Dear Wife, I Hate You (by Josephine Mbanefo) novel Chapter 31

Lilith’s Pov

I cried the whole night until I fell asleep without realizing it. My pillow was soaked, my eyes heavy, but sleep didn’t fix anything. I woke up the next morning feeling worse. There was this dull ache in my chest, like something was pressing against it. Still, I got up. I didn’t even think twice. I just wanted to move.

I brushed my teeth, took the quickest shower I’ve ever taken in my life. I didn’t wait for the water to get warm. I didn’t even check if the shampoo had lathered properly. I just needed to do something that would make me feel better, Sitting still made my thoughts louder.

Today I was going to walk around. I didn’t care what anyone had to say. Zoey, with all her fake smiles and fake friendship, and Killian, my husband, the one who stood there and called me a slut. I wasn’t going to sit down and sulk. I knew the truth. And no matter what, I would never betray my friend.

Or should I say my enemy??

I got dressed, casual clothes, nothing fancy. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I just wanted to breathe again.

As I walked downstairs, I started hearing voices. Familiar ones. Killian and Zoey. I didn’t know they were already up. Maybe I should have just gone past, maybe explored every corner of this house that technically belonged to both of us. Marriage or not, I lived here too.

But I walked into the living room anyway, and immediately, they both turned to look at me. Their eyes landed on me like I was some ghost. I looked straight at Zoey.

“You,” I said coldly.

Zoey stood up fast, like she was expecting this.

“Lilith, I’m so sorry. I’m really sorry about yesterday. I should’ve come out sooner, but I was scared. I was just scared.”

She reached for my hand. I pulled it away.

“This is the second time you’re acting like a bitch, Zoey,” I said, my voice shaking but steady. “What makes you think I’ll just let you go like that?”

“I know, I know,” she said quickly. “But I’ve told Killian everything now. I’ve told him. I swear, I told him. And I think he believes me. He has to believe me.”

She turned to Killian. “Please, tell her. I told you everything. She’s innocent.”

I looked at Killian. Waiting. Waiting for something. A word. An apology. Anything to undo what he said last night.

But he just stared at me and said, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

I blinked, once. Twice. “You don’t have anything to say to me?”

Killian crossed his arms. “Are you expecting an apology? You could have just told me what happened, Lilith.”

“I was trying to protect my friend. Telling you would’ve been betraying her.”

He scoffed. “The same friend I’m now helping? What betrayal are you even talking about? This whole thing is your fault, not mine. So don’t stand there expecting any apology. Because it’s not coming.”

“Right,” I said quietly. “It’s okay.”

I didn’t look at him again.

As the words left my mouth, the front door opened. Nolan walked in. His steps were quiet but his presence filled the room. His eyes landed on me and stayed there.

For a second, I thought I was dreaming. Why was he looking at me like that?

He didn’t stop until he reached the middle of the room. Killian gave him a small nod. Zoey walked over and hugged him immediately, but Nolan didn’t take his eyes off me. Not once.

“Hi,” I said quietly. “Good morning.”

He nodded slightly but didn’t say a word. Then he sat down.

“What’s the issue?” Nolan asked, his voice calm but firm.

As Nolan asked what the issue was, I quietly moved to the couch with Zoey. My legs felt weak, but I wasn’t going to let that show. Killian told Zoey to repeat everything she had told him earlier. So, Zoey started talking, her voice shaking at first, but she picked up pace. She poured it all out. Every word. Every secret.

When she finished, Nolan didn’t react. No sigh. No curse. No look of disappointment. Just a calm, steady “Okay.”

That was it?

Then he looked at Zoey and said, “Why didn’t you tell me all this while?”

She fiddled with her fingers. “I was scared.”

“Right. Scared,” Nolan said again. Still no emotion or judgement. Just that sharp calmness that made you feel like he was figuring out ten different things at once.

“There’s a way to fix this,” he added. “I’ll contact someone. I’ll do it quietly and no one will know. I’ll fix a date with the person and sort it out.”

Zoey panicked, “We don’t have much time. He’s threatening me. He says if I don’t show up in four days…”

Nolan nodded slowly. “I got it. I’ll handle it. I’ll update you both later today.”

Zoey jumped up and hugged him tightly. Then walked over and pecked him gently on the cheek. Still, he didn’t respond. No shift. No glance. But I swear–he was still looking at me,

Or maybe it was in my head.

Killian stood. “That’s it for now. I’ll be at the office. If anything comes up, call me.”

And just like that, he was gone.

Zoey followed Nolan out. I was left halfway in the living room, feeling everything and nothing at once. The silence hit, and I needed air. I needed space.

So I started walking.

Every hallway. Every corner. Every room.

I hadn’t realized how huge this house really was. Crystal floors, spotless surfaces, doors leading to more doors. I found the storeroom. A gym. A private cinema. My lips parted slightly. Where the hell have I been?

I touched the plush seats in the movie room. I could live here. I could lose myself here.

It took me a while–maybe more than an hour–but I toured it all. My mind wandered with each step. This place could hide a murder and no one would know. Strange thought. But honest.

Eventually, I made it to the backyard. The pool shimmered under the soft light. I had never dipped in it before. The staff were gone. No one in sight. Just the security far away and probably dozing off.

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