The Return of the Neglected Wife

The echoes of my own footsteps in Julian's apartment felt heavier than the weight in my chest. The air between us was thick, stagnant, and suffocating. He stood by the window, his back to me, as if watching the street below would somehow lessen the intensity of what was about to happen.

"Julian…" My voice was quiet, hesitant. I hated this, hated that the man who had supported me through so much was now standing on the other side of a wall I couldn't tear down.

He turned to me slowly, his jaw tight and his eyes shadowed. "You're leaving, aren't you?"

The words struck me harder than I expected. I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. "I think we need space. You're right… Nixus keeps pulling me back into his orbit. It's not fair to you."

"You think I care about fair?" he said, his voice cracking. "Malia, I love you. But I can't keep watching him worm his way between us while you… you let it happen."

"I'm not letting it happen," I protested, the frustration bubbling up. "You think this is easy for me? He's had control over my life for years. Do you have any idea how hard I've fought to rebuild myself?"

Julian let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. "And yet, no matter how much you rebuild, he's still at the center of everything. Every conversation, every decision—it always comes back to him."

"Because he refuses to let go!" I said, my voice rising. "Do you think I enjoy this? Do you think I want him meddling in my life, sabotaging your career? He's doing this to punish me for moving on, Julian. And now he's ruining us, too."

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence was deafening, filled with everything we wanted to say but couldn't. Julian's shoulders sagged, his anger giving way to sadness. "I wanted to be the one to help you move on. To give you the life you deserve. But I can't fight a ghost, Malia."

"You shouldn't have to," I said, my voice trembling. "And that's why I need to do this on my own. I need to end this once and for all—without dragging you down with me."

His eyes searched mine, desperate for something to hold onto. "And what if you can't end it? What if he never lets go?"

I swallowed hard, refusing to let the tears spill over. "Then at least I'll know I tried."

Julian nodded slowly, his jaw clenching as he looked away. "I hope you find what you're looking for, Malia. But don't expect me to wait around forever."

"I don't," I whispered. "You deserve better than this. Better than me."

And with that, I turned and walked out the door, leaving behind the man who had been my rock, my sanctuary, and my hope. My heart ached with every step, but I knew I was making the right choice. For him. For me.

For now.

Two days later, I sat in the office of my company's boardroom, staring at the proposal that had landed on my desk earlier that morning. The crisp white paper seemed innocuous enough, but the name at the top sent a shiver down my spine: Nixus Salvatore.

I knew what this was. Another game, another attempt to exert control. The offer was absurdly generous—too generous. A partnership deal with one of the largest conglomerates in the country, a merger that could catapult my company into the stratosphere. On the surface, it was everything I could ever want. But I knew better.

I picked up my phone, my thumb hovering over his name. It rang twice before his deep, familiar voice answered. "Malia," he said, the smugness practically dripping through the phone. "I had a feeling I'd be hearing from you."

"What do you want, Nixus?" I asked, skipping any pretense of pleasantries.

"Straight to the point. I like that," he said smoothly. "I thought you'd appreciate the offer. It's a win-win, really. You get access to my resources, and I get the pleasure of seeing you succeed."

I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. "Cut the crap. This isn't about business, and we both know it."

"Is it so hard to believe I want to help you?" he asked, feigning innocence. "After all, we're still—"

"If you say 'married,' I'm hanging up," I interrupted, my patience thinning.

He chuckled, the sound low and infuriatingly amused. "Fine. Let's call it… a gesture of goodwill."

"Goodwill?" I repeated, my tone incredulous. "You've been sabotaging Julian's career, stalking me, and now you expect me to believe this is some altruistic gesture?"

"Julian is irrelevant," he said coldly, the mask slipping for just a moment. "And as for stalking… well, you've always had a flair for the dramatic."

I gritted my teeth, refusing to rise to his bait. "I don't need your help, Nixus. I built my company without you, and I'll keep building it without you."

"Ah, but think of how much faster you could grow with me by your side," he said, his voice dropping to that low, seductive tone that had once made my heart race. "You're a smart woman, Malia. You know this deal is too good to pass up."

"I also know nothing comes without strings," I shot back. "So tell me, Nixus, what's the catch?"

He was silent for a moment, and I could almost picture the calculating smirk on his face. "No catch," he said finally. "Just one condition: I want to work closely with you on this. Very closely."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Of course you do."

"Think about it," he said, his tone smooth and persuasive. "This could be the start of something… new. A clean slate."

"There's no such thing as a clean slate with you," I said, my voice hard. "You don't want a partnership, Nixus. You want control."

"And what if I do?" he countered, his voice darkening. "You thrive under pressure, Malia. You always have. Imagine what we could accomplish together."

"I'd rather not," I said flatly. "I'll review the proposal and get back to you. But don't hold your breath."

"I never do," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Take your time, Malia. I'm not going anywhere."

I hung up, my hands trembling with anger and frustration. The audacity of the man was staggering, but I knew better than to underestimate him. This was just the beginning of whatever game he was playing, and I needed to be ready.

That evening, I sat in my apartment, the proposal spread out on the coffee table in front of me. The numbers were undeniable—this deal could transform my company. But at what cost?

I poured myself a glass of wine, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. Nixus was a master manipulator, and I couldn't afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment. If I accepted this deal, I'd be inviting him back into my life, giving him exactly what he wanted.

But if I rejected it, I risked him escalating his attacks, finding new ways to sabotage me. He thrived on power plays, and I knew this wouldn't be the end of his games.

As I sipped my wine, my phone buzzed with a text. I picked it up, my heart sinking as I read the message.

From: Nixus

Take your time, darling. But remember: partnerships are built on trust. And I'll always have your best interests at heart.

I clenched my jaw, tossing the phone onto the couch. Trust? That was rich, coming from a man who had spent years breaking me down.

But as much as I hated him, a small part of me couldn't ignore the opportunity staring me in the face. This deal could change everything—for my company, for my future. And if I played my cards right, maybe I could turn the tables on him.

Because one thing was certain: I was done playing by his rules. If Nixus wanted a fight, he was about to get one.