Betrayed by My Trash Husband, Surrender Myself to the Devil-Chapter 17: A Tense Atmosphere

Claudia POV

"It is part of my job as a psychiatrist to record every session I have with my patients. Don’t read too much into it," Ray replied calmly. "But this recording finally has its use with you, Claudia. I never knew that a certified General Practitioner like you has a goldfish memory."

Ray had a thin smirk, as if he were mocking me for trying to avoid my responsibility.

"Or maybe your memory has dulled over time since you became Miles’ wife?"

"T-there is no correlation. I’m just stressed out over everything so far, so I forgot..." I muttered weakly.

Of course, I still remembered the promise. I simply shoved it to the back of my mind, because I thought he wouldn’t remember an insignificant woman like me.

Besides, I was still scared of him after everything that happened between us back then, and how terrible our breakup was.

To make it worse, I ended up marrying his stepbrother, which must have felt like a betrayal to Ray.

Though it made me wonder if Ray could actually feel betrayal. He never showed any genuine emotion except anger after all.

But then again, even that could be fake, right? Just like how he faked his love for me, acting sweet in front of me just to keep me on a tight leash.

Unfortunately, as our relationship went on, I began to notice how rehearsed all his affection felt—as if he had researched me and deduced everything that could make a woman happy, even if he felt no love for me.

"All those scholarships and that perfect GPA amount to nothing once you’re married, huh?" he continued. "You’ve been reduced to nothing but a shattered woman compared to who you were before you ended up with him."

I lowered my head in shame once again as I was reminded of my failure as a woman.

Classic to his nature, Ray always spoke the cold truth, but it still stung badly.

"If... if all you’re going to do is insult me, then I’ll leave," I said. "I don’t know what you need from me, since you already have everything, Ray. So... I can only say thank you for your help before."

Just as I was about to stand, a tight grip closed around my wrist. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

I looked down and saw Ray’s veiny hand clenching me tightly, as if he had grown angrier the moment I decided to leave.

"Our deal is not over, Claudia," Ray said in a controlled tone, though I noticed his jaw clenching. "You are not allowed to leave until I say so."

I tried to yank my hand free, but he was too strong. I glanced toward the kitchen, hoping for Don’s help since it was impossible for me to break free, but that usually carefree man had vanished and we were the only two people in this restaurant now.

"B-but if all you’re going to do is insult me and my poor decisions, then there’s nothing to talk about, right?" I tried to reason with the devil.

Ray’s dark green eyes stared at me unblinkingly, silently commanding me to sit.

"Sit back down. We can enjoy our dinner first before we talk about the contract," Ray instructed.

In the end, I obeyed.

"I am not insulting you. I’m telling the truth," he said.

I knew it was the truth. I had been reduced to a helpless woman after marrying Miles.

I sacrificed everything about myself, including my identity as a high-achieving doctor. I let go of my chance at a medical residency to become a neurologist and settled as a General Practitioner so I could support Miles’ career sooner.

Even when I was comfortable working at several clinics, I still had to quit because Miles persuaded me that I needed to spend more time with Aurora since he was busy with work.

I did want to be by my daughter’s side. But was it truly impossible for him to take turns with me?

In the end, I had been used and discarded. All my sacrifices meant nothing to him.

Ray had always been like this. He slapped you with undeniable truths, ignoring the pain they caused.

It was also one of the reasons we broke up. He dug up all my childhood trauma and studied it like it was a fascinating case.

Remembering how he dissected my past made me bitter.

"And so what if you’re telling the truth?" I asked sharply.

"It’s good that you swallow the bitter pill first, so you realize Miles has been nothing but a leech all this time," Ray said.

"I’ve learned my lesson and swallowed the bitter pill, Doctor," I sneered. "And now what? Are you going to ’study’ my misery, just like you studied my childhood trauma?"

For the first time since we reunited, Ray showed a faint frown in front of me. He seemed to contemplate something while I remained silent after delivering that blow—if he even had a conscience.

The atmosphere grew tense as silence stretched between us.

Then Don suddenly appeared with our food.

"Alright, your orders are here!"

He placed my usual pasta in front of me, and my stomach immediately grumbled at the aroma. I hadn’t eaten since yesterday, so resisting was impossible.

The tension dissolved the moment I twirled a forkful of spaghetti and took a bite.

I glanced at Ray, who had ordered a slice of pizza.

It reminded me of my student days when I used to buy one-dollar pizza from a local shop. It was my struggle meal.

Ray never wanted it back then, even telling me to buy something healthier than a dollar pizza with unknown and unregulated ingredients in it.

But that was understandable coming from him. He was the heir to a billion-dollar private bank. Street pizza must have seemed too "dirty" for his caliber.

I swallowed my pasta and asked, "I thought you didn’t like local pizza. You prefer a genuine one from Italy or something like that, right?"