Page 57 of My Ruthless Husband

“What is it?”

“I’d like to go with you.” I hold the invitation up.

The room remains tense as I hold his gaze. He studies me for what feels like an eternity, his expression unreadable. Finally, he breaks the silence, his voice gruff, “Why?”

“I want to go because I’m tired of being isolated,” I say. “I want to be a part of the world again, to breathe and live like a normal person. I don’t want to live like a prisoner anymore.”

It’s not just about freedom. I can’t tell him that I need it to find a way out, to plan my escape. I have to be careful with every word I say because I know he's watching, listening closely.

“Do you really think you’re in any position to make demands?”

I meet his gaze with determination. “If this is how you’re going to treat me, I’ll end up being nothing but a hollow version of who I was—just going through the motions, following orders, without feeling a damn thing. I’m already halfway there. Is that really what you want? Because if you keep this up, that’s all you’ll get.”

He strides over to his chair, his shoulders stiff. My words clearly hit a nerve. Damian may hate me, but he’s not stupid. If he really did marry me for revenge, turning me into a hollow version of myself would defeat the purpose—it would ruin his revenge. He wouldn’t find satisfaction in my suffering if I stopped feeling it altogether. And deep down he knows that.

“You want me in your life for as long as you want? Fine. You want me to stop hurting myself? Done. You want me to never run away? All right. I’ll obey. But you’re going to have to agree to a few of my conditions first.”

Leaning back in his chair, he looks at me with a cold, calculating gaze, his voice cutting through the tension. “So, what are your conditions?”

I take a deep breath, summoning all my courage. “I should be given the freedom to talk to my best friend,” I say. “And I want to go out of the house. This could be the start.” I motion toward the invite in my hand.

His eyes narrow. “So you can just run off again?”

I meet his gaze head-on. “How could I possibly do that when you’ve threatened my best friend’s life? And didn’t I make it clear that I won’t run? I remember you saying you’d punish your guards and their families if I did. I won’t ever put others in harm’s way, you know that.”

He studies me for several beats, then finally concedes. “Very well. But you’ll have a security detail following you at all times.”

I nod begrudgingly, knowing it’s the best compromise I can hope for at this point. Then, “And what about the gala?”

“Why are you so pressed about this particular gala?”

I shrug. “This feels like the perfect chance to start.” Then, “Things will change now,” I murmur to myself.

“Is that right?” He stares at me, almost like he’s challenging me.

I hold his stare, not backing down. “Yes. I am yourwife.” He treated me like his dirty little secret. Like a mistress. Eager to bed but never willing to show off. “I think it’s time you start treating me like one.”

Chapter Sixteen

Past

After our unexpected lunch last week, I couldn’t wait to see him again that weekend. After all, Damian had agreed to it at the café when I told him I wanted to see him.

When he dropped me off at my apartment, I couldn’t resist reminding him about our weekend plans. He shot me a droll look and told me to “be good.”

So I spent the next few days planning our non-date outing.

Over lunch, I seized the opportunity to ask him a few questions, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man behind the mystery that surrounded him.

“So what do you like to do in your free time?” I asked, blushing because he caught me staring at him for the third time.

“I rarely have free time,” he said gruffly. I already knew that, considering how often he worked during our late-night calls. Those calls usually went like this: I’d ramble on about school, my day, what I ate—mundane things like that. His responses were usually just grunts or short phrases like, “Hmm, okay,” or “Isthat right?” all while he focused on whatever work he had in the background.

“Still, when you do get some downtime, how do you spend it?”

“With you,” he replied matter-of-factly. My cheeks flushed as my heart skipped a beat, and I struggled good thirty seconds to find words, feeling both shocked and deeply touched by his answer.

“O-okay. What about when you’re not with me?” I asked after a few moments.

---