How To Love Your Wife – Chapter 33&34

HOW TO HATE YOUR HUSBAND 2

HOW TO LOVE YOUR WIFE

How To Love Your Wife – Chapter 33&34

[𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔 & 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒔 ]

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆- 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍.

☆ 𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒃𝒚 𝑩𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆. ☆

©𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦

[𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲’𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 – 7pm]

Rafael paced the living room, phone clutched like a lifeline, his face etched with exhaustion. He’d just picked up Annie, only to get hit with the whirlwind about what happened between Rias and Romeo, then what happened to Romeo and Ashton’s death.

Now they just got a text from Nancy saying that Rias was kidnapped but she didn’t specify who.

Annie was panicking badly. She just got here and both her kids are already in danger.

Worse of all is that none of them is reachable. Their cellphones are out if network range and to top it up, Nancy didn’t even drop a location.

Annie twisted her hands in her lap, eyes wild. “I don’t believe this is happening?”

“Anything yet?” Angelo asked from the doorway, his voice steady but strained.

“Straight to voicemail. All of them, both Hunter and Romeo.” Hinata snapped, slamming her own phone down on the coffee table.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, fury barely contained.

Rafael tried Nancy’s number again, nothing. “Out of network range. Damn it.”

Annie shot up, voice cracking.

“Who the hell would kidnap my daughter? She’s been through enough! What on earth is this madness!”

“Your daughter? Right now, I’m praying my son survives this madness, and if he doesn’t, if anything happens to Romeo, I’ll never forgive Rias for dragging him into her mess.”

“Hinata…” Rafael called, stepping between them.

But Hinata barreled on, voice rising.

“Dad, please. We’re helpless here, we don’t know where they are, we can’t track them, we can’t even reach their phones. Romeo’s still recovering from nearly bleeding out, and I specifically told him not to leave that house. But no, Nancy had to beg him, and there he goes, playing hero for Rias.”

Annie’s face flushed. “Are you blaming Rias for getting kidnapped? That’s her fault now?”

“Damn right it is!” Hinata jabbed a finger toward Annie.

“All this mess traces back to her. If she’d stayed gone, kept her drama in whatever city she crawled back from, none of this happens. Romeo was healing finally and she swoops in, toys with his heart, accuses him of not loving her over one stupid rumor she didn’t even verify!”

Annie stood her ground, chin lifting defiantly.

“Oh, don’t try to turn this story around, Hinata. Your precious Romeo chased her from the start. He wouldn’t let go, even when she tried to move on with Ashton. And now Ashton’s dead because of whatever vendetta you people have, then she gets kidnapped. Please don’t act like Rias is the villain here!”

“Vendetta?” Hinata laughed bitterly, stepping closer despite Angelo’s hand on her arm.

Angelo tugged gently, murmuring,

“Hinata, enough,”

But she shook him off.

“Your daughter admitted she played with his feelings and hurt him on purpose after one misunderstanding! She called him every despicable name in the book, ready to run back to her ‘lover boy.’ And Romeo? In his 33 years, I’ve never seen him broken like that, my son nearly died because of her selfishness!”

Annie’s eyes blazed, voice trembling with maternal fury.

“Selfishness? Rias loved him and I’m sure she still does! She was scared, confused. You think your son’s some saint? He treated her like a nobody in the past!”

Hinata’s face twisted, inches from Annie’s now.

“Loved him? That’s rich. Treated her like a nobody? Because he didn’t love her? This is the first time in Romeo’s life I’ve feared he’d die and it’s all Rias’s pettiness! Her chaos! If he doesn’t come back to me in one piece, I swear to God, I’ll —.”

“Enough!” Angelo roared, pulling Hinata back firmly this time.

She stumbled against him, chest heaving, tears spilling over.

“I’ll kill your daughter myself,” Hinata finished in a venomous whisper, yanking free and storming out the front door, slamming it so hard.

The room fell silent, thick with shock. Rafael sighed heavily, turning to Angelo.

“Son, I’m truly sorry about what Rias did. Romeo’s my grandson too, I’m worried sick for him. For both Hunter and Nancy.”

Angelo nodded wearily.

“It’s alright, Dad. Just call if you hear anything from them.” He followed Hinata’s path out.

Annie collapsed onto the couch, palming her face as sobs shook her. “How did it come to this?”

Rafael sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“You don’t have to feel bad, dear. It’ll be alright.”

__________
[𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚]

Sasha swung open the living room door, nearly bumping into Hinata pacing just outside, her face pale and drawn.

“Aunt Hinata?” Sasha said, frowning at the tension radiating off her.

