Divorcing My Obsessed Husband

Elena, you have some nerve!

Xaviers fingers dig into my jaw, forcing my chin up. His eyesusually so alluringare dark, swimming with fury. His voice drops, a low growl clawing its way up from the depths.

You actually... got rid of my child?

Looking at the vein pulsing in his temple, I almost want to laugh. The irony is suffocating.

Barely hours ago, I watched him holding another pregnant woman like she was made of glass.

She is his obsession. The one that got away.

And me? Im just the spare Mrs. Zhou.

Chapter 1

"Xavier!"

The name hits me like a physical blow. My breath hitches. I snap my head up.

Not far away, a man and a woman are standing face-to-face.

Shes soft, beautiful. Her hand rests on the distinct swell of a baby bump. He is tall, broad-shouldered, imposing.

My husband.

Weve been married for exactly one month.

My mind goes white. Static fills my ears.

Instinct takes over. I dart behind the corner before I even process what Im doing. By the time the blood rushes back to my brain, their voices have faded.

Shes pregnant.

The woman Xavier actually loves is carrying his child.

I saw the way he looked at her. It was a picture of domestic perfection.

A baby should be born into that kind of love.

My hand drifts to my own flat stomach. I hold it there for a long time. Then I turn and walk toward the other wing.

"We usually recommend a family member signs for the release," the nurse says, pushing a clipboard toward me.

I keep my hand pressed against my abdomen.

"No need," I say, my voice steady. "I can take responsibility for my own uterus. Its my choice."

I scrawl my name on the line. Then I sit. And wait.

"Not really," Serenas voice drifts down the hall. "I havent had any morning sickness at all. Maybe the baby is just being an angel for mommy."

I turn my head.

Xavier and Serena are walking side-by-side. Hes carrying a bagher prescriptions, probably.

Our eyes lock.

He freezes. His stride falters. He clearly didnt expect to see his wife here.

I stand up, smoothing my skirt. I force the corners of my mouth up.

"Small world."

Xaviers mask slides back into place instantly.

"What are you doing here?" he asks. His voice is indifferent, bored.

I keep the smile plastered on my face. "What about you?"

"Picking something up," Xavier replies. "Are you finished?"

"Still waiting."

"Im heading out then."

He doesn't wait for an answer. He steps around me and walks away.

Serena gives me a polite nod, a sweet smile, and hurries to catch up with him.

I sit back down. The plastic chair sucks the warmth right out of my legs.

Later, Im lying on the table.

The surgical lights blaze overhead, blindingly white. I squeeze my eyes shut. A single, scalding tear escapes from the corner of my eye, tracking into my hairline.

By the time I leave the clinic, the sky is pitch black.

I call an Uber. The house is quiet when I walk in.

"Mr. Zhou has been back for a while," Barbara says, wiping her hands on her apron. "Hes waiting for you to start dinner."

The thought of food makes my stomach turn.

"I'm not hungry," I tell her, my voice hollow.

All I want is oblivion. I drag my heavy body up the stairs.

Chapter 2

Barbara rushes up the stairs, her footsteps heavy with concern.

"Mrs. Zhou, you look pale. Im calling Dr. Hayes right now."

I force the corners of my mouth up. It feels like cracking plaster.

"I'm fine, Barbara. Just exhausted. Ill sleep it off."

"Please, if you feel worse, tell me," she insists, hovering behind me.

"I will."

I shut the bedroom door, cutting off her worry.

I move to the bathroom. Scrub my face. Brush my teeth. I skip the shower. I skip the serums, the creams, the ten-step routine. I just want to collapse.

The bedroom door clicks open.

Xavier walks in. He stalks over to me, his gaze sweeping over my face like a barcode scanner.

"You look pale," he says, brows knitting. "Im getting Hayes."

"Don't." I walk to the bed, peeling back the duvet. "I just need sleep."

Xavier follows. He stands there, watching me in silence for a moment.

Then, the trap snaps shut.

"What were you doing at the hospital today?" he asks.

Hes smiling.

I freeze. I didn't expect him to ask. I dont know how to answer without screaming the truth.

But then I look at him. Really look at him.

That smirk. Its arrogant. Detached.

He doesn't care about why I was there. He cares about where he was.

He thinks I was stalking him.

He thinks Im the jealous wife tracking her husband and his pregnant mistress.

I lower my head, staring at the carpet. I shake my head gently.

