Chapter 3
2032 Words
Ethan Harold couldn't sleep all night.
The events he experienced last night kept replaying in his mind. He didn't expect that he would meet the girl his friends—Ryan and Tyler—were talking about at the bar last night less than an hour later and in such a bad condition.
How could he know that the girl with the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen was Ryan Hartley's wife?
The man who served as Director of the Bank of New York was not an i***t. The story of the woman named Kalyse and Tyler and Ryan's conversation is continuous. Plus the strong fact that Kalyse asked Ethan to take her to the Hartley family's winery. The place where Maximilian Hartley and his wife now live after passing on the throne of the Hartley Group to their only son, Ryan Hartley.
The woman's words say that this place was the place where the person her enemy feared was referred to Maximilian Hartley.
Maybe people out there see Ryan Hartley as a man who is very powerful and not afraid of anyone or anything. Even the President can be made to bend his knees at the feet of the heir to the Hartley Group. But Ethan and the people closest to Ryan knew that there was one person whom this powerful man respected and feared. And that person was his father.
Kalyse knew that fact too.
Ethan smiled faintly. It seems that Ryan's nickname for his secret wife is not true. Kalyse is not stupid, let alone innocent.
The woman was shrewd. She knows how to deal with Ryan Hartley.
The cellphone in Ethan's hand, whose screen displayed Ryan's contact, whom he was preparing to call to tell him about last night's events, turned it off.
Ryan is indeed his friend. But he also wouldn't miss the opportunity to see how Ryan faced Kalyse.
Ethan realized that this woman had great potential to face Ryan Hartley.
He couldn't wait to watch the secret pair fight.
The Palace NY West Upper Side, Ryan Hartley’s Mansion
"How can you not know Kalyse didn't come home all night?!"
Ryan Hartley's voice growling angrily was like the sound of death which made the hearts of the workers in the mansion seem to stop beating.
Ryan Hartley was really angry when he came home this morning and didn't find his wife at home.
And he got even angrier when the workers didn't know where his wife was.
“Look for Kalyse until you find her! I do not want to know. You all must find her within an hour or I'll fire you all!”
“There's no need to scold and scare them, Hartley. I'm home."
Kalyse's voice made all eyes turn towards her.
With a flat face and cold gaze, the woman entered the house with slow steps.
Ryan smiled then walked towards his wife and hugged her tightly.
"Where have you been? I was worried about you to death.” The gentle, caring voice that used to make Kalyse's feelings flutter was no longer even able to make the corners of her lips curve into a smile.
Even Ryan's hugs, which she usually welcomed and hugged the man as tightly, she no longer did.
She just stood with her body stiff in her husband's arms.
Realizing that there was something strange about his wife's attitude, Ryan loosened his embrace and looked at Kalyse with a confused look.
“Kalyse, what's wrong? You must be sick. Hm? I'll call the doctor to check you, okay?"
Kalyse couldn't help but laugh. It's really funny to see how her husband is so good at acting. How could the figure who insulted her in such a way last night now be so smooth and so kind and considerate in front of her?
“Isn't it exhausting wearing that mask, Hartley? Don't you just want to take it off and show your real face? I want to vomit when I see your acting. You shouldn't be a businessman, but an actor. You will become a great actor if you rely on your abilities?”
Ryan increasingly didn't understand. The man with the Adonis's face looked at Kalyse in confusion.
“What do you mean, Kalyse? Acting? Who's acting?”
“Enough, Ryan Hartley. I'm sick of hearing your caring voice. Where's the sound of your disdainful laughter when you insulted me with your friends last night? You lying bastard!”
Ryan gasped. The man fell silent.
“You know, I've never met anyone as disgusting as you, Ryan Hartley. You know, you are nothing more than a coward who uses any means to get what you want."
Ryan was still silent.
Kalyse continued her words with a look of disdain. “What would happen if everyone knew that Ryan Hartley's success was not achieved from his abilities but from using all cunning means? Including teasing a woman. Isn't that a very shameful act, tempting someone for wealth and power?”
Kalyse smiled mockingly at Ryan.
“What's the difference between you and a w***e, Ryan Hartley? You are willing to use your charm to gain wealth and power?”
"ENOUGH! KALYSE HUDSON! HOW DARE YOU! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO DARE INSULT ME?!”
Ryan Hartley's voice was like thunder, causing all of their servants who had been watching the couple's argument to immediately scatter away. They were unable to face the wrath of their master.
They could only pray for Kalyse to be safe from Ryan's anger. The girl had provoked a demon who had no longer shown himself since 6 months ago. Since Kalyse came to this mansion, Ryan Hartley has changed for the better. But now, the devil in the form of an angel seems to be starting to show his true identity.
