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Chapter 19: Disarmed
Huling Na-update:
2025-04-07 02:54:12
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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
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-08His 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
Huling Na-update : 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
Huling Na-update : 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
Huling Na-update : 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
Huling Na-update : 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
Huling Na-update : 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
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-16His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 27: The Breaking Point
It was 11:43 PM and the entire estate was now swallowed by silence.Yet back in her room, Isla was still awake sitting upright at the edge of the bed, with her back arched forward. The duvet remained untouched behind her.And her right hand was holding up her phone at eye level as the screen reflected in her tired weary eyes. She was staring at the message box specifically, the space where Nate’s strange text earlier that evening had once been.The single message that bore just his name.Just “Nate.”Of course, she had since deleted it, but the memory of it still disturbed her head like a stubborn echo.But why?She had not stopped asking herself that question since she came back from work hours ago. No typo, no follow-up text. No missed calls. “Nothing”Just that one name. Sent deliberately. As though meant to say something without saying anything at all.What was his motive now? What was Nathaniel planning?She didn’t know what to make of it, but she knew that bitch that was l
Huling Na-update : 2025-04-18
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His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 36: No One Came
Damien was busy in his office on the afternoon of the following day. So busy that he couldn't even look at the clock, and he didn’t actually need to. For Damien, time has always been measured by performance, in deals closed and stocks rising. That was how he had built this empire in the first place. His head was still bowed in this manner when he noticed that his phone was ringing with an incoming call. Damien's brows pulled together with the slightest annoyance. He let out a vague, irritated sound before finally dragging his arm over to grab the phone. Flashing on the screen was the contact ID of his friend Collins. A knowing huff escaped him. “What now…” He muttered under his breath, more to himself than to the man calling, tapping the green icon without much enthusiasm. But before he could get a single word out, Collins’s voice urgently blared through the receiver, his tone heavy with a worry that was not typical of him at all. “Hey man, check your phone. You’re trending… and i
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 35: A Healthy Dose of Nostalgia
It has been two weeks now since Caden returned to the city. And with Isla having him around, it was like reliving the good old days over again.Caden appeared to have brought with him that part of her life that had not been touched by the mess and the chaos that now defined the rhythms of her new life.It gave her the life before Damien, before Vanessa, before Nate. Before all of them.She found herself remembering the times when Caden used to yank her out of her overfilled schedule with a cup of coffee and a smirk, telling her she was way too brilliant to be this boring.How he would make her laugh no matter how bad her day was going or was.They had been close. Too close, maybe.There was even a point when she once dared to hope that the flutter in her chest whenever he was around her meant something more.But funny enough, it was Caden himself who had insisted that they remained just friends. And somehow, it felt like those old, meaningful, fun years had been folded into seconds.
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 34: The Woman Who waited
The guest wing of the Damien's mansion was exceptionally quiet on this morning. Damien himself had since left for work and as for Isla, she was still up-stairs locked up as was usual with her nowadays, particularly with exchange that had happened yesterday between herself and Damien.However, somewhere in corner of the same room, sitted perfectly on the edge of a chaise with her back straight and one leg elegantly crossed was Isabella.Her phone was held gently to her ear as he seemed to talking to someone via call.But the tone she was speaking with was suspiciously low, edged with something like dark motive.“Yes,” She whispered first and then stopped to pause.Her eyes glancing around the room briefly, and expertly as if to be sure she was alone.And indeed there was no one else around.This realization made her shoulders drop more relaxedly.When she spoke again, her tone sounded a little firmer and yet a little quicker,“He’s starting to crack trust me… much easier than I thou
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 33: No One Win
Nate didn't say a word the moment he and Vanessa got home from the gala later that night, and on entry, he just held the door open.Vanessa followed right after, her face tightly composed in a way that only made the storm behind her eyes more obvious. Her spine was stiff and her arms both crossed.The door shut with a dull thud behind them.Vanessa exhaled sharply and began pacing the expansive living room. Nate had stopped just a few steps from the door. His hands were deep in his pockets, his posture rigid but calm too calm. A few seconds after this, Vanessa suddenly lost whatever cool she had been trying to keep, she spun around abruptly, her voice ringing out like thunder,"What the hell was that back there, Nate?"She asked with her arms flying out wildly, "I mean... Did you begin by messaging her a few days back? Now you're trying to get her attention right where I was? Or wait a second…”She paused with a finger touching her temple.“Do you still love her? Is that it? Or
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 32: The Breaking Point
The silence between them became tighter, Damien’s dark eyes continued to narrow slightly as the tension between them doubled in heat.Neither of them looked away. Their gazes clashed, as the seconds dragged by to the point that even the extra large sitting room appeared to be getting smaller around them.Finally, Damien’s voice brought an end to the silence, the tone of it, low and accusing."Are you playing with me?"He said and moved closer, one deliberate step at a time, "You told me you had a meeting,” Damien continued.“Was this meeting of yours Caden Blake?”At the mention of the name, Isla blinked once, her lashes brushing her cheek, and then she let out a short, bitter scoff. Her arms looked like they were going stiff at her sides.“Wait. Did you just say meeting?” She asked with raised brows.“That’s your problem? A meeting? The same one I wasn’t even properly informed about?”She hadn’t even finished when Damien’s voice snapped with impatience, cutting her off with a shar
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 31: What the Hell Happened Tonight?
