Dear Wife, I Hate You (by Josephine Mbanefo) novel Chapter 62

Lilith’s Pov

One moment I was in the kitchen, rinsing a cup, lost in my thoughts.

The next… I heard my name echo through the house.

“Lilith!”

That voice.

That cold, commanding voice I had tried so hard to forget.

Killian.

1 froze.

Before I could even move, he was in front of me, grabbing my wrist tightly. I gasped.

And then Nolan’s voice rang out, sharp and firm.

“Let her go this minute, Killian. Let her go.”

It was like my brain couldn’t keep up.

Everything was moving too fast.

I blinked, trying to understand how this was even happening.

Killian turned slowly to face his brother.

“Oh, so you’re here,” he said with a bitter chuckle. “So you lied to me.

You told me you didn’t know where my wife was.”

He let go of my wrist and took a step toward Nolan.

“Why did you lie, Nolan?”

But before Nolan could speak, I stepped in.

“Don’t blame him,” I said, my voice shaking but strong.

“I told him not to tell you. Because I didn’t want you to know.

You’re suffocating me, Killian. You’re cruel.

I can’t live with a man like that.”

Killian turned to me slowly, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“For better or worse, Lilith. You’re coming with me. This minute.”

Nolan stepped forward. “She’s not going anywhere with you without her consent.

She chose to stay here. You will leave, Killian. Now.”

Killian scoffed. “Oh, Nolan… I see you’ve grown some nerves. Right?”

“This isn’t about me,” Nolan replied. “It’s about her. Her choice.”

“There’s no choice here!” Killian barked. “None!

The only person who should be talking right now is me.

This is between a husband and his wife.

Stay out of it.”

I laughed. Loud, bitter, and painful.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

“Oh, so now we’re husband and wife?

Now, after I left the house because I was ‘suffocating‘ you?

Now, after you called me cruel…

Now, after I watched my family burn and you had nothing but coldness to give?

Now you remember we’re husband and wife?”

I stepped back, breathing hard.

“Well, dear Killian,” I said slowly, “I’m not coming with you. I’d like to stay here.”

“Yes, you are,” he said instantly.

“No, I’m not.”

“You can’t stop me,” he snapped, stepping closer. “And you can’t stop yourself either.”

He grabbed my wrist–hard. Too hard. I winced.

“Killian, let me go,” I whispered. “You’re hurting me.”

“I’ll only let go if you agree to come with me peacefully,” he hissed.

“Don’t make me a bad person, Lilith.”

I looked him dead in the eye.

“You’re already a bad person.

Don’t try to hide it.”

He started dragging me.

I struggled.

“Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!”

“Let her go!” Nolan shouted, stepping in front of us.

“You’re not taking her out of this house.”

“Get out of my way this minute, Nolan!”

“I won’t.”

“LET HER GO, KILLIAN!”

I watched them, my heart pounding, my chest tight.

Two brothers, standing against each other because of me.

I didn’t want that.

I didn’t want to be the reason they hated each other.

They barely fought.

And I couldn’t let this start now.

“Fine!” I said suddenly. “I’ll go with him.”

Nolan turned to me immediately. “You don’t have to go with him, Lilith.”

Killian’s voice cut through. “Why do you care?!”

I looked at Nolan with soft eyes.

“I’ll be fine. Let me just go… for peace to reign.”

Killian grabbed onto the words like a prize.

“Oh yes, you are. You’re coming with me right this second.”

I turned to him sharply.

“You don’t have to showcase yourself. I already said I’m coming.

Would you please let go of my wrist now?”

Killian grunted, eyes cold.

“Fine,”

He dropped my wrist.

As Killian dropped my wrist, I took a deep breath.

“I’m just going to get my clothes,” I said quietly.

Killian scoffed, eyes narrowing like I had just told him I planned to disappear forever.

“Oh no, you’re not going anywhere. You want to run, right? Trying to act smart?”

I stared at him, confused and exhausted. “I’m not trying to act smart. I just want to get the few dresses I brought here.”

“I’ll send someone to get it for you. Or maybe your friend here Nolan…can do it,” he said with a smirk.

Then he turned to Nolan and said, “Brother, can you please help her pack up? Now… let’s go.”

I muttered under my breath, “You’re acting like a child.”

Killian stormed toward me, his jaw clenched. “Don’t you dare say that to me. Now let’s go.”

I had no energy left to argue.

So I walked forward with him.

But I turned around, just for one last glance.

Nolan was still standing there, looking… hurt. Disappointed. His face said everything.

I had made a decision I didn’t want to make–but I had to.

Killian was still my husband. I didn’t want to make a scene.

“Oh, you want me to act like one? Really?”

He started unbuttoning his shirt.

My heart jumped.

“What are you doing?” I asked, alarmed.

“I’m acting like a married man.”

“This is not what I meant, Killian.”

“Well,” he said, “this is my version.”

My breath quickened. He hadn’t even finished removing his shirt.

He kept coming closer.

My heart was beating too loud.

And then… he reached me.

His hand moved up to my neck gently.

His fingers tilted my chin upward.

My eyes met his.

His were dark. Stormy. Like he had made up his mind.

“Maybe from now on,” he whispered, “we should start acting like man and wife.”

His thumb slowly traced along my scar.

Then up to my lips.

And without another word, his mouth crashed into mine.

As his lips crashed onto mine, my eyes widened.

What is he doing?

For a heartbeat, I froze.

But the second heartbeat… I gave in.

I closed my eyes.And just like that, we kissed.

We kissed.

Hard. Desperate. Wild.

Killian’s hands moved around me, pulling me closer. Closer than I ever thought I’d let him again.

His lips trailed down to my neck, my shoulders–his touch was everywhere, warm and urgent. It was intense. It was overwhelming. It was… too much.

He was kissing like a man trying to prove something. Like a man claiming what he believed was his.

I could barely catch my breath.

Everything in me was spinning–my body was here, but my mind? Scattered. Confused. Screaming.

We kept going.

Kissing.

Touching.

Breathing in each other like oxygen.

Then–just as suddenly as it started-

He stopped.

My chest rose and fell fast. I was panting hard. I could still feel his breath on my skin.

Killian looked at me, sharp and possessive.

“Don’t go anywhere without telling me… wife,” he said, his voice low and steady.

“You are mine. And only mine.”

He stepped back, grabbed his shirt from the floor, and threw it over his shoulder.

“I’ll start performing the duties of a husband… in this version.”

He walked toward the door, paused, then looked at me one last time.

“Have a good day, wife.”

And