Chapter 48

Chapter 48
I walked into the room, trying to act nonchalant despite the turmoil brewing inside me. Xavier looked up from his book, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in my expression.

"Hey, where did you go?" he asked, his voice casual but with a hint of curiosity.

I hesitated for a moment before responding, trying to come up with a believable excuse. "I just went to check something downstairs," I said, attempting to sound breezy.

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "At this hour? What could you possibly need to check downstairs?"

I shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. "Just making sure everything is okay, I guess. You know me, always worrying about something."

Xavier's gaze lingered on me for a moment, as if he wasn't quite buying my story. But then he nodded and returned to his book. "Alright, just be careful, okay?"

I breathed a silent sigh of relief, grateful that he hadn't pushed the issue further. But as I turned to leave for the bathroom, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Xavier knew more than he was letting on. And that he was watching me, waiting for me to slip up again.

I walked back into the room after taking a cold shower, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in my stomach. Xavier looked up from his book and smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Babe, I have some good news," he said, his voice warm and gentle.

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?"

"I've ordered my accountant to send a substantial donation to your father's campaign," he said, his expression serious. "I know how much this means to him, and I want to support him in any way I can."

My eyes widened in surprise, my mind racing with the implications. This was huge - my dad's campaign was gaining traction already, and a donation from Xavier's company could make all the difference by letting him win.

But before I could even process this news, Xavier dropped another bombshell.

"And I've also received word that Marco has returned some of the money he embezzled from our company," he said, his expression grim. "It's a start, at least."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Marco? Returning money? This was unprecedented. What was going on?

"Why would he do that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Xavier's expression turned cold. "I don't know, but I intend to find out. And I'll make sure he pays for what he's done, no matter what it takes. Even if he redeems himself, he still has to pay for what he has done."

I nodded, still trying to wrap my head around this sudden turn of events. But one thing was for sure - Xavier was a man of his word, and he would stop at nothing to protect his company and the people he cared about.

"Babe, I'm glad I could help your father's campaign," Xavier said, his eyes warm with kindness.

But I couldn't let him continue down this path. I had to warn him.

"Xavier, listen to me," I said, my voice urgent. "Don't give my father any more money after today. Please."

Xavier's expression turned quizzical. "Why not? I thought this was important to him."

"It is, but...just trust me, okay?" I pleaded. "My father is not what he seems. And neither is Marco."

Xavier's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that my father is using you, Xavier. He's using your money and your influence to further his own agenda. And Marco...Marco is a snake. He's been stealing from you and who knows what else he's capable of. Just stay away from them."

Xavier's face darkened, his jaw clenched in anger. "I'll take care of Marco, don't worry. But what about your father? Why should I stop supporting him?"

I took a deep breath, knowing I had to be honest with him. "Because, Xavier, my father is going to ruin you. He's going to use you to get what he wants and then discard you like trash. And I don't want to see that happen to you. You deserve better."

Xavier's expression softened, his eyes searching mine. "Babe, why are you warning me? Why are you protecting me? This man is your father. Your father can't hurt me neither can Marco."

I felt my heart race, my emotions spilling over. "Because, Xavier, I care about you. I don't want to see you hurt."

Xavier's face inches from mine, his voice low and husky. "Babe, I know you care about me but all these you are saying is hard to belive."

Xavier's eyes narrowed, his voice firm. "Babe, what's going on? You're clearly hiding something from me. Tell me. I know there's something else you know or just have seen."

I sighed, trying to brush it off. "Nothing, Xavier. Just don't worry about it, okay? I can handle it."

But Xavier wasn't having it. "Babe, don't lie to me. I can see it in your eyes. Something's bothering you. Tell me what it is."

I shook my head, trying to reassure him. "Really, Xavier. It's nothing. Just go to bed and rest. You need it."

But Xavier wasn't going to let it go. He begged me, his eyes pleading. "Babe, please. Tell me what's going on. I can't stand not knowing. Is it something with your father? With Marco? Please, just tell me."

I felt my resolve weakening, but I knew I couldn't give in. I had to protect Xavier from all of this. "Xavier, stop. Really. It's fine. Just go to bed."

But Xavier just kept begging, his voice cracking with worry. "Babe, please. I can't sleep not knowing what's going on. Tell me. Please."

I sighed, feeling my heart break for him. I wanted to tell him, I really did. But I knew I couldn't. Not yet, at least. So I just shook my head and tried to reassure him again. "Xavier, really. It's fine. Just go to bed. I'll handle it."

Xavier's eyes were pleading, his voice cracking with desperation. "Babe, please. Tell me what's going on. I can't stand not knowing. Is it something with your father? With Marco? Please, just tell me."

