Page 88 of My Ruthless Husband

As I step into the sitting area, a smile graces my lips, concealing the nervousness within. “Thank you all for coming.”

Time flies as we begin with the extensive tour of the property. They soak it all up, asking questions about the paintings and antiques they come across. Vicky keeps a safe distance while following me around.

When it’s time for lunch, I ask Vicky to join us but she politely declines. After the satisfying lunch, we adjourn to a more intimate and secluded part of the mansion to delve into the discussion about charity work.

“River, darling, we were truly impressed by your husband’s generosity at the fundraiser. But then it’s not the first time Damian has made such substantial donations. I’m genuinely curious to know what inspiredyourshift toward philanthropy.”

They’re insinuating that I’m just jumping on the bandwagon. I wish they knew how much I’ve yearned to make a difference, to have a say. It’s not that I didn’t care; I just didn’t have the means.

They have no idea how powerless I’ve felt throughout my marriage. It’s not like I had control over our financial decisions. Damian held all the cards.

I meet their gazes with a small smile. “I want to make a meaningful impact, without my resources. As you mentioned, Damian already has that area covered. I want to volunteer. I’ve been considering various causes, but I value your insights.”

Donna with dark hair, suggests, “How about supporting local animal shelters or wildlife conservation efforts? It’s a cause close to my heart, and there’s always a need for volunteers.”

A genuine smile lifts the corner of my lips. It reminds me of the day when Summer found Goldie abandoned near her apartment building. She had considered dropping him off at the local shelter but ended up adopting him.

I feel twinge in my heart when I think of them. I miss them so much. I don’t know when I’ll get to see them again.

Sharon, the middle-aged businesswoman and one of Catherine’s best friends, proposes, “Environmental conservation is a pressing issue. I am a partner with organizations dedicated to sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives. I can talk to them for you.”

Then Andrea interrupts by debating about education sector. I ponder their suggestions. “I love all these ideas. Perhaps I can focus on a rotating schedule, supporting different causes throughout the year.”

The ladies continue their lively discussion, now weaving mental health into it. I sit straighter. “What about programs that support mental health? It’s an area often overlooked, and I believe it’s crucial.”

Catherine nods. “There are many campaigns promoting mental health awareness.”

Andrea pulls out her phone. “Even online. I’ll show you.”

After a few minutes of her showing us the pages on social medias, I say, “Yeah, but I want to get out of the house. I want to actively contribute to the cause.”

Donna adds, “Perhaps we can organize workshops or events that focus on stress management and mental wellness and therapy. We can invest the funds and you can help planning it maybe.”

Before I could answer to her superb idea, Catherine interrupts, “Speaking of therapy. There’s a community center that offers art therapy sessions for mental health. You could lend your support and help it grow.”

I’m intrigued. “Art therapy? That sounds wonderful. How can I get involved?”

“The organizer visited me yesterday. She’s been struggling to secure funding for additional art supplies and professional therapists. I agreed to help her, of course. But she needs more volunteers.”

“River, my dear, why don’t you visit the community center first and assess the situation? As this is fairly new and operates on a small scale it wouldn’t be that intimidating. They can handle the initial logistics, and once you’re more familiar with the project, they can coordinate your efforts more efficiently.”

I nod in agreement and feeling excited about this new chapter of my life. “That sounds like a good plan. I’ll visit the center and see how I can best support them.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Past

Grooving to the beats of the song blaring in my ears through the AirPods, I type away on my laptop. I need to turn in my assignment by the end of the day.

After dad’s visit yesterday I couldn’t concentrate on anything. The guilt is eating at me but I can’t just tell him about Damian. Not because it is fairly new. It’s because he wouldn’t approve of me dating a guy ten years older than me.

I duck my head, biting my lip to hide the stupid grin as I think about last night. Damian was livid when I told him about the tea incident. He hung up right away—but only to FaceTime me. Not because he missed me. Oh no, not that. He just wanted to see for himself what damage the boiling water had done.

Fortunately, the burns weren’t too serious, but Damian didn’t share my perspective. Instead, he took the opportunity to deliver a stern lecture on safety precautions. In an unexpected twist, heeven offered to lend his personal chef to ensure I wouldn’t face any mishaps in the kitchen.

Naturally, I declined his offer, valuing my independence. However, convincing him of my self-reliance turned into a heated, hour-long argument. To put an end to the discussion, I playfully teased him by suggesting I might flirt with his chef. That certainly hit a nerve, and Damian’s possessive side emerged.

Damn was he pissed. Who would have thought I could see the day when Damian gets all territorial over me?

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