his bride, my obsession

The uninvited guest

The day began quietly, with the kind of stillness that feels uneasy rather than peaceful.

Elena sat alone in the living room, staring blankly at her cup of tea that had already turned cold. For nights she hadn’t slept properly. Every time she closed her eyes, that cursed video replayed in her mind—the image of Damien’s angry face, the girl’s frightened expression, the roughness that didn’t look like the man she knew.

She wanted to stop believing it. She wanted to run to him and demand the truth. But the doubt was already eating her alive.

Just as she set the cup down, the doorbell rang.

She frowned. No one was supposed to visit. Damien was at work, and the servants were out buying groceries.

With hesitant steps, she walked toward the door and opened it.

A woman stood outside, her hair messy, her clothes wrinkled, and her eyes red as if she hadn’t slept for days. For a moment, Elena didn’t recognize her. Then the woman lifted her head slightly, and Elena froze.

“Selene?” she whispered.

Selene’s lips trembled, her voice cracking as she spoke. “I’m sorry for coming here… I didn’t know where else to go.”

Elena’s heartbeat quickened. She glanced around nervously, as if someone might be watching. “What are you doing here?”

Tears spilled down Selene’s cheeks as she took a step closer. “Please… just hear me out once.”

Elena hesitated. There was fear in her eyes—but also pity. Something about Selene’s broken expression softened her heart. She stepped aside quietly, letting her in.

The living room felt suddenly colder. Selene sat on the edge of the sofa, her hands trembling as she clutched her bag tightly.

Elena stood opposite her, arms crossed, her voice cautious. “Why are you here?”

Selene looked up slowly, her eyes glistening. “Because of Damien.”

The name hit Elena like a knife. She stiffened. “What about him?”

Selene lowered her gaze, her voice trembling as though each word hurt to say. “He… he did things to me. You saw that video, right? That was just one of the times…”

Elena’s breath caught. Her fingers tightened on her arm. “You mean…”

Selene nodded, crying harder now. “He forced me. That day in the office—I tried to stop him, but he said if I ever spoke, he would destroy me.”

Elena’s lips parted in disbelief. “No… Damien wouldn’t—”

Selene interrupted her softly, “He already did.” She sniffled, looking broken. “When I refused to… to give him my body the second time, he ruined everything. He got me fired, my landlord threw me out, and my family—” her voice cracked painfully—“they disowned me. They said I brought shame to them.”

Elena sat down slowly, her world spinning.

It couldn’t be true. Damien wasn’t like that. But then, what about the video? What about the anger she had seen in his eyes?

Selene continued, her tone low and desperate, “I have nowhere else to go. I haven’t eaten in two days. Please, Elena… I know you must hate me, but I swear, I didn’t want to come between you two. I just… I don’t know where to go anymore.”

Elena’s heart ached. Tears welled in her eyes despite her confusion. Her instincts screamed that something felt off—but her compassion was stronger. She had always been someone who helped the broken, even when it hurt her.

“You… you can stay here for tonight,” she said quietly.

Selene’s eyes widened, pretending to look shocked. “Really? You’ll let me stay?”

Elena nodded, forcing a weak smile. “Just until you find a place. I don’t want anyone to suffer like this.”

Selene wiped her tears quickly, her expression softening into one of fake gratitude. “Thank you, Elena. You don’t know what this means to me.”

...

That night, Elena showed Selene to the guest room.

After Selene went inside, Elena lingered outside the door for a moment, her thoughts spinning.

Her mind kept replaying Selene’s words—he forced me, he destroyed me.

Her heart, however, kept whispering the opposite—Damien wouldn’t do that.

She hugged herself tightly, standing by the dark hallway window. The stars outside blurred behind her tears.

Meanwhile, inside the guest room, Selene’s entire demeanor changed.

Her tear-streaked face melted into a sly smirk. She sat on the edge of the bed, pulling out her phone.

A message popped up from Aaron.

Aaron: Did she believe you?

Selene typed back, her lips curling into a satisfied grin.

Selene: Completely. She let me stay in the house.

Aaron: Good. Keep playing the helpless victim. I want her to hate him enough to leave.

Selene locked her phone, the smirk never fading. “Poor Elena,” she murmured to herself. “So sweet… so easy.”

....

Downstairs, Elena sat in the living room again, staring at the quiet shadows.

The man she loved, the man she thought she knew, now felt like a stranger in her memories.

Her chest ached with confusion.

Was Damien really a monster hiding behind a calm face? Or was she being played by someone else’s lies?

She didn’t know anymore. All she knew was that her heart was breaking in two—and the line between truth and deception was beginning to disappear.