I felt my heart ache for him, but I knew I had to stay strong. I couldn't let him get dragged into this mess. "Xavier, stop. Please. It's better if you don't know anything."

But Xavier wouldn't give up. He begged me, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Lilith, please. I can handle it. I need to know what's going on. You're hiding something from me and it's killing me. Please, just tell me."

I shook my head, trying to be firm. "Xavier, no. I mean it. It's better if you don't know."

But Xavier just kept begging, his eyes welling up with tears. "Lilith, please. I'm begging you. Tell me what's going on."

I felt my resolve weakening, but I knew I had to stay strong. I couldn't let Xavier get hurt because of me. "Xavier, stop. Please. I'm not going to tell you anything. It's better this way."

Xavier's face crumpled, his body shaking with sobs. "Lilith, please.This is not fair. Don't do this to me. I need to know what's going on."

I felt my heart break for him, but I knew I had to be strong. I couldn't let Xavier get dragged into this mess. I turned and walked away, leaving him crying behind me.

Xavier's face was red with anger, his voice thundering through the room. "You never tell me anything, babe! It's always 'I can't say' or 'it's better if you don't know'. It's getting annoying!"

I tried to calm him down, my voice soft and soothing. "Xavier, please understand. I'm just trying to protect you."

But Xavier wasn't having it. "Protect me? You're always 'protecting' me, babe. But what about what I want? Don't I get a say in anything? Am I not the one who's supposed to protect you?"

I reached out to him, trying to placate him. "Xavier, of course you do. I just...I don't want to burden you with things that don't concern you."

Xavier's expression turned incredulous. "Don't concern me? You're my wife, Lilith. Everything about you concerns me!"

I sighed, trying to reason with him. "Xavier, please listen to me..."

But he cut me off, his voice rising. "No, Lilith. I've had enough of this. You always shut me out, always keep me in the dark. I need some space."

And with that, he grabbed his pillow and stormed out of the room, leaving me feeling frustrated and helpless.

I took a deep breath in, and then out, trying to process what had just happened. Xavier had never yelled at me like that before, and it had caught me off guard. I sat down on the bed, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

"It's better this way," I told myself, trying to convince myself that I had made the right decision. "Xavier doesn't need to know what's going on. It's too much for him to handle."

I thought about all the secrets I was keeping from him, all the lies I had told to protect him. It was a heavy burden to carry, but I knew it was necessary.

"I'm doing this for him," I whispered to myself. "I'm doing this to keep him safe."

But as I sat there, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was losing him. That my secrets and lies were driving him away.

"Maybe it's better if he doesn't know me at all," I thought, a tear rolling down my cheek.

I wiped it away, trying to be strong. I had to be strong for Xavier's sake. I had to keep protecting him, no matter what it cost me.

I lay on the bed, feeling the weight of my loneliness settling in around me. It was a heavy, crushing sensation, like a physical force pressing down on my chest. I felt empty, hollow, like a shell of a person.

As I stared up at the ceiling, I couldn't help but think about all the things I didn't have. A husband to hold me, a family to love me, a home to call my own. I felt like a ghost drifting through life, unseen and unimportant.

The silence in the room was deafening, punctuated only by the sound of my own ragged breathing. I felt like I was drowning in it, suffocating under the weight of my own isolation.

I thought about Xavier, and how he had stormed out of the room. I knew he was upset, but I couldn't help but feel like I was losing him too. Like he was slipping away from me, and I was powerless to stop it.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I thought about all the things I had sacrificed. My family, my friends, my own happiness. All for a sense of duty, of obligation.

I felt like I was living in a constant state of limbo, caught between two worlds and belonging to neither. I was a stranger in my own life, a ghost haunting the edges of my own existence.

As the darkness closed in around me, I couldn't help but wonder if this was all there was. If this was what my life was going to be like from now on. Alone, adrift, and utterly, completely lost.

I let the darkness consume me, my eyelids heavy with the weight of my loneliness. I surrendered to the emptiness, allowing it to swallow me whole. As I drifted off to sleep, I felt a sense of numbness wash over me, a welcome respite from the ache in my heart.

But even in sleep, my mind raced with thoughts of Marco and the task he had given me. I was eager to finish it, to complete the job and be done with it. Not just because I wanted to please Marco, but because I wanted to be free of him. Free to leave him and his manipulations behind.

I wanted to be able to walk away from this life, to leave the secrets and lies and betrayals behind. I wanted to start anew, to find a way to redeem myself and make amends for my mistakes.

And most of all, I wanted to be able to be with Xavier, without the weight of Marco's influence hanging over us. I wanted to be able to love him freely, without fear of judgment or reprisal.

As I slept, I dreamed of a life free from the shadows, a life filled with light and love and laughter.