My Wife Said Only Death Could Set Me Free

Chapter 4

From college to marriage, I'm the one who knows her better than anyone. I know exactly what sets her off. Her pride forbade me from speaking this way. Sure enough, her fingers around my neck tightened, like she was trying to choke me to death.

I stopped resisting, stayed perfectly still, like I didn't care about anything anymore. My reaction only added fuel to the fire.

She let out a cold, mocking laugh. It was sharp as ice in the dead of winter, cutting to the bone. "Isaac, you know why I can do this to you, right?"

She continued. "I'm now the largest shareholder of the nursing home where your dad used to live. I know how much that place means to you, so let me warn you, if I'm not happy, I'll pull out my shares. As for those old folks left with no one to turn to, who knows what'll happen to them? Life or death, it's anyone's guess."

At that, my eyelashes couldn't help but tremble, and my eyes welled up.

The staff at the nursing home helped me take care of my dad in his last days. Without them, I couldn't even have gotten him to the hospital.

Later, they took me in, raised me up, and put me through school. I know the situation at that nursing home inside out. By the time they took my dad in, they were already out of money. But even after my dad passed, they still took care of me. Now, if Lyra pulls her investment, those poor elderly people and the staff will be done for.

She seemed pleased with my reaction, but her words were still as icy as ever.

"Isaac, I've never understood it. Why can you care so much for everyone else, even strangers, but when it comes to me, you're so cold? I loved you; I couldn't live without you, and yet with just a few words, you threw me away like I was nothing. Do you even have a heart?"

I couldn't answer her.

Because…I had something kept secret form her.

Just then, her phone rang. She didn't wait for my response, shoving me away. Clearly, it was Luka calling.

I heard his voice loud and clear. "Lyra, I know you need to take care of Mr. Smith, but I really need you too. Please, stay with me..."

His voice was bright, warm, but tinged with helplessness, like he was trying hard to hold it together. In that moment, it was almost impossible to refuse.

I looked up and met Lyra's deep, piercing gaze. She didn't respond to the call right away, just stared straight at me. "Do you regret the choice you made back then?"

"No." I answered decisively.

Lyra couldn't help but scoff. "Isaac, you're something else!"

She stormed out and didn't come back that night.

As expected, when morning came, my phone was blowing up with news alerts about the Foster Group.

Everyone knew about Lyra and Luka's affair, but this was the first time they were caught so openly at a hotel together. Even though I was holed up at home, I could already imagine the storm of gossip that was coming.

I had hoped to avoid it, but as always, things didn't go as planned.

Then I got a message from the nursing home. They told me Mia's cancer had a risk of spreading, and she needed immediate surgery. There was no hesitation—I gave all my savings to the director, but it wasn't nearly enough to cover the cost.

This was a matter of life. I had no choice. I had to find Lyra and ask her for the money.

Just as I expected, the moment I stepped out, there were reporters waiting for me. They rushed at me with microphones as soon as I appeared.

All of them asked the same thing: my thoughts on Lyra's affair and her date night with the young actor.

But the last question was aimed right at my heart. "Mr. Smith, fans online are saying that a celebrity suits a CEO better. Are you willing to fulfill their dreams?"

I sneered and leaned in close to the mic. "What makes you think I'd let a third party interfere in my marriage?"

The reporter hadn't prepared for my response, and he looked stunned. Then his female colleague quickly jumped in. "But Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith doesn't love you anymore. Don't you think you're the third wheel now?"

That was out of line, even for a tabloid reporter. No boundaries.

So, I grabbed her press badge and recognized her name: [Layla Armstrong.]

'No wonder. She's an Armstrong family member.'

Normally, it's foolish for a reporter to ask a question like that. But that quite made sense since she's from Armstrongs.

Layla hadn't even realized what happened until I called out her name. She quickly snapped out of it, yanking her badge back from me.

The metal clasp on it caught my finger, pricking me.

I absentmindedly sucked on my finger, wiping away the blood with a smirk. "Layla, Luka's little sister. You're still an intern, huh? No matter. If Lyra ever does marry your brother, it'll be thanks to me. After all, he reminds my wife of my younger self."

I added. "Oh, and about your ridiculous question—no matter what the internet says, your brother will always be the third party, trying to worm his way into someone else's marriage, fully aware of what he's doing."

Layla's face instantly darkened, left speechless. And I didn't give the other reporters a chance to say anything either—I just got in my car and drove off.

But, as always, the internet moved faster than me.

By the time I was on the road, the interview had already hit the top of the trending list. The drama between Lyra and me was blowing up again, as it always does. Lyra's name was at the top of the headlines.

She even took time to respond on her social media, short and to the point: [Thanks for the concern, but the spouse name on my marriage certificate is still Mr. Smith, no need to speculate.]

The comments under her post were full of praise for how loyal she seemed.

[Her husband's so lucky to have a wife like her. If it were me, I'd be thanking the heavens.]

[Yeah, that guy can't even string a sentence together. He doesn't belong in her world.]

[If I were him, and Mrs. Smith was off with some celebrity, I'd be there handing them condoms.]

The comments went on.

Reading those comments, I was left speechless. If they knew what my life was really like behind the scenes, would they still be so quick to back Lyra?

I rushed to the office. Lyra was still in a meeting. I was about to wait in Roman's office when I saw Luka sitting inside. The moment I walked in, he puffed up his chest like some proud rooster who'd just won a fight.

"Mr. Smith, you saw the online comments, right? The public knows what's up. You're not good enough for Lyra."

I glanced at him and didn't even bother responding.

Mia's health was urgent, and I needed to get the money fast. Ignoring Luka, I went straight to wait outside the meeting room. Of course, Luka followed me with a coffee cup in hand.

Standing by the door, he flashed me a sly grin. Before I could react, he dumped the hot coffee all over himself, the cup falling to the ground with a loud crash.

The people in the meeting turned to look at us. Luka immediately changed his expression, crouching down to pick up the shards as if I had just bullied him. Without a second thought, Lyra rushed out of the meeting to check on him.