Dear Wife, I Hate You (by Josephine Mbanefo) novel Chapter 47

Lilith’s Pov

I felt something heavy pressed against my face. My eyes opened slowly. Emily.

She was sleeping like a madwoman, half her body sprawled over mine. Her hand was on my face, her leg tangled with mine.

“Emily, stay properly,” I mumbled, trying to breathe.

She groaned. “Just go to sleep.”

“It’s morning.” I said, already sliding her arm off my face. “We need to get on with our day.”

“Okay, okay, I’m waking up,” she muttered, eyes still closed.

I pushed her leg off me and sat up. She didn’t move.

I tapped her shoulder. “Wake up. We have a lot to do.”

She groaned again, then sat up dramatically. “I’m awake, soldier! What do you want me to help you with? I’m at your service!”

I laughed. “Your breath stinks. Go brush first, then we’ll talk about service.”

We both burst into laughter, playfully nudging each other, still half–asleep and messy–haired.

Just then, a knock came, and before we could answer, someone walked in.

It was Maya.

I didn’t even remember telling her to come in. I wiped at my eyes and blinked up at her.

“Maya? Is there a problem?” I asked, voice still groggy.

“No,” she replied quickly.

Emily raised an eyebrow. “Are you here to start another fight this early morning?”

Maya looked down. “No. I’m not here to start a fight.”

“Then get on with it,” Emily snapped.

I touched Emily’s arm. “Calm down. Let her speak.”

Maya stepped closer. She didn’t look angry. She looked… nervous?

“I’m here to apologize,” she said quietly.

I blinked. “What? You’re here to apologize?”

“Yes,” she nodded. “I just finished thinking about everything I did. It wasn’t right. I hurt you, Lilith… and you too, Emily. I shouldn’t have done that. It was wrong of me as a girl, when I could have just… tried to be friends instead.”

Emily crossed her arms. “You can be friends with Lilith. But definitely not me. Anyone who hurts my friend isn’t my friend.”

Maya nodded slowly. “I get that. I don’t expect you to forgive me now. I just needed to say I’m sorry. Also… I arranged your things back in the garden. You left them out yesterday. I just… wanted to show I mean it.”

I looked at her carefully. “Are you being honest?”

“Yes,” she said.

“You want to be friends… for real?”

She nodded again. “Yes. I don’t want to fight with my brother’s wife, even if I preferred your sister before.”

Emily scoffed. “There it is. You just had to say that.”

Maya raised her hands. “No, no! I’m just trying to be honest. I’m sorry, okay?”

I sighed. “We’ll think about it. Right now, though, we need to bathe. As you can see, we totally stink.”

Maya smiled a little. “Okay. I understand. Maybe later in the day, we can talk.”

She turned to Emily. “I’d like to speak with you after breakfast. Just privately.”

Emily frowned. “Anything you want to say, you can say in front of Lilith. She’s like my sister.”

“Please,” Maya said, softly. “Just give me a listening ear. It’s private.”

I gave Emily a look. “It wouldn’t hurt. Talk to her after breakfast. If anything goes wrong, I’m right here.”

Emily exhaled. “Fine. But first, I’m bathing and eating.”

Maya smiled. “Okay.” Then she turned and left quietly.

After Maya left, Emily turned to me, wide–eyed. “What the hell was that?”

I blinked. “I honestly don’t know. I’m just as shocked as you are.”

She scoffed. “I don’t trust her. I know exactly what she’s trying to do–get on our good side and then stab us in the back like the snake she is.”

“Emily…” I said softly, “don’t be so cruel. What if… she really wants to make amends?”

“Amends, my foot.” She folded her arms. “So what now? We give her a chance, and the next thing she’s hanging out with us, coming to your room, acting like nothing happened?”

I bit my lip. “I just… feel like I need to forgive her.”

Emily rolled her eyes. “Okay, Mrs. Forgiveness. Mrs. Lilith Williams Forgiveness.”

“Stop,” I giggled. “Let me take my bath. Do you want to use the other bedroom outside?”

“Nope,” she said. “I want to stay in the same room as you.”

“Then go first,” I told her.

“No, you go,” she replied, flopping on the bed. “I’ll just rest a bit.”

So I went first. I took my bath and started preparing. A few minutes later, Emily got up, took hers, and got ready too. Once we were done, we headed downstairs for breakfast.

As usual, Killian was there. Nolan too. Zoey was seated, and so were Killian’s parents. Maya was also there.

We quietly found our seats. No one said a word.

Then Maya suddenly said. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Emily and I exchanged glances, and then looked around. Everyone’s eyes were on us.

“Uh, yeah… we’re here now,” I replied awkwardly.

Rose came and served breakfast. The room stayed silent–awkwardly so–until Zoey suddenly broke it.

“Oh my God, I have news!” she chirped, eyes wide.

She turned to Nolan. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you privately. I knew you’d miss me too much.”

Nolan raised a brow. “What is it?”

“I have a business deal to attend to. I’ll be gone for a few weeks… maybe even a month.”

Everyone turned to look at her.

Zoey raised both hands. “Please don’t hate me! I just found out about it last night and I was scared to say anything.”

She looked directly at Nolan, her eyes basically begging him not to be upset.

Nolan sighed. “It’s fine. Just keep in touch.”

Zoey beamed. “Thank you! Lilith, don’t miss me too much, okay?”

I smiled. “I’ll try.”

Killian’s mom asked, “When are you going?”

“Right after breakfast,” Zoey said, already standing. “I told the workers to help pack my stuff.”

Killian’s dad frowned. “Next time, let us know earlier. This isn’t how you handle things in a family.”

Zoey lowered her head. “I’m really sorry, Dad. It won’t happen again.”

I blinked. Wait… she calls Nolan’s dad ‘Dad‘? That’s kind of cute.

We continued eating.

Then Maya looked at Emily and said, “Can I talk to you now?”

Emily was mid–bite. “I’m still eating”

“Please,” Maya insisted. “It’s urgent.”

Emily turned to me.

I gave a small nod. “It’s okay. You can go.”

Emily stood and followed Maya out of the dining room.

I stayed quiet, stealing a glance at Killian. He was eating like he didn’t have a care in the world. Beside me, I could feel Nolan’s gaze on me.

When I turned to him, he was still looking.

I smiled.

And that’s when I felt it–my heart beating way too fast.

Why was I smiling like that? Why did Nolan’s gaze feel like a warm hug? And… why was I wishing Killian would look at me the same way?

The meal ended. Killian’s parents were the first to leave the table.

Killian stood next and left for his room, probably getting ready for work.

Only Nolan, Zoey, and I remained.

“So…. what are you doing today?” Nolan asked me.

I shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

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