I Forced Him Into Marriage For Six Years, Only To Witness Him Sacrifice His Life For Me Chapter 02
Linus froze. He looked up, dazed.
“What did you say?”
His eyes were confused, but underneath that I caught a flicker of relief he could barely hide.
I was about to speak when his phone rang.
Through the speaker, Catherine’s syrupy voice drifted out, sweet and soft.
“Linus! It’s family dinner tonight. Grandpa said if you don’t show up to eat with me, you’re dead meat!”
Then his mother, Sabrina Fletcher, took the phone.
“Linus, Catherine barely just got back. This is how you treat your fiancée?”
He hung up before his mother could finish.
He looked at me, something like panic flickering in his eyes.
“My mom’s just talking nonsense. Don’t read into it.”
“It’s fine.”
I was used to it.
Used to putting in six years of effort and never getting a single word of approval from his family.
While Catherine just had to sit in their living room, and they’d already handed her the future daughter-in-law title.
Back then, I used to beat on Linus’s chest, furious at his silence, furious that he never stopped them.
Furious that they made me a joke in everyone’s eyes because six years with me meant less to them than Catherine simply being there.
“I’m not going. I told you, I’ll keep my distance from her.”
He took my hand, swearing it solemnly.
But I didn’t blow up or scream like I used to. “You should already be doing that!”
Instead, I reached out, straightened his tie, and smoothed his jacket.
“Go. Don’t fight with your family because of me.”
He blinked, sensing my attitude changed.
But he was greedy for this rare peace. So he nodded.
“Okay. I’ll bring you back some red roses when I come home.”
He headed to the entryway to change his shoes.
Before he left, he kissed my forehead.
“Sweetheart. Don’t overthink.”
“I promised you a wedding. I’ll make it happen.”
That was always his way. He’d give me just enough hope to keep me hanging on, then take it away again.
Just like in my past life, he gave me the wedding, then ditched me that same night to comfort Catherine, who couldn’t stand losing.
So the whole city knew that even on my wedding night, the bride couldn’t keep her husband.
I sat alone in a room full of wedding decorations, staring at the walls until sunrise.
I snapped back to the present and opened my phone to book a ticket to Millbrook.
If a marriage forced this way would only end in ruin, then this time, I chose to let it go.
Late that night, a warm chest pressed against my back.
Linus leaned in close to my ear, his tone surprised.
“You went to bed without waiting for me?”
“No tantrum tonight?”
In my past life, I wouldn’t close my eyes until he was home.
I’d check his bank statements, track his location like a madwoman.
Then I’d slam the evidence in front of him and scream.
“You said you were working late! Then why were you at a restaurant with Catherine!”
He’d flinch, then slam the table in rage.
“You checked up on me?”
“You lied to me!”
A few seconds of silence. Then another “I’m sorry.”
It had been sixty-eight days since Catherine came back, and he’d said sorry sixty-eight times.
Every time he said it, I felt another cut somewhere inside me.
So I’d grab a knife and scream, out of control.
“Linus, why do you keep lying to me? Why do you keep pushing me!”
“If you can’t let her go, then I’ll let you both go!”
His face would go white. He’d charge at me and wrestle the knife away.
“It’s my fault. Please, just calm down!”
It always ended in chaos, with both of us hurt and exhausted.
I’d slide to the floor, look at the wreckage around me, and suddenly remember what we used to be.
We watched snow together. We watched stars in Ireland.
He’d blushed, pulling me into his arms, asking me nervously if I’d “stay by his side forever.”
How had we gone from that to this?
There was blood on the floor, bruises all over us, and nothing but hate and resentment filling every corner of the room.
I pulled myself back to the present and clenched my fists.
My voice was calm. Tired, almost.
“I’m done lashing out. I’ve figured it out.”