Page 83 of My Ruthless Husband

“But she is very popular.” I mean, that’s why his team chose her in the first place, right? Because she was good at what she does. And had a huge following.

“You don’t like her.” He repeated. Did he just sabotage his own business collaboration because I said I didn’t like her? The notorious and uncompromising mogul, renowned for his relentless pursuit of perfection and insatiable appetite forvictory in the competitive business realm, has recalibrated his entire strategic collaboration for me.

I couldn’t resist the overwhelming urge to express what words couldn’t capture. Without thinking, I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around him in a tight embrace.

Caught off guard, he stumbled backward on a grunt, and we both tumbled to the carpeted floor. “You don’t have to do that. Don’t replace her. It doesn’t matter anymore. I trust you.”

He was choosing me over her. A pang of jealousy still lingered, the hurt not entirely forgotten, but beneath those emotions, a warmth started to bloom. He was willing to jeopardize his business, his connections, all for the sake of us. A small smile graced my lips as it hit me,He was doing this for me. He was choosing me.

I didn’t need him to replace her; I just needed him to choose me, and he did. He was sacrificing something for us, and I didn’t want him to regret it. Our love should be a source of strength, not a burden. The satisfaction of knowing he was willing to take such a risk for our relationship was enough for me.

Lifting myself up a little, a shy smile played on my lips as I leaned up to look at him. “So, um, are we still just friends?” I asked tentatively, my heart pounding in my chest. The question hung in the air, and I searched his eyes for any sign of what he might be thinking.

He met my gaze intensely, his fingers gently tracing a strand of my hair. “No, angel. I’m done playing the good guy.” When I stared at him in puzzlement, he said, “You are mine now.” His tone was possessive, a hint of determination in his eyes as he captured my lips.

“Careful!” Dad’s sharp exclamation slices through the air, yanking me out of my thoughts. The serene atmosphere shatters as the kettle's high-pitched whistle fills the air.

In the next instant, the lid gives way with a jolt. Hot water sprays everywhere before I can even reach the stove. Panic surges as scalding droplets land on my hands. I yelp in pain.

Dad is instantly by my side. “Are you okay? Let me see.” He gently takes my hands into his. “We need to cool these burns down. Sit here, I’ll grab the first aid kit.”

Dad’s fingers move with practiced care, dabbing at the burns on my hands as concern etches lines on his forehead.

“What had you so distracted, sweetheart?” His voice is gentle, yet there’s an unmistakable curiosity in it.

I pause, searching for an excuse, settling on a feeble one. “Oh, just daydreaming about a cute mug I saw online.”

He stops, his eyes drilling into mine. “Daydreaming about a cute mug? Come on, what’s really going on?”

I squirm under his scrutiny.

I attempt to deflect with a nonchalant tone. “It’s just school stuff, you know. Nothing important.”

Dad narrows his eyes, clearly unconvinced. As he continues to tend to my burns, he shakes his head. “Accidents happen, especially when you’re distracted. But you’ve got to be cautious, sweet pea. It’s when you lose focus that things can take a turn for the worse.”

There’s an unspoken depth to his words, a subtle warning. Our eyes lock, and I understand there’s more to his concern than just the burns on my hands.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Present

Damian drags me behind him as he navigates through the long hallway.

“Damian, wait!” I gasp, trying to keep up with his long strides. “At least let me fix my lipstick before we go out there!”

“That won’t be necessary. We’re going home.”

Of course, we are. He doesn’t want to give me a chance to change my mind. After all, I more or less agreed to give him what he wants. And Damian is not going to waste a second to claim what he wants. Selfish jerk!

Hal is trailing beside us, his eyes trained ahead. I feel my face warming.

With a determined yank, I halt his brisk pace. “Either you find another exit or let me use the bathroom. Because there’s no way I’m letting those people see me like—”

“Like you’ve just been thoroughly ravished by your husband?”

Despite blushing furiously, my chin shoots up, my pale green eyes challenging him. “What’s it going to be?”

A glint in his dark gaze hints at an appreciation for my defiance, yet his poker face reveals nothing more. Whatever it is, it gets on my nerves. “Will you—” He bends swiftly and smothers my words with his mouth. The kiss is short but hard, muffling my protests.

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