Married To A Stranger

Chapter 14

Shaina’s Point of View

I was sitting in the living room, finally feeling a little at ease after everything that had happened. Cloud had stayed by my side the entire time, making sure I was recovering well.

I was sipping tea when my phone rang.

Unknown number.

I frowned but answered. “Hello?”

The moment I heard the voice on the other end, my stomach twisted.

“Shaina.”

My mother’s husband. Sofia’s father.

I straightened, gripping my phone tighter. “What do you want?”

His voice was sharp and demanding. “I want you to leave Cloud.”

My breath caught. “What?”

“I want you to divorce him,” he repeated. “This marriage was never supposed to happen in the first place. If you care about this family at all, you’ll leave him.”

I felt my chest tighten. “You mean your family.”

He didn’t even deny it. “You’ve done enough damage, Shaina. Cloud is destroying our company because of you.”

I let out a small, bitter laugh. “No. Cloud is destroying your company because Sofia tried to have me killed.”

Silence.

I continued, my voice steady despite my shaking hands. “You raised a daughter who would rather have me dead than see me happy. You let her treat me like trash for years, and now you’re still choosing her.”

He scoffed. “You’re just twisting the truth, just like Sofia said you would.”

I closed my eyes, inhaling sharply. “Sofia is manipulating you.”

“Enough!” he snapped. “Divorce Cloud. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

My grip on the phone tightened.

I was done being afraid of them.

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, the phone was snatched from my hand.

I turned—and there was Cloud.

His expression was unreadable, but the fire in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine.

He put the phone on speaker and leaned back, his voice eerily calm. “Who exactly are you threatening, Mr. Hernandez?”

There was a brief pause. Then, a nervous chuckle. “Cloud. I wasn’t threatening her—I was just making a request.”

Cloud smirked, but there was no amusement in his eyes. “A request? For my wife to leave me?”

“She’s not right for you,” Mr. Hernandez said stiffly. “You’re only hurting yourself by keeping her.”

Cloud’s fingers tapped against the armrest. “You see, I find it funny how you’re so desperate for control.”

Mr. Hernandez remained silent.

Cloud leaned forward. “Let me make one thing clear. Shaina is my wife. No one—not you, not Sofia, not anyone—gets to decide otherwise.”

“Cloud—”

“Oh, and another thing,” Cloud interrupted, his voice dangerously smooth. “I suggest you focus on your crumbling company instead of meddling in my marriage.”

A sharp inhale came from the other end.

Cloud continued, his tone like ice. “Because by the time I’m done, there won’t be anything left for you to save.”

The line went dead.

Cloud tossed the phone onto the couch and turned to me. His anger hadn’t faded yet.

I swallowed, my heart still racing. “Cloud…”

He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. “That man has some nerve.”

I hesitated, then asked, “Are you really going to ruin their company?”

Cloud met my gaze, his expression softening slightly. “After everything they did to you… do you really want me to stop?”

I opened my mouth but hesitated. Did I?

Did they deserve mercy?

Cloud reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “If you want me to stop, I will.”

I stared at him, my heart clenching.

For years, I had been powerless against them. But now, for the first time, I wasn’t alone.

I took a deep breath.

“No,” I said firmly. “They deserve everything coming for them.”

Cloud smirked. “Good answer.”

Before I could react, he pulled me into his arms.

His warmth wrapped around me, his embrace strong yet gentle.

“Next time something like this happens,” he murmured against my hair, “tell me immediately.”

I tensed slightly, but he tightened his hold. “You don’t have to face them alone, Shaina. Not anymore.”

I swallowed hard, my emotions threatening to overflow.

I had spent years carrying my burdens alone, always expecting disappointment. But Cloud… he was different. He wasn’t just standing by my side—he was ready to fight for me.

I closed my eyes and leaned into his embrace.

“Okay,” I whispered.

And for the first time, I truly believed it.