Tangled By Fate

Chapter 289 - HUMAN OR PET

When Arthur talked about ointment, Veronica responded with a glare, "I don't want to."

"What?" Arthur focused on her face.

Veronica repeated her words. "I said I don't want to." She pushed him back and said, "These marks are the symbol of my hard work. I've traveled places, I've learned sword fights, I've saved people, I've fought for injustice. I got these marks from those incidents. This is my achievement. I don't want to remove it."

"You… fought? Sword fight?" Arthur stared at her. His eyes said he couldn't imagine her fighting with people using swords.

Veronica sneered when she saw his reaction. "In your eyes, I'm nothing but a weak, troublemaker with no sense of danger. You think I'm na?ve, stupid, and worthless. I can't even blame you for thinking that."

She lowered her head. "You know, I changed over time because I wanted to. I didn't want to be a victim whom everyone can pity. No matter how many times people tell me I'm weak, I won't give in. I'll fight to be better. I'll become clever. I'll train my body. I'll fight for justice. I'll become someone who doesn't need protection from others and who can protect people."

She looked at Arthur and continued, "Arthur, I don't want to be someone who needs to hide behind you. I want to be someone who can stand beside you like a proud woman. I want to be someone I can be proud of. I'm working hard for it. Won't you give me the chance to fulfill my dream?"

"You promised me that you would show me the world. Is this how you are going to do this? By locking me in the room? Am I your wife, or am I your possessions like some valuable magical stones? Is this… what I'm worth?" Tears streamed down her eyes.

Arthur stared at her for a long time before holding her hand. He couldn't see her suffering.

"I see you as my wife. I don't want you to go around and hurt yourself. I know what's best for you. You can stay by my side and I'll protect you. You don't need to hold swords."

"That's the problem, Arthur!" Veronica snapped out. "This is my life. I know what I want, and I know what's best for me! The way you are talking to me it feels like I'm a statue with no feelings or emotions. You are acting like I'm not even a human, just like those people in Utahill. The Saint, the King, everyone acted on their own without asking what I wanted for my life."

She pulled her hands away from him. "I didn't marry you so that you can cage me like a pet animal, Arthur. I married you so that I can be free to do whatever I want. Don't let my love go to waste."

Arthur grabbed her shoulders. His fingers tightened as he replied, "I'm not trying to cage you. I'm doing this for your good. Last time, you almost died! I don't want to lose you again!" His voice was desperate. His eyes were filled with urgency.

Veronica wiped her tears and raised her chin. "For your kind information, I am very much alive. And what's more, I can survive in the jungle, in the desert, and even in cold mountains. I killed animals and injured humans in order to survive. The person in front of you is just the same as you are, Arthur, not a newborn baby. Face it!"

Arthur's expression contorted. He couldn't imagine what she had gone through. He didn't want to think about it even for a moment.

"I don't care," he insisted stubbornly. "It doesn't matter what you have become and how strong you are. What I mean is I can't bear to hear any news of you jumping off the cliff or being abducted by traffickers. You have no idea how I felt back then."

"And you have no idea how I felt when I saw you cheating with a bunch of prostitutes!" Veronica couldn't take it anymore and so, she screamed at him.

"Did you know how much pain I was in when I saw you with those women? I was sick and you didn't even think of visiting me back then. Do I look so easy to you that you can do whatever you want, and I will happily oblige?"

Veronica panted as she furiously yelled at him. Her chest heaved up and down. Her emerald eyes glowed in fiery anger.

"You can play with whoever you want, and I have to stay locked up in this room? I refuse to accept this kind of treatment. Who do you think I am? Huh? Do you think you owe me? Just because we are married, you think I'm your slave? That's what you think, don't you? You want to control me like a puppet while you play with other women behind my back."

Arthur stared at her with a confounded expression. Disbelief was written all over his face. It was the first time he ever saw her anger. It was the first time he ever saw her arguing with him.

'She changed. She completely changed. I don't think I know her. Can I turn back time and save her before she can go to the palace so that she never gets kidnapped, and change like that?' he pondered.

However, another thing bugged him. "What do you mean by cheating? When did I play with women?"

At his question, Veronica opened her mouth, but she was unable to speak. Her face turned red in anger. "Are you trying to feign ignorance? Amazing! Just amazing!"

She let out an angry laugh, but her eyes weren't smiling at all. "Thank goodness that I saw with my very own eyes that you were in a room with a bunch of prostitutes. You were touching them and acting disgustingly. Did that jog your memory?"

No matter what she said, Arthur couldn't remember any incident like that.. 'What is she talking about? Is she deliberately lying so that she can run away from me? I can't let that happen.'