Chapter 54 Back home
Natalie’s POV
“I want a divorce,” I said, without looking at him.
I was just releasing him from the consequences. Moreover, I didn’t forget that night when Debbie answered his phone. I was done with all of this.
The doorbell rang. I was surprised; it was the first time we had a visitor since we arrived. He was the one who cooked and cleaned, and he hadn’t brought any assistance with him.
I remained rooted to my spot as I heard his footsteps approach the main door. After a few minutes, he returned and uttered just one word, “We’re going back to Villa Merrin.”
His cold demeanor provoked me, pushing me to the brink of anger and frustration. I detested that silence.
Once more, I snapped, “I want a divorce.”
He stood in his place for a split second, then replied nonchalantly, “No,” before continuing to walk towards the door. At this point, his coldness fueled my rage. I was livid. I hurled the mug into the pool and, after standing and grabbing his arm, I snapped, “I said I want a divorce!”
He turned abruptly, his eyes blazing with anger, and growled, “And I said NO.”
I struck him on his chest and yelled, “I hate you. I hate you. Do you hear me? I. HATE. YOU.”
A hint of pain flickered in his eyes, but vanished quickly. Without warning, he captured my lips in a ruthless kiss. I felt nothing but pain, a sweet bitter of agony.
Tears rolled down my cheeks, so I sniffed. He halted the kiss and locked eyes with me, then spoke with a firm, emotionless tone, “We will not divorce until death do us part.”
Without another word, he turned to enter the villa.
I closed my eyes to suppress my anger, then fixed my gaze on his back and asked, “And what if I said I hate you? What if I can’t tolerate your touches?”
He stopped and replied without turning back, “I won’t divorce you, Natalie. You’re stuck with me forever. Familiarize yourself with this.”
“What if I cheated on you, slept with another man?” I asked, eager to know his answer.
He turned slowly to me, hissing between gritted teeth, “Don’t test my patience, Natalie.”
I gave him a sly smile and retorted, “It’s good to know that I can play around while you’re still keeping my bed warm.”
In a split second, unexpectedly, he rushed towards me without giving me a chance to react. He grabbed me by the waist and threw us both into the pool.
Diving into the pool, our bodies entwined, he captured my lips. His hands tightened on my hips as he pulled me towards the surface of the water without breaking our kiss. As I began to feel unable to breathe, I hit his chest with my hands in protest.
He pulled me slightly away from his chest and said sarcastically, “That’s what will happen, you’ll kill us both.”
Without another word, he turned and swam to the edge of the pool. Once he got out, he said without looking back, “There’s no way out, Natalie. Deal with it.”
Part of me loathed him at that moment, despised his arrogance and possessiveness. Yet another part of me felt a warmth knowing that he desired us to be together for the rest of our lives.
In the room we had occupied for the last five days, I stepped out of the shower as Rafael walked in. I was wrapping a towel around myself, pondering what I would wear for the journey home.
He stood before me, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear, and muttered in a husky voice, “Hurry up and get dressed. I can’t stop fucking you, and I know you enjoy it.”
Memories of our intimacy flooded my mind, turning my cheeks red. I remembered how before a few hours ago, I melted into his embrace, my heart pounding. Even though he was vicious and hard, I enjoyed it. I knew I would never forget those moments.
Before I said anything, he took a step back, tossed a summer dress onto the edge of the bed and commanded, “Wear this!”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
I realized that it must have been whoever knocked on the door earlier who brought it.
I spared him a glance, then retorted, “Just so you know, I didn’t sign up for your contract, so you don’t have the right to dictate what I should or shouldn’t wear.”
He smiled a small, almost amused smile, as if I had cracked a joke. Then, he gently caressed my cheek and whispered, “I don’t need that damn contract, Natalie. You’re my wife. I touch wherever I want, kiss whatever I want, and make love whenever I want. Deal with that reality.”
“Including your clothes. I decide when you wear them and when you don’t,” he added before turning.
He left promptly, slamming the door behind him. I shouted, “I hate you, Rafael! Do you hear me? I hate your damn ugly face!”
He shouted back from behind the door, “Then why do you keep staring at this ugly face all night and stealing kisses from my innocent lips while I’m sleeping?”
Embarrassment flooded my cheeks as I shouted even louder this time, “I hate you, Rafael Merrin!”
The drive to the Merrin mansion wasn’t too long. As we drew closer, I felt increasingly nervous. It had been five days since that incident. How would I face Grandma and Tobi?
As if Rafael was reading my mind, he spoke once he crossed the mansion gate, “Grandma and Tobi are coming back this evening. You don’t have to explain anything; I already did.”
I stared at the side of his face, noticing the tightness in his jaw. I sensed that something was amiss.
I sighed but didn’t respond. Once I entered the mansion, I went straight to my room, avoiding any interaction with the domestic staff. However, as soon as I stepped in, Laura ran towards me and wrapped her arms tightly around my shoulders.
“Thank God you came finally,” she said.
She took a step back and said, “The paparazzi were camped in front of the mansion gate for several days.” Then she turned towards Rafael and added, “Thanks to Mr. Rafael, he kept you away until he forced them with his power to leave us alone.”
So, Rafael was keeping me there despite the accusations I hurled at him all the time? But that wouldn’t make me forgive him.
I turned around without saying another word and headed to my room.
I was browsing social media on my laptop, trying to find videos from that night at the nightclub, when Rosy entered my room after knocking on the door, holding a box between her hands. I wanted to read comments.
With a smile, she said, “Mr. Merrin sent you this, and he asked me to inform you that he won’t be home until midnight.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Was he trying to play the part of a real husband?
Instead, I smiled and said, “Thank you, Rosy.”
She nodded respectfully and then left the room.
I opened the box. Inside was a new branded phone with a small note that read, (This is in place of your lost phone.)
I lost my phone at that night.
There was a knock on the door. I said, “Come in.”
The door opened, and Lauren entered with a worried expression. “Miss Debbie is here. She wants to see you,” she said.
I wasn’t in the mood to see anyone, and I’m sure it showed on my face. Lauren added, “I can tell her that you’re tired and…”
“No, tell her I’m coming,” I replied firmly.