Leonora never meant for things with Alex to escalate like this. But bring up Henry, and Alex would lose it every single time. He just couldn't handle hearing about Henry.
So, when she said something nice about Henry, it was like pouring gasoline on a fire.
Leonora bit down hard on her arm, leaving deep teeth marks. Maybe she was trying to counter Alex's roughness, or maybe she was just furious at her own inability to stand up to him. Watching her cry, her right arm soaked with saliva and tears, Alex couldn't bear it anymore.
After an intense moment, he pulled away from her. As Alex moved back, Leonora finally let go. She released her teeth from her arm and collapsed onto the bed, sobbing uncontrollably.
Alex's eyes fell on the arm she had bitten; her fair skin now marked with deep teeth impressions. By morning, that spot would probably turn a nasty shade of blue and swell up.
Seeing Leonora still crying on the bed, Alex got up, picked up the clothes scattered on the floor, and quietly moved to the floor-to-ceiling window. He opened a nearby drawer, took out a cigarette and a lighter, and lit up.
She was still crying. Leonora wasn't usually the type to cry, especially not in front of Alex. But now, she was letting out all the pent-up hurt and frustration from the past couple of years.
In the past, anyone crying like this in front of Alex would have driven him nuts. He would've shown them the door without a second thought. But Leonora's tears didn't irritate him; they made his heart ache.
He had wanted a good life with her, even thought about having a kid with her once they met his parents. But now, here they were, in the middle of another fight.
Blowing out a heavy smoke ring, Alex knew the fault lay with him this time. He hadn't handled Chrissy's flirtations properly; he had let it slide. But no matter how wrong he was, Leonora shouldn't have gotten involved with Henry. She knew Henry was a sore spot for him.
After finishing his cigarette, Alex turned to look at Leonora. She was quieter now, seemingly exhausted from crying. Standing by the window, he watched her for a while, lying there like she had lost her soul. He sighed softly and walked over to the bed.
Sitting down on the edge, he reached out and brushed her hair back from her forehead. Her face and neck were sweaty, her hair damp. Alex couldn't tell if it was from crying or their earlier activities.
As he touched her face, Leonora turned her head away, presenting him with the back of her head. This time, she was really angry. She wouldn't forgive Alex again.
Seeing her reaction, Alex softly said, "I admit, I joked around with Chrissy at dinner, and I let her flirt. But I..."
Before he could finish, Leonora grabbed a pillow and covered her head. She didn't want to hear his explanations or anything he had to say. After more than two years, she knew that in Alex's eyes, whenever there was a problem, it was always her fault.
If that was the case, why should she listen to him, let him criticize her? She had so many faults, so many mistakes. If he wanted to break up, so be it.

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