I'M JUST HIS WIFE

Rigella’s world shatters when she spots her husband, Ivan, having a romantic lunch with his mistress—Lara—at an upscale restaurant. Already burdened by years of emotional neglect, this public betrayal leaves her silently devastated. Determined not to ruin her long-awaited reunion with her best friend, Roxanne, Rigella hides her pain behind a forced smile. But secrets have a way of surfacing. When Roxanne notices the bruises on Rigella’s arm, concern turns into fury. Rigella tries to lie—tries to protect the man who’s been hurting her. But it isn’t long before the truth claws its way out in the form of another violent encounter. Ivan ambushes her in the restroom, slaps her, and reminds her of her place: a wife only on paper. Escaping into Roxanne’s arms, Rigella is forced to confront the wreckage of her marriage. Torn between the pain of staying and the fear of breaking her son Ice’s heart, she begins to question if love—especially from Ivan—was ever truly hers. As the chapter closes, a thunderous knock at Roxanne’s door sends Rigella’s heart racing. Ivan is here. And this time, she can no longer run from the truth.