His for a year. - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

“Is that him?” she asked slowly, standing up.
“No,” I said quickly. “Yes. He just—he came with me. Please, don’t—”
But she was already storming toward the door.
Aliyah thundered down the stairs, her hair flying behind her like a stormy cloud. Her feet barely touched the ground as she made her way down the stairs to the living room, where Zade stood casually by a display shelf, scrolling on his phone like he had all the time in the world.
Zade looked up, a familiar smirk curving his lips when he saw her.
“Well, well,” he said smoothly, slipping his phone into his pocket. “There she is—my favorite in-law.”
Aliyah didn’t smile. Not even close.
Zade’s brows lifted just slightly, eyes scanning her face.
“You’re mad,” he said, a little amused. “What’s going on?”
“What’s going on,” she echoed, her voice icy, “is that you’ve ruined my sister’s life. And keep acting nice while you're at it.”
His smile faded, but his voice stayed calm. “Aliyah…”
“You think this is a game, don’t you?” she snapped. “Some charity project you can control and decorate and call yours?”
Zade blinked once, as if finally registering the weight of her words. “Hold on. What exactly did Olive tell you?”
“I know everything,” she spat. “About the contract. The arrangement. The lies. You think I wouldn’t find out?”
He looked up the stairs briefly, like he expected me to appear, to deny it, to soften the blow.
But I didn’t move.
“You weren’t supposed to know that,” he said slowly.
“Oh, and why’s that?” She stepped forward, hands clenched. “So you could keep pretending to play husband while she chokes on the rules you give her? So she’d keep shrinking to fit your world?”
Zade’s jaw tightened. “You obviously don’t know the full story.”
“I know enough,” she said. “I know she’s not the same. I know she’s afraid to breathe without your permission. I know you came into her life when she was desperate and used it to your advantage.”
“I helped her,” he said sharply. “When no one else did.”
“You bought her!” Aliyah yelled. “Like some prized possession! You put a price on her silence, on her time, on her freedom! That’s not help—that’s ownership.”
His eyes darkened. “Watch how you speak to me.”
Aliyah stepped closer, defiant. “No. You don’t get to intimidate me, Zade. I’m not scared of you. And I don’t care how much money you have or what your name is.Olive is not yours. She's my sister!”
His lips parted to respond but I finally went down the stairs, slowly, as if I’d aged ten years in the time they’d been shouting. My eyes were red-rimmed, my voice hoarse.
“Please,” I said quietly. “Stop.”
Zade looked at me, his expression unreadable now. Then back to Aliyah, whose fists were shaking at her sides.
“I don’t know what Olive told you,” he said, his tone cooler now, “but you’ve overstepped.”
“No, you did,” Aliyah said. “The moment you mistook her sacrifice for consent.”
Silence followed.
Jake, still by the hallway, looked away uncomfortably.
Zade ran a hand over his mouth and then turned to me.
“We’re leaving,” he said.
Aliyah stepped in front of me. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Zade’s voice dropped an octave. “Move.”
My heart hammered in my chest. I glanced at Aliyah, then at Zade, and then took a deep breath.
“It’s okay,” I whispered to Aliyah. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” Aliyah hissed. “You don’t owe him anything—”
“But I signed my life away, remember?” I said bitterly in a whisper. “That’s what you’re angry about, right?”
Aliyah’s eyes filled with tears again. “You didn’t have to.”
I pulled her into a tight hug, for just one second. “But I did. And I can’t undo it now.”
Zade was already walking toward the door.
I followed him out, my steps heavy, Aliyah's broken sobs echoing behind me.
The silence on the ride home was dense—like fog creeping through the cracks in the windows. Not a word passed between us. Not a glance. The air inside the car felt too thick, too loud with everything unsaid.
When Zade finally pulled into the driveway, he didn’t wait. He unbuckled with a rough snap and slammed the car door like it had personally offended him. He disappeared into the house without taking a look at his back.
I just sat. My fingers trembled against the seatbelt before I clicked it open. My chest felt tight, my ears rang. When I finally stepped out of the car, the late afternoon sun felt harsher than before—like it knew something had shattered.
I walked up to the front steps cautiously, almost like a thief returning to the scene of a crime. As I nudged the front door open, I froze.
Inside, Zade was pacing in the living room, shoulders tense. Leo sat on a couch, his eyes wide and confused, like he walked into a scene he wasn’t briefed on.
Zade began unbuckling his watch angrily, like the leather was too tight on his wrist, making harsh hand gestures as he muttered something under his breath.
My feet were glued to the floor. My instinct was to turn around, slip away before he noticed me—but I wasn't fast enough.
“Looking for a way to disappear?”
Anna’s voice came from the side of the doorway like a venomous shadow.
I flinched. I hadn’t seen her. Hadn’t even sensed her. She leaned against the hallway wall, arms crossed, eyes glittering with a sick kind of satisfaction.
“You might want to join them,” she said, nodding toward the living room. “They’ve seen you.”
My heart dropped. Of course.
I straightened my back and walked in slowly, ignoring the smirk Anna tried to disguise as a concerned glance.
Zade's eyes landed on me like fire.
“She stood there,” he said sharply, turning to Leo now, as if explaining something ridiculous. “Let her little sister disrespect me, shout at me, insult me—and she did nothing.”
His gaze returned to me, hard. “Not a word. Not a single word in my defense.”
“Zade, I—” I started, voice cracking.
