Hateful Games: (An arranged marriage billionaire romance) (Arranged Games Book 2)

Chapter Sixty-five

After three more days of heavenly bliss in Italy, I cross the threshold of our home while carrying my sleeping wife bridal style in my arms.

The house is quiet without the dogs.

I strangely miss the trio, even Bunny, who I finally got to like me. I’ll have to wait and see whether or not it was a one-time thing. I’m betting it wasn’t. Otherwise, I’ll have to invite Nathan to use as a scapegoat.

Rosalie doesn’t stir when I climb the spiral staircase and reach our bedroom. Once the secret of me fucking her over the years as a masked stranger came out, there was no holding back. I’m not even ashamed or regretful that I tricked her.

Because with Rose, there are no lines I wouldn’t cross.

Our dark souls fit together.

She quiets the rage in my head.

Her edges soften mine.

Laying her down on the soft bedding, I stare at her for a moment. The strap of her camisole top falls down her slender shoulder. Baring the countless hickeys I gave her over the last three days. I took the longing and repressed desire of the first two weeks of our marriage out on her poor body.

I’ve fucked her in every position imaginable.

Still, my cock craves more.

However, I need to give her tight pussy and mouth a rest. The little minx is as addicted to sex as me. In the middle of the night, I would wake up to her lips sucking on my dick until I had to tire her out with a good hard fuck.

Only to wake her up in the morning for more.

Before my mind conjures the moaning sounds she makes when she comes, I cover her with the blanket. The temptation is there to lie down beside her. But work awaits. Our honeymoon was the longest vacation I’ve taken in years.

I have a lot of catching up to do in the office.

Followed later by a meeting with Zenith. The heartbreaking past of Rosalie and the raw pain and terror I heard in her voice hasn’t stopped plaguing me. Mihir isn’t getting away with hurting her and threatening a child with violence.

The man hasn’t learned his lesson.

It’s time someone taught him.

Kissing Rosalie’s forehead, making her sigh in her sleep, I disappear into the closet to leave a surprise for when she wakes up. I smirk, imagining the expression on her face.

Quietly stepping out of the bedroom, I close the door with one last look at Rosalie.

Settling behind the wheel of my McLaren, I turn the ignition and pull out of the driveway. Two hours later, I’m parking in my building and riding the private elevator to my office on the twenty-sixth floor.

On my way up, I text Raghu to inform him we’re back and to drop off the dogs.

With the jet lag and knowing my wife’s quirks, I know she won’t be up until the afternoon. I would rather she woke up with her fur babies around her than alone. Fuck. I must be the first man content in the domesticated bubble.

What has Rose done to me?

My assistant, Radha, jumps up from behind her desk when I approach. Scurrying to my side, she follows me into my office while I go behind the desk.

“What requires my urgent attention?” I demand, turning on my laptop. “Quick.”

“You have a review meeting with the Middle East team. They’re facing issues from the client and need your input before responding. Another short conference with the marketing head of our Thailand branch. Last quarter’s financial reports are on your desk. Your father also said he will come later and didn’t mention the reason,” Radha rapidly finishes. “Everything is on your calendar so you can look it over.”

“Good. Tell the team to meet me in the conference room in ten minutes.”

Nodding, she leaves.

Settling down, I start my day by responding to emails I neglected the past week. Most are progress reports on currently running projects while the latest ones are about the organizational issues in the venture with Mihir. None make me suspicious.

Afterward, I walk to the conference room and sort out the issues they’re facing. Mostly concerns related to the recent data breach. By the time our discussion ends, it’s around one in the afternoon.

My phone buzzes in my pocket when I’m walking back to my office.

A smile pulls at my lips when it’s a text from Rosalie.

ROSE: Why am I not surprised you kept them?

Below it is the photo of my little surprise for her. They’re more of a souvenir. On the bed, lined side by side are the masks I wore over the years. All nine of them, including the one I wore when I stole her virginity.

I kept them all.

Instead of replying, I video call her. She picks up on the first ring. A black-and-red skull mask fills the screen. Her red bedridden curls peeking from behind.

“Hi,” Rosalie cutely mumbles.

“Is this your way of saying I should fuck you in this next?”

Her stunning face appears, lips pursed, but a blush darkens her cheeks. Talking dirty affected her.

“Is sex only ever on your mind?” she teases.

“Sex with you is always on my mind.”

Blush darkening, she rolls her eyes. “Shouldn’t you be in a meeting or something?”

“I just came back from a very long meeting,” I answer, relaxing in my chair. “Did you just wake up?”