"I wasn't following you."

"I know," he says.

His hand lifts. His thumb grazes my cheekbone, a touch that feels more like ownership than affection.

"You're always so... good. That's why I picked you, Elena. You know your place. Youd never disappoint me."

I was picked. Like a ripe fruit. Or a show dog.

He had his pick of heiresses. My family is small frya failing business worth barely anything in his world. We had no leverage.

But Xavier chose me.

Because Im obedient. I have no temper. I dont ask questions. I let him play.

Even married, he lives like a bachelor.

For him, this marriage is just a PR move to shut his family up.

For me? Its a bailout.

I am the life raft for my parents' company. Gregory and Sharon needed Xaviers capital, and I was the currency they used to buy it.

We got what we wanted. And apparently, Xavier is satisfied with his purchase.

"I'm going to sleep," I whisper.

I slide under the sheets, turning my back to him.

A moment later, the floorboards creak. The door clicks shut. Hes gone.

I curl into a tight fetal ball. The darkness of the room feels heavy, pressing down on my chest. Im freezing, a bone-deep chill that blankets cant fix.

My eyelids grow heavy. Consciousness begins to fray. I drift into a restless haze.

Then, weight.

The mattress dips behind me.

An arm bands around my waist, pulling me backward against a hard, warm chest.

A handlarge and slightly coolslides under my pajama top. It lands flat against my lower abdomen.

My empty womb.

His fingers splay, pressing down firmly, then slide upward with slow, possessive friction. The heat of his palm seeps into my skin.

Xavier.

Chapter 3

I snap awake.

Reflex takes over. I clamp my hand over his, pinning his fingers against my skin.

"I'm not feeling well today."

"Where does it hurt?"

His voice is rough, steeped in sleep and gravel. His lipshot and demandingpress against the sensitive curve of my neck.

I flinch. My body recoils as if burned.

The image flashes behind my eyelids: Xavier and Serena standing together. Her swollen belly. The life growing inside her.

Bile rises in my throat. A wave of physical revulsion crashes over me.

"I really don't feel good," I plead, my voice trembling. "Not tonight. Please."

Xaviers hand goes still against my lower stomach.

For a long, suffocating moment, he doesn't move. Then, his arm tightens around me, pulling me flush against his back.

"Go to sleep."

Since the wedding, if hes home, he holds me.

In the beginning, I was pathetic. I let myself believe it was intimacy. I told myself it was love.

But Im not that stupid anymore. Not after today. Not after seeing him play the doting father to his real love.

I just don't get it.

If he loves Serena so much, why marry me?

If he loves her, why is he holding me in the dark?

When I open my eyes again, the other side of the bed is cold.

I check my phone. Past nine.

I drag myself to the bathroom. I crank the shower handle, letting the scalding water beat against my skin, trying to scrub away the lingering sensation of his touch.

I dry off quickly and dress in thick, shapeless loungewear. Armor.

Downstairs, the house is quiet. Barbara isn't around. Just Lexi, one of the maids, dusting the foyer.

She pauses, looking me over. "You're up. Do you want to eat now?"

I nod.

I sit at the marble island in the open-concept kitchen. Lexi slides a plate in front of me. "Dinner is ready."

I force the food down, filling the emptiness in my stomach. I just want to go back to bed.

I slide off the stool to leave.

Ding.

The elevator doors at the end of the hall slide open.

Xavier steps out.

The temperature in the room seems to plummet instantly. He locks eyes with me. His gaze is dark, predatory. He starts walking toward me, his stride long and lethal.

The sheer size of him sucks the air out of the kitchen. My breath hitches.

I look up, meeting his stare, wanting to ask whats wrong. The words die in my throat.

"Where exactly were you uncomfortable?"

The question shoots out like a bullet.

My blood freezes.

He went to the hospital. He saw the records. He knows.

"Elena, you have some nerve."

His voice is low, vibrating through the floorboards. It sounds like its coming from the depths of the earth.

I lower my head. I have no defense.

And honestly? I don't understand the rage.

Does he actually expect me to have this baby? To bring a child into a house built on lies? A house where the father is in love with someone else?

I won't do it. I won't let a child grow up in a frozen home.

Suddenly, fingers clamp around my jaw.

Xavier forces my head up. I have no choice but to look at him. The charming, playboy eyes are gone. In their place is pure, unadulterated violence.

His lips part. He enunciates every single syllable, slashing me with the words.

