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Chapter 20: Sometimes, I Build
Last Updated:
2025-04-08 14:34:52
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His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 21: Lady of the House
“The police still have no idea how the fire started,” her mother's thin anxious voice quaked as she tried to explain through the phone.As for Vanessa at the other end of the line, she wasn’t even aware of the way her fingers were trembling, as well as her agitated movements, back and forth the long hallway like a faulty pendulum.Nate had since left for work in a hurry and now all she wanted to do was gather as many clues as possible.There were suspicions on her mind, but she really needed to be sure about who was behind the attack on her loved ones, unprovoked. And why? She had done nothing…at least recently to warrant such an attack.There was a pause after this, then the sound of her mother passing the phone, her father's tired sigh came next.“It just doesn’t make sense,” he began mournfully. “One minute, everything was fine, then suddenly it all went up in flames.”Vanessa’s brows furrowed deeper.She felt it too, that unsettling sense that things were spiraling far beyond
Last Updated : 2025-04-09His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 22: The Man Behind the Wall
“Something in the air was wrong.”Since the beginning of today, and maybe even a bit of yesterday, Isla had started to notice some weird developments in the mansion.It had nothing to do with the curtains, lighting, or even the decor as a whole.It was about her husband…Damien.The usual routine of his existence, his ever-enduring discipline, had taken a surprising pause.For the first time since they signed the contract, Damien, of all people, did not go to work. And guess what? Today was a Monday.“A proper work day!”Isla was already dressed up for her boutique shift, expecting to find the mansion empty by that hour.But instead, she stepped out of her room to see the young man in the sitting room.“Still in his house clothes.”A sight that until now, she would have classified as close to impossible.Isla remained still for a second, her eyes narrowing in quiet curiosity.Damien was slanted on the couch and by his side was his smartphone buzzing over and again to a call, yet ignor
Last Updated : 2025-04-10His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 23: Arising Questions
Over a week had passed since Isla saw a bit of Damien's vulnerable side. They had quietly returned to their normal way of life since then, with neither of them trying to bring the event up.However, despite the pretense, it was so clear that something had changed between them.And this “change” started with no other person but Damien himself.For five straight days now, he has been showing up at Isla’s boutique at exactly 5:00 p.m. He sent No texts. He made no explanations; all he did was appear at the exact time she was closing to pick her up.Three times out of the five times, he had asked in that low, dry voice of his, keeping his gaze straight ahead,“Did you eat today?”And Isla had tried her best to answer back as stiffly as possible. There were no romantic gestures, no flowers, no small talk. Just silence. But it was also obvious that it wasn’t just business anymore.Another unexpected thing that happened during the week was two days ago, which was on Friday.Clarissa, Damien
Last Updated : 2025-04-12His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 24: Would It Bother You?
The next morning Isla discovered Damien had disappeared from the mansion.After her return from work yesterday, she had carried herself through her routine blindly, dodging the memory of everything that had taken place before she closed from work, and barely seen Damien since then. All that she had heard yesterday from her room notifying her that he was back was the echo of his footsteps on the stairs and of the maids greeting him.He also had not bothered to check up on her. And strangely, she wasn’t sure if she was relieved by that or disappointed.This morning, he just left without even leaving as little as a text or a voicemail behind.Although she tried searching a few extra places to be double sure of the observation, particularly his study. Yet she had found nothing, he was really gone.“Just like that? Was that how it is now?”After letting out a gasp she blinked rapidly as she tried to make sense of the sinking feeling.Soon after that, she stepped back, walked to the nearest
Last Updated : 2025-04-14His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 25: A Guest with a Key
Isla stared at Damien for a little too long.She allowed his question to hang in the air at first because of the speed with which he had caught her off guard and secondly, because she could not seriously believe he was asking her that. So he really wanted to know if she would be okay with him bringing in his mistress…or old friend rather than living in a space that was supposed to be theirs. In the end, she gave a small shrug.“Why are you asking if it would bother me?” Her tone managed to remain smooth, but there was a glint in her eye. “I thought personal feelings weren’t allowed.”Damien didn’t blink. His eyes, however, stayed fixed on her like he was trying to read her mind as usual.“I’m simply being polite,” he finally replied coolly.Isla’s face twisted, her nose wrinkled, then she shook her head at once.“No,” She blurted. “No, you’re just being cruel.”Then without waiting for what he would say next, she turned around sharply to resume her procession to her room, disappear
