Page 122 of My Ruthless Husband

Then like lightning bolt, realization hits. He isn’t doing this for me.

Memories flood back like a tidal wave, crashing over me with such a force, it sweeps me back in time. I find myself standing in Damian’s home office, hugging his anniversary gift to my chest.

Tucking a curl behind my ear, I slowly step into the dimly lit home office, a nervous excitement coursing through me. It’sour first wedding anniversary, and I can’t wait to surprise Damian. I lift the small gift and smile softly. It’s a 3D solar system crystal ball.

Damian has everything, and it’s hard to find something that truly catches his eye. But I remembered his fascination with stars and space, so when I found this beautiful piece online, it felt meant to be.

It’s not just a gift.It’s a reflection of what he means to me. This isn’t about stars or galaxies; it’s about showing him that he’s my everything. My universe. The one I orbit around, always.

He hasn’t spoken to me properly in what feels like an eternity. And our relationship feels strained by distance. Even today, he is not with me. But it’s all right. I will wait for him. I will like I always do. Because I love him. I refuse to be upset over the distance between us. And through this gift, I hope to bridge the gap between us, to remind him that no matter how far apart we may be, my love for him remains strong, like the gravitational pull of the sun.

The familiar sight of his cluttered desk greets me, papers strewn haphazardly across its surface. I take a deep breath and move toward the desk, the gift still clutched tightly in my hand.

Where do I hide it? I think inwardly as I glance around. Most probably on the desk, so he could find it as soon as he gets here. But there’s no space. I begin with the top drawer of the desk and find it locked. I try the second one and it’s locked too.

I am about to head to the bookshelves across the desk when something catches my eye. A piece of what appears to be a folder is peeking out from under the table. Frowning, I sit on Damian’s chair and roll it forward to the desk. Putting my hand underneath the desk, I try to tug the paper.

It doesn’t come off but when I pull again, a hidden drawer opens. Stunned, I peer inside and find files.

This might be a better place for hiding the gift. Grinning to myself, I begin lifting the files to make room. But as I do, a folder slips from one of the files, spilling its contents onto the floor in a flurry of papers and photographs.

I bend to gather them but my heart stops. The familiar faces of my family stares back at me from the photographs.Alongside them are documents detailing my father’s business dealings and financial records.

Confused, I struggle to make sense of what I’m seeing. Putting the rest of the files back on the desk, I open the one that contained the folder. My college schedule. My birth certificate. My bank information. Dad’s business partners’ personal information. Their families’ records.

Why would my husband have these files? And why keep them hidden like this?

I flip through a few pictures of me with Dad at charity galas, some from my high school graduation. Then I find a document detailing my food preferences, allergies, and a few other personal things.

My hands tremble as I sift through the papers, each one feeling like a dagger to the heart. The notes and annotations over my lunch breaks and the time I visited the campus café.

All those “coincidences,” the gifts, the sweet gestures,everything, down to the smallest detail, was carefully orchestrated.The dinners, the dates, the way he held me like he couldn't get enough—all of it was calculated. It wasn’t love.It was manipulation. It was a lie.

Then it dawns on me. My husband has been using me, using our marriage as a stepping stone to get closer to my family, to gain control, power, and leverage.

My heart aches as I look at the proof spread out before me. I thought I knew him. I thought we shared something real. But now, with tears blurring my vision, all I can see is the betrayal.

Why, Damian? Why?

If he had only asked, if he had only opened up to me, I would have given him everything—my love, my loyalty, my very life. I would have laid the world at his feet, without hesitation or reservation. But instead, he chose to deceive me, to manipulate my trust for his own gain.

Was I just a pawn in his game, a means to an end? Did he see me as nothing more than a means to an end? The mere thought sends shards of pain ripping through my soul.

What did I do to deserve this betrayal?

How could he play me like this, toy with my emotions as if they were nothing.

The tears come then, hot and bitter, as I realize the depth of his deception. He didn’t just betray me—he shattered me, leaving behind nothing but broken pieces of the woman I was moments ago.

I don’t know how long I stay inside his home office, but when I walk out from there, I decide to walk out from this mansion and away from the man who was my universe.

All I can do is sink weakly into the nearest chair.

My heart lurches with alarm. It’s such a shock, I could hardly make sense of it.

All this time, I was convinced that Damian’s animosity toward my father stemmed from their business rivalry. But I’m not so sure anymore.

He had detailed information on everyone connected to my father, including me. Melissa claimed he destroyed her and her family’s lives. He’s ruined my life as well by marrying me without a shred of love.

---