Chapter 98
Henry’s words hit me like a slap across the face.
For a brief moment, I seriously considered giving him several actual slaps to knock some sense into that thick skull of his
“So in your eyes, I’m just an unreasonable, demanding woman?” The question hung between us, charged with all the hurt and frustration I bet bottin
- up.
1 forced myself to breathe deeply, to calm the storm brewing inside me.
I hadn’t returned to Maple Grove to escalate conflicts. I’d come back for Billy, to solve our problems, not to make them worse.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I tried again. ‘Henry, why do you insist on painting me as such a petty person?”
Henry’s expression hardened. ‘Ever since Isabella returned, you’ve done nothing but sulk or run away. Is that what a reasonable person does? His vee dripped with condescension. The Sophia I married was gentle, understanding, considerate–not this confrontational woman who can’t even show companie for someone who’s ill.”
Something snapped inside me. All those years I’d spent being the ‘perfect‘ wife–gentle, understanding, considerate–had earned me nothing but betrayal. Ed watched him run to Isabella at every opportunity while I played the dutiful wife at home.
‘Don’t you dare call her a ‘sick person‘!” I exploded, jumping from the bed with the sheet wrapped around me. “Everyone has health issues these days! Is that your excuse? Her so–called illness gives you permission to abandon your family whenever she calls?”
I grabbed the nearest object–a ceramic mug of water from the nightstand–and hurled it directly at Henry’s head with all the strength I could muster.
The mug connected with his forehead before he could dodge. He winced, touching the spot where a small gash immediately began cozing blood.
“Six years!” I screamed, beyond caring who might hear. “Six years I’ve devoted to you! Waited on you, cared for you, willingly became Isabella’s replacement! And now, I’m done!”
I frantically searched for my clothes, desperate to escape this suffocating room, this suffocating marriage. But Henry was faster, blocking my path with his muscular frame.
“Get out of my way,” I demanded, trying to push past him.
Instead of moving, Henry grabbed my arms, his fingers digging into my skin. My struggles only seemed to fuel his rage. In one violent motion, he tore my remaining top to shreds.
Before I could process what was happening, he had forced me back onto the bed, using his silk tie to bind my wrists to the bedposts.
His smile turned predatory, eyes dark with a dangerous mixture of desire and anger.
“Who do you think you are?” he growled, hovering above me.
“If not for me, you wouldn’t have the Harding name, this mansion, any of this!” His face was inches from mine, specks of blood from his forehead wound dropping onto my cheek.
“Without me, your son would be labeled a bastard. You’d be the subject of gossip, unable to hold your head up in public. Is this how you repay your
benefactor?
I stared at him, momentarily stunned by the cruelty of his words.
“You’ve been pretending all these years,” he continued, his eyes narrowing.
underestimated you.” He leaned closer, his breath hot against my face. “Let me
say this one more time: Isabella is only here for medical treatment. Stop interfering, Understand?”
His words made something inside me harden. “Pure?” I laughed bitterly. “If Isabella is pure, then there’s not a single hypocrite left on this planet!”
“Ungrateful woman, Henry muttered, his hand moving to his belt buckle. “I’ve spoiled you for too long.”
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Chapter 98
He pressed his weight against me, ignoring my continued struggles and curses, the look in his nye, told me ha i pompow fat pounded with fear as I realized what he intended.
Just as he prepared to force himself on me, a distinctive ringtone pierced the tension–filled room, kabella s spezial fingriice,
Henty froze, the phone continued its insistent ringing, and his face clearly showed hesitation. Finally, with an irritated grout, he reteszed me for his phone.
He strode naked to the window, pulling the curtains closed before answering. What is it?‘ he barked into the phone.
From my position bound to the bed, I could faintly hear the caller explain that Isabella’s aunt had visited and upset her Now the was refusing to eat or drink.
“If she’s not feeling well, call a doctor, Henry replied dismissively. “I’m not a physician–what good would I do there?
How interesting, I thought bitterly. When a man’s thinking with his lower half, even calls from his precious soulmate can be ignored. Just like they lay me truly are animals controlled by what’s between their legs.
I watched Henry approach the bed again, his intentions clear from the determined set of his jaw.
“That was Isabella calling,” I taunted, trying to distract him. “Your precious perfect love needs you by her side. How can you bear to disappoint her?
Henry scoffed softly, reaching the edge of the bed and yanking back the covers. He lowered himself onto me, his weight pinning me down.
“That mouth of yours,” he whispered, his lips hovering over mine, “is much more appealing when it’s shut.”
Without hesitation, Henry bit down on those lips that had been cursing him incessantly, silencing the profanities I was about to unleash.
His cool, large palm slipped under the covers, gripping my slender waist as he kissed me with savage intensity.
Refusing to be dominated, I seized the moment when his tongue entwined with mine and bit down hard on the tip of his tongue.
“Bastard! Henry, you son of a bitch, get off me! You disgust me! Don’t touch me with those hands that have touched Isabella!”
Previously, merely mentioning Isabella would send Henry into a blind rage.
No matter what he was doing at the time, he would warn me: You’re not worthy of speaking Isabella’s name.
This time, I had mentioned her twice in a row, hitting Henry’s bottom line both times, yet he still wouldn’t get off me.
I was genuinely frightened now.
Having been bitten hard, Henry instantly tasted the metallic flavor of blood in his mouth. The stinging pain pulled him out of his earlier fury.
He spat out the bloody saliva and gripped my chin between his fingers.
He held me so tightly that my skin reddened under his grip, making me wince in pain: “Henry, what kind of man bullies a woman? If Isabella knew how violent you are, would she still want you?”
Originally, I had returned intending to have a proper/conversation with Henry.
Reality proved me wrong–catastrophically wrong.
‘Sophia! Do you have a death wish?”
Clearly this time, Henry had no intention of restraining himself to spare me.
In these matters, when he wanted something, he took it, never giving me a choice!
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Chapter 98
Weren’t you going to accuse me of tape? How can you do that if I don’t actually do it?
This time, he skipped all foreplay and went straight for my body.
I saw bloodlust in his eyes and realized he truly intended to force himself on me. Finally, I was terified.
“Henry, don’t make me hate you!”
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