"What the hell are you doing here ?" I forced out in an almost shaky voice.This was the won’s toilet, he wasn’t supposed to be here at all.
His eyes darkened, and he took a slow step inside, closing the door behind him with a click that made my stomach twist.
"Stay where you are," I warned, trying to sound tougher than I was feeling on the inside. "If you touch again, I’ll scream this whole place down."
The man chuckled darkly. "Go ahead. The music’s too loud out there. You think anyone out there will care? Half of them are too drunk to notice by the way."
My pulse hamred as he took another step closer. I braced myself and shoved at his chest when he got too close, but he barely staggered back, grinning.
"You’ve got so fire," he sneered, catching my wrist before I could push again. His grip tightened, forcing my arm behind until pain shot through my shoulder. "But you’re not walking away from this ti."
As his arm tried to pin mine, I stamped my heel into his shin with all my strength. He hissed, loosening his grip, but I didn’t stop. I twisted around, slamming my knee upward into his groin and he doubled over with a strangled groan, giving a chance to run out.
The restroom door banged open as I shoved it wide, stumbling into the narrow hallway.
In my confusion, I imdiately noticed it wasn’t the crowded dance floor I’d co from, rather it was the back corridor leading to a side exit. My heels slipped against the floor as I sprinted toward the glowing red sign.
A couple passed by at the far end, laughing too loudly, and we’re too drunk to even glance my way. Not to ntion, even understand the situation.
Before I could reach the door, his rough fingers clamped around my arm again, yanking back.
"Bitch," he snarled, dragging close. "You think you can humiliate like that and just run?"
"What the fuck do you want?!" I hissed, struggling against him. "If it’s money you want, I’ll give it to you, just let go!"
I was desperate now. I have never been in a situation like this. This was simply bewildering.
"I don’t want your money," he spat, shoving toward the exit. "I want you."
Terror clawed at my throat as he pinned against the wall. It dawned on the situation I was in right now. God knows what he wanted to do with .
For the first ti, I realized the difference in strength between a man and a woman. He was like a boulder I couldn’t push off, no matter how hard I tried. With my face pressed to the wall, I began to pray to whatever god would listen, begging to be saved from this terrifying situation.
My prayer was answered. Except it wasn’t by any god, it was by Axel.
A furious looking Axel ripped the asshole off and slamd him hard into the wall. Then his fist began to land on the man’s face, the sickening sound of bone eting bone reverberating through the place.
Axel didn’t stop. Again and again, his knuckles connected with the man’s face until he sank down to the floor, exhausted and bloodied.
"Axel!" I scread. "Stop! Please, stop!"
At this rate, he was going to kill him.
But Axel didn’t hear , lost to the bloodlust.
"Axel!" I sobbed, tugging at his arm. "You’ll kill him!"
That snapped him out of it. Axel’s chest was heaving while his fists were bloodied, but he finally stopped. The man groaned on the ground, unable to move a muscle. My husband had beaten him to a pulp.
Without a word, Axel grabbed my wrist in a not rough, but not gentle either way, and dragged to the front where his car waited.
The ride was suffocating, and my sobs filled the silence. I was trying to keep them in, but for so reason, I was just so emotional.
Back at the mansion, still in the car, I was finally able to whisper, "I’m sorry."
His knuckles tightened around the wheel. "Sorry? Do you have any idea how reckless that was? What the hell were you thinking?"
"I just..."
"If I hadn’t gotten there..." His voice cut off, filled with anger and an emotion I couldn’t exactly na. "Do you know what could’ve happened to you?"
Hot tears stread down my face. "I know. I know. I was stupid. I’m sorry."
He sighed, leaning back, the anger draining from him. "I shouldn’t yell... I... I’m sorry." His voice lowered. "It’s just that I was worried."
My chest heaved as I watched his anger dissipate, but all I could think about was that one word, "worried".
Because beneath the rage, I’d seen it in his eyes that he truly was worried. And damn it, that made my heart ache in a way I hadn’t prepared for.
By the ti we stepped out of the car, my legs felt weak. Axel’s presence filled every inch of space as he walked inside, his hand hovering just near enough to steady without actually touching.
