Se connecterShare
CHAPTER FOUR: Lines Drawn
Dernière mise à jour:
2026-01-26 18:50:11The Blackwood estate had never felt smaller—or lonelier—to Lydia than it did that morning. Sunlight filtered through the massive windows, but it failed to warm the expansive rooms. Every corner of the mansion reminded her that she was a guest in her own life, watched and measured by a husband who clearly had no intention of seeing her as more than a placeholder.
Yet, for the first time, she felt something stir—a quiet defiance. Breakfast passed as usual. Ethan sat across from her, scrolling through his tablet, his expression indifferent, yet his presence suffocating. He did not speak to her unless necessary, did not ask how she slept, did not acknowledge her existence beyond the bare minimum. And that was precisely why Lydia decided today would be different. “I’ve made arrangements for the library to be my workspace,” she said calmly, setting her cup down. Her voice carried a firmness she rarely allowed herself to display. Ethan looked up, eyebrow arched. “You have?” His tone was neutral, but the sharp edge beneath it was unmistakable. “Yes,” Lydia replied. “I need somewhere to think, to write, and to manage my affairs. It will not interfere with yours, of course.” He studied her, eyes narrowing slightly. “You are bold.” Lydia offered a small, controlled smile. “I am surviving. And I will not exist in silence.” He said nothing further, but the brief pause, the flicker in his gaze, hinted that he had not expected resistance. That small victory warmed her more than she cared to admit. Later that afternoon, Lydia explored the mansion more deliberately. She wandered into the gardens, where rain had left droplets clinging to the roses and hedges. The quiet serenity of the outdoor space contrasted sharply with the tension that lingered inside. Yet even here, she could not escape the feeling of being observed. A sudden sound behind her made her turn sharply. Ethan stood at the edge of the path, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. “You seem to be everywhere today,” he said, his voice smooth, controlled. “Curious about the house or curious about me?” Lydia met his gaze steadily. “Curious about life. About the world beyond being told where I belong. About finding my place in a house that does not feel like home.” He stepped closer, the air between them charged. “Do not mistake curiosity for defiance,” he said, low and dangerous. “There are boundaries here, Lydia.” She shook her head, refusing to be intimidated. “Boundaries exist to protect us, not to cage us. I am not yours to control. And I will not pretend I am.” Ethan’s eyes darkened, and for the first time, Lydia sensed real tension—not the polite coldness he usually wore, but something sharper, rawer. His lips pressed into a thin line, and then, almost reluctantly, he nodded. “You may have the library,” he said finally. “But this house… my rules still apply.” She inclined her head in acknowledgment. A small victory, yes—but she knew it was only the beginning. As Ethan turned and walked away, Lydia felt a thrill of power—subtle, dangerous, and intoxicating. She had drawn her first line. He had noticed her strength, even if he refused to admit it. That evening, alone in the library, she unpacked her papers, set up a small desk by the window, and allowed herself a moment of satisfaction. Outside, the estate stretched endlessly, vast and imposing, yet for the first time, she felt a spark of ownership. A spark that whispered: this marriage may have been forced upon her, but she would navigate it on her terms. And if Ethan Blackwood thought he could intimidate her into submission, he was gravely mistaken. The game had begun.