Hinata stepped inside, glancing around like she expected good news to jump out.

“Is Riri sleeping?”

“Yeah, out cold upstairs.” Sasha closed the door softly. “You okay? You look wrecked. Have you seen Hunter? Is he with Romeo? I’ve been blowing up his phone all day, he’s not answering.”

Hinata’s eyes widened. “You don’t know? Rias got kidnapped. Hunter, Romeo, and Nancy took off to rescue her.”

Sasha froze, hand flying to her mouth. “Kidnapped? By who? What the hell?”

“We have no clue whoever it is, or where they went. Their phones are dead, and we have no solid location. We’re just… stuck waiting.” Hinata’s voice cracked, and she rubbed her arms like she was freezing.

Hinata’s eyes welled up instantly, tears spilling over. “Oh God, Romeo’s still hurt.”

Sasha pulled her into a tight hug, both of them trembling.

“I’m terrified, Sasha. My boy’s barely walking, and now this? What if—”

“Shh, hey,” Sasha whispered, hugging back fiercely, her own voice thick. “Hunter’s got his back and they’re tough. All of them. They’ll come home safe, I know it.”

Hinata nodded against her shoulder, sniffling. “I hope so. God, I really hope so.”

__________
[𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲]

The car rumbled down a lonely stretch of road, flanked by towering trees that swallowed the headlights, turning the night into a tunnel of shadows.

Hunter gripped the wheel, eyes flicking between the GPS and the rearview mirror. Nancy sat shotgun, twisting her hands in her lap, while Romeo slumped in the back, staring out at the endless blur of bark and leaves.

“What are you thinking about?” Hunter asked, glancing back.

“Nothing,” Romeo muttered, not turning.

“Bro. You’re paler than a ghost. Is your wound acting up?”

Romeo shifted, wincing as fresh blood seeped through his bandage, staining his shirt.

“Bleeding a bit, but I’m good. There’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Nancy twisted around, eyes grateful and desperate. “Romeo, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, for coming for Rias.”

“No need. Lin wants me anyway. Time to knock some sense into that brat.”

Hunter smirked faintly. “You gonna kill her?”

“Nah. She’s just a spoiled punk lashing out.”

“And Rias?” Hunter pressed.

“Main goal’s getting her out safe. Eyes on that.”

Nancy hesitated, then blurted, “Do you hate her?”

Romeo went quiet, gaze locked on the window, jaw tight.

“Do you… still love her?” Nancy whispered.

He let out a slow breath. “What do you think?”

Nancy leaned closer. “I think you do. No way you’d drag yourself out here half-dead if you didn’t.”

Hunter nodded. “Damn right.”

Romeo sighed, deep and weary. “Just drive. How far are we?”

“Forty-five minutes,” Nancy said, checking her phone.

Romeo nodded, leaning his head back against the seat, eyes drifting shut. The car hummed on, but his mind raced.

God, Rias… what a mess we’ve made. He muttered to himself inwardly.

One stupid misunderstanding, and you already hate me, called me a liar, a cheat, ready to bolt back to Ashton like I was nothing.

It hurt like hell, worse than this wound. I get it, you’re scared, scared of being just a replacement. But damn, woman, trust me for once.

I never stopped loving you, even when you ripped my heart out. Part of me wants to hate you for it, walk away clean.

But nah… I just need to see you. Look you in the eye, hear you say it straight… ‘I love you, Romeo. I trust you.’ That’s all.

Then maybe we can fix this, or I finally let go. But right now? I just need you safe.

___________
[𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞]

Hunter slammed the brakes, the car skidding to a halt on the dusty outskirts of the city.

Romeo, Nancy, and Hunter piled out, striding toward the entrance of a massive warehouse.

Sleek and imposing, its high fences gleamed under floodlights, iron doors polished to a cold shine—no rust, no decay, just engineered intimidation.

Ten hefty men loomed at the gate, armed to the teeth with rifles slung low.

“Where’s Lin?” Nancy demanded.

“Only Romeo goes in,” one growled, blocking the path.

Romeo shot a glance at Nancy and Hunter.

“Find a way to get in,” He whispered, just for them.

Then he turned to the guards, chin up.

The man yanked open the massive door. Romeo stepped through, the clang echoing like a trap snapping shut.

Inside, darkness swallowed him. No flickering bulbs or crumbling walls—this was a modern warehouse, all smooth concrete and shadowed steel beams arching high overhead.

He moved down a long, endless hallway, footsteps muffled on the pristine floor.

Any normal person would feel the creeps crawling up their spine—the oppressive silence, the faint metallic tang in the air, eyes everywhere in the gloom.

