All Chapters of Married To A Monster: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

VanessaShe didn’t knock.She stormed into Lucien’s study like a woman possessed, fire in her heels and venom in her voice.“You told me you were done with her!”Lucien didn’t look up. The amber liquid in his glass shimmered under the low light as he swirled it gently, calm like a storm before landfall.“She’s my wife.”Vanessa’s laugh was hollow. “Wife? That daddy’s girl you don’t even sleep with? Don’t play me, Lucien. I saw you two. Her broken, crying in your arms like some tragic heroine. And you? Just holding her. What the hell was that?”Lucien took a slow sip. “Control yourself.”“You’re mine,” she hissed, stepping closer. “You don’t get to act like the knight in shining armor for a girl who opened her legs for someone else.”That made him look up.And when he did, it was ice. “Enough.”“No. You don’t get to silence me. I was there before she came crawling into your life. You use me when you want, then toss me like trash whenever she bats her lashes? Am I your little toy, Lucie

ZARAThe silence in the hotel room was different tonight. Heavier.Like the air had secrets in it.Lucien came back to ask if we could go home, stood by the window, one hand in his pocket, the other gripping a half-empty glass of whiskey. His jaw was tight, his body still in that tailored suit, only the top button undone.He hadn’t said a word since we he asked and I kept quiet. Now, I stood in the middle of the room, arms folded over my chest, heart pounding like a drum I couldn’t silence.“You keeping track of me,” I accused.He didn’t turn.“You had someone watching me,” I added, voice rising. “All this time. Don’t deny it.”His shoulders tensed.“Say something!” I snapped, stepping forward. “Or is silence how you plan to control me now too?”Lucien turned slowly.His eyes locked on mine — and I saw it.Not rage. Not pride.Something else.Something that scared me more than either of those things.Possession.LUCIENShe was shaking.Not out of fear.Out of fury.And I deserved it.

LucienThe scent hit him before she spoke.Sweet. Familiar. Dangerous.“Miss me?”Lucien’s jaw clenched as he looked up from his glass. Vanessa stood at the entrance to his study, painted lips curled in that smug smile she always wore when she thought she had the upper hand.“What are you doing here?” he asked coldly.She sauntered in like she owned the place, hips swaying, heels clicking against the marble. “You stopped answering my calls. Figured I’d remind you what you’re missing.”“I’m not missing anything,” he said flatly.Vanessa laughed. “Really? You think I don’t know what this little transformation project is? Zara suddenly walking like a queen, dressing like a temptress. You think she’s changing for herself?”Lucien’s knuckles went white around the glass. “Leave, Vanessa, this is not the right time.”But she didn’t move. “Let me guess… you saw her today and couldn’t breathe. She’s finally becoming the woman you wish she was the night you married her. Now you don’t know wheth

Zara’s POVI was done.Done with the silence.Done with the tension that stretched between us like a tripwire ready to snap.Done pretending that the man I was starting to fall for wasn’t already unraveling me from the inside out.Lucien hadn’t looked me in the eye in days.He barely spoke. Barely touched me.Not even to argue.It was worse than hatred—it was distance. And Lucien was never the man to stay distant unless he was hiding something… or hurting.So, I came up with a plan.I made sure he was home.Made sure he was within earshot.And then, I picked up my phone—pretending to dial—and let the old version of me slide back into the room like a snake in silk.“Mmm… you’re so bad,” I said sweetly, letting my voice purr. I knew Lucien could hear from where he sat in the lounge. “I told you, my husband’s boring. You? You excite me…”The silence in the house turned sharp.I didn’t stop.“I’m wearing that short dress you like… No, not panties. Why would I wear any for you?” I giggled

Zara’s POV“I’m pregnant,” she said.And just like that, everything in me stilled.I didn’t scream. I didn’t throw anything. I didn’t even cry.I just stared.Lucien didn’t speak—his hand still rested on my thigh, but suddenly, it felt like it didn’t belong there. His body stiffened beside me, the warmth between us evaporating into something sharp and cold.I slowly untangled myself from his arms and stood.“Zara,” he said, reaching for me.I stepped back.“She’s lying,” he added quickly. “It’s not what it looks like.”My lips trembled, but I managed to say it. “Then what exactly is it, Lucien? Because I’ve been nothing but honest. And this… this is f*cking humiliating.”Vanessa folded her arms, her voice sugar-laced poison. “Tell her, Lucien. Tell her when it happened. Tell her it was in your house, wedding day—my house on the couch.”My legs weakened. The couch.I clenched my jaw. “So it’s true.”Lucien’s eyes darkened. “It was before… before us.”I nodded, swallowing the scream ris