Dear Wife, I Hate You (by Josephine Mbanefo) novel Chapter 61

Killian’s Pov

After I dropped the call, I just sat there, staring at my phone like it had betrayed me.

Nolan said he didn’t know where she was.

He lied.

He had to have lied.

Where the hell is my wife?

Where is she sleeping? Whose bed is she lying on?

The thought made something dark rise in me.

I was furious–boiling.

I tried to calm down, to focus. I told myself to just… breathe.

I needed to find her.

I needed to bring her back home.

This is her home, isn’t it?

This was what she wanted all along–me, the house, the marriage.

So why the hell is she running now?

I pushed the thoughts aside and opened my laptop, hoping work would distract me.

Emails. Just emails.

But even as I read, my mind wasn’t there.

I kept wondering what she was doing.

Was she safe?

Was she crying?

Was she with someone?

God–was she with him?

I wanted to scream. I wanted to break something.

I stood up, my body restless, and decided to go downstairs and eat.

Maybe food would help me clear my head.

As I walked down, I heard a voice.

It was Maya.

She was on the phone.

I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, so I turned to leave.

But then I heard it.

“Oh my God, tell me–where is she?”

My steps froze.

Then came the next sentence:

“Just tell me where Lilith is. Is she safe?”

I stepped back, quietly. My ears alert.

What was Maya talking about?

Then I heard it–clear as day.

“What do you mean she’s in Nolan’s second apartment?”

I stood still. My whole body froze.

Nolan lied.

That bastard lied to me.

He’s hiding my wife.

He looked me in the face and told me he didn’t know where she was.

Why?

Why would he do that?

What was he trying to prove?

My chest tightened.

I clenched my jaw and told myself–tomorrow.

Tomorrow morning, I’d go there.

No one would know.

Not Maya. Not Nolan.

Not even Lilith.

I’d go.

And I’d bring her home.

Because that’s where she belongs. With me.

On my way to the dining room. I met Rose.

“Is the food ready?” I asked, trying to sound normal.

“Yes, sir,” she said, “I’ll bring it right away.”

I sat at the table, but when she brought the dishes, I barely touched them.

My appetite was gone.

Everything in me was just… off.

This whole thing was eating me up from the inside.

Still, knowing where she was gave me a little calm.

Not peace, but something close to it.

Then, my mother came in and sat beside me.

“Are you feeling better?” she asked gently.

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” I replied without looking at her.

She sighed. “Killian, stop closing up from me. Open up, son.”

I swallowed hard. “Mother, if there’s anything to tell you…. I will.”

She nodded. She didn’t push.

But I could feel her worry hanging in the air.

After a few more bites, I stood up and walked away.

I made a promise to myself right there-

I was going to sleep early.

I’d wake up before anyone else.

And I’d find her.

I’d show up without warning.

And Nolan… Nolan was going to pay for lying to me.

How dare he hide her from me?

Back in my room, I showered quickly.

Then I sat on my bed with my laptop and forced myself to work for a while.

Emails, documents, anything to burn the time.

Finally, I closed it.

I lay back and stared at the ceiling.

Tomorrow, I’m bringing her home.

Whether she likes it or not.

Waking up the next morning, I sat on the edge of my bed for a long moment.

Today.

It was finally the day.

The day I bring my wife home.

I dragged myself to the bathroom and freshened up.

I had planned to leave early–first light.

But maybe I needed the delay.

Maybe I’m not as calm as I thought.

No, I wasn’t missing her.

Let’s get that straight.

I wasn’t some lovesick fool pacing in his room.

I just wanted what belonged to me to be where she should be.

At home.

With me.

I decided to work for a few hours, just to keep my mind busy.

At exactly 10:00 a.m., I shut my laptop.

Time’s up.

It was time to go get my lovely, beautiful wife.

I laughed to myself–cold and a little bitter.

When I stepped out of my room, I skipped breakfast without thinking.

I didn’t even notice. I hadn’t eaten well in days anyway.

As I headed for the front door, Maya spotted me from the hallway.

“You didn’t go to work today?” she asked, surprised.

“Yeah, I didn’t go to work today, Maya,” I replied coolly.

Then I turned to her, pausing for a beat.

“Thanks for your help.”

Her brow lifted. “My help? What did I do?”

“Nothing,” I said, giving her a knowing look. “Just… thank you.”

She squinted a little. “Okay… whatever,” she mumbled and walked off.

Yeah. Whatever.

I stepped into the car and told the driver the destination–Nolan’s second apartment.

The place wasn’t exactly close, but not too far either.

Still, it gave me time to think… or rather, overthink.

I stared out the window, every second adding to the tension building in my chest.

When we finally arrived, the gate opened automatically.

Of course it did.

Nolan had upgraded the place with a fancy system–recognizes car plates.

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