“Lin,” Romeo called, voice steady but swallowed by the void.

Everywhere was too quiet. But he knew. His gaze flicked upward to the catwalks ringing the warehouse’s upper levels—shadowy figures lurked there, Lin’s men perched like predators, rifles glinting faintly.

Voices drifted from the open space ahead. He crept closer.

Lin and Rias’s voice.

Rias huddled on the cold concrete floor, wrists bound, back pressed against a steel crate.

Lin towered over her, gun steady in her grip, barrel aimed square at Rias’s forehead.

“Just let me go—I’m begging you!” Rias’s voice cracked, tears streaming.

“Let you go?” Lin sneered, finger twitching on the trigger. “Bi+ch, I can’t. I’m killing you the second Romeo shows. You’re bait and I gotta confirm he’s coming first.”

“Why are you doing this? He doesn’t even love you! Why push it?!” Rias spat, defiance flickering through her terror.

“Because I love him. I want him.” Lin’s eyes burned with obsession.

“Fine—if it’s him you want, take him! Just let me go!”

Lin chuckled darkly, lunging forward to grip Rias’s jaw hard, forcing her head up. “Really? You don’t want him anymore?”

“He’s… he’s not coming for me anyway. He probably hates me now.” Rias’s words tumbled out in a sob, eyes wild.

“After everything, why would he? I’ve caused nothing but trouble. Let me go, I’ll disappear, stay far away forever. Far away from all this mess!”

Lin’s laugh echoed off the shadows, low and venomous. “Hmmm. Tempting… but nah. I don’t trust you or anything you say.”

“I mean it! You can have him!” Rias wailed, shoulders shaking. “I don’t want him anymore—just let me go home!”

Footsteps echoed from the hallway. Lin whipped around, gun still trained on Rias.

“Romeo,” Rias and Lin said in unison.

Rias in shattered relief, Lin in a triumphant hiss.

Romeo stepped into the open space, eyes locked on Lin.

“What the hell is this? What’s the meaning of all this madness?”

Lin smirked, lowering her gun slightly from Rias. “I want you, Romeo. I love you. I’m not gonna hurt you like she did—playing games with you, ripping your heart out.”

“Stop this bullshit and go home, Lin. Now.”

She laughed bitterly, stepping closer.

“Rias doesn’t even love you. She said it herself, just take me, she doesn’t want you anymore!”

Romeo turned to Rias, who struggled to rise from the floor, legs buckling under her weakness.

“Romeo…”

He stared, the warehouse lights casting harsh shadows on her tear-streaked face.

Memories crashed back—the cruel words she’d hurled, calling everything he told her a lie. Saying those cruel hateful words to him. The pain stabbed fresh, twisting in his gut.

She crawled forward slightly.

“Romeo, I’m so sorry—for everything. The horrible things I said, doubting you, hurting you like that… I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

He didn’t move, fist clenched. “Do you even mean it?”

Rias bit her lip, tears spilling. “Of course I do. I’m really sorry—truly.”

“You were gonna marry Ashton.”

“I… I don’t love him! It was a misunderstanding. I said those words out of hate, blind rage!”

“Out of hate? So you did hate me? You didn’t trust me when I said I love you?”

“I thought… I thought you still loved her. That I was just a replacement!” Her voice broke.

“Rias… do you really think anything good will come from us if you’re always jealous of a ghost? She’s dead, Rias. Dead.” His voice hardened.

“One f+king misunderstanding, and you could’ve just asked. You should’ve heard me out instead of jumping to conclusions, but you decide on your own and didn’t even give me a chance to explain.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, crumbling.

“Just… save it for now.” Romeo turned back to Lin, steel in his eyes.

“Lin, go home.” Romeo said.

Just then, Gunshots erupted outside, sharp cracks piercing the night. Hunter and Nancy, fighting their way in.

Romeo’s hand whipped to his waistband, drawing the hidden pistol, aiming dead at Lin’s chest.

She stumbled back. “You’re gonna kill me?”

“I’ll kill Rias if you even think about it!” Lin shrieked, swinging her gun towards Rias. “What the hell is it about her, huh?!”

Romeo cocked the hammer, steady. “I don’t wanna kill a brat like you… but I think I should. You’re starting to piss me off.”

His finger tightened on the trigger—then he froze. Multiple laser dots danced across Rias’s body, red specks flickering like death’s fingers.

His eyes widened in horror. The gun clattered from his grip.

“Rias!” His voice dropped low.

He lunged, tackling her to the floor, shielding her with his body as he knelt over her, arms curling protectively.

