Page 87 of My Ruthless Husband

The moment I got out of the bedroom, I unexpectedly found a tall, formidable woman standing there dressed in a tailored black suit. A commanding figure, towering at an impressive 5’10”. Her hazel eyes met mine, sharp and observant. Her short, jet-black hair framed a face marked with a few subtle scars and her sun-kissed complexion only added to the raw beauty of her features.

“Mrs. Montgomery, I’m Vicky Paulsen, your new personal bodyguard,” she introduced herself, her voice calm and collected.

“Oh, okay. Well, Damian didn’t tell me about this.”

“Mr. Montgomery is currently on a business trip, and I’m here to provide dedicated security in his absence. If there’s anything specific you’d like to know or discuss, feel free to ask. Your safety is my top priority.”

All I managed to grasp from her words was that Damian was gone. “I’m sorry, business trip?”

She nodded. “He had to go away for an urgent business trip last night. He didn’t want to wake you up, that’s why he wentunannounced,” she stated matter-of-factly. “Chief accompanied him.”

“Chief?”

“Hal,” she explained. “He is the chief of security.”

My brows raised, I never heard anyone addressing him as chief before.

“Where?”

“Dubai, I believe,” She informed. I processed the information.

“A business trip to Dubai? I wasn’t aware,” I admitted.I was never his first priority,My mind echoed with the bitter recognition that, once again, I found myself taking second place to his work.

It wasn’t the first time, but his sudden departure to Dubai, unannounced, struck a chord of resentment within me. It just proved that my place in his life was often an afterthought, something that held no importance, something he could manage according to his busy schedule.

I didn’t let the gloomy thought distract me. This was good. His absence gave me opportunities to plan my escape. “Will you be leaving once Damian returns?” I asked casually.

“No, Mrs. Montgomery. I’ll be here for as long as needed. Mr. Montgomery regards your safety with the utmost priority. Even when he returns, I’ll continue to ensure your security. If there are any adjustments or specific preferences you have regarding my presence, please let me know. Your comfort and safety are of the highest importance.”

“Okay. Thank you and please call me River.”

“I can’t,” She gave me a small smile to soften the blow then followed me down and kept guard while I had my breakfast.

I figured I might as well make good use of my time without Damian, so I got in touch with Catherine, the hostess from last night’s fundraiser, and a couple of her friends to invite themfor lunch. This was the perfect opportunity to discuss volunteer work.

It was also the very first time I invited someone over. This was uncommon as my marriage was pretty much a prison sentence with no contact with the outside world. And to think, Damian did it in a way, distanced me from everyone so subtly that I didn’t even blame him for my anti-social life. And while I always preferred solitude all my life, I couldn’t help but crave human connection.

I was pleasantly surprised when they expressed the desire to meet today and subtly hinted at exploring the highly guarded lair of Damian Montgomery—an exceedingly private and immensely successful multi-billionaire, whose elusive nature has added to the mystique surrounding him. Their words.

I understood their fascination with Damian and his secretive life. After all, we hadn’t opted for the traditional route when it came to tying the knot. Instead of a grand ceremony, we got married in a registrar’s office.

I wasn’t in the state of celebrating because of what happened with dad. And given Damian’s busy schedule, we never found the time for a lavish celebration.

Hence, nobody really got to meet his new bride. It was for the best. The secrecy was needed to shield our private lives from all the unwanted attention. But it all imploded when the paparazzi caught the wind of it.

Nothing stopped the tabloids from seizing the opportunity to speculate and create narratives. They used the fact that I had married at the age of twenty-one, with Damian being ten years my senior, as fodder for sensational stories. The headlines about our relationship were downright filthy, demeaning it as some kind of scandalous affair.

For months, the Gibson vs. Montgomery saga dominated news channels, transforming our private decisions into a public spectacle.

It was a nightmare. The media circus not only scrutinized my choices but also pitied my dad and didn’t hesitate to question my upbringing. It was so horrible. I was so ashamed. I had ruined the reputation he had built over the decades in just a matter of seconds.

So… these ladies weren’t jumping at the opportunity to meet me and discuss volunteering like they were last night. They just wanted a closeup view at my scandalous life. But so what? I was going to benefit from them as well. They can have their tour of my gilded cage and I can have what I want.

I changed into an ivory long sleeve tweed mini dress paired with sleek designer heels. A delicate gold chain adorned my neck, with a small pendant. On my wrist, a slender bracelet and a classic watch added a subtle glimmer. And the pair of diamond stud earrings completed my look.

Throughout the time I was getting ready, Vicky stayed with me. I told her about my guests coming over for lunch and she simply nodded. I wonder if she reported it to Damian. Even if she did, I am not scared of him anymore.

“They are here, ma’am.” One of the guards inform us. Taking a deep breath, I give myself one last look in the mirror before venturing out of the bedroom with Vicky following right behind. Time to shelve my introverted nature and embrace the role of the perfect hostess.

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