My Revenge Billionaire Husband

Darlene’s POV “Darlene.” I jolted from my sleep as I heard his voice. My eyes widened at the sight of him. “You are back,” I said, hoping that I was wrong and it was a dream. “Obviously,” he scoffed softly, “why aren't you in bed?” I picked up the book that lay on the ground now. “I fell asleep while reading.” We held our gaze before he smiled and sat down with one leg crossed over the other. “Where have you been?” I asked, gently, standing now. “Did you miss me?” I sighed heavily. “Where?” “None of your business.” “I think it is my business. I’m your wife. You have been gone for weeks without a notice. I have not heard a word from you since. Not a call or a text. Nothing…that's not how a marriage works.” “Marriage?” he scoffed, then frowned, “Trust me, darling, you don't want to know where I have been.” The look on his face made me worry. “I assumed you were working,” I said while praying I was right. “No.” I hesitated before I spoke again, “Then, where–” “For God's Sake, Darlene!” He stood to his feet and faced me. “It is none of your business.” I held his gaze for a moment then turned to walk away when he gripped my arm and pulled me back to face him. “I’m sorry.” “No, you’re not.” He laughed. “Yes, I am.” I removed myself from his grip and walked to the door with a lump in my throat. “Darlene. “ I stopped on my heels and turned to him with a straight face. “Come here,” he said softly. “What is it?” I asked, controlling myself. “I want to kiss you goodnight,” he said, then made his way to me with a small smile. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around me and planted a kiss on my lips. Still in his arms, I looked up at his blue eyes through tears. “Why are you crying?” My heart broke as I studied his worried face. “I can't do this anymore.” His frown tightened. “Do what?” “This.” “What are you talking about?” he asked, almost laughing. “I–I—” The tears ran down my face uncontrollably now. “You can't love me anymore? Is that it?” I did not respond, but we both knew. He smiled and dropped his hands to his side. He returned to where he sat and crossed his legs again while he watched me with his head tilted to the side. “You are making this too hard,” I said, pulling myself together. “I can’t take it anymore.” “You don’t have a choice here.” “Yes, I do.” “Darling,” he scoffed and threw his face to the side, “You don’t.” My face turned a dark shade of red. “Yes, I do. I am making arrangements–” “Shut up! Shut up, Darlene!” My heart fell into my stomach and tears filled my eyes rapidly. I remained in my position without flinching when he walked to me. “ I have had it. I have had it with this horrible…thing we have going. I am tired…so tired. I have loved you since I was sixteen. You don't want to be married to me, and I am tired of being in a loveless marriage. I am sick of this..” He studied my face. “You think I don't love you?” I scoffed and swallowed hard. “Do you? Tell me.” He only looked into my soul with a straight face. “Exactly,” I whispered when he did not respond, “You don’t…set me free… let me go, please.” “I can't do that. You know I can't.” “Why? Because of some stupid agreement our fathers made when we were kids? Is that it? I don’t care about any of that. I want my life back.” There were tears in his eyes now as I continued. “I will leave. You never have to see me again. I know that is what you want. I want that too. I never want to see you again.” I knew that was a lie. Painfully, he did too. “My darling,” he whispered. I moved his hands away when he tried to hold me. “Don't.” He stopped and let out a breath. We stood in silence until the wind beat hard against the windows. “We can't just end our marriage. There is a lot at stake here. It doesn't matter if I love you. It doesn't even matter if you do..this is a tradition and as much as I hate it…we can't end it. So, fix yourself up and pull yourself together because it's never going to end. It simply can't.” “I don't care,” I said, with an ache in my heart. “You should.” “Love me, then… It's simple.” I said, sounding more desperate than I’d like to. He scoffed and clenched his jaw. “Stop this.” “I'm leaving. You need to accept that.” “Don't be stupid.” his face squeezed into a frown. “Think about your family and mine.” “I can't anymore.” “Try harder. Maybe I ought to remind you about the consequences of your actions.” “I don't need you to do that.” I sat and buried my face in my hands. “Well, then, darling… I think this conversation is over. I don't want to hear another word about this nonsense. You sound desperate and lonely. Maybe you need a pet or something. Whatever it is, inform me,” he said, and walked out of the room. Desperate. He was right. I was desperate to get out of this marriage, of this house, of this life. I was losing my mind. Suffocating is the word. I needed to escape. To breathe. The stakes were high, but my heart had been set on this for a long time now. I let out a miserable sigh. My whole body trembled from the thoughts that haunted me in this Godforsaken house. I took a deep breath to pull myself together, but it didn't work. I held myself as I resisted the urge to scream. Groans and sighs escaped my lips. And then, in a moment, a sudden glimpse of what freedom would taste like hit me. I screamed. I screamed until he rushed back into the room, bewildered at the sight of me. I screamed until the housekeepers gathered around with worried faces and fearful eyes. I screamed until I was satisfied. Then, I broke down into an uncontrollable flow of tears and sobs. He picked up my body from the floor and carried me to our bedroom. He set me on the bed and held me close to him with a worried look on his face. “I can’t do this anymore.” My voice broke.