"Elena. You terminated my child."

Chapter 4

"Any defense?" Xavier asks.

His voice is absolute zero.

My throat feels like it's stuffed with sawdust. I force the air through.

"No."

"Good."

He releases my chin. His gaze lingers for a secondcold, detached, clinicalbefore he turns on his heel. He walks out.

Behind me, a sharp intake of breath cuts the silence.

I turn my head slightly. Lexi flinches, avoiding my eyes, and hurries away.

I drag myself upstairs.

I stand in the doorway of the master bedroom, staring at the cavernous space. The king-sized bed. The velvet chaise.

Silence.

I walk into the closet and pull down a suitcase.

It doesnt take long.

Everything in this house belongs to Xavier. I dont even have to shop; brands fight to send their latest collections here, filling the closet with the rows of designer dresses, the wall of heels, the jewelry sitting in velvet traysall gifts. All branding for the role of "Mrs. Zhou."

I ignore them.

I pack only what I brought with me. Simple cotton tees. Old denim. My favorite sneakers.

They barely fill half the carry-on.

I sit on the sofa, staring at the empty space in the suitcase. My chest feels hollow.

Ive nuked the deal.

I should call Gregory. I need to tell my father that his daughter failed. The bailout is dead. The company is going under.

Theyre going to be devastated.

Suddenly, a voice echoes from the hallway.

"Elena!"

My stomach drops.

Victoria bursts into the room.

She rushes over, grabbing my freezing hands in hers. Her eyes are wide, frantic.

"What is going on? You terminated the pregnancy?"

I didn't think Xavier moved this fast.

"Mom... I'm sorry."

Victorias brows knit together in a tight line of worry.

"How could this happen? Elena, why? Why didn't you say anything? Do you have any idea how dangerous surgery is? If something had happened to you on that table, how would I explain it to your parents?"

"I'm sorry," I whisper again.

Its the only script I have left.

Victoria sighs, a long, heavy sound. She steers me toward the bed.

"Lie down. Right now. You need a proper recovery. This is serious trauma to your body. You are not leaving this house for two weeks. Im calling the chef to switch your diet."

She tucks me in. Her attitude hasn't shifted. No anger. Just concern. She wants me to stay.

I blink, confused.

"Mom," I hesitate. "What did Xavier say?"

"He won't pick up his phone," she huffs, pacing a small circle. "I haven't even spoken to him yet."

My blood runs cold.

"Wait. Xavier didn't tell you?"

Victoria pauses. "No. Lexi called me."

Lexi.

Of course. The maid is stirring the pot.

I have no idea where I stand with Xavier now.

"Elena," Victoria sits on the edge of the bed, her expression serious. "Tell me the truth. Is there trouble between you two? Is it... him?"

She doesn't wait for an answer. She sighs again.

"He loves to play. I thought marriage would ground him. I thought hed settle down." Her jaw tightens. "That bastard."

She squeezes my hand.

"Don't worry, Elena. I will handle my son. You focus on healing. Don't let your mind wander to dark places."

I nod, throat tight. "Okay. Thanks, Mom."

Chapter 5

Victoria stays until the sun bleeds out of the sky.

She spends twenty minutes on the phone, her voice hushed but firm, practically ordering Xavier to come home. When she finally hangs up, she looks exhausted.

Before she leaves, she grips my shoulders.

"Elena, promise me. Don't get worked up. Don't fight with him. If anything happens, you call me immediately."

I nod. Shes a good woman. Shes worried.

But I cant let her kindness be the reason I bring a child into this mess. Gratitude isn't a good enough reason to be a mother.

Knock, knock.

The rap on the door is perfunctory. Before I can even answer, the door swings open.

Lexi breezes in, carrying a tray.

"Chicken soup," she says, her voice flat. "I'll leave it here."

I say nothing.

She sets the bowl on the nightstand with a little more force than necessarysoup sloshes against the rim. She shoots me a look, purses her lips, and turns on her heel.

From day one, Lexi has made her position clear. She thinks Im trash. She thinks I dont belong here.

Usually, Id brush it off. Shes just staff. Shes noise.

The only opinion that ever mattered was Xaviers.

But now?

I look at the cooling soup.

I need to let go of that obsession, too. Some things just aren't meant to be mine, no matter how hard I grasp at them.

I need to let Xavier go. And in doing so, let myself go, too.

I finish the soup and carry the empty bowl downstairs.

