I Told My Domineering Husband I Never Enjoyed It Chapter 09

I Told My Domineering Husband I Never Enjoyed It Chapter 09

I woke up to sunlight the next morning.

Thankfully it was the weekend, so I could sleep in.

I slipped into my slippers and headed downstairs for breakfast.

But the moment I sat down, someone settled into the seat across from me.

I looked up, startled-it was Rhys.

He fixed his dark eyes on me, faint shadows bruising the skin beneath them.

The first thing he said was, “Why did you throw away the picture frame?”

I took a sip of milk.

“It was annoying to look at. So I threw it away.”

He watched me in silence.

After a long moment, he reached inside his suit jacket, took out the frame, and set it on the table.

The glass still had the crack from when I’d thrown it into the trash.

“I got it back.” His voice was as calm as ever.

I shot to my feet.

“We’re getting divorced. Whether you picked it up or not doesn’t change anything.”

“Did you sign the papers?”

He leaned back in his chair and looked up at me. “No.”

I forced myself to stay calm.

“Why not?”

“I had my lawyer review every clause over and over, I didn’t take anything that wasn’t mine.”

“I even worked out a plan to separate our families’ joint business interests so the impact would be

minimal.”

“What exactly are you unhappy with?”

Silence stretched between us.

Then my phone buzzed. I glanced down. It was a text from Kellan.

[Seren, there’s a new project starting Monday. Are you free to touch base beforehand?]

I didn’t bother shielding my screen from Rhys.

I typed my reply right in front of him: [Sure. Your call on the time.]

Rhys looked away from my screen. His jaw tightened.

“So it really is because of him.”

That was the last straw.

“This has nothing to do with Kellan. Are you seriously deranged?”

I let out a slow breath.

I had no intention of arguing in the middle of a quiet hotel restaurant.

We were ruining everyone else’s breakfast.

I grabbed his sleeve and pulled him out onto the terrace.

“If we’re doing this, then let’s actually talk.”

I looked him straight in the eye.

“Answer me honestly.”

“Do you really not have any feelings for Maren?”

“No.” His answer came without hesitation.

“Then why did you step away from me the second Maren showed up at ApexCore Technologies?”

He lowered his gaze, as if searching his memory.

“I thought you didn’t want anyone at work to know about us.”

“…What?”

“Because you didn’t call me ‘honey.””

I stared at him.

“Are you serious?”

“I was at work. You expected me to call you ‘honey’ at the office?”

He paused. “Why not?”

I took a deep breath.

“And yesterday? You let go of my hand and walked away to help Maren.”

“Everyone in Hartwell’s social circle saw it.”

“Since when are you so eager to play the hero?”

His lips parted. Finally, he said, “The people giving her trouble worked for one of Hollister Group’s subsidiaries.”

What kind of excuse was that?

I leaned against the railing, exhausted.

“Rhys. I don’t want that life anymore.”

“I spent years following you. Making my whole world revolve around you.”

“What was I to you, really?”

He stepped closer. “My wife.”

“Then why did you let go of my hand?” I asked, my voice calm.

“Did you ever stop to think… that it might hurt me too?”

He reached toward my face.

I turned away. His hand hung in the air before slowly dropping.

“I’m sorry.”

I froze.

In all these years, it was the first time I’d ever heard those words from him.

He struggled to continue. “I thought…”

“I thought you were leaving me for Kellan.”

“So that was the real reason?”

I frowned. “But what difference would it make?”

I was starting to think I would never understand the way Rhys’s mind worked.

A strange thought suddenly crossed my mind.

I looked at him. But I didn’t ask.

I wasn’t going to flatter myself again.

His voice turned rough. “I just…”

The words clearly weren’t easy for him.

“I wanted you… to be jealous.”

He said the last two words so quietly I almost missed them.

I gave a short laugh.

“Oh, so what you wanted… was for me to be hurt.”

After a long silence, I smiled with open disbelief.

“Drop the act. Since when are you this childish?”

Rhys went completely still.

“Finished?” I asked.

“If you are, go sign the divorce papers.’

The corners of his eyes had turned red.

When he spoke again, his voice was no longer steady.

“You don’t need me anymore?”

I looked at him for a long time. Then I smiled.

“It looks like I had it all wrong.”

“It wasn’t me who needed you-it was you who needed me all along.”

He didn’t deny it. He only looked at me with stubborn, unwavering eyes.

I shook my head.

“Just sign the papers.”

“Let’s end this with some dignity.”

And with that, I turned and walked away without a single glance back.