Dear Wife, I Hate You (by Josephine Mbanefo) novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Killian’s Pov

The party was wrapping up. People were leaving. Some too drunk to walk straight. Others pretending they

weren’t tired.

I was standing near the exit, scrolling through my phone when Nolan’s text came in.

“I’m home with Zoey. Just in case you’re looking for me.”

I didn’t reply.

I hadn’t seen Lilith since that mess between us earlier. And truthfully, I didn’t care.

At least that’s what I kept telling myself.

She couldn’t even sit still. Always looking for attention. If it wasn’t hugging strangers, it was flirting with another one. She was a magnet for trouble.

My wife.

No. I didn’t even want to call her that right now.

Still… my thumb hovered over Nolan’s name. And before I knew it, I was typing.

“Is Lilith with you?”

His reply came quick.

“No. I left her at the party.”

I stared at the screen for a second.

Why did I even ask?

Why did I even care?

But something shifted in my chest. An uneasy feeling. I looked around, just casually, like I wasn’t worried. Just… checking.

I didn’t see her.

I went from one corner to another. Slowly. Like I was just stretching my legs. No one needed to know I was looking for my own damn wife.

She wasn’t at the drink stand.

Not near the stage.

Not even near the garden.

Something was wrong.

I moved faster now, but still with that fake calm on my face. I asked no one. I just kept searching.

Then I passed the side hallway.

A sound caught my car.

A low, muffled cry.

My heart stopped.

I walked toward it. Silent. Careful.

And when I opened the back room door, everything inside me went dark.

There she was.

Lilith.

Held down by two men, one I knew. One I didn’t. They were trying to strip her dress off. She was slurring, begging, “Please… don’t…”

Tears mixed with her smeared makeup.

Her voice was shaking.

Something snapped inside me.

I didn’t think as I threw the first one across the room.

He hit the wall and groaned.

The second one came at me, swinging. I caught his wrist mid–air and drove my fist into his jaw. Again. And again.

They fought like cowards.

And I was angry.

So, so angry.

They were two. But it felt like fighting shadows. Weak. Useless.

By the time I was done, both were on the floor, groaning, bloody, crawling away like rats.

I turned to Lilith.

She was laughing now.

And crying.

Like her body didn’t know what emotion to hold onto. She was drunk.

She tried to sit up but swayed. “Killian?” she whispered.

“Shh,” I said, stepping close.

I bent down and scooped her into my arms.

She rested her head on my shoulder, still crying softly.

I held her tight and whispered, “Come on, let’s get you home, wife.”

****

The car was silent except for the sound of her breathing.

Lilith was asleep, dead asleep, head resting against the window, hair a mess, makeup half gone. She looked like a storm that had finally calmed.

Then she started mumbling.

At first, it was just slurred words. Things I couldn’t make out.

“…don’t touch… I’ll punch you…”

I blinked.

What?

Then she chuckled in her sleep, soft and weird. “Tell the moon to shut up… it’s too loud…”

I stared at her. And for some stupid reason, I chuckled.

What the hell?

Why would I laugh at something she said?

I shook my head, face going back to stone. “You’re losing it, Killian,” I muttered under my breath.

The car stopped.

We were home.

The driver stepped out and opened the door, and I stepped out too. Then I leaned in and picked her up again.

She was soft in my arms. Her head dropped on my shoulder like it belonged there.

God, what was I doing?

I took her inside. Up the stairs. Through the hall. Into her bedroom.

I laid her on the bed gently.

She didn’t wake up. Just kept breathing softly, like a child.

I crouched and started unbuckling her heels. My hands moved on their own. I didn’t even think about it.

What was I doing for someone like her?

Someone who ruined everything?

A killer. A liar. A stranger I didn’t ask for.

I paused, staring at her face.

Then I whispered to myself, “You’re human, Killian. That’s all. This is just what humans do.”

I finished removing her heels. And that’s when I saw it.

A tear in her dress. Probably from when I grabbed her too hard.

Her shoulder was bare. Her chest was nearly exposed.

I looked away immediately.

No. I wasn’t doing that. I wasn’t going to be that man.

I reached for the blanket and pulled it over her, covering her completely.

I wouldn’t change her clothes.

I didn’t want to see her body.

Not for any damn reason.

As I adjusted the blanket, she moved suddenly and grabbed my hand.

Her fingers were cold and small.

