From Deadbeat To Doting; Something Is Wrong With My Husband!-Chapter 24: Marital Obligations

"Breakfast," he repeated slowly and eerily calmly. "Have you eaten?"

She shook her head, tightening her grip on a sharp piece of crystal. This was the most stupid facade she had ever seen. And the most dangerous thing he had done yet.

"Then you should join me. I’m about to prepare something. I used to be a good chef, although I’m a little rusty now."

A scoff escaped her before she could stop it. Him? Cooking? So he could finally unleash his anger through food poisoning?

"I’m not having breakfast with you," she said coldly, dropping the broken shards back onto the pile with resentment about his sudden chill.

Lucian shrugged nonchalantly, looking away, but his gaze landed on the wide-open drawer and the documents she had clearly been digging through, and then back at her.

"Oh... I was just—"

"No need to explain," he interrupted, smoothly. "We’re married. I have nothing to hide from you."

He reached over and slid the drawer shut.

She scowled at him. The kindness was suffocating. Was this even the same person she knew?

She was literally going to throw up on his floor if she didn’t leave now. Brianna stood up, frowning, and headed for the door.

"Aren’t you going to clean your mess?"

The question stopped her mid-step. Was he talking to her? She turned, pointing a finger at her chest.

"Is there anyone else in this room?"

Waving a hand dismissively, "Annie will clean it up."

"Did Annie make the mess?" Lucian eyes locked onto hers with a sudden authority.

It was his tone, cause it triggered her defense up. "Well, that’s what I’m paying her for."

"Then she should prepare your bottle as well," Lucian stared blankly, "since she’s clearly your babysitter."

It was so petty, so Lucian, that Brianna almost felt a sense of relief. The "sweet" husband facade was slipping. But the hypocrisy made her blood boil. Was this the man who used to smash whiskey bottles and leave the glass for the maids to find with their bare feet?

But at least she now confirmed she wasn’t insane for thinking he was the same person.

She smiled, looking sideways.

"What’s so funny?"

"Nothing," she said, kneeling back down among the shards. "I’m just cleaning my mess."

A long judgemental purr from the door caught Brianna’s attention. "I heard everything and I want to say... You’re both doing a terrible job at being married."

Catwalking back into the room was Lucifur, the real mess maker. He stood beside Brianna, watching her clean his mess. "You missed a spot."

Brianna glared at the black cat as he groomed a paw atop the dresser.

"Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t break the crystal. Gravity did. I simply provided the introduction." Lucifur meowed, before climbing on Lucian’s bed. "You should have seen where that lowlife assistant to Lady Brianna kept me hidden for weeks. I haven’t had a proper shower."

Lucifur meowed, leaking on his paws.

Brianna gathered the last of the shards. Standing, she offered a smile that didn’t reach her eyes~a thin, grudging curve of the lips~before turning for the door.

"Wife."

She stopped, but didn’t turn. What now? When she finally looked back, her brow was arched in a cold, silent question.

Lucian’s gaze remained fixed on his reflection in the mirror. "I don’t mind you entering my space. But it seems you have a messy soul. For the sake of this marriage, let’s respect each other’s boundaries."

Brianna looked at the pristine floor, then back at him, her tone remaining as indifferent as always. "Is that all?"

"One more thing." He finally looked at her, sitting back on his bed and rubbing Lucifur’s fur.

"I should inform you... I won’t be able to fulfill my marital obligations. It seems the accident has left me incapable in certain respects. I wouldn’t want you to have expectations I cannot meet."

Brianna felt the urge to scoff, but she suppressed it, moving her hand to her forehead with an air of tired boredom. He spoke as if they had ever been anything more than enemies.

"If your medical report is finished," her voice was empty of emotion, "I’ll be leaving."

...

Brianna collapsed onto the mattress, the sinking weight of the silk duvet rising to meet her. A low, frustrated groan escaped her lips.

Satisfy her? She scoffed at the ceiling. As if she craved the touch of a man who treated her like an infection for three years.

The man’s shamelessness knew no bounds!

It was mockery, plain and simple. Lucian Colburn didn’t have a teasing bone in his body; he only had knives!

The sudden vibration of her phone distracted her from thoughts. She pulled it out, her eyes narrowing at the caller ID.

Rachel.

The one person who hadn’t looked at her with disappointment during her darkest years. Brianna answered quickly, her voice softening. "Rachel... hi."

"Brianna? Is that really you?" The voice on the other end sounded genuinely surprised. "I was almost afraid to call. I wasn’t sure if you’d even want to hear from me after all this time. How have you been?"

Hearing that familiar tone made Brianna’s softness return. She closed her eyes, sighing. "I’m... alive. I’m okay. How are you? And the girls?"

"We’re doing alright, dear. Just missing you." Rachel paused, and for the first time in months, Brianna felt a genuine sense of warmth.

"I don’t know if you’re free right now, but I was hoping you could join me and the girls for lunch. It’s been far too long."

Brianna didn’t even check her schedule. The thought of seeing the only person who had believed in her dreams when her own father didn’t was enough to make her day brighter.

"Say no more. Of course I’d love that."

"Great! I’ll text you the address. I really hope to see you there, Brianna. I know how the world likes to keep you busy."

"I’ll be there," Brianna promised, suddenly sounding sincere. "I won’t miss it."