Page 61 of My Ruthless Husband

I snatch that one too.

Damian glares at me. Without thinking, I lean up and press a swift kiss on his jaw, catching both of us off guard.

My heart is beating fast.

“River—”

I kiss his cheek this time. Then once more before looping my arm with his and resting my head on his shoulder.

We sit there in silence for a good five minutes. I can’t quite explain what made me do it. I’m not exactly the impulsive type, but around him, something shifts in me. He brings out a part of me I hardly recognize—a part I didn’t even know was there.

Now, he knows about my feelings. I decided to be brave and made the first move.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Damian murmurs, breaking the silence.

“Then don’t.” I hug his arm to my chest, enjoying the distant sounds of crickets and the gentle breeze that carries the scent of nearby redwoods.

When he doesn’t pull away from my touch, I realize that this friendly outing just became something more.

Chapter Seventeen

Present

Isqueeze my eyes shut when I feel his warm hand run down the side of my body.

It has been three days since I traded my freedom with my best friend, Summer’s safety. Two days since I demanded him to take me to the gala. And since then, I’ve been forced to have proper meals despite my lack of appetite, have to make sure I’m following a healthy diet to improve my health because it’s one of his conditions.

The days are exhausting, with his men constantly around, monitoring my health and keeping an eye on every move I make. But somehow, I manage.

The daylight hours are easier where I can wear a mask to get through. I’ve done this before—followed the same pattern, day after day. Lived a life that was simple, predictable. Boring.

But it’s the nights that break me.

Every night, without fail, he comes to me. He takes me in his arms, and I can feel the weight of his presence, both comforting and suffocating. No matter how much I try to fake sleep, the second he presses me to his chest, my body gives me away. A soft gasp, a shiver, the goosebumps on my skin—he knows. He always knows. And I can’t escape it. Can’t escape him.

But he never calls me out. Never rubs it in. Just holds me until I fall asleep. He doesn’t make love to me either. Tonight is no different.

I bite my lip hard when his hand slips under my silky nightgown, tracing the skin of my quivering stomach before pulling my body to his bare chest.

This time, I am successful in swallowing the gasp. Then he shifts behind me, pulling me flush and when his chest hair grazes against my exposed back, my whole body shivers.

As usual, he knows I’m awake. And as usual, he doesn’t comment on it. Burying his face in my nape, he releases a long breath as if he’s been yearning to do this all day.

As I lie there, I can hear his steady breaths, feel the warmth of his body against mine. His gentleness feels contradictory to his own actions. And I hate myself for wanting these stolen moments of solace in his arms.

There’s a twisted comfort in his touch. It’s the only time I feel truly alive, even if it’s under the most twisted circumstances. I’ve become a prisoner to my own desires, a captive of my conflicting emotions.

The days may be a constant struggle, but at least they allow me to maintain some semblance of control. At night, in his arms, control slips away, and I become a puppet dancing to his tune. It’s a torment I endure, a torment that threatens to consume me entirely.

But I must find a way out. I must gather the strength to break free from this twisted cycle, to reclaim my life, and to facewhatever consequences lie ahead. For now, I’ll endure the days and suffer through the nights, but I won’t lose hope.

The charity gala is tomorrow, my first in a long while.

I miss Dad so much. He was my rock. Especially during social affairs like this. It’s been over a year since I last laid eyes on him, heard the comforting timbre of his voice, and felt the reassuring warmth of his presence in my life.

I still remember the heaviness of disappointment in his eyes. He told me he couldn’t condone my choice, that I was throwing my life away for someone who was unworthy. He tried everything to convince me to reconsider, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t imagine a life without the man I love, the man who completes me in every way.

He then asked me the hardest question of my life. Him or Damian. And he was deeply hurt when I chose Damian over him.

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