Chapter 29: Soft, Warm…
Patricia stood frozen, her lips parted, but no words came out. His tone, cold and emotionless, was more chilling than serious, and his eyes held no trace of doubt. He meant every word. The man before her felt like a stranger. Why was he acting so possessive, so unrelenting, when he didn’t even want her? Did he have a split personality or had he simply forgotten his own words?
"You made it clear where your heart belongs," she finally managed, voice trembling but defiant. "Why do you think it’s fair for me to stand by and watch you play the doting lover while I pretend to be the loyal wife?" Her glare bore into him. Anyone watching would have thought he cared but she knew better. This wasn’t love. It was *control.*
"You agreed to be my second wife from the beginning," he replied coldly, his eyes narrowing. "Or do I need witnesses to remind you of that?" The way he stared into her, like he could see every crack in her soul, made her pulse quicken.
"I agreed to be your second wife, not a loyal one," she shot back, her voice rising. "If you can have someone else, so can I. And don’t forget, we agreed on a deal. One month left, Roman. You don’t get to change that now."
A slow, dark smirk spread across his face. Something shifted in his gaze, something far more sinister.
"Your family gave you to me like a discarded trinket," he said coldly. "From that moment, your life was mine. If I don’t release you, Patricia, you are not going anywhere. You are a vessel for my heir and I am beginning to think that’s not such a bad idea after all."
His words cut deeper than any knife. A single tear slipped down her cheek before she turned her face away, ashamed it had fallen in front of him.
"You are even more of a bastard than I thought," she whispered bitterly. Then she lifted her chin. "If you won’t give me the divorce papers after I uphold our deal, I will disappear. I will vanish from your life like I never existed."
She thought her words might shake him, force some reason into him. But instead, he leaned in, deadly calm.