Bullets rained from the catwalks above, a deafening storm of lead shredding the air, slamming into his back like fiery hammers.

Pain exploded, but he held her tightly, grunting through clenched teeth.

Lin’s face twisted in shock.

“Stop! Cease fire—you idiots, you just shot Romeo not Rias, you assholes!!”

Rias screamed beneath him. Outside, Hunter and Nancy had battled a dozen guards swarming the perimeter, pinned by the passcode-locked doors, but they’d breached somehow.

Two muffled gunshots tore through the area.

Lin gasped, clutching her tummy where the blood bloomed.

Nancy’s shots, precise from the shadows above. Gunfire roared in response, Lin’s men on the barricades toppled one by one, bodies crumpling like discarded puppets.

Nancy bolted down the stairs, gun smoking. It slipped from her fingers as she dropped beside them.

“Romeo!”

“Romeo… hey, look at me.” Rias cradled his head, her hands fumbling over his bloodied shirt, voice trembling.

He coughed wetly, blood flecking his lips, eyes glazing but locking on hers.

Rias cradled Romeo’s blood-soaked body against her chest, her hands trembling as they pressed futilely against the bullet holes riddling his back.

His weight slumped heavier by the second, breaths shallow and ragged, eyes flickering with fading light.

“Hey, Romeo… look at me. I’m so sorry, please… please…. don’t do this.”

She choked on a sob, tears carving hot paths down her dirt-streaked face.

“I love you, Romeo. God, I love you so much. I’m sorry I ever doubted you, sorry for hurting you like that. Please… I swear it.”

“You’re only saying that ’cause I’m dying right now.” He rasped, voice a wet gurgle, blood bubbling at his lips.

His gaze sharpened one last time, piercing her soul. “I don’t even know if you truly mean it. Should I believe that you really love me?”

“Don’t say that, of course I mean it!” Her fingers clutched his shirt, slick with crimson.

“I loved you, Rias. More than myself. You should’ve said no from the start.” Each word cost him—a cough, a grimace, life leaking away.

” You shouldn’t have toyed with my feelings. You made me feel so weak and useless.”

“I’m sorry… but I love you. I swear I do,” she begged, voice breaking into a wail.

“Am I supposed to believe you now?” His hand twitched toward her face, then fell limp.

“You know, I’m the one who should apologize.” His eyes bored into hers, cold fire amid the pain.

“Sorry I didn’t love you back four years ago. Sorry for loving someone else. Sorry for not giving you my attention, for not choosing you then.” A bitter laugh escaped, turning to a choke.

“And I’m even sorrier for myself, for ever loving you at all, Rias.”

“Romeo—”

“I curse you on my blood.” He locked eyes with her, unblinking, the words a venomous vow.

She froze, body rigid in shock, as if ice gripped her veins.

“You’re gonna be miserable forever without me. No man will love you like I did, no one will want you like I did. He’ll use you, play you, dump you like trash. You’ll never find peace with anyone else asides me. If you try to love someone else asides me? You’ll be in misery and pain ’till the day you die.”

Hot tears scorched Rias’s cheeks, her breath hitching in silent horror. His hand slipped from her arm, dangling limp.

“I’ll see you soon, Rias. Maybe in hell.” His chest stilled.

“Romeo… No!” Her scream tore through the warehouse, raw and guttural.

Hunter burst from the corridor, gun smoking, chest heaving from mowing down a gauntlet of Lin’s men.

He froze, Romeo’s lifeless form in Rias’s arms hit like a sledgehammer. His pistol clattered to the concrete as he sprinted forward.

“Get your hands off him!” Hunter roared, shoving Rias aside with brutal force.

She sprawled backward, gasping. He gathered Romeo’s body, cradling his brother like a child, rocking slightly.

“Hey… Romeo, wake up! Bro, this ain’t funny c’mon!”

No response. Just dead weight, skin cooling fast.

“Romeo… Jesus Christ, dude, fucking stop this joke!” Hunter’s voice cracked, his fists bunching in Romeo’s shirt.

Rage and agony twisted his face, his eyes red, veins bulging. Tears welled, hot and unbidden, spilling over.

“Romeo, please—I’m begging you. Don’t do this to me…” His shoulders shook, voice dropping to a shattered whisper as sobs ripped free.

“Romeo…” Rias reached out, tentative, shaking.

“Get away from him!” Hunter exploded, slamming her hand aside.

He pressed his fingers to Romeo’s neck, nothing. Not even a pulse he could feel.

The cold truth crashed down, Romeo was dead.

“No… no… no…” Hunter’s voice shattered.

“ROMEO—PLEASE DON’T DIE ON ME!!!!”

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