CHAPTER 16: TWISTED TRUTH

"What the hell are you doing here ?" I forced out in an almost shaky voice.This was the women’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 me 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 hammered 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 some fire," he sneered, catching my wrist before I could push again. His grip tightened, forcing my arm behind me until pain shot through my shoulder. "But you’re not walking away from me this time."

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 me a chance to run out.

The restroom door banged open as I shoved it wide, stumbling into the narrow hallway.

In my confusion, I immediately noticed it wasn’t the crowded dance floor I’d come 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 mention, even understand the situation.

Before I could reach the door, his rough fingers clamped around my arm again, yanking me back.

"Bitch," he snarled, dragging me close. "You think you can humiliate me 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 me 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 me toward the exit. "I want you."

Terror clawed at my throat as he pinned me against the wall. It dawned on me the situation I was in right now. God knows what he wanted to do with me.

For the first time, 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 me and slammed him hard into the wall. Then his fist began to land on the man’s face, the sickening sound of bone meeting 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 screamed. "Stop! Please, stop!"

At this rate, he was going to kill him.

But Axel didn’t hear me, 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 me 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 some 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 me off, filled with anger and an emotion I couldn’t exactly name. "Do you know what could’ve happened to you?"

Hot tears streamed 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 time we stepped out of the car, my legs felt weak. Axel’s presence filled every inch of space as he walked me inside, his hand hovering just near enough to steady me 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 me. But he didn’t leave either.

I felt his presence as I lay down, pulling the blanket around me. 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 somewhere between the sound of his breath and the exhaustion dragging me 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 remembered 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 some thoughts began to form. Was he avoiding me?

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 me. Now he probably wanted some 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 me.

Axel still didn’t come back home.

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 meet mine, but it didn’t.

"Mrs. O’Brien," Helena appeared, holding a file. "Mr. O’Brien asked me 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 me a file himself.

"Fine," I muttered, snatching it.

The day went on like that. Every time a message came, it was from Helena. Every time Axel needed me, he made sure I heard it through someone else.

Even in meetings, if I spoke, he’d respond indirectly, as though I were invisible. By the time I left the office, I was annoyed as hell.

Sure, I had made a mistake but treating me like a ghost wouldn’t help either of us.

—

The week passed in silence.

We went home separately at times, 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 judgment.

"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 Message. Unknown Number.

I frowned, opening it without thinking.

And froze.

My screen filled with an image of me at the club. The same night I’d tried to drink and dance my boredom away. The guy of that night had his arm around me, 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.