From Neglected Wife to CEO’s Obsession novel Chapter 3

I tossed and turned for what felt like forever before finally drifting off, only to jolt awake in the middle of the night with this weird, restless feeling. I reached out, half-asleep, and realized he wasn’t there.

Panic hit me hard. I slipped out of bed and started searching for him.-

Remy hadn’t gone missing. He was just standing out on the balcony in the middle of the night, quietly talking on the phone. His voice was low and calm, but there was this icy edge to it, something sharp and almost hateful.

“Whether Julia comes back or not, it’s got nothing to do with me. Avery, Cindy, and I are a family now. And tell Julia I kept my promise. The one from all those years ago.”

Julia...

That’s his ex and Cindy’s real mom.

No wonder he’d been so moody tonight. Julia was back.

Before I married Remy, my mom sat me down and had a real heart-to-heart. She said, “There are so many good guys out there. Why does it have to be Remy? He has a daughter with his ex. That tie will always be there. Their breakup was so sudden, there’s still so much left unsaid between them. I really don’t want you to marry him. If you end up hurt, it’ll break my heart.”

I didn’t listen. I was stubborn. I wanted Remy and that was all there was to it.

Remy seemed perfect. He looked me in the eyes and promised he’d love only me, that Julia would never come between us.

But in the end, my mom was right.

There was always going to be something between Remy and Julia that I could never touch.

I stood in the dark for who knows how long, just hugging myself, feeling so alone.

Then from the balcony, I heard his heavy, almost desperate breathing. Then a soft, guttural sound that left no room for imagination.

“I’m right here, Remy. I’m alive, I’m breathing, and you’d rather hide away and take care of yourself than touch me. If that’s not humiliating, what is? I’ve been your wife for five years. I take care of you, Cindy, and your impossible mom. I did everything I could. What did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this? Is your heart made of stone or ice?”

He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes so dark I couldn’t read them. Then he walked over to the couch, sat down, and lit a cigarette, dragging on it like it was the only thing keeping him together.

I waited. I wasn’t going to let this go.

When he finally finished, he sighed and spoke, “Avery, it’s just sex. My heart is yours. Isn’t that enough? Please, let’s not fight about this. I swear, I’ll be your husband, and I’ll love you with everything I have. Isn’t that enough?”

Enough? What a joke.

So, he wanted me to just live like this? Like I was some kind of living widow?

“Remy, do you hear yourself? I married you. I didn’t sign up to be a nun. If you were really sick, I could understand, I could deal with that. But you’re not. There’s nothing wrong with you, except you refuse to touch me. So tell me, Remy, all these years, who are you saving yourself for? Julia?”