How to tame my beastly husband

Chapter 9

Looking at the place where Raphael had been moments ago, Annette laid back down on the bed, exhausted. He hadn't lingered for even a second. He must truly dislike her. And though she was used to his cold attitude, it still made her sad that he would abandon her immediately after such an intimate act.

But thinking back, Raphael had always hated her.

How much must he have hated her, to never once share the same bed in five years of marriage? Every time they had had sex, he had always left abruptly afterward. Just because he had indulged her once did not mean such a man would suddenly become affectionate.

Annette decided she would not let it upset her. She had gone through death and somehow come back to life; what did it matter if her husband would cold to her? If she had no expectations, she would not be disappointed. Everything would be much more comfortable if she emptied herself of all such concerns.

In her previous life, her biggest problem had not even been Raphael, but simple stress. Though she had returned to her past and improved her health a bit, Annette had always been quite delicate. The constant stress had worn her down, and in the end, she had died very young, at the age of twenty.

Annette did not want to die like that again.

There were certainly some things that were already better than before.

Her first time with Raphael had been so different. Though he had bitten and devoured her like a beast, there had been nothing like the pain of her previous life. The future could be changed. Annette had already changed it, a little at a time.

Yes. I can do it.

Annette hugged her blanket to herself, determined. In this life, she would prove her innocence, and try to mend her relationship with Raphael. And if he really hated her so much, then she would consider divorcing him. Annette was not the helpless girl she had been in her last life. She was a woman who had been given a miracle. She had experienced death, and come back to life again.

At that moment, the bedroom door creaked open, and Annette started with surprise, snatching up a blanket to cover herself. It was the man she was considering divorcing.

"Raphael?"

She was a little stunned to see him. She had never expected him to come back, and he looked angry for some reason. For a moment, she wondered if he had somehow read her thoughts.

Of course, he hadn't. He had returned to her room for an entirely different reason. Approaching Annette, he set something on the side table with a clang. Annette glanced curiously over to find a flat bowl, filled with steaming hot water. A soft cloth had been draped over the lip of the bowl.

Oh, my God.

Annette's eyes widened. It couldn't be that Raphael had brought this for her? Meeting her bewildered eyes, his expression only grew more grim. When his hand stretched out toward her, at first she thought he meant to do it with her again after all. But that large hand stopped just before her nose, holding a glass of water.

"This? What's this, Raphael?"

The ferocious look in his eyes made her take the cup reflexively.

"You said you were hurt," he said accusingly, as if he were chewing on every syllable.

Annette's eyes lowered to the bottom of the glass. There was a fine white powder in the bottom.

Had he brought her medicine for the pain? If so, she was grateful, though the look on his face made it seem more likely he was offering poison. His consideration was so unexpected, she was speechless for a moment.