But Anna stepped in, too smooth, too eager. “You also breached the contract, Olive. You’re in violation of at least two clauses.”
I turned to her, eyes narrowing. “Anna—”
“That’s an outstanding debt,” Anna continues calmly. “Two hundred thousand dollars, for each clause. Just thought I’d remind you since you seem a little… distracted lately.”
Zade's eyes flickered to Anna for a moment, then back to me. “What kind of deal do you think this is?” he demanded. “You think you get to humiliate me and walk around like nothing happened?”
“You didn’t give me a chance to explain! I still don't know how she knows!” I snapped, my voice trembling.
“I didn’t need an explanation,” he fired back. “I watched you stand there and say nothing.”
“Because I was overwhelmed!” My voice rose. “Because I’m always overwhelmed in this house, in this marriage, in this lie!”
Zade blinked. His jaw tightened.
I took a step forward, my voice broke open. “I’m tired of being treated like a piece on everyone’s chessboard. Tired of walking on eggshells, of having to prove myself every single day like I’m on trial!”
Leo shifted uncomfortably on the couch. Anna watched with wide eyes that flickered with fake concern and quiet glee.
“You never believe me,” I said, tears slipping down my cheeks. “Not once. Not about the rumour. Not about this. Not about anything.”
Zade’s face twisted. “And why should I? You’re not exactly a believable person.”
The words slapped harder than any hand could. I gasped, stumbling a little from the force of it.
Anna hid her smile by biting her lip and turning slightly.
“I’ve given up everything for you,” I said, voice hoarse now. “My freedom, my dignity, my family. And still, it’s not enough. It’s never enough.”
Zade opened his mouth but said nothing.
I swallowed hard, then took one shaky step backwards.
“I can’t do this again,” I said. “I won’t.”
Zade’s voice cut through the silence like a blade.
“Don’t act like I dragged you into this,” he spat. “You weren’t forced. You were a desperate girl who begged for this. Don’t rewrite the story now.”
My breath caught in my throat.
He was still staring at me, eyes sharp, unforgiving. “And you’re still desperate. Just dressed better.”
“Zade,” Leo said, rising from the couch, alarmed. “Don’t say that. That’s not—”
But I couldn't hear Leo.
All I could hear was Zade’s voice, echoing in my mind. “Desperate girl”.
My chest caved in.
“You really think that’s who I am?” I whispered.
He didn’t answer. He just looked away.
My world spined.
I turned sharply, wiping my cheeks with the back of my hand. “I’m leaving this house.”
Anna stepped forward, smug in her restraint. “You can’t leave,” she said, as though the idea was laughable. “You signed a contract. Two hundred thousand dollars. You walk, and you owe—”
“I’ll pay it,” I snapped, my voice suddenly fierce, eyes red and glistening. “I’ll pay whatever you want. I'll pay everything. I don’t care. Just—just leave me alone.”
I turned to face her now, shaking. “You’ve won. You, your family, everyone. Congratulations.”
My voice broke completely. “Now please, let me go live what’s left of my life.”
I pivoted toward the stairs, my fists clenched at my sides, jaw trembling. I couldn't see clearly, couldn't feel the floor beneath me—just the pounding in my chest and the weight on my back.
“Olive, wait,” Leo said, stepping forward, his voice gentle. “Just think this through. You’re upset. Don’t let emotions make a permanent choice—”
“She should do whatever the fuck she wants to!” Zade’s roar made everyone freeze. His voice was like thunder, shaking the walls.
I flinched like I'd been hit.
“Olive –,” Leo tried to say something again but Zade stormed off, back outside.
I swallowed hard, blinking fast, and turned again, to climb up the stairs.
As I reached the stairs, I saw Ray.
He was standing at the hallway entrance, unmoving. Watching. His expression was unreadable—but his eyes said enough.
He must have heard everything.
Shame flooded me, hotter than fire.
I looked away quickly, raced up the stairs two at a time, nearly stumbling. My heart was cracking open and I didn't want him—anyone—to see the pieces.
When I got to my room, I slammed the door shut with all the strength I had left.
And then I screamed.
A sound let free from the deepest, darkest part of me.
A scream of heartbreak, of betrayal, of loss. A scream into the emptiness of a house that was never mine to begin with.
My ears still echoed with his voice—sharp, ruthless, final.
"You’re still a desperate girl."
"Do whatever the fuck you want."
And the worst part was... he meant it.
I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at nothing. The same way someone might stare at the ruins of their own home after a fire. How could he say that to me? After everything? As if I hadn’t sacrificed parts of myself just to survive in his world?
But he was right. I agreed to this. To everything.
My chest ached. But no more tears came.
Then there was a knock. Gentle. Almost hesitant. The door creaked open before I could answer.
Ray stepped in.
He didn’t say anything at first—just looked at me like he’d already heard more than he wished he had. Like the silence around me spoke louder than the screaming.
“I’m glad you said something,” he said softly. “Someone needed to.”
I looked at him, unsure if I should respond. He walked closer and stood in front of me, arms crossed.
“You don’t deserve the way they’re treating you, Olive. And you sure as hell don’t owe them your silence.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Saying something doesn’t mean anything changed.”
“No. But it means you changed.” He crouched in front of me now, his voice steady. “And that’s how you take your power back. Piece by piece.”
I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that until it was said. A small part of me started breathing again.
Then the door swung open, and just like that, the air shifted.
Anna stood at door, looking at Ray like he had stolen a priced possession of hers.