Dear Wife, I Hate You (by Josephine Mbanefo) novel Chapter 53

Killian’s Pov

After I finished taking my bath, I didn’t go downstairs right away. I sat at my desk instead. Maybe working would help me. clear my head. Maybe I could bury myself in files and forget what just happened between me and Lilith.

I opened my laptop. Checked my emails. Looked through some documents. But my mind wasn’t fully there. I kept pausing, thinking, going back. I worked for like an hour or so before I finally stood up and decided to go downstairs for breakfast.

As I walked toward the stairs, my eyes shifted in the direction of her room. I wondered if she had already left for her father’s place. She said she wanted to go. Maybe she was serious.

But when I got downstairs, there she was.

Lilith.

Sitting there, eating breakfast.

And Nolan was sitting too, not close to her, but in the same space.

I paused for a second.

Nolan and I nodded at each other. Just a silent greeting.

But my eyes were on Lilith. She didn’t even look my way.

Her face looked calmer. Her eyes were clear now, not puffy or red. Like she hadn’t just cried her eyes out less than two hours ago. She was just eating, like nothing happened. Like nothing at all.

I sat down and Rose brought me my breakfast.

But I wasn’t really hungry anymore.

I kept glancing at her. Watching her. Trying to read something on her face.

Wasn’t she supposed to be torn apart? Her mom just died. But she was eating like everything was okay.

Maybe I was right after all. Maybe she was faking it earlier. Maybe she really didn’t care.

So, while eating, I decided to ask casually, “Where’s your friend Emily? And Maya? What about my parents?”

Lilith answered simply, “Emily went out with Maya. I don’t know about your parents. They should be in their room.”

That was it.

No extra words. No sarcasm. No fake attitude.

Just a straight, calm answer.

I was surprised.

I just nodded and said “Okay,” then continued eating. But my eyes stayed on her.

She finished eating soon after, wiped her mouth, and stood up.

She turned to Nolan and said. “Thanks for the kind words today. I really appreciate it.”

Nolan smiled and said, “Anytime.”

Then she added, “I’ll go paint… or maybe go for a swim. I feel a bit tired.”

She didn’t even glance at me. She just walked away like I wasn’t even sitting there.

Not one word. Nothing.

And she said she was going to swim?

Swim?

After losing her mother?

I turned to Nolan.

“What’s her problem?” I asked.

Nolan blinked, confused. “What?”

“I mean, she’s supposed to be bawling her eyes out. Crying. Looking miserable. Not talking about swimming.”

He sighed. “Is that what you want? For her to be broken and begging for your pity? She told me everything you said to her.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh God, spare me the lecture. So now you two have teamed up against me?”

I pointed at the seat she just left. “Look at her, Nolan. She’s happy. Laughing inside. She’s a narcissist. Self–centered. And you’re falling for it.”

He frowned. “I’m not having this conversation with you.”

“Well, that’s on you,” I said, standing up. “If you want to be under her little spell, then fine. But don’t expect me to play along. I see her for what she really is.”

He didn’t say anything. Just nodded.

I left my food half–eaten and walked away. My appetite was gone.

As I climbed the stairs, I heard a splash of water from outside.

I paused and looked out the window.

There she was.

Lilith.

Diving into the pool.

Her hair soaked. Her body gliding through the water like she didn’t have a single worry in this world.

What the hell?

Her mother just died… and she’s swimming?

What kind of person does that?

But still, I didn’t move,

I stood there.

Watching her.

Her wet hair.

The way her skin glistened in the sunlight.

She looked beautiful. So damn beautiful.

How could someone this beautiful be so heartless?

Why did I even care?

Why was I standing here, staring?

No. No, I won’t let myself care.

Look at her.

Having the best time of her life while pretending to be broken earlier.

I was right all along.

She’s not grieving. She’s celebrating.

And yeah… maybe next time I want to sleep with a whore, I will.

And I’d have no guilt.

I headed straight to my room, determined to shut my mind off her. That evil woman. I buried myself in work, refusing to think or feel anything beyond the screen of my laptop. That’s the thing about me–when I start working, I don’t stop. No matter how tired I get, no matter how my body screams for rest, I keep going. My goals aren’t small. This isn’t just about money. It’s about legacy. Name. Power. Generational wealth that stretches past borders and speaks before I enter a room.

I had been going at it for hours when a notification pinged on my laptop. An email. I opened it. An invitation–some high- profile business summit in Europe, set to happen in three weeks. Without hesitation, I replied, accepting. I needed that exposure, that reach. No time for distractions.

I barely got back to typing when there was a knock at the door. I turned, a little annoyed. It opened. And then I saw them- Lilith and Rose.

What the hell?

I narrowed my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

Lilith didn’t flinch. “I came to pack my clothes.”

I raised a brow and shot a look at Rose. “Leave us.”

Lilith’s eyes narrowed slightly. “She needs to help me with something.”

“I won’t repeat myself,” I said coldly.

Rose, always the obedient one, looked at Lilith and mouthed a soft sorry, then turned to me with a respectful nod before walking out.

Lilith turned to me the moment the door closed. “What was that for?” she said, her voice drained. “Look, I don’t have the strength for anything right now.”

I leaned against my desk, arms crossed. “Oh? Getting tired of your charade already? Running off now?”

She scoffed. “Killian, I don’t owe you an explanation. This house is yours, yes–but it’s mine too. I can go to any room I damn well please.”

I stepped forward slowly, the tension between us thick enough to cut through. My eyes locked with hers.

“Well, your things aren’t going anywhere,” I said lowly. “They’re going to stay right here. You know why? Because I want to keep watching you… closely.”

Her brows furrowed, but I didn’t stop.

“You might still kill me someday. Who knows?” I gave a cold, mirthless smile. “But hey… I believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt. And you, Lady Snake…” I stepped even closer, my voice a whisper now, “I plan to keep you very close.”