“Please… stay with me,” she whispered. “I miss you.”

I froze.

My throat tightened.

Miss who? I thought bitterly. She’s dreaming. Sleep–talking. Who the hell is she missing?

But I didn’t pull away.

I just… stayed.

Only for a few seconds.

And in those seconds, I looked at her.

Really looked.

Her face… it was clear. Soft. Almost peaceful.

That tiny scar on her neck was barely visible in the dim light.

Her nose–sculpted, sharp, but perfect for her face.

Her lips were parted slightly as she breathed. Calm.

I hated that it did.

I gently removed her hand from mine, placing it on the bed.

Just as I stood up to leave, she mumbled again.

“I miss you, Kate…”

That was all it took.

I stood up fully, jaw tight, breath shallow.

“She always has to remind me,” I muttered, voice low and bitter. “Even in her sleep.”

Without another word, I left the room.

Walked straight to my room.

Tore off my shirt.

Took the coldest shower I could stand.

And finally, climbed into bed and went to sleep

I woke up early.

My body was tired, but my mind? Still running.

I got up, walked straight into the bathroom, splashed cold water on my face, brushed my teeth. It was my daily routine.

I came back to my room, sat on the edge of the bed, and checked my phone. Emails. Messages. A few calls I didn’t care about.

Then….

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Someone was practically beating down my door.

What the hell?

I stood up, chest tightening, and yanked the door open.

A girl stormed in like a damn hurricane.

“You,” she spat.

I raised a brow. “Me? Do I know you?”

She stepped forward, all fury and fire. “Oh, you don’t know me? Let me introduce myself then. I’m Emily. Lilith’s best friend.”

I leaned against the doorframe. “And how may I help you, Lilith’s best friend, Emily?”

She pointed a finger right at my chest. “You’re cruel. You’re the most heartless man I’ve ever seen. You made my best friend cry like a baby. You broke her. And you’re going to regret it.”

I stared at her. “Turn your voice down. You’re not in a supermarket.”

Right then, Nolan and Zoey came out from their rooms, their faces saying what’s going on?

Emily didn’t care.

She kept going.

“What kind of man are you? Huh? What did she ever do to you? You treat her like trash. You humiliate her, ignore her, insult her! You think you’re a god just because you’re rich and powerful? You’re nothing but a cold, empty shell walking around ruining lives!”

I didn’t flinch. I just tilted my head a little.

“I did nothing to your friend. Or did she tell you I did?”

Emily’s eyes widened like she was about to explode. “Oh, she didn’t need to. I saw her, Killian. I saw her crying so hard she couldn’t even speak. She shook. She couldn’t breathe. She told me what you said to her. The way you looked at her like she was poison. The way you walked away like she didn’t mean shit to you!”

Ar that point Lilith came out from her room.

Rubbing her eyes, walking out like she wasn’t even sure what was happening.

Her hair was messy, her steps slow. Sleep still clung to her body.

When Emily saw her, she rushed over, grabbed her wrist, and dragged her in front of me.

“Look at her,” she snapped. “Look what you’ve put her through!”

I folded my arms. “She’s waking up from sleep. You sure you didn’t drag her out of bed for this circus?”

“You know damn well what I mean!” Emily shouted. “Don’t play stupid with me, Killian. You ruined her!”

I looked from Emily to Lilith.

Lilith didn’t even look at me.

“You think I’m cruel?” I said slowly. “I’m not.”

I leaned in slightly, voice flat.

“So maybe take your anger, your accusations, and your dramatic entrance… and stop at the front door.

Zoey gasped softly. Nolan just stood without reacting

Lilith… she looked like she wanted to disappear.

Emily stared at me, breathing hard, fists clenched like she wanted to hit me. Maybe she should’ve.

Lilith shifted beside her. I could see it in her face, confusion, shame, tiredness.

Then she spoke, her voice soft but clear.

“Emily… stop,” she said, rubbing her temples. “Let’s just go. Please.”

But Emily didn’t move. Her eyes stayed on me, dark with rage.

“No,” she barked. “No, Lilith! He started this. This…” she pointed at me like I was a curse… “this man started everything!”

I didn’t move.

“You think this is over?” she hissed. “This means war. Between you, me, and Lilith. You’re going to regret everything you’ve done to her. You will pay for it.”

Her voice echoed down the hallway.

I slowly tilted my head, gave her the smallest smirk.

“Let’s watch and see,” I said.