Barbara spots me immediately. She drops the towel shes holding and rushes over.

"Mrs. Zhou! What are you doing out of bed? You need to be resting. You need to recover."

She takes the bowl from my hands.

"Dinner is almost ready. Go put on an extra layer. You look freezing."

Lexi is nearby, polishing a vase. She glances at me, her eyes cold, then goes back to her work.

I ignore her. I smile at Barbara. "I'm not cold, Barbara."

Barbara looks down at my bare feet.

"Honey, put some socks on. The floor is cold, and you can't risk getting sick right now. Please."

"Okay." I pause. "Is Xavier coming back for dinner?"

Barbara hesitates. "I called him. He said... he said to start without him."

She sighs, seeing the look on my face. "Mrs. Zhou, don't take it to heart. Hes just blowing off steam. He cares about you. Hes just... processing."

I don't answer.

I don't get it. Why is he so angry?

There is already a woman giving him a child. The "one that got away"his true loveis pregnant. Why does he care about my womb?

Is he just obsessed with carrying on the bloodline? Does he just want an heir that badly?

I go upstairs, pull on a pair of fuzzy socks, and come back down.

Dinner is laid out on the island. I eat alone. The house is silent except for the scrape of my fork against the plate.

Ding.

The elevator opens.

Xavier walks out. Hes still in his suit, tie loosened.

"Mr. Zhou!" Barbaras voice pitches up, overly cheerful. "You're back! Perfect timing, Mrs. Zhou just started."

Xavier doesn't break stride.

"I'm not eating," he says. His voice is ice.

He walks past the kitchen without even glancing in my direction and disappears upstairs.

Barbara sighs again. A long, heavy sound of pity.

She feels sorry for me. I must look pathetic. The rejected wife eating alone while her husband ghosts her in their own home.

I finish my meal mechanically.

I brush my teeth, wash my face, and climb into bed.

Xavier doesn't come in.

The other side of the bed stays empty all night.

The next morning, I walk downstairs.

Xavier is sitting on the sofa in the living room, scrolling through his phone.

He looks pristine. Showered. Dressed.

Barbara says good morning to me.

Xavier doesn't look up.

I sit at the table. He joins me a moment later.

He eats his breakfast in silence. He doesn't speak. He doesn't look at me. Its like Im a ghost hes refusing to acknowledge.

He finishes, wipes his mouth, and stands up.

Then, he walks out the door.

Chapter 6

Hes barely been gone ten minutes when the cavalry arrives.

Victoria enters first, followed closely by Meredith.

My sister-in-law is four months pregnant. Her husband is away on business, so shes been staying at the Zhou estate.

But she shouldn't be here. Not in this room. Not with me.

"Mom," I whisper, looking at Victoria. "Did you tell her?"

Meredith rolls her eyes before her mother can answer. She walks right up to the bed, hands on her hips.

"I don't care about old wives' tales, Elena. Im not afraid your 'bad luck' is going to rub off on my baby."

She glares at me, but theres no heat in it. Only worry.

"You, on the other hand," she scolds, "are getting bolder by the day. Making a decision like that on your own?"

Her voice is sharp. Her eyes are wet.

I look down at the duvet. "Meredith, you really shouldn't have come."

Technically, Im supposed to be on strict bed rest. Its an old superstitionthat a woman who just terminated a pregnancy brings misfortune to a woman carrying lifebut in our circle, these traditions matter.

I don't mind the bad luck. But I don't want them to think Im careless with her safety.

Meredith ignores me, scanning the room.

"Where is Xavier?"

"He went out."

"That bastard," Meredith hisses. She digs her phone out of her purse. "Im calling him."

"Don't." I reach out, grabbing her wrist. "Sis, please. Hes busy. I have Barbara here. Im fine."

Meredith hesitates, then lowers the phone, fuming.

Victoria sits on the edge of the bed, her face grave. "Elena. Have you told Gregory and Sharon?"

I freeze. I shake my head.

"I think you should," Victoria says gently. "They need to know."

Meredith nods in agreement.

"Okay," I say. "I'll call them later."

We talk for a little longer, mostly them fussing over me, before I practically force Meredith to leave. I tell her to stay away until Im fully recovered.

When the room is finally quiet, I pick up my phone.

I dial my mother.

Sharons reaction is exactly what I expected. Panic. Blame. How could you be so reckless? What if you hurt yourself?

