All Chapters of The Husband I Knew: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

I felt Gabriel’s lips on my chest, strong and possessive, as the world outside the Romano family’s custom Mercedes blurred into nothing. Stripped bare, I let my long legs fall over his shoulders, the closeness sending shivers through me. I could feel him pressing inside me, the sensation making my pulse race. The thrill, the closeness… it made my head spin. His hands gripped my waist as he whispered low and dark: “Relax… the soundproofing’s in place. No one’s listening. Why are you shy, hmm?” I clung to him, my heart pounding, love and desire tangled together as waves of pleasure built faster than I could catch my breath. The crescendo hit me, leaving me trembling, unable to hold back a sound. And then his lips, warm and teasing, pressed against my chest. When the sudden ring of a phone cut through the haze. Gabriel’s brow furrowed. He glanced at the screen, then answered. I saw the caller ID: Jack—one of his closest friends from the medical world. “Gabriel… you’ve lost your m

Chapter 2

His oath struck my soul with terrifying force. From that moment on, loving Gabriel Romano became something I could no longer control. Truthfully, because of my looks, I had never lacked admirers. Men had always hovered around me, eager, persistent, sometimes exhausting. Gabriel was no exception—except that from the very first time he saw me, he made it clear he wouldn’t give up until I was his. I had been devastated by my first love. Since then, I kept romance at arm’s length. Too many boys circled me with the same intent—to conquer, to collect. Their attention made my skin crawl. Over time, resistance turned into aversion. My friends used to tease me. “Grace, you’re practically ascetic. What, are you planning to become a nun?” I would laugh and tease back. “Honestly? Becoming a nun sounds better than wasting my life on men.” I said it with conviction—fully prepared to live alone. And yet, I was the one who broke first. Because Gabriel Romano was there when I was sick, whe

Chapter 3

As expected, the moment Gabriel Romano ended the call, my phone buzzed. A message from Ella Reed. “Grace Miller, you should know better by now. The Romano heir is in my womb. As for the Donna’s position— you’re only warming the seat for me.” A single tear slid down my cheek. Just as Gabriel opened the car door and looked in, I turned my head away quickly. He sat down beside me, leaning closer. “Grace, what’s wrong? Are you upset?” The concern in his voice hurt more than cruelty ever could. I took a slow breath and lowered my eyes, hiding the tears. “I’m fine. Just a little tired,” I said quietly. “Will you come home with me?” He laughed softly, rubbing my hair, his voice warm and soothing. “Come on,” he murmured. “You know I’d rather be with you. I just need to take care of something urgent at the office. I’ll be back before you know it. Try not to miss me too much, okay?” With that, he cupped my face and leaned in to kiss me. I raised my finger and pressed it gently ag

Chapter 4

Gabriel Romano finally sensed that something was wrong. I heard his footsteps quicken behind me, felt the tension tighten in the air. “Grace—wait.” His voice wavered as he caught up. “Are you upset about last night? I didn’t mean to stay away. The family business exploded all at once, I had to deal with it personally…” He reached for my arm, panic slipping into his tone. “Please don’t be mad. Tell me what I can do. Whatever it takes to make you happy—just don’t shut me out. When you look at me like this, it scares me.” I couldn’t listen to another lie. I took a breath, forced my expression soft, even playful, and interrupted him. “If you really want me to forgive you,” I said lightly, “then buy me a beach house. I want it under my name. You’ll need to sign.” He didn’t hesitate. “Of course,” he said instantly. “Anything you want. I’ll buy it. Whatever makes you happy.” My eyes brightened—This was the moment. I handed him the purchase documents, the divorce agreement discreet

Chapter 5

I had just cleared customs when I spotted Lily. She was leaning against a black SUV parked right outside the terminal—oversized sunglasses, arms crossed, looking like she owned the place. Very Lily. Very mafia-adjacent but pretending not to be. The moment she saw me, she pulled off her sunglasses and opened her arms wide, strutting over. “Grace—” she caught herself mid-word and grinned. “Oh. Right. Anna. God, I missed you.” I got goosebumps instantly and shoved her away with one hand, bracing my arm between us to keep her from hugging me again. “Personal space,” I muttered. She laughed, completely unfazed. The engine roared to life as we pulled away from the airport. The SUV cut through the night—past the terminal lights, past narrow streets and quiet neighborhoods—until we stopped in front of a classic French villa tucked behind iron gates. Every window glowed. Music spilled out. Voices overlapped, loud and alive. I followed Lily inside, still trying to process what was ha

Chapter 6

How Gabriel caught her automatically when Ella stumbled into him—pure instinct, the same reflex that once made him shield me from danger without thinking. Her back trembled nonstop beneath his palm. “What’s wrong?” he asked, frowning. Ella couldn’t explain. Her words tangled together, incoherent, over and over again—I don’t feel well… I’m just uncomfortable… The more she spoke, the heavier the unease grew in his chest. Finally, irritation crept in. He disengaged her arms without effort and steered her back toward the bed, his grip firm, efficient—impersonal. “Sit,” he said. Once she was down, he remained standing. “You’re not in danger,” he added, already checking his watch. “The doctor cleared you this morning.” Ella curled into the mattress anyway, fingers clutching at his sleeve like a lifeline. “Gabriel…” Her voice trembled. “Am I the one you love most?” He didn’t answer immediately. Not because the question moved him— but because it irritated him. “That’s not a rele

Chapter 7

Gabriel POV I made the call immediately. “Get me Rossi,” I said the moment the line connected. “Now.” Rossi was the family’s private investigator—someone who didn’t ask questions and never brought me half-truths. If Grace had vanished, he would know where the threads began. He answered on the second ring. “Don.” “Find my wife,” I said. No preamble. No explanation. “I want her movements for the last two weeks. Bank access, travel records, phone activity, everything. Quietly.” “She planned to disappear,” Rossi said carefully. “I know,” I replied. “That’s why I’m calling you.” “I’ll need time.” “You have until morning,” I said. “If she crossed a border, I want to know which one and under what name.” “Yes, Don.” I hung up and sat down hard on the sofa. That was when I saw it. The contract. Still lying on the table, neatly stacked among other documents I’d signed without reading—real estate paperwork, investment approvals, routine matters that never required my attention. My

Chapter 8

I lived as Anna Morgan in the south of France. A small town near the coast, where mornings smelled like bread and salt, and no one cared who I used to belong to. No bodyguards watching corners. No whispered warnings. No world built on blood and obedience. For the first time in years, my life was small in the best possible way. Pregnancy was harder than I’d expected. The nausea came in waves, my body weaker than usual, but my mind had never been clearer. Every ache reminded me I was still here. Christian was always nearby. He never hovered. Never asked questions I didn’t offer answers to. When I was sick, he made tea and left it on the table. When I couldn’t sleep, he sat in the next room, reading, pretending not to listen to my breathing. Respect, not possession. Care, without demands. That was new. The day Gabriel found me, the air changed before I saw him. Black car. Two men who didn’t belong. That familiar pressure—like the world shrinking around one person. Tailored blac

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