Last Updated : 2025-04-15His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 26: A Few More Days
Isla stared back at Isabella. Her posture did not change, but the meaning behind her unsolicited history lesson did not go unnoticed. It hung in the air like poison. Isla controlled her expression and tried not to let it show on her face. She folded her arms slightly, offering a cool smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, and in an equally dry tone she responded, “Well, lucky you still remember.” There was a pause; Isabella lifted one of her brows as if she were amused or unimpressed. But in the end, she said nothing else. The quiet animosity between the ladies stretched taut, heavy like a cloud of rain that refused to burst. Getting to her boutique later that morning, Isla entered her office, shut the door, and lowered herself into her chair with an attitude to speak of restraint. She was in a fight with herself, her head, and her mind, trying not to think of the last few minutes back home and, as a matter of fact, the last 24 hours. Trying not to think of Damien and his
Last Updated : 2025-04-16His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 1: The Moment Everything Changed
“If you want to know the truth about your husband, come to this address. 1588 Belmont Drive. Now!" Isla stared at the anonymous message, the address mentioned was one she knew too well, it was the description of Hayes vacation home, not too far from the mansion she shared with her husband. Her expression remained neutral at first, but soon she could not help but scoff, waving the phone and shaking her head. “Fraudsters…Gossip phishers!” This must be a desperate attempt to stir trouble in her marriage and then put it on the news. Well, they could try such games with any other woman out there, but not her, Isla Hayes. “Not Nate," Isla murmured, shaking her head. "He would never." Three years of marriage had solidified her trust in him. He was a man of discipline, a man of his word. And, more importantly, the circumstances that had led to their unusual union made him owe her a debt that neither of them ever brought up but was deeply understood. The thought of that debt
Last Updated : 2025-03-19His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 2: The Ultimate Humiliation
Isla stood outside Vanessa’s apartment, her hand trembling as it hovered over the doorbell. The sight of the familiar building—a place she had once called her second home—threatened to bring tears to her eyes. But she swallowed the lump in her throat and forced herself to press the button. She needed answers. She needed to hear it from Vanessa herself. The door swung open, and Mrs. Reed, Vanessa’s mother, greeted her with a warm smile. “Isla, dear! What a surprise. Come in, come in! You should join the celebration.” The words were cheerful, but to Isla, they felt like a slap. Celebration? Was this woman so oblivious to the pain her daughter had caused? Or was she simply choosing to ignore it? A sudden, bitter laugh bubbled up in her throat while Mrs. Reed regarded her with quiet amusement. Vanessa’s eyes met Isla’s, and for a moment, there was silence. Then Vanessa sighed, setting her cup down and crossing her arms. “Took you long enough.” Isla’s fists clenched a
Last Updated : 2025-03-19
Latest chapter
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 26: A Few More Days
Isla stared back at Isabella. Her posture did not change, but the meaning behind her unsolicited history lesson did not go unnoticed. It hung in the air like poison. Isla controlled her expression and tried not to let it show on her face. She folded her arms slightly, offering a cool smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, and in an equally dry tone she responded, “Well, lucky you still remember.” There was a pause; Isabella lifted one of her brows as if she were amused or unimpressed. But in the end, she said nothing else. The quiet animosity between the ladies stretched taut, heavy like a cloud of rain that refused to burst. Getting to her boutique later that morning, Isla entered her office, shut the door, and lowered herself into her chair with an attitude to speak of restraint. She was in a fight with herself, her head, and her mind, trying not to think of the last few minutes back home and, as a matter of fact, the last 24 hours. Trying not to think of Damien and his
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 25: A Guest with a Key
Isla stared at Damien for a little too long.She allowed his question to hang in the air at first because of the speed with which he had caught her off guard and secondly, because she could not seriously believe he was asking her that. So he really wanted to know if she would be okay with him bringing in his mistress…or old friend rather than living in a space that was supposed to be theirs. In the end, she gave a small shrug.“Why are you asking if it would bother me?” Her tone managed to remain smooth, but there was a glint in her eye. “I thought personal feelings weren’t allowed.”Damien didn’t blink. His eyes, however, stayed fixed on her like he was trying to read her mind as usual.“I’m simply being polite,” he finally replied coolly.Isla’s face twisted, her nose wrinkled, then she shook her head at once.“No,” She blurted. “No, you’re just being cruel.”Then without waiting for what he would say next, she turned around sharply to resume her procession to her room, disappear
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 24: Would It Bother You?