“No.”

I raise one eyebrow.

“Yes.”

“Alone?”

Her eyes perk up adorably and she flips the camera toward the unmade bed. Maggie, Fire, and Bunny sitting on top. Rosalie says to them, “Say hii! Your girlfriend’s back, Fire.”

I throw my head back in laughter.

When I focus at the phone, Rosalie is back.

“He says come home soon.”

“Just him?” My voice is a teasing murmur.

Her gaze softens as a small smile lifts her bee-stung lips. “Your wife too.”

The rush hearing those sweet words bring is indescribable. Warmth spreads through my chest, expanding to my heart that has never beat for another woman as hard as it does for Rose. If she keeps giving me little pieces of her, it won’t be long before it completely and irrevocably becomes hers.

“How sore are you, Rose?”

“Deliciously so.” Mischief flickers. “You’ll be lucky if I let you near me anytime soon.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Have mercy on me, Nova.”

“Since you asked so nicely.”

She laughs softly. It’s the sweetest fucking sound. The first time she laughs with me and I’m not even there in person to hear it.

“Also, what have you done to Bunny?” she asks suspiciously. “He’s not growling when I say your name.”

I hide my grin.

“Maybe my absence made him like me.”

“Ha. As if,” she retorts, watching me curiously. “Raghu told me you took care of them. I have evidence too.”

“What’s that?”

She must’ve seen the trampoline because she runs to the guest bedroom that has a view of the backyard. Reaching it, she slides it open and points the camera outside. I hear her sarcastically ask, “Is that Bunny’s bribe? Are you finally on his good side, hubby?”

“I better be,” I reply. “He’s not keeping me away from my wife.”

“Don’t be selfish.”

“You should tell him that.”

“Greedy.”

“Will you be home for lunch?” I ask her, realizing Zenith is about to be here any moment.

Sunlight shades her face as replies with an apologetic smile. “I’m going to the shelter. It’s been so long. I’ll see you for dinner, okay?”

“Okay, sweetheart.” Before hanging up, I sternly order, “Don’t skip lunch. You already missed breakfast.”

She sighs as if surprised I noticed. “I won’t. Bye, baby.”

God has finally created my ultimate weakness.

Rose.

There’s no doubt in my soul about it.

***

Zenith enters my office.

His dark eyes give a cursory glance around my office before he takes a seat across from me. There is no way he was missed approaching my office, not in his leather jacket and ripped jeans. Especially, the dead expression he’s wearing.

His reputation precedes him.

He always comes through. He proves as much when he reveals smoothly without a hint of arrogance, “I found the doctor who treated your wife,” he states coldly. “He’s their family doctor. Been working with them for years. Loyal to Mihir from the looks of it. He won’t easily spill who hurt Rosalie that night.”

“It was her uncle. Mihir’s younger brother, Tanveer.”

Zenith doesn’t react, just simply asks, “Did your wife tell you?”

“Yes. He’s also dead.”

The thing bugging me the most is why Tanveer was kept away from the limelight. I had heard about Mihir having a younger sibling but it was said he lived in the States. There aren’t even pictures of him online or the Kapoor family discussing him. Was him being an alcoholic the only reason?

“Find out how he died and just how close he was to Mihir. I want to know everything about him,” I say. Since I take whatever Mihir says with a grain of salt, I want to confirm if it was the heart attack that killed his brother or not. “What about the wife and the sister? Any incidents with them?”

“None,” he replies. “I did find something else.”

My brows draw together as a sinking feeling sets in. “What?”

“Mihir had a paternity test done.”

“For Rosalie?”

“Both daughters.” His expression is grim. “Jasmine isn’t his.”

Never in a million years I could’ve predicted that. It leaves me even more flabbergasted. Because Mihir’s abuse toward Rosalie doesn’t make sense. At the same time another foreboding sensation crawls up my spine. “Whose is she?”

“Nobody but Lily Kapoor knows that.”

The information makes me freeze, while the sinking sensation intensifies. Because it can only mean one thing. If my gut proves right, then it’ll be the final straw that’ll break my marriage.

The truth won’t set us free, it’ll obliterate our reality.

Yet, fickle hope flares to life. One I’ve never dared to dream. For the first time in my life, I want to be wrong. I want to believe men like me deserve a chance at happiness. That my destiny isn’t corrupted by the sins of the past.

Meeting Zenith’s gaze, I take the risk. Instead of burying secrets that are better left in the dark.

“I need you to do one more thing.”