She hangs up before I can explain.

Less than an hour later, theyre here.

"Why would you do this?" Sharon demands. Her voice is trembling, eyes red-rimmed. "Why?"

Gregory sits in the armchair in the corner. Silent. Heavy.

Sharon sits beside me, gripping my cold hands.

"Elena, tell me the truth. Is he mistreating you? Are you suffering here?"

"No," I lie. I force a smile. "I'm fine, Mom."

"I knew it," she sobs, ignoring my denial. She wipes at her tears. "We did this to you. We sacrificed you for the company. We let you suffer so we could survive."

From the corner, my father lets out a long, ragged sigh.

I look at them, and my chest aches.

They have it all wrong. Im not a victim of the deal. Im not suffering because I was forced into this marriage.

When I found out I was going to marry Xavier, I wasn't sad.

I was ecstatic. I felt like the luckiest woman alive.

Because I love him.

I have loved Xavier since middle school.

Ten years.

A decade of silent, pathetic pining. We were classmates from junior high through high school. I watched him grow up. I watched him become the man he is.

But I also watched Serena.

She was our classmate, too.

I know exactly who owns Xaviers heart.

Back then, Serena was the homecoming queen. Beautiful, graceful, perfect. Xavier was the king. They were the golden couple. Everyone knew it. They were inevitable.

I was just... there. The background noise.

I buried my feelings so deep I almost forgot they existed. I never told a soul.

After graduation, they went to the same university. I heard they started dating immediately. It was the fairytale everyone expected.

Then came the merger. The marriage arrangement.

I never understood why, when it came time to choose a wife, Xavier dropped Serena.

He picked me.

Chapter 7

Is it just because Im obedient? Because I follow orders?

That doesn't feel like enough of a foundation for a marriage. Not even a business one.

Sharon is still weeping, blaming Gregory. "You pushed her into the fire. You traded her."

"Enough!"

Gregorys voice cracks like a whip. It cuts through my mothers sobbing.

He turns to me. His face is gray, aged ten years in a single morning.

"Elena. If... if you are miserable here, we end it. Divorce him. Pack your bags. You're coming home with us right now."

My heart stammers. "Dad, the company..."

"To hell with the company."

Tears well in his eyes.

"Your mother is right. Your happiness is the only thing that matters. Well figure the rest out."

The invisible vise that has been crushing my lungs for months suddenly loosens. Air rushes in.

I smile. A real, genuine smile.

"Mom, Dad. I'm okay. Really. I'm fine here."

And I am.

Because I just realized something.

Xavier doesn't love me. Thats a fact.

If he wants to divorce me to be with Serena, Ill sign the papers. I won't fight.

But if he doesn't ask? Then Ill stay. Ill be the perfect Mrs. Zhou. Ill hold the position.

The company is my fathers lifeblood. I cant be selfish. I cant burn his legacy just because my feelings are hurt.

But the relief washing over me isn't just about my parents taking the pressure off.

Its because Ive made a decision.

Im done loving Xavier.

Its too heavy. It hurts too much.

If I stop loving him, he can't hurt me anymore.

Its that simple.

Noon.

Were sitting at the dining table. The atmosphere is thick enough to choke on.

The front door opens. Xavier walks in.

He pauses, seeing the extra place settings. He adjusts his cuffs, his expression neutral.

"You're here."

"Yes," Gregory says. He doesn't look up. He doesn't offer a handshake. The deference, the fearits gone.

Sharon ignores him entirely. She piles some food onto my plate.

"Eat, Elena. You need the iron."

"Okay."

We finish the meal in a brutal silence.

Gregory wipes his mouth and stands up. "We should get going."

He looks at me, his eyes pleading. "Elena, are you sure? You can come stay with us for a while. Let your mother take care of you."

I open my mouth to speak.

"Mom, Dad," Xavier cuts in. His voice is smooth, charming, but theres steel underneath. "Elena is perfectly fine here. Ill take care of her. You don't need to worry."

I swallow my words.

Gregory looks at me, then at Xavier. He nods, stiffly.

"Thank you then, Mr. Zhou. We'll be going."

Mr. Zhou.

Not Xavier. Not Son-in-law.

Xaviers jaw tightens. He steps forward. "Mom, Dad"

The elevator doors slide shut, cutting him off.

Theyre gone.

Xavier turns slowly. His eyes are dark, swirling with an emotion I cant decode.