Latest chapter
His Unwanted Wife CHAPTER TEN: A Love Unbroken
The Blackwood estate was quiet, almost eerily so, the morning after the storm that had shaken its foundations both inside and out. Rain had swept through the night, leaving the grounds glistening, and a fragile sunlight now filtered through the tall windows. But inside, the mansion was alive with a tension that was different from the fear and uncertainty of the previous days. It was the tension of possibility—the quiet electricity of change, trust, and fragile hope.Lydia stood in the library, the place where so many of her battles—both emotional and practical—had begun. Sunlight streamed over the leather-bound books, catching dust motes in its glow. Her fingers brushed the spines as she walked past, and she thought of how far she had come—from the terrified bride who walked down the aisle into cold indifference, to a woman who had faced secrets, threats, and betrayal, and survived.The door creaked behind her, and she turned to see Ethan entering, dressed in casual clothes, hair stil
His Unwanted Wife CHAPTER NINE: Shadows of Betrayal
The Blackwood estate felt alive with tension that night, far more intense than the usual quiet grandeur. Lydia had learned that Ethan’s carefully controlled life was riddled with secrets—alliances he had forged in the past, enemies he had made, and debts that could ruin him if exposed. But she had also learned that beneath the impenetrable walls, he was vulnerable, and for the first time, she understood that she could not simply wait for him to change; she had to act.Ethan’s study was dimly lit, the soft glow of the desk lamp casting long shadows across the papers strewn across the surface. His jaw was tight, his hands trembling slightly as he reviewed financial documents and letters. The man who had walked through the front doors earlier—an associate turned traitor—had threatened to expose Ethan’s dealings, and he had left a lingering sense of menace in the mansion.Lydia stepped quietly into the study, aware of the weight of the moment. “Ethan,” she said softly.He looked up, dark
His Unwanted Wife CHAPTER EIGHT: The Storm Within
The morning after their first real moment together, the Blackwood estate was quiet, almost deceptively so. The previous night had left an echo in the air—something tangible and heavy, like electricity that refused to fade. Ethan was in his study, papers scattered across the desk, the lines of tension still etched into his face. He looked every bit the controlled, untouchable man Lydia had come to know, but she could see the subtle cracks that hadn’t existed before.Lydia, for her part, felt a strange mix of triumph and unease. Last night had been a breakthrough, yes. But breakthroughs didn’t erase history, secrets, or the dangers that lingered just beyond the walls of the mansion. She knew that Ethan’s world was far from simple. There were enemies, debts, and betrayals—remnants of his past that could reach her if she let her guard down.She entered the study cautiously, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. Ethan looked up, his dark eyes catching hers, sharp but soften
His Unwanted Wife CHAPTER SEVEN: Breaking the Walls
The storm outside the Blackwood estate had passed, leaving the air crisp and heavy with the scent of wet earth. Inside, the mansion still felt like a labyrinth of secrets and shadows, but tonight, everything had shifted. The confrontation with the mysterious man—the one who had revealed hidden debts, dangerous alliances, and betrayals from Ethan’s past—had left Lydia and Ethan both shaken.Ethan’s usually composed demeanor was gone, replaced by a tension Lydia had never seen. His sharp, controlled movements were jagged, as if the perfect mask he always wore had finally fractured. And for the first time, she realized just how much weight he carried, how deeply he had buried himself beneath walls of control, wealth, and indifference.Lydia had watched him from the library doorway, silent but alert. She had listened as he confronted the man—whose name she still did not know—about mistakes, threats, and obligations that stretched back years. She had glimpsed the man behind the myth, the m
His Unwanted Wife CHAPTER SIX: Fractured Loyalties
The Blackwood estate had never felt more like a trap. Rain pelted the windows again, violent and relentless, as though the heavens themselves mourned the storm that raged within the mansion. Lydia paced the library, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched the stack of letters she had discovered. The confrontation from last night haunted her—the intruder in the hall, Ethan’s rare moment of vulnerability, and the hidden life she had glimpsed through Isabella’s letters.She could feel it now, the electric tension lingering in the air, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.Footsteps echoed on the marble floors. Ethan entered the library, his dark eyes burning with a mixture of anger and something else Lydia couldn’t quite place—fear, maybe, or guilt.“You shouldn’t have gone through my things,” he said, voice low, dangerous. “It was a mistake.”Lydia held her ground. “A mistake? Ethan, you’ve hidden this from me. From the moment we married, you’ve built your walls, an
His Unwanted Wife CHAPTER FIVE: Secrets in the Shadows
The mansion was quiet that night, but the silence was thick—heavy with unspoken words, hidden histories, and the kind of tension that made Lydia’s pulse quicken. She had spent the day in the library, organizing her papers and exploring the estate’s hidden corners. That was when she stumbled upon it—a small drawer in Ethan’s private desk, concealed behind a false panel.Curiosity tugged at her. She knew she shouldn’t, but something about the secrecy called to her. She slid the drawer open, revealing a stack of letters, photographs, and legal documents.Lydia’s fingers trembled as she flipped through them.There were letters from a woman—a beautiful, confident woman who signed herself Isabella. The letters were intimate, passionate, and unrelenting in their claim on Ethan’s heart. The woman had been a part of his life long before Lydia ever arrived. Each letter whispered of love, betrayal, and promises broken.Her stomach twisted. Ethan had not been exaggerating when he said there was s
Vous vous intéresseriez aussi à
Beyond the Divorce
Third Blossom2.9M VuesThe Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins
Artemis Z.Y.570.1K VuesRude Awakenings
Turquoise Grace1.1M VuesPregnant and Favored: See You in the Morning, Young Master
Miss Yu916.3K VuesUnexpected Divorce
dark elegance 129 VuesOBSESSIVELY HIS.
Ada90 VuesMy Forbidden Brother
Lizbeth Rose220 VuesBought by the Devil CEO
Shmoukh 157 Vues
