Free Web NovelChapter 4: Chapter 4
Sylvia knocked softly on the bedroom door, waiting only a moment before it opened.
Odette stood on the other side looking pale and exhausted, her eyes lowered and her shoulders slightly hunched, as though the weight of the world rested upon them.
A flicker of satisfaction passed through Sylvia’s eyes before she carefully concealed it beneath a mask of sympathy.
"I’m sorry, dear," she whispered gently. "I was helpless."
Odette’s chest tightened painfully, but she already knew the truth.
No one could save her from Christian Wayne’s anger once it was unleashed.
She simply nodded without speaking and turned away.
Silence wrapped around the room as she resumed changing the bed sheets. Her movements were slow and methodical despite the faint trembling in her hands. She stripped away the wrinkled linens and replaced them with fresh ones, smoothing every crease carefully.
Everything had to be perfect. Christian demanded perfection in all things.
From inside the bathroom came the steady sound of running water—a constant reminder of his presence lingering behind the steam-covered glass.
Odette focused on her task instead, fluffing the pillows and straightening the corners of the blanket, forcing herself not to think about what had happened earlier.
"Is Christian in the shower?" Sylvia asked quietly.
Odette nodded without lifting her gaze.
Before another word could be spoken, the bathroom door swung open.
Steam curled into the bedroom as Christian stepped out wearing only a white robe tied loosely around his waist. Droplets of water slid down the powerful lines of his throat and disappeared beneath the fabric, while his damp black hair had been pushed carelessly away from his forehead.
He paused briefly near the doorway. Cold blue eyes swept over Sylvia with detached indifference before settling on Odette.
She didn’t look at him. Didn’t even acknowledge him. She simply continued fixing the bed as though his presence no longer affected her at all.
Something unreadable flickered across Christian’s expression before he silently walked past them toward the dressing room.
Sylvia watched the exchange with quiet delight. Everything was unfolding exactly the way she wanted.
Christian was growing colder toward his wife with every passing day.
But then Odette tilted her head slightly, brushing loose strands of hair away from her face—and Sylvia’s smile froze instantly.
Dark marks bloomed across the delicate skin of Odette’s neck.
Along her throat. Near her collarbone. Even faintly beneath her jaw and close to her lips.
Possessive marks.
Christian’s marks.
Sylvia’s jaw tightened in fury.
No matter how much poison she poured between husband and wife, Christian still returned to Odette’s bed every single night.
It infuriated her.
For years, Sylvia had done everything possible to destroy their marriage. She had surrounded Christian with beautiful women—models, actresses, socialites—hoping one of them would finally lure him away from his wife.
But Christian remained untouchable.
The tabloids constantly displayed photographs of him with glamorous women draped around his arm at lavish parties, feeding rumors of affairs and scandal.
Yet none of them ever stayed the night. Without fail, Christian always returned home.
Returned to Odette.
Sylvia could never understand it.
Why choose a quiet, ordinary girl over women the entire world desired?
What she didn’t realize was that despite his cruelty, Christian had never truly sought comfort anywhere else.
He hid his emotions beneath coldness and harsh words because vulnerability had been beaten out of him long ago. Control was the only language he knew.
And Odette misunderstood every cruel word he threw at her as hatred.
Christian never struck her in violence.
But sometimes words cut deeper than hands ever could.
Every insult chipped away at her spirit little by little until she truly believed her husband found pleasure in her suffering.
Suddenly, Odette’s expression changed.
Her face drained of color as nausea twisted violently through her stomach. She clapped a hand over her mouth and hurried toward the bathroom with unsteady steps. freeweɓnovel.cøm
Sylvia’s eyes narrowed instantly. Suspicion bloomed inside her.
She followed quickly behind.
Odette collapsed beside the toilet, trembling as she became violently sick. Her body shook with each painful heave while strands of hair fell across her flushed face.
Sylvia stood silently near the doorway, watching with growing realization.
A sour bitterness rose in her throat.
After several long moments, Odette finally rinsed her mouth and pushed herself shakily to her feet. She looked weak and pale, but even then, her first instinct was to continue her duties.
Breakfast still needed to be prepared. Christian expected everything ready on time before leaving for work.
Odette lowered her gaze and moved toward the door.
Then Sylvia spoke sharply.
"Moon Goddess above... Odette." Her voice rose with exaggerated excitement. "Are you pregnant?"
The words shattered the silence.
Christian emerged from the dressing room immediately, his shirt still half-buttoned and his tie hanging loosely around his neck.
His gaze snapped toward his wife. Shock flickered across his face so suddenly that Odette stopped breathing.
Fear crashed into her instantly. Her fingers curled tightly against her trembling palms as she stared at her husband’s unreadable expression.
"Oh, Christian," Sylvia continued dramatically, grabbing his arm as though overwhelmed with joy. "This is wonderful news! After three years, I’m finally going to become a grandmother."
Christian didn’t react.
Then slowly, his eyes darkened.
"Wait," he said quietly. "What did you just say?"
The softness in his voice was terrifying. Sylvia instinctively stepped back, sensing the danger radiating from him.
Christian’s gaze returned to Odette.
"Odette is pregnant?"
The room suddenly felt suffocatingly small.
Odette’s pulse thundered painfully in her ears as Christian began walking toward her with slow, measured steps.
Every instinct inside her screamed to run. But she couldn’t move.
He stopped directly in front of her, towering over her trembling form.
"Tell me something, sweetheart," he murmured softly.
That tone terrified her far more than shouting ever could.
"Is it even possible..." His blue eyes locked onto hers with chilling intensity. "...for you to be carrying my child?"
The accusation hidden beneath his calm voice hit her like a knife.
Odette’s heart shattered.
Without thinking, she instinctively shook her head, fear overtaking reason as she tried desperately to protect herself from the storm she knew was about to break loose.