I give him a polite nod. "I'm going to rest."

I head for the stairs.

I feel him behind me. A predator stalking prey.

I walk into the bedroom. He follows, kicking the door shut behind him.

"Heh."

A cold, sharp laugh escapes him.

"Mr. Zhou," he repeats, the words dripping with acid.

He stalks over to the sofa and drops onto it, spreading his arms across the backrest. He takes up so much space.

"You really are something, Elena. You kill my child without permission, and then you play the victim? You went running to your parents to make me look like the villain?"

Is that what he thinks?

I turn to face him.

"I didn't."

He cocks his head, eyes narrowing.

"Then explain it to me. What was that downstairs? What is their problem? And what is your problem?"

"Victoria said I should tell my parents about the surgery," I say, my voice steady. "So I did. They just came to see if I was alive."

Chapter 8

Xavier clearly has no intention of letting this drop.

He watches me, amused. Those alluring, bedroom eyes crinkle in a smile, but it doesn't reach his irises. Its laced with mockery.

"Did Mom and Dad have anything else to say?"

Yes. They said I could divorce you.

I choose the lie.

"Nothing special," I say, keeping my voice even. "Just that I should rest and recover."

Xaviers brow quirks upward. "Is that so? Well then, you should rest."

I glance at him one last time, then turn and walk toward the bed.

Xavier grabs the remote. The blackout curtains descend with a soft whir, sealing the room in total darkness. Not a sliver of light survives.

I hear the rustle of fabric. The heavy footsteps.

Then, the mattress dips.

Weight shifts beside me. Xavier slides under the covers.

His arm snakes around my waist from behind, pulling me into him. My body betrays me; my spine locks up instantly. Rigid.

He feels it.

"What's the matter?" His voice is cool, low against my ear.

I squeeze my eyes shut in the dark. "Nothing."

His hand shifts. It moves from my waist to my lower abdomen.

Then, he tugs my shirt up.

His palm slides against my bare skin. No fabric. No barrier. Just his heat searing into my flesh.

I freeze. I don't know what he wants.

His fingers splay out, covering the empty space where a life used to be. He rubs the skin gently, his thumb tracing slow, deliberate circles.

"Does it hurt?"

The question hangs in the blackness.

Instantly, my mind snaps back to the operating table. The sterile cold. The stirrups.

The procedure was painless. Anesthesia did its job.

And the loss?

Honestly, I don't feel much. It was just a cluster of cells. A mistake.

"No," I whisper. "It doesn't hurt."

Xavier falls silent.

His hand stays there, warm and heavy on my skin.

I shouldn't be able to sleep. But the heat of his body acts like a drug. My eyelids grow heavy, dragging me down into a thick, dreamless fog.

Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

The vibration jolts me awake.

Xavier growls, a low sound of irritation. He loosens his grip on me, fumbling for the phone on the nightstand.

"What?" he answers, his voice thick with sleep and annoyance.

The room is silent enough that I hear it. A womans voice bleeding through the speaker.

It sounds like Serena.

Adrenaline spikes through me, clearing the sleep instantly.

I can't make out the words, but Xaviers tone shifts. He gives a few short, clipped answers.

"Yeah. Okay."

He hangs up.

For a moment, he just lies there. One arm draped over me, the other holding the phone, scrolling. The blue light illuminates his sharp profile.

Then, he pulls away. The warmth vanishes.

He rolls out of bed and stands up.

"Go back to sleep," he says, buttoning his shirt in the dark. "I have to go out."

Is he going to her?

I squeeze my eyes shut again.

Don't think about it. Don't care. Don't love him.

I chant it in my head like a mantra. Self-preservation.

Surprisingly, it works. The chest pain dulls to a manageable ache.

Its past five in the afternoon when the front door opens.

Xavier walks in, carrying a large, heavy shopping bag. He heads straight for the kitchen and drops it on the counter in front of Barbara.

"For tonight," he says. "Make it happen."

Im sitting on the living room sofa, mindlessly watching a reality show, bored out of my mind.

Barbara peeks into the bag. Her face lights up.

"You got it! Leave it to me, sir."

She shoots a beaming smile in my direction, then bustles into the kitchen.

I frown. Confused.

Lexi hurries over to Xavier, taking his coat with practiced reverence.

"Welcome home, sir," she coos, her voice dripping with sugar. "What would you like for dinner?"

Chapter 9

Xavier doesn't even look at the maid.

