Dear Wife, I Hate You (by Josephine Mbanefo) novel Chapter 35

Lilith’s Pov

I couldn’t breathe.

Not because I was choking, not because something was stuck in my throat… but because Killian had just kissed me. He kissed me. Not a dream, not a fantasy. His lips. My lips. A moment I never thought would exist between us, especially not after everything I did. Not after the way I broke him.

And now, I was walking back to my room.

Correction: I had been sent out of his.

I didn’t blame him. He probably hated himself for letting that happen. Maybe he hated me too. Maybe that kiss brought back everything I made him feel—the pain, the betrayal, the heartbreak. And maybe he hated that he wanted it.

I didn’t even know what I felt. My lips still tingled. My skin was still on fire.

I shut the door to my room, the silence suddenly too loud. It was barely 10 p.m. I stared at my phone for a second before deciding. I needed someone. Someone who knew me beyond this hell.

Emily.

I dialed.

“Hey, what’s up?” Her voice was bubbly as always.

“I’m fine… you?”

“Nothing much, just texting someone,” she said, and I could practically hear the smirk in her voice.

I smiled weakly. “Who is she?”

“Hmm, maybe when we see in person. I have a feeling this call isn’t just to check up on me. Because since you got married, I can count how many times you’ve called me.”

I winced. “Ouch.”

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

“It’s not like that,” I whispered, flopping down onto my bed. “Okay, maybe it is. But I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted… now spill.”

I bit my lip. “Killian kissed me.”

“What?! Lilith–what did you just say?! He what?!”

I held back a laugh. “Calm down. It just… happened. One minute we were watching a movie, and the next–his lips were on mine. Then he told me to leave. Like, just like that.”

“Oh my God,” Emily gasped. “He’s such a bitch.”

“Emily.”

“No, I mean it! But also…. you’re getting somewhere. That kiss means something, even if he’s in denial.”

I sighed, fingers curling in the bedsheet. “I don’t know what to think.”

“Where are you now?”

“In my room.”

“Nope. Not tonight,” Emily said, firm. “You’re going to sleep in his room.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Don’t argue. Whether he wants you there or not, that’s your place too. Don’t let a kiss drive you away. If he feels something, let him face it.”

“I’m scared he’ll just snap.”

“Then he snaps. You’ll live. Now go.”

I exhaled slowly. “Okay…”

We talked for a bit more, then ended the call. I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

Same face.

Same girl.

I opened the door and walked down the hall, past the lounge and into his room. He was sitting up in bed, head resting on the headboard, looking like someone who hadn’t figured out how to breathe since I left.

He looked at me, startled.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, voice rough, guarded.

I lifted my chin, switching to that stubborn side of me I barely ever showed.

“I don’t understand the question,” I said. “I told you I’d be sleeping here from now on. Or is it because we kissed that I’m no longer allowed to sleep in my own room too?”

He didn’t say anything.

Not a word.

So, I walked over to the bed and laid down. My body was exhausted–physically and emotionally. All the walking, the pretending, the almost crying… it drained me.

I turned slightly toward him.

“Goodnight,” I said softly.

He didn’t reply as usual.

Waking up the next morning, I blinked a few times before sitting up slowly. The space beside me was quiet. He was still sleeping. Killian looked so peaceful… almost like he didn’t carry the weight of a million secrets on his shoulders.

I just stood there for a second, watching him.

Then I did what I always did. Picked out his clothes for the day. Set them aside neatly.

I figured maybe today I shouldn’t push him. Maybe just give him space. I needed that too.

So I left quietly, heading back to my room. Dropped on the bed and let myself lay there for a bit. I was tired. Everything—from the kiss, the silence after, the confusion—it all clung to me like weight I couldn’t shake off.

After a few minutes, I sat up. “Yeah,” I muttered to myself, “you’ve got stuff to do.”

I slipped into a casual dress, something simple but nice, and went downstairs. Breakfast time.

Killian was already there.

How the hell did he get ready so fast? Did he even sleep long?

I sat down across from him. He glanced at me but didn’t say a word. Typical.

I didn’t know if I should bring it up. The kiss. The silence after. Or if it was better to pretend nothing happened. Pretend my heart didn’t leap a little when his lips touched mine.

So I ate. Quietly. Trying not to look at him too much.

Just as I was about to leave to grab my sketchpad and head outside, Nolan walked in.

“I’m heading out for the meeting,” he said.

Killian didn’t even hesitate. “Go without me. Keep me updated.”

Not even a look in my direction. He stood up, said nothing, and walked away.

I hated how that made me feel. Like I didn’t exist.

Nolan glanced up from his phone and looked at me. “Wanna come with me?”

I blinked. “What?”

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