My Petite Vengeful Wife

Chapter 3. Never Again

Iris

“Michael!” I shout his name as I snap out of my shock at seeing him hit his brother. I immediately run to try to separate them.

“Don't come near, Iris,” my father-in-law tells me, who I hadn't even noticed.

Behind him are Dan and Albert, my husband's friends. The first one is a kind guy, and the second always tries to humiliate me.

“Take these two to the study,” my father-in-law ordered, and both men grab my husband and his brother from behind to separate them and then push them towards the home office, where Michael always locks himself when he comes home.

My father-in-law approaches me and gently takes my hands.

“Dear, go have dinner with Rose and then rest,” through his voice and his grip, he tries to calm me.

“I'll take care of everything.” That phrase sounds like a promise that leaves me intrigued.

I nod, still dazed by everything I've just seen.

Rose takes me by the arm and leads me to the kitchen.

Soon she brings me the food, and in total silence, I finish my dinner, which tastes like nothing due to my worry.

“Miss, go rest. Everything is fine now,” Rose tries to help me again to go to the room. I let myself be led, still thinking about my father-in-law's words.

Minutes later, curiosity gets the better of me, and, with my pajamas just put on, I head towards the study.

Luckily for me, the door is not completely closed.

“Stop spouting nonsense, Liam. Finish that damn coffee so you can come to your senses as soon as possible,” says my father-in-law angrily.

“It's not nonsense, father,” says Liam, very sure of himself.

“It is, and if you don't take it back, I'll break your mouth again,” my husband threatens.

From my hiding spot, I can see him in profile. He looks so handsome and sexy with his disheveled demeanor from the fight, everything looks good on him. I see his hands opening and closing into fists, he's angry, very angry, and ready to hit Liam again.

“I won't take it back. You're hurting her, Michael. Every day you ignore her or make fun of her, you're breaking her spirit, you're breaking her heart…” says my best friend, his voice filled with pain.

My tears threaten to fall. I know he's talking about me.

It's been months since I went anywhere, I stopped programming, put school on hold. My whole life is paralyzed by this marriage. Liam has been a good friend, visiting me whenever he can. He's about to finish a specialty in international law and fills this house with joy.

However, he hasn't visited in a couple of weeks, something unusual for him.

“What are you talking about?” asks my father-in-law.

"Tell him, Michael," my husband remains silent. "It's been a couple of weeks since he forbid me to visit Iris. He doesn't want me near his "wife" because he doesn't want me telling her wife that her dear husband is still seeing Loren," Again, I feel my heart ache.

Loren...my husband's ex-girlfriend. The one he spent our wedding night with, the one who told me days later that she was out of his life.

The same woman my in-laws hate because she's a gold digger who's only around Michael for his money, who's even cheated on him with others.

"Michael, is it true?" my father-in-law asks, very agitated.

I take a step closer to the door to clearly hear his response. My heart feels frozen, waiting for my husband to deny it, to say he doesn't see her, so it can start beating again.

Instead, my hopes are dashed.

"Yes, I still see her. I love her," he says seriously.

"How can you do that?!" shouted my father-in-law.

"Dad, if you hadn't threatened me with what truly belongs to me, I wouldn't have married Iris,"

"Loren is not good for you and you know it. She's a gold digger..."

"She's not! You think that of her because she doesn't have the money that spoiled little girl you made me marry has. What's so great about Iris? Her money? That money isn't even hers, it's her parents'. She has nothing of her own. On the contrary, Loren has worked her tail off to become one of the best lawyers in Chicago, but you've insisted on putting obstacles in her path to sabotage her," Michael angrily sweeps everything off his desk.

What do I have that's worthwhile? My parents' money?

If only he took the chance to know me, he'd realize I'm wealthy, wealthier than him and his entire family by my own efforts.

"I'm not putting obstacles in your ex-girlfriend's path, if she hasn't achieved anything it's because of herself, because she's useless, but you'll never understand that. I also can't believe you think that way about Iris, you've known her since she was a child, you know what she's capable of..."

"What is she capable of? Speaking a couple of languages, knowing how to cook, being stuck at home, getting ready for a couple of parties a month that you force me to take her to?"

"Enough, Michael! I won't allow you to keep talking like that. You're a terrible husband, don't try to blame her. If only I had married her instead, she wouldn't be suffering with you. I truly love her..." Liam blurts out with drunken slurs and annoyance.

Michael's laughter is like the Devil's own.

"If you like her so much, keep her," he says with a voice full of hatred.

"Michael." his father reprimanded him.

"No, enough with the Michael. If my dear little brother wants my tasteless, boring wife, that spoiled, useless brat, he can have her as far as I'm concerned. In the end, it will remain within the family and her money will be the Harris family’s as you want..." a blow makes me jump.

Through my tear-filled eyes, I can see Michael rubbing his cheek and my father-in-law still with his hand raised, while his friends laugh at the situation.

"This is the first and last time you'll hit me, Father. Because you'll lose all the respect I have for you if you try it again," he approaches his father trying to intimidate him.

"I don't love Iris, I never will, no matter how hard she tries or how much you, my mother, or Mr. Martakis want me to. Love cannot be forced. I don't love her, listen to me well, father, I hate her and you don't know how much, but you will if you keep pressuring me, because every time you want or ask me to take her somewhere, to treat her well, to even share something with her, I will hate her more, I'll humiliate her, and make her suffer until I completely destroy her," each of his words, spoken through clenched teeth, pierces like a knife in my heart.

"I don't even recognize you anymore," says his father with that same dark voice.

"Brother," Michael raises his hand to silence Liam.

"I don't want to see you in this house or near Iris. If you want her, fight for her when your father dies and I can inherit everything that is rightfully mine. Not before, because until I have the company in my hands, I won't divorce that annoying, awful wife of mine," he says bluntly.

With trembling steps, I make my way to my room, my only safe haven.

I close my eyes and feel the tears run freely down my face. The pain settles in my chest, making it hard to breathe.

It hurts, his disdain hurts, and the fact that he only sees me as a tool to obtain his inheritance. His words hurt me, the way he refers to me, the same words he always uses to humiliate me.

After a long time, no longer crying and with my body numb from staying in the same position, I make a decision that had been lingering in my mind for days.

“Never again, Iris”

"Never again," I repeat in a whisper.

Without a second thought, I quickly get up, despite the pain, and start packing my clothes, my documents while my best friend, Agatha, books my direct flight to Switzerland, the place I should never have left.