From Neglected Wife to CEO’s Obsession novel Chapter 74

I jerked my head up, stunned. I could feel it—Julia was about to say something that would turn my whole world upside down, something that would make me question everything I thought I knew about Remy, about people in general.

She stared at me, taking her sweet time, her eyes tracing over features so much like my own. But where my face was tense, hers was smug and sharp, her lips curled into a taunting little smile that practically dripped with contempt.

I waited, trying to keep my cool while bracing myself for whatever bomb she was about to drop. It felt like she was holding a knife behind her back, just waiting for the right moment to let it fly—something that would rip my past to pieces and leave nothing behind but wreckage.

Julia clicked her tongue and said, “Well, I can’t really blame you. You never even slept with him, did you? Remy is… let’s just say, he’s got a big appetite. When we were together, unless there was a good reason, he wanted it every single day. I was sore basically twenty-five days a month.”

She paused, letting that sink in before continuing, “Actually, he came to me before you two even got married. Remember that time around Dragon Boat Festival, when he went overseas for that seventeen-day work trip? That was the first time he showed up at my place. You seriously didn’t know? Avery, you were way too trusting. Men—they’ll promise you the world and turn around the next second to chase whatever they want. Trust me, unless you nail them to the wall, they’ll do anything for a quick thrill.”

Her words hit me like a punch straight to the chest.

Back then, Remy was desperately trying to save Thompson Corporation, flying across the country and overseas all the time. I wanted to take the pressure off him, so I took care of everything at home—Cindy and Marissa, every single day.

Cindy was just a little kid, crying for her dad every night. Marissa, always looking for drama, spread rumors about me—that I was cruel to Cindy, that I disrespected the elders, that I was cold and heartless.

No matter how hard it got, I never complained to Remy. Not once.

I loved him. I would have done anything for him.

That trip really happened—he was gone for seventeen days. When he came back, he looked exhausted, travel-worn, but he smiled at me so gently and said, “Avery, I brought you a gift. Do you like it?”

He gave me a ring, the kind you’re only supposed to have once in a lifetime. I cried. I held him for so long that night. We didn’t go all the way, but just being close to him made me happy.

Deep down, there was a voice in me screaming for Julia to just stop, to leave me with at least a shred of dignity.

But my mind told me to grit my teeth and take it. Rip off the band-aid, deal with the pain now so it didn’t drag on forever.

Remy was a tumor—I had to cut him out before he poisoned me any further.

Hate took root inside me, growing and spreading until it choked out every other feeling.

Julia wasn’t finished. She twisted the knife even deeper. “By that time, the guy who used to take me out was already over me, barely called anymore. I was bored out of my mind, and then Remy just shows up at my door, looking like he’d crossed the world to see me. You can’t even imagine—he grabbed me right there in the yard, didn’t even wait to go inside. He was like a wild animal. First time after so long apart, it went on for two hours. I passed out three times, lost my voice from screaming. Even now, just thinking about it makes my skin tingle.”

I lowered my eyes, hiding how much it hurt. I refused to look at her, refused to give her the satisfaction. My voice shook, but I managed to say, “That’s impossible, Julia. Remy told me everything about you. These last six years, you two haven’t even been in contact. You’re just making things up. Even if things are over between me and him, I still believe in his character. I always have.”