Page 120 of My Ruthless Husband

My mouth goes dry.

“I’ll take you when the time is right. And when I do, I’ll make it unforgettable,” his dark, deep voice rumbles, his eyes smoldering with intensity.

My face heats up, heart racing at his promise. His words send a thrill coursing through me, igniting a fire that burns with a fervent longing. And although I want to hide my colored face with my hands, I find myself staring at him instead. He is just so breathtaking. I drink him in. There is not one thought left in my mind that contained anger or hurt or disappointment.

I know that whenever that moment arrives, it will be an explosion of passion unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It will be worth the wait. I just know it. Because in his arms, Ifind a desire that knows no bounds, a hunger that can never be quenched, a love that burns with an intensity that leaves me weak in the knees.

My lips part as he draws me in closer. I can feel the heat between us, a palpable tension in the air like static electricity. He cradles my head as he thoroughly devours me. But the kiss ends before I can kiss him back. And then he takes me to the place I am beginning to call home. Our mansion.

Chapter Thirty-One

Present

My mind reels with disbelief as I stare at Melissa Thompson. It can’t be her. But it is. The woman holding the empty tray, her gaze defiantly meeting mine, is none other than my childhood tormentor. The same girl who, along with her mother, made every gathering and social affair a nightmare for me.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t wrap my head around how Melissa ended up here. It’s been more than a year since our paths last crossed, and in that time, it seems the world has shifted beneath our feet.

In stunned silence, I take her in. Her hair, once glossy and meticulously styled, now bears the unmistakable signs of neglect, the poorly done color job of mismatched hues clashes with her complexion. It’s a stark contrast from the image of perfection she once projected. Even her uniform looks worn. It’sas if life has chewed her up and spat her out, leaving her barely hanging on.

Her eyes, burning with hatred, lock onto mine. Despite the scolding she’s receiving by Vicky and the manager of the pub, her focus remains squarely on me. It’s a gaze filled with accusation, with a bitterness that chills me to the bone.

“This is unacceptable.” Vicky’s voice slices through the air like a sharp blade, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. “Do you even know who she is? Who her husband is?”

The manager, already flustered by the commotion, pales visibly. His troubled gaze meets mine, and for a moment, I see a hint of recognition flash across his face. And he pales even more as he realizes who I am.

He knows he’s dealing with more than just a wealthy patron. He’s facing someone who wields power beyond money, someone who is not accustomed to being subdued by mere apologies and empty promises. He is dealing with Damian Montgomery. After all, my husband’s reputation precedes me wherever I go.

This is because of that once incident that took place before our marriage. We were out on a date. It was our first outdoor date. A private dinner at an upscale restaurant. Although I always loved spending time at the mansion with him back then, I sometimes wanted to be taken out too. When I told him, he surprised me the next day. He had made arrangements for dinner by booking the entire restaurant to avoid paparazzi violating our privacy.

Everything was wonderful until a waiter in the haste of rushing to attend to our table, accidentally brushed against me, knocking over the spoon in my hand, causing a few hot droplets to land on my chest.

As the mishap was minor, I merely laughed it off when the waiter began apologizing. He anxiously began to reach me with a tissue as if to dab at the hot liquid when someone pushed his hand away violently. It was Damian and he was livid.

In a matter of seconds, Damian’s demeanor had transformed from composed to incensed. His eyes blazed with fury as he stared at him. The restaurant staff, sensing the gravity of the situation, rushed to apologize and offer assistance.

It all went downhill when the restaurant owner showed up, clearly furious about being dragged away from wherever he’d been over something so minor. “It’s no big deal,” he scoffed. “It’s not like the entire soup burned you.” Those were his exact words.

Damian didn’t utter a single word, didn’t raise his voice in anger. Instead, he simply fixed the owner with a chilling stare, a silent promise of retribution that sent shivers down the spine of everyone in the vicinity.

The waiter, unable to withstand the tension, stammered out one last apology before fleeing the scene in terror.

Then, One day, out of nowhere, we heard the restaurant had shut down for good. Just like that. The owner vanished without a trace, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. It showed the lengths Damian would go to protect me, to ensure that even the smallest slight did not go unpunished. I remember questioning him about it and he merely shrugged explaining that the owner couldn’t take the pressure his legal team was inflicting upon them.

“But it was a mistake, Damian. A minor mistake.”

He stared at me then. “Exactly. A mistake and they paid their price.” He lifted my chin. “Whoever hurts you deserves punishment.”

“Does that include you?” I mocked. He answered with a punishing kiss, easily distracting me from the incident.

Damian’s love for me knew no bounds. At least that’s how I used to see it. Until… I was proved otherwise.

As time passed, I understood that in his eyes, I was not his wife, but his most prized possession, and he would stop atnothing to shield me from harm, no matter the cost. It was darker than it sounded.

And even after his tight security, and PR team’s efforts, the word about his involvement in the shutting down of that exclusive restaurant still got out. Or maybe itwasbecause of his team that the news got out. Maybe he wanted to let the world know that his wrath knew no mercy. Either way, after that incident, Damian’s name began to circulate through the hospitality industry—notorious for his unwillingness to let things slide. Word spread fast, and soon every restaurant owner seemed to know who he was, his reputation for holding establishments accountable cementing itself after just one encounter.

The manager rushes over, apologizing profusely. “I will fire her immediately, ma’am.”

I shake my head. “No, please. Don’t. It’s all right. I’m fine.” My attention is still fixed on Melissa. That makes her angrier and she stalks in my direction. Seeing her storming toward me with fury in her eyes, I instinctively shy away, bracing myself for what? I don’t know. But just before she can reach me, Vicky grabs her elbow with the swift iron grip and shoves her back.

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