The next morning Isla discovered Damien had disappeared from the mansion.After her return from work yesterday, she had carried herself through her routine blindly, dodging the memory of everything that had taken place before she closed from work, and barely seen Damien since then. All that she had heard yesterday from her room notifying her that he was back was the echo of his footsteps on the stairs and of the maids greeting him.He also had not bothered to check up on her. And strangely, she wasn’t sure if she was relieved by that or disappointed.This morning, he just left without even leaving as little as a text or a voicemail behind.Although she tried searching a few extra places to be double sure of the observation, particularly his study. Yet she had found nothing, he was really gone.“Just like that? Was that how it is now?”After letting out a gasp she blinked rapidly as she tried to make sense of the sinking feeling.Soon after that, she stepped back, walked to the nearest
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 23: Arising Questions
Over a week had passed since Isla saw a bit of Damien's vulnerable side. They had quietly returned to their normal way of life since then, with neither of them trying to bring the event up.However, despite the pretense, it was so clear that something had changed between them.And this “change” started with no other person but Damien himself.For five straight days now, he has been showing up at Isla’s boutique at exactly 5:00 p.m. He sent No texts. He made no explanations; all he did was appear at the exact time she was closing to pick her up.Three times out of the five times, he had asked in that low, dry voice of his, keeping his gaze straight ahead,“Did you eat today?”And Isla had tried her best to answer back as stiffly as possible. There were no romantic gestures, no flowers, no small talk. Just silence. But it was also obvious that it wasn’t just business anymore.Another unexpected thing that happened during the week was two days ago, which was on Friday.Clarissa, Damien
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 22: The Man Behind the Wall
“Something in the air was wrong.”Since the beginning of today, and maybe even a bit of yesterday, Isla had started to notice some weird developments in the mansion.It had nothing to do with the curtains, lighting, or even the decor as a whole.It was about her husband…Damien.The usual routine of his existence, his ever-enduring discipline, had taken a surprising pause.For the first time since they signed the contract, Damien, of all people, did not go to work. And guess what? Today was a Monday.“A proper work day!”Isla was already dressed up for her boutique shift, expecting to find the mansion empty by that hour.But instead, she stepped out of her room to see the young man in the sitting room.“Still in his house clothes.”A sight that until now, she would have classified as close to impossible.Isla remained still for a second, her eyes narrowing in quiet curiosity.Damien was slanted on the couch and by his side was his smartphone buzzing over and again to a call, yet ignor
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 21: Lady of the House
“The police still have no idea how the fire started,” her mother's thin anxious voice quaked as she tried to explain through the phone.As for Vanessa at the other end of the line, she wasn’t even aware of the way her fingers were trembling, as well as her agitated movements, back and forth the long hallway like a faulty pendulum.Nate had since left for work in a hurry and now all she wanted to do was gather as many clues as possible.There were suspicions on her mind, but she really needed to be sure about who was behind the attack on her loved ones, unprovoked. And why? She had done nothing…at least recently to warrant such an attack.There was a pause after this, then the sound of her mother passing the phone, her father's tired sigh came next.“It just doesn’t make sense,” he began mournfully. “One minute, everything was fine, then suddenly it all went up in flames.”Vanessa’s brows furrowed deeper.She felt it too, that unsettling sense that things were spiraling far beyond
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 20: Sometimes, I Build
The following Thursday, Damien had his back resting on his office chair.He wasn’t looking at the files piled up at the center of his table.His gaze was distant, fixed on somewhere just beyond the ceiling.Just like yesterday, it was still about the Carters, picturing the quiet devastation he heard in the man’s words, the same words that had prompted his research on that fraudster called Wellington. The same words that had actually helped him in a way.What he found in Graham Wellington’s file had been an eyesore of deceit, theft, and silenced victims, one of which was Robert himself.Imagine a man that was once revered in almost all business circles… Now reduced to nothing in a city where he was once king?Damien couldn’t even begin to imagine the shame, how it must have felt, going from praise to pity, from grace to grass.“Shameful” Damien whispered in between grinding teeth.Robert had not asked for his help. Not once. He had not even implied it. But that didn’t matter.Damien w
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 19: Disarmed
The next morning, in his secluded top-floor office, Damien was busily poring over columns of numbers, contracts, and affiliations all tied to Nate’s business partners.“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”Damien lived by that mantra. If mind-reading were a skill, he would be first in line to master it, although he was already terrifyingly close to that.Then, something made him stop halfway suddenly. An uninvited memory but not irrelevant. The Carter family. Their unexpected visit weeks ago, their air of confrontation, ready to even drag away their daughter.But Damien had handled it. With care, precision, and his legendary charm, he had disarmed them all, especially Isla’s father, Robert Carter.And it was now the old man's words that were the reason for his sudden thoughtfulness.“Graham Wellington? That man’s a parasite. He doesn’t just destroy businesses, he infects them, like rot in fruit. He’s why I went bankrupt. I lost every single penny son… every cent.” Dami
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 18: The Last Minutes Coup
“Gosh, it was less than 7 minutes already!”Nate murmured gingerly with his eyes fixed on the Television on his office wall, sitting on the edge of his executive chair.He had arrived so much earlier today, earlier than even the janitors and cleaners, meeting only the security men at the gate on his arrival. Even Vanessa back home had appeared quite surprised that he had woken up before her.Though, unlike his former wife, Vanessa was actually lazier than a sloth; however, waking up early was at least one of the very few things in the world she was good at. But today, he also beat her to it.There was just something about this ritual of watching his effort being celebrated by the world while sitting here in this small but expensive room where his journey started.A satisfied smile played on his lips as he leaned back in his chair. The award ceremony had started a few minutes ago, and soon that moment will come.The moment when the presenter would announce the recipient of the multi-
