The Unwanted Wife's Return (Ex-Husband Wants Me Back) novel Chapter 336

MARY’S POV: 

“That’s him, isn’t it?” The woman with braids leaned closer, her breath warm against my ear. “That’s who paid for this little vacation. Your own husband. What did you do to make him so mad, sweetheart?” 

“Nothing,” I said. “I didn’t do anything.” 

“Everyone does something.” 

“He’s the one- ” I stopped myself. I wasn’t going to tell them about Vesper. I wasn’t going to tell them about the party, about the photos, about the way my husband had looked at another woman like she was the sun. That was mine. That pain was mine, and I wasn’t going to share it with strangers who would only use it against me. 

“He’s the one what?” the tall one prompted. 

“Nothing.” 

“Doesn’t sound like nothing.” 

I pressed my back against the wall and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m done talking.” 

They didn’t like that. 

The circling stopped. The tall one stepped closer, close enough that I could see the individual hairs in her eyebrows, the small scar above her lip, the yellowing of her teeth when she smiled. 

“You think you get to decide when we’re done talking?” she said. “You think you have any control in here at all?” 

“I know that if you touch me, I’ll scream. And the cops will hear. And they’ll have to come in.” 

“They won’t come.” 

“They will.” 

She laughed again, but this time the laughter was quieter. “Sweetheart, the cops are the ones who put you in here with us. They’re not coming. No matter how loud you scream.” 

My blood turned cold. 

I looked toward the door, the heavy metal door with its small window of reinforced glass. A face was on the other side. A police officer, his arms crossed, his expression bored. He was watching. He had been watching the whole time. 

He met my eyes for a moment. Then he looked away. 

“I’ll keep that in mind.” 

She stopped in front of me, close enough that I could also once again see the small tattoo on her neck, a teardrop, or something that looked like one. “We’re going to let you off easy. Just a little initiation. Nothing too serious.” 

“I’m not interested in initiation.” 

“It’s not optional.” 

I looked past her, toward the other three. They were watching me with expressions I couldn’t read. The tall one had her arms crossed. The two older ones stood shoulder to shoulder, their faces blank. 

“What kind of initiation?” I asked. 

The woman with braids smiled. “Nothing painful. Just a little… introduction. So we know who you are.” 

She reached out and touched my hair. I flinched, but I didn’t pull away. I didn’t want to show weakness. 

“Pretty,” she said. “This hair is so soft. You use good products, don’t you?”