "And secondly Marco and Leo aren't outsiders, they are family, they are one of our own. By letting Jasmine bully them you have degraded me, you have disrespected me!!!."

"Rachael, you really...."

"No, Marco." She interjected cutting off Marco words, her gaze still latched on Ryan. "He went too far today, and he will apologise. Ryan, you will apologise."

Silence descended in the lounge; no one dared to voice their minds, their murmurs trampled under the weight of the chaos. They stood, mixed emotions awaiting the next speaker.

Ryan stilled, anger scorched through his veins.

Enough was fucking enough!. He had had enough of her nonsense, and there was no way in hell he was going to apologise, especially not to Marco.

"Apologise?." His cold, hoarse voice echoed through the lounge, scattering the long lived silence. "Fine, I will apologise but..." He dragged his Marco, who cowered behind Rachael. "He has to repeat what he said to our daughter." He took another step closer, leaving Rachael to wedge the both of them. "Come on, talk. I dare you."

Blood drained from Marco's face as he tried and failed to make up a good excuse. "Well, I ....I..."

"You don't need to, Marco," Rachael spoke.

"He doesn't need to??."

"Yes, Marco would never say anything bad."

"Then let him repeat what he said before."

"Are you even listening to me?."

"That's fear. He knows he is in the wrong." he spoke. "Wake up, Rachael and stop deluding yourself with such nonsense," Ryan growled. "He is...."

"Can you stop!! Stop!!!!. just stop, Ryan!!!!." She screamed, roughing her hair, she shifted aside, glaring at him. "Aren't you ashamed!!?."

"Shame? Isn't it you who should be feeling ashamed!?"

"Fucking stop!!." She screamed harder, tossing a toy that lay at the side towards him. Ryan stood watching the toy propel towards him, he didn't bother shifting or ducking her attacks. The toy slammed harder against his head, leaving a scar on his forehead.

"Daddy!!!." Jasmine cried, running towards him. "Mummy, please stop." She cried harder, standing in front of Ryan like a shield. Her body trembled in fear. “I’m sorry, I was naughty, don’t let mommy hit daddy anymore.”

Ryan stared at her, his heart clenched painfully at the sight.

"You keep acting like a child Ryan!” She stepped forward to shove him.

Marco gripped her, halting her steps.

He knew things were going to go south for him soon, with the dark look in Ryan's eyes, he was sure he would say something, something that might paint him black.

"Rachael, calm down. We are in the hospital."

"I don't care. Someone needs to tell him to snap out of his nonsense."

"Rachael, I'm serious. Calm down. Everyone is looking, we can solve this later. Please, the kids are here." She exhaled sharply, nodding gently at him.

Ryan, ignoring their little drama, cradled Jasmine who kept crying and shaking in his arms.

"Dad..."

"I'm fine, sweetheart. Daddy is okay."

"I'm sorry."

"You are not at fault, not at all." He held her closer, casting one last look at Rachael. Disappointment coated his face.

He gritted his teeth, pinning her down with a hard gaze. "You are not worthy to be our Jasmine mother." He spoke, turned, and walked away.

"What the hell did you mean by that??!!" She barked, screaming behind him. “I’m not worthy to be a mother, and you think you’re worthy to be a father?!." She screamed harder. "If it works, we’ll make it work. If it doesn’t, then let’s divorce!”