When we reached my room, he opened the door and stood there like a wall. I thought he’d leave like he always did.
But as he turned, the words left my mouth before I could stop them. "Don’t go."
He stilled.
My throat tightened. "Can you stay? Just tonight."
Axel didn’t answer . But he didn’t leave either.
I felt his presence as I lay down, pulling the blanket around . I didn’t dare look back at him, not when my face was wet with tears and my body still trembled from everything that had happened.
The silence was heavy, but it wasn’t empty. Axel stayed in the room like a shadow, close enough that I felt safer than I had in weeks.
And sowhere between the sound of his breath and the exhaustion dragging under, I fell asleep.
—
When I woke, the sunlight was streaming across the bed. My head turned groggily toward the corner, which was now empty.
There was no trace of Axel.
I sat up quickly, scanning the room. He hadn’t touched a thing, and didn’t even leave any sign that he’d been there at all. If not for the way my body still rembered the events of the night before and the calm of his presence afterwards, I might’ve thought I imagined it.
I took a shower, dressed, went downstairs, and tried to find him where I could check.
Except there was no sign of Axel.
By noon, my stomach twisted, and so thoughts began to form. Was he avoiding ?
I pressed a hand to my forehead. Of course he is. I’d asked him to stay. I’d let myself be weak in front of him. Stupid . Now he probably wanted so distance.
I barely ate the extravagant food prepared by the chef, conscious and waiting for Axel’s arrival. I distracted myself by reading reports, cleaned my inbox, and watched the clock tick by.
Still no Axel.
By evening, I sat on the sofa with the TV, staring blankly at the show. I just couldn’t concentrate. The emptiness of the house bothered .
Axel still didn’t co back ho.
When I finally went to bed, I half-expected him to appear again. But the door never opened.
—
The next morning at the office, I noticed him right away. He was wearing a dark suit, had a strong jawline, and carried an intimidating presence that made people quickly move out of his way.
I waited for his gaze to et mine, but it didn’t.
"Mrs. O’Brien," Helena appeared, holding a file. "Mr. O’Brien asked to give this to you."
I frowned. "He’s right there."
She winced. "Yes, but he said I should handle communications today."
My chest sank. He couldn’t even hand a file himself.
"Fine," I muttered, snatching it.
The day went on like that. Every ti a ssage ca, it was from Helena. Every ti Axel needed , he made sure I heard it through soone else.
Even in etings, if I spoke, he’d respond indirectly, as though I were invisible. By the ti I left the office, I was annoyed as hell.
Sure, I had made a mistake but treating like a ghost wouldn’t help either of us.
—
The week passed in silence.
We went ho separately at tis, but even if we went together, no words were exchanged when it’s just the two of us.
Dinners were awkward, filled only with the sound of cutlery hitting the plates. His phone kept him company while I drowned in my thoughts. I couldn’t help but wonder, had I made a mistake by agreeing to this marriage?
I tried once, against my best judgnt.
"About the other night..."
His head didn’t lift from his plate. "You should focus on your food."
That was it. The wall was built.
By Thursday, I stopped trying.
I reminded myself that I wasn’t supposed to care. This was a contract, nothing more. If he wanted distance, he’d get it. I’d match his coldness, and pretend his absence didn’t cut deeper than it should.
—
It was Friday night when it happened.
Dinner had been as stiff as always. I picked at my food, scrolling absently through my phone just to fill the silence when a vibration buzzed against my palm.
1 New ssage. Unknown Number.
I frowned, opening it without thinking.
And froze.
My screen filled with an image of at the club. The sa night I’d tried to drink and dance my boredom away. The guy of that night had his arm around , way too close for comfort, and my face was surrounded by bright neon lights.
Another photo followed of his hand sliding against my waist. While the other, his mouth was too close to my ear.
And then, the last picture was the two of us close to each other, with my body pressed against his in the crowd, and his hand on my ass.
My stomach dropped, blood roaring in my ears.
"Oh God," I said to myself as the phone slipped slightly in my hand.
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