The man's blue eyes glowed with emotion. A cruel smile appeared on the handsome man's lips. That face was still the same handsome and charming. But the sincerity and gentleness on Ryan Hartley's face is no longer there. All that remained was his original face which implied cruelty and cunning.
Ryan's jaw tightened and his eyebrows knitted together. His gaze was sharp at his wife. Scanning the changes that occurred in the innocent woman. The innocent gaze of his wife who used to look at him full of love was no longer there. Changing to a challenging gaze full of revenge and hatred.
“Kalyse Sophia Hudson,” Ryan called sharply. "It seems like it's time for you to know everything."
The man who was previously covered in anger now slowly relaxed. As if Kalyse's anger meant nothing to him.
The man approached Kalyse and grabbed the girl's arm tightly.
Kalyse tried her best not to grimace. She didn't want to show her weakness in front of Ryan.
"You should be grateful, I saved your family from bankruptcy and have lived comfortably until now. You should return the favor. I'm a businessman, I can't possibly spend money on someone for free. In my world, everything must be rewarded in kind or with some benefit. I'm a person who doesn't want to lose, Kalyse.
“And since you already know, I don't need to act anymore. Samarina Island is officially mine. No matter how hard you rebel and protest, everything is meaningless. You remind me, you signed the transfer of ownership of the island voluntarily. The Hartley and Hudson family attorneys were there to witness the whole thing. You can't do anything, Kalyse. And if you ask for a divorce now, I will grant it, wife. You will get your freedom soon. You don't need to be afraid. You will be free from me soon.” Ryan looked at Kalyse with a triumphant smile.
Ryan didn't expect it, instead of crying or getting angry, Kalyse laughed. Hard enough.
Ryan raised his eyebrows in confusion.
Kalyse approached Ryan, grabbed the collar of the man who was taller than her, and forced the man's face to be level with hers.
"Divorced? You think after toying with me and taking advantage of me, you can get away with it that easily? It's not that easy, Hartley. You have to pay for all your asshole behavior towards me. I will make sure you repay all my hurt feelings many times over. And for that, I refuse to divorce. I will remain your wife until I am satisfied with my revenge and then throw you away first. I may be so easy for you to get, but breaking away from me is something you won't be able to do. Not before I avenge all my heartache. I will destroy all the results of your hard work so far, take back my island, and make you fall as hard as you can, only then will I leave you. So, endure being my husband until then, Hartley.”
Ryan clenched his jaw with emotion. He didn't expect Kalyse to have so much courage to say such arrogant words to him.
“Who do you think you are Kalyse Hudson? How dare you threaten me? Where did you get the courage to dare threaten me like that? You have a weak and stupid girl? Can you fight me? I can even throw you out of my house right now and make your life miserable. You don't seem to know who I am, Miss Hudson?”
“Precisely because I know you very well Hartley. I know you won't dare me. Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to me, but to Maximilian Hartley.” Kalyse gave a faint smile. The woman looked at Ryan with a challenging look.
Ryan himself froze when Kalyse brought up his father's name.
"What do you mean? How dare you mention my father's name?”
"Why not? He is my father-in-law. We had a very friendly conversation last night and this morning, Ryan.”
Ryan's eyes suddenly widened in disbelief.
"What exactly are you doing Hudson!" Ryan shouted angrily.
“Don't call me that disgusting nickname. I don't want to hear that rotten family name!" Kalyse shouted back just as furiously.
"You-"
Ryan was lost for words. The heir to the Hartley Group was shocked beyond words. He didn't think that the woman he knew was gentle would be able to shout at him that loudly. There has never been a single person who dared to shout at Ryan the way Kalyse shouted at him.
How brave this woman is.
If Ryan's gaze were fire, Kalyse would definitely be on fire right now. The man was truly furious.
But no, the Kalyse currently standing in front of Ryan is no longer the Kalyse she used to be. The pain her family and Ryan put her through gave her this much strength to fight the powerful man in front of her.
There was not the slightest flash of fear on the woman's face when she faced Ryan.
Kalyse slapped her husband's chest. “You better behave yourself, Hartley. Your father will be here soon, you don't want him to find you screaming at your wife? Last night I assured him how harmonious our lives are. You know, he likes me. She says you are lucky to get me as your wife. Imagine how disappointed he would be if he found out that the heir he had been proud of all this time was nothing more than a philanderer who married a woman just for the sake of an island. You always want to prove to your father that you can bring the Hartley Group to the pinnacle of glory more than what your father could do before. That's why you want to take the island so badly. He would be very disappointed if he found out that his son's success could be achieved through cowardly and cheap means. You don't want that to happen, do you, Hartley?”
Kalyse slapped Ryan on the shoulder before leaving. Leaving the man with his body frozen.
For the first time in his life, the powerful Ryan Hartley felt afraid. And that was to his wife. His wife who he had been underestimating all this time.
Damn you, Kalyse Sophia Hudson!
- Writer
