Dear Wife, I Hate You (by Josephine Mbanefo) novel Chapter 44

Killian’s Pov

I walked into the garden just in time to see Maya raise her hand at Lilith.

“Don’t you dare raise your hand on my wife,” I said, voice low but sharp.

Everyond paused. Their eyes snapped to me.

Maya stepped back slightly. “She started it. She called me a bitch.”

I looked at Lilith. “Did you?”

“Yes,” she answered, calm and unshaken. “Because look around, Killian. I came back with my painting stuff and found it all tossed aside. She nearly damaged some of it. All because she wants to have a picnic. She could have just asked.”

I turned back to Maya. “Is that true?”

She hesitated. “I just wanted to have a picnic.”

“That’s not what I asked. Did you throw her things aside?”

“…Yes.”

I shook my head. “Then you shouldn’t have done that. You should’ve asked. And Maya, don’t you ever raise your hand on my wife again. She owns this house too. Don’t disrespect her in her own home.”

“But this is your house, Killian. You’re my brother.”

“And she is my wife. Respect her.”

Then I looked at Lilith. “You should’ve handled this better too. Don’t call her names.”

Lilith turned to Maya and said, “I’m not even sorry for calling you a bitch. Because you are.”

Maya pointed. “You see what she’s doing? Don’t blame me if I raise my hand next time.”

I stepped forward. “You wouldn’t dare on my watch.”

Maya’s face twisted with anger. “I can’t believe you’re siding with her. After everything. You know what she did.”

She hissed and walked off.

Now it was just Lilith, and her ever–dramatic friend, Emily.

I glanced at Lilith. “Come with me.”

Emily moved too.

I stopped. Turned. “Just you, Lilith. Without her.”

Emily gave me that look. Like she wanted to slap me.

I didn’t care.

As I walked, my mind wasn’t calm. I didn’t defend Lilith because I cared. I didn’t do it for her. I did it because she doesn’t deserve disrespect in her own house. No one does. Not even her.

Still she needs to learn. This doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t mean I’m soft. It doesn’t mean I’m falling. She needs to watch her mouth around my family. That’s all.

I reached my office. The one inside my room. Sat down.

She followed and quietly closed the door.

She stood there, unsure.

“Come sit,” I said.

She sat across from me. Only the desk stood between us.

I leaned back in my chair. Calm. Blank.

“What was the misunderstanding for?” I asked.

She folded her arms. “I’ve already told you everything. What else do you want to hear?”

“I don’t want you having issues with my family.”

She cut in before I finished.

“I’m not having problems with your family, Killian. You are the one who wants to have a problem with me. I mind my business. I don’t go around looking for drama. They bring it to me. They make me say things I wouldn’t say otherwise. And now you’re here acting like I’m the problem.”

Her voice cracked at the end. Not from weakness. From holding too much back.

“What do you know about problems?” she snapped. “Because from what I see… they’re learning it from you.”

I raised a brow. “They’re learning it from me? I told my sister not to lay a hand on you.”

She laughed. Bitter. “And that’s an achievement? Was she supposed to hit me? For what?”

I said nothing for a second. Then…

“Anyway, that’s not the point.”

I kept my tone steady. Cold.

“What I wanted to say is this… Don’t start thinking that because I stopped Maya, I care. I don’t. I only did it because you’re my wife. And no one disrespects my wife. That’s all.”

She stared at me. Her voice low but sharp.

“Except you.”

I looked at her. “I don’t disrespect you.”

“Oh wow,” she scoffed, “You don’t? Of course not. You treat me like glass, just so you can break me.”

I shrugged. “Whatever you think. I already told you–she won’t lay a hand on you. Just respect yourself. Stay out of their way. And everything will stay quiet.”

She stood. Slowly.

“See, that’s the thing with you,” she said. “The man who doesn’t care for his wife.”

Her eyes burned into mine.

“And let me tell you something. Killian.”

She stepped closer.

“I will make you love me. Whether you want to or not. Whether you like me or not. This marriage-” she touched her chest –“we’ll do it in peace. You say it won’t work? Watch it work. On my watch.”

I sat there. Still,

“I don’t think that’s possible,” I said flatly. “You know who my heart belongs to.”

She didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away.

“Yeah, I know,” she whispered. “But I said what I said.”

She leaned forward just slightly.

“You’re going to love me. And you’re going to burn the world for me, dear husband.”

She turned to leave.

I watched her quietly for a moment before I spoke.

“Where were you last night?” I asked. “Where did you spend the night?”

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