Caden’s lips twitched after Damien bounced his handshake, holding the other man’s gaze steady, his eyes quiet but alert. The heated moment was soon interrupted when the Damien's step sister, the ever cheerful Clarissa who was also in the event breezed completely unaware of the faceoff. “Oh! There you two are!” she exclaimed light heartedly, her attention flitting between the tense men. “Hi Damien!” she added with a quick hug to her stepbrother who barely hugged her back before her eyes brightened further at the sight of Isla. “You’re looking gorgeous issy!” she gushed, looping an arm through Isla’s own without hesitation. “Come, I want to introduce you to someone, he’s crazy about fashion and French cheese.” Isla blinked, a little thrown off but allowed herself to be led, casting a last glance over her shoulder as Clarissa chattered away. Damien waited only for about two seconds before his face returned to Caden. The sharpness in his eyes remained, but his voice was
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 30: The Gala Gambit
Isabella was literally glued to Damien's side as they arrived at the venue of the Blake Group’s much-anticipated gala later that night.Damien's attention seemed to be elsewhere, despite being right beside her. His eyes were vague and distant.And when they finally got into the main hall, his eyes swept the entirety of the large room the moment they were past the door.He looked searching, he looked calculating.It was obvious he wasn’t here just to sip wine or listen to some bland, repetitive music. Neither was he here to schmooze or pose for staged photos. Not really.As far as Damien was concerned, this was his definition of strategy.The organizers of this event, ”The Blake Group,” were no ordinary conglomerate. It was a machine of influence. Philanthropy was only a scratch on the surface of what they were actually about. Beneath it ran an even deeper stream of power: talking about quiet funding for political campaigns, backdoor partnerships with foreign stakeholders, and now,
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 29: Brand New, Familiar Fire
A week had passed now since Damien and Isla's heated exchange and in the days that came by, neither of them had brought it up.Not once. But that did not mean that things had remained the same between them. The exact opposite had happened.Like before, when they had once crossed lines and silently stepped back this time, the retreat wasn’t colored with the tension of attraction but the quiet hostility of emotional distance. It was Isla, especially, who started to draw this line.The leisurely meals she used to cook once in a while had immediately stopped.The waiting up she once did for him whenever he was delayed at work was gone, too. Now, the kitchen belonged fully to the maids again, just the way Damien supposedly preferred it. A contract of convenience right? Nothing more.And Isla stuck to this role with a new stony discipline. Her movements were triangular now; wake. Dress. Work. Return. Sleep. Repeat. No glances nor greetings.At first, Damien acted like he didn’t notice
His Enemy, My Husband Chapter 28: The Necessary Reminder
Later that afternoon, Damien was back in the office. His posture was relaxed but not completely. His eyes, though focused on the document before him, hadn’t truly read a single word in the last half hour. They were as distant as that of a man present in a room but miles away in thought.He ground his teeth.For the last few minutes since his return, he had been thinking about his last parting words to Isla at her boutique after the slightly heated exchange between them.“Don’t forget this is just a contract. No personal feelings.”The words echoed in his head again, like something someone else had said. He dragged a hand across his face. What was he even thinking when he said that? Isla’s face when he uttered those words was still very much clear in his head, her silence, her distant eyes. He remembered it all too well now. And it stung more than he expected. He hummed and said nothing else.His thoughts now went farther back to earlier that same morning, back at the mansion. Damie
