THE HILARIOUS HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #2)

Chapter 55

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

GOING HOME TOGETHER

★HOPE RYKER LEE★

"Bakit ka naging sobrang apektado? Mahal mo na ba 'ko?"

Hindi siya kumibo. Nanatili lang ang tingin niya sa 'kin. I held her stare, trying to read even the slightest hint of what she was feeling, but damn—I couldn't figure her out. She was a wall, not letting me see even a crack.

At imbes na sagutin ako, tinulak niya ako palayo at inayos ang damit niya. "Sa tingin mo magagawa kong sagutin ang tanong mo ngayon pagkatapos ng nangyari?" she shot back, her tone cutting. "I don't even know if any of what you told me is true."

The words stung, sharper than I expected. She had every right to question everything, but the doubt in her voice was like a slap to the face. Ang sakit lang dahil simula magsama kami nagpaka-loyal ako sa kaniya. Hindi na nga ako pumupuso sa mga picture ng magagandang babaeng nakikita ko sa social media dahil gusto kong maging matinong asawa, tapos ganito? Grabeng pagdududa nakikita ko sa mga mata niya. K*ngina.

Napahaplos ako sa batok ko. "Sige. 'Tsaka mo na 'ko sagutin. Kausapin muna natin ang kapatid mong si Ella para magkaalaman. We're going to clear this up. I'll clear my name, one way or another."

I took a step closer, making sure she understood every word. "And for your information..." Hinawi ko ang ilang hibla ng buhok niya papunta sa likod ng tainga niya habang bahagyang nakangisi. "I'm not agreeing to a divorce. You can only divorce me if you prove I'm lying, if you find something that truly breaks us. Pero kapag napatunayan kong malinis ang kunsensya ko—then there will be no divorce, even after the minimum one-year requirement."

I reached for her hand, bringing it close to my lips. I pressed a gentle kiss to the back of her hand, my gaze never leaving her face. "Sa 'kin ka habangbuhay, Elisse. Itaga mo sa bato," I murmured, my voice low and steady.

For a brief moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something in her expression—hesitation, maybe even doubt about her own resolve—but just as quickly, it was gone. She said nothing, and the silence between us grew heavy, but I held her hand firmly, making sure she felt the weight of my promise.

Ilang sandali pa, binawi niya ang kamay niya. "Umalis ka na." Humakbang siya palapit sa kama.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin. "Hindi ako aalis nang hindi ka kasama. Iuuwi kita sa bahay natin."

Binalingan niya ako, masama ang tingin niya. "And why's that? Hindi ka ba mabubuhay nang wala ako sa tabi mo?"

"Yes! F*ck, yes," I shot back, my voice louder than intended. My response stunned her, her eyes widening slightly. "Kaya halika na. Umuwi na tayo." Humakbang ako palapit sa kaniya at inabot ang kamay niya. "I already checked you out of the hotel before I came up here. So, like it or not, you're coming home with your hilarious husband."

Wala siyang nagawa nang akayin ko siya palabas sa hotel room. Tulala siya at hindi makapaniwalang mas makapangyarihan ako ngayon kaysa sa kaniya. Dati kasi hinahayaan ko lang siya sa lahat ng gusto niya at pinararamdam ko sa kaniyang mas may power siya sa 'kin dahil alam kong doon siya masaya. I'd never minded, letting her call the shots, indulging her decisions without question.

But this was different. Now, I needed her to understand that I wasn't going to step aside or let her slip away. If I wanted her to stay with me, if I wanted us to work, then I had to be the one to take charge. And I wasn't going to let anything—especially not her doubts—come between us.

⫘⫘⫘

It was almost one in the morning when we finally got home. Nagtaka pa si Elisse nang matanaw ang sasakyan ng parents ko sa labas ng bahay, pati na rin ang kay Love Andrei. The only car missing was Daddylo's, as he and Mommyla had gone home after tracking down Elisse's hotel through their connections.