He dumps his coat into Lexis waiting arms without breaking eye contact with me. He stalks over to the sofa and sits right next to me. Close. Too close.

And hes smiling.

"Dr. Hayes says you can't rot in bed all day," he says, his voice smooth. "Tomorrow, were going to the estate. The grounds are bigger. You can walk around without dealing with the wind or the paparazzi."

The whiplash is almost physical.

Yesterday, I was a nuisance. Today, Im a priority?

I blink, processing.

So, the anger is gone? Just like that?

I shake my head. "No need. I can't go outside anyway. Walking up and down the stairs here is enough."

Xavier leans in, invading my personal space. He studies my face like a map.

I shift, uncomfortable. "What?"

"Checking your complexion," he murmurs, satisfied. "Much better. You don't look like a corpse anymore."

What is his game?

The attitude shift is one thing. But the timing? Hes home at 5:00 PM. He came home for lunch yesterday.

"Don't you have work?" I ask. "Aren't you busy?"

Its not just work. Its the lifestyle. The boys' nights. The poker games. The clubs. Xavier Zhou doesn't do "domestic."

I used to tag along occasionally, but I never fit in. Now, Im just the one sitting by the phone.

Xaviers smile fades. His eyes darken, just a fraction.

"Busy? Of course Im busy," he says, his voice dropping an octave. "But my wife is fresh out of surgery. I need to be here to take care of her."

The words should be sweet. Instead, they taste like iron.

I force a polite smile. "You don't have to. Barbara has it covered."

He ignores me.

And he stays.

For the next few weeks, Xavier is a fixture in the house. The cold shoulder is gone, replaced by a suffocating attentiveness.

But there are cracks in the performance.

Every now and then, his phone vibrates. He glances at the screen, his jaw tightens, and he walks out to the terrace.

He speaks in hushed tones.

It has to be Serena.

It takes a full month before Victoria lifts the house arrest.

The second Im cleared, I go home.

Sharon is waiting at the door. She looks me over, checking for cracks in the porcelain.

"Are you sure you're okay? No pain? Maybe we should stop by the hospital just to be safe."

I actually laugh. "Mom, I'm fine. Im completely healed. Dr. Hayes signed off on everything."

"I'm going to the organic butcher," she announces, grabbing her purse. "Im getting a free-range hen. We need to make you a proper bone broth. You need the collagen."

"I'll come with you," I say, grabbing my keys.

We walk to the car. The air feels good. Freedom feels good.

"Is Dad busy?" I ask.

For the last month, its mostly been Sharon visiting me. Gregory has been a ghost.

Sharon nods, buckling her seatbelt.

"You know him. Hes married to that firm. He practically sleeps in his office these days trying to keep everything afloat."

I look out the window. Guilt pricks at me, but I push it down.

"Don't overthink it, Elena," Sharon says softly, placing a hand on my knee. "Your father meant what he said. If you can't stand living with Xavier anymore... we walk away. Even if the company goes under. He won't let you be a martyr."

I turn to her, smiling.

"I know, Mom. But I'm not suffering. Really."

And its the truth.

Im fine. Because Im empty.

When you stop caring, you stop bleeding. Its the only universal truth that matters.

We get back to the house.

Gregory comes home earlyaround five. A miracle.

Chapter 10

"Elena, how is the decision coming along? About the divorce?"

Gregorys voice cuts through the clinking of silverware.

My fork halts halfway to my mouth. I freeze. I didn't expect him to be this persistent.

"I..."

"Mr. Zhou." Barbaras voice acts like a warning siren from the foyer.

I snap my head toward the entrance.

Xavier is already there.

He fills the doorway, radiating raw, suffocating power. Hes wearing that signature lazy smirkthe one that makes him look like a devil in a bespoke suit.

His eyes crinkle at the corners, but the warmth never reaches the iris. He looks at us like were beneath him.

He prowls over to the table.

He grips the back of the chair next to mine and pulls it out. The wood scrapes harsh against the floor. He sits.

"Dad. Mom."

My parents nod stiffly. They ask if hes eaten.

"Not yet." Xavier glances at the housekeeper. "Barbara, set a plate."

Then, he swivels his head. His gaze locks onto me.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming home?"

I open my mouth, but the air is stuck in my throat.

He doesn't wait for an answer. He leans in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper that carries effortlessly across the silent room.

"And who, exactly, are you planning to divorce?"

He heard