Married to my Novel 9

Posted by adminh, ? Views, Released on February 17, 2025

Chapter 9

Days later

ROSALIE

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I woke up the next morning with a dull ache throbbing in my head, as if my body was reminding me of every terrible moment over the last few days. Marrying Damien. Being humiliated with my credit card declined. Forced to eat pepper until I blacked out, being locked in a store room for an entire day with no food nor water. The memories were all tangled up, each one tugging at my nerves like threads of fear and resentment.

+13)

My first instinct was to check if Damien was in the room with me, and to my relief, he wasn’t. A small, grateful sigh escaped me. Alone, finally. I sat up, trying to shake off the remnants of last night’s nightmare. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling me from my thoughts. It was a message from Damien. I stared at his name on the screen, a strange mix of anger and apprehension prickling my skin.

“Good morning, Rosebud. How was your night? I missed spending it with you, but I’m on a business trip. Whatever you need, let me know. See you soon.”

The words felt foreign, almost like they were from a stranger. I couldn’t wrap my mind around this sweet tone, this gentle, almost… affectionate side of him. It didn’t match the Damien I knew, the one who’d controlled, humiliated, and bullied me. I could feel a strange, uncomfortable warmth creeping up my chest, but I quickly hit “delete,” erasing his words from my phone and my mind.

Pushing down any lingering thoughts of Damien, I decided to focus on my own day. A day without him looming over me, criticizing every move. Excited by the thought, I called Maddison, my best friend, inviting her over.

After a quick shower, I dressed, feeling lighter with each minute that passed.

Hours later, I was sitting across from Maddison in the living room, grateful to have someone here who actually cared.

“So, let me get this straight.” Maddison’s eyebrows shot up, her expression one of pure disbelief. “You got married to Damien? The guy who made your high school years miserable?”

I nodded, forcing a tight smile. “I know. It’s insane. I still can’t believe it myself. And it was so fast and out of the blue. I didn’t even have a say in it.”

Maddison shook her head, letting out a humorless laugh. “How did it feel, Rose? Getting married to the guy who went from being your high school crush and the very love of your life to your worst nightmare?”

My stomach clenched at her question. I could feel her eyes boring into me, waiting for an answer. But I didn’t want to go there, not with everything so fresh, so raw. I cleared my throat and looked away. “He’s not… he’s not the love of my life, Maddison. He never cared about me. He never loved me. And I hate him for everything he’s done.”

Maddison gave me a knowing look, a smirk playing on her lips. “Hate him, huh? But there was a time you were completely in love with Damien, remember? Up until you saw him kissing—”

“Charlotte,” I cut in, my voice barely a whisper. My heart twisted at the memory. “Yeah… I loved him back then. I was stupid, Maddison. Completely blind to who he really was.” My voice shook as I remembered that moment, the crushing disappointment and betrayal that hit me when I saw him and Charlotte together. “And after that… the bullying started. Every day, he found a new way to humiliate me. It was like he enjoyed seeing me suffer. He made my high school years unbearable.”

Mon,

Chapter 9

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The pain felt just as fresh now as it had back then. It was hard to believe that a part of me had once loved him, had thought that maybe he’d felt something for me too. How foolish I’d been.

Maddison reached over, giving my hand a comforting squeeze. “But… if he hated you so much, why did he marry you?”

I shrugged, feeling the familiar bitterness rise within me. “I don’t know. I don’t think I ever will. Sometimes it feels like he just wants to control me, to keep me under his thumb.” I forced a smile, trying to hide the hurt behind it.

13

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted us. We exchanged puzzled looks before Maddison jumped up to answer it. Moments later, she came back with a delivery man holding a massive bouquet of roses, each flower adorned with little white

hearts.

“For… me?” I asked, feeling bewildered.

Maddison handed me the bouquet, smirking. “Guess it’s not a mistake. Open the note, Rose.”

I gingerly plucked the small card nestled in the roses and unfolded it. The words inside were written in Damien’s neat handwriting: “I hope you realize how pretty you are, just like these roses.”

Maddison let out a soft laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Looks like Damien is trying to be a lover boy. Who would’ve thought?”

I frowned, my mind spinning with questions. “Why… why would he send this? He’s never acted like this before.”

Maddison leaned back, studying me with a small, knowing smile. “Did you know a white heart symbolizes peace? Maybe Damien’s trying to make peace with you, start fresh or something.”

I swallowed, feeling a strange, unsettling mix of emotions. Peace? With Damien? The idea seemed almost laughable. And yet… the note, the roses, the white hearts–they all made me question what I knew about him. Maybe he was trying to make amends, to be different. But I couldn’t forget the way he had bullied and belittled me, both in high school and now, in our so–called marriage.

I let out a sigh, setting the flowers aside. “I don’t know, Maddie. I don’t trust him, and I’m not sure I ever will. This-“I gestured to the roses, my voice full of bitterness, “this doesn’t make up for all the pain he’s caused.”

Maddison watched me closely, her gaze softening. “I get it, Rose. But maybe… just maybe.. he’s realized he hurt you and wants to change.”

I looked away, unable to respond. The wounds Damien had left on my heart were too deep to be mended with a simple bouquet and a sweet message. But as much as I wanted to ignore it, I couldn’t shake the feeling of hope buried somewhere beneath my resentment. Maybe he did want to change. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Damien than the heartless bully I had always known.

But I wasn’t ready to let him in. Not yet. Not after everything he’d put me through. I took a deep breath, pushing the conflicting emotions back and gave Maddison a weak smile.