Dear Wife, I Hate You

Liilth's Pov

This was not how my story was supposed to begin.

I stood in front of the mirror and realized I was about to lose my life.

Not in death, but in marriage.

I was marrying the man who was supposed to be my sister's husband.

And yet, here I was. Dressed in white. Ready to walk down the aisle with him. My hands shook as I stared at my reflection. My eyes were red and swollen from crying. At this point, I didn't want hope. I didn't want comfort. I just wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole.

I didn't even know my father was still in the room.

"Stop the tears, Lilith," his voice came suddenly. "You're a grown woman."

I flinched and turned to him. My hands were shaking. My heart was racing.

"Dad," I said, my voice barely steady. "We can still stop this. Please. We can still stop this."

He looked at me like he didn't recognize me. Like I was being dramatic over nothing.

"We've talked about this so many times, Lilith," he said. "You can't come here and hesitate on your wedding day. You had months to prepare for this. Now you have to go through with it."

"Wedding?" I whispered, the word tasting bitter in my mouth. "You call this a wedding?"

I stepped closer to him. "Father, please. You know he hates me. He can't even stand the sight of me. He thinks I'm a killer."

My father looked away.

For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. Then he turned back to me.

"But you are," he said.

That was all it took.

One sentence. A reminder of what happened.

One reckless night. One mistake. My sister was gone, and I was the one left breathing. They never let me forget it. They never would. Maybe it wasn't fully my fault. Maybe it wasn't anyone's. But in this house, the blame had already chosen me.

"Get ready," my father said coldly. "Come downstairs."

Then he walked out.

I stood there for a long time. I didn't know what to do. I looked at the wedding dress again and felt sick. My legs gave up, and I went back to the bed and sat down. Tears streamed down my face. I didn't care about my makeup anymore. I didn't care how I looked.

Nothing mattered.

The door opened again.

"Come," my mother said. "You need to go now."

I looked up at her. "Please, Mom," I begged. "Tell Dad I can't do this. Please."

She didn't even try.

"I can't do anything for you," she said. "Leave it. You should come now."

Then she turned and left.

I felt like a stranger in my own home. This house used to be full of love. One day changed everything. One day shattered us all.

I wiped my face, exhausted. "Can everyone just leave me alone?" I whispered to the empty room.

That was when the door opened again.

And this time, it was Emily.

She came in quietly and sat beside me on the bed.

"Oh my God," she said softly. "Lilith... you don't need to cry anymore."

Not cry anymore??? I do! I fucking do!

The tears kept coming. One after the other. My chest hurt. My throat burned. I cried until my body felt weak, until my head started to ache. Emily pulled me into her arms and held me tight.

I tried to smile through the tears. I really tried.

Emily looked at me and shook her head. "You don't have to pretend you're happy," she said gently. "Just wash off this fake smile. We can still go ahead with the plan. We can still run from here."

"I can't," I whispered. "I can't."

"He came here last night," I continued.

"Who?" she asked.

"Killian," I replied. "My soon-to-be husband."

"He warned me," I continued, my voice shaking. "He choked me. He threatened me. I don't even know why he stopped. Maybe because he's still human. Maybe because he didn't want blood on his hands before the wedding."

Emily's eyes filled with fear. "Lilith... we can't stay. We have to run."

I shook my head slowly. "No."

I stood up and wiped my face with a small handkerchief. I didn't care how my makeup looked. I didn't care about anything anymore.

"This marriage is for the betterment of both families," I said quietly. "If I run now, everything my father has worked for will fall apart."

Emily stood up too. "At what cost?" she asked. "At what cost, Lilith?"

I swallowed hard.

"If I hadn't done what I did," I said. "If I hadn't made that stupid mistake... I wouldn't be here. But I did. So I have to bear it."

She stepped closer and held my hands. "You don't," she whispered. "If you change your mind, just tell me. I'll come with you. We'll run away. We'll start over."

I looked at myself in the mirror again.

What was I even running from anymore?

"No," I said softly. "I have to go now. Everyone is waiting."

Emily gave me a small smile. It was meant to comfort me. It didn't.

We were about to walk toward the door when it opened again.

"My dear," my mother said. "You have to come now."

I nodded slowly.

As I stepped past her, she adjusted my veil gently and said, "It's time."

We walked downstairs and headed straight to the venue.

When I stepped outside, my heart sank.

The place wasn't full. Just a few important guests. Most of them were from Killian's side. I didn't recognize their faces. It felt like a political agreement, not a wedding.

I had imagined something else once.

A man who loved me.

A kiss that would steal my breath.

A life that felt safe.

Instead, I was walking toward a man who hated me to his core.

I stood in the middle of the garden, surrounded by flowers and soft candlelight. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it.

Then my father walked up to me and extended his elbow.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

What was I supposed to say? No?

I didn't have a choice.

"Yes," I said.

He took my hand, slipped it through his arm, and we began walking down the aisle.

Killian did not even spare me a glance.

His eyes were fixed straight ahead. His face was hard and cold. He stood there like a statue. He stood there like a statue, emotionless, under the floral arch where the ceremony was being held.

That was the first sign.

The first sign that this marriage was never going to be anything close to a fairy tale.

When I finally reached the altar, I stood in front of him and looked up.

He was breathtaking.

Killian looked like he had stepped out of a fashion magazine. Sharp jawline. Cold blue-gold eyes. Broad shoulders. Confident posture. Perfect in every way the world admired.

A perfect man in the eyes of everyone.

But to me, he was something else.

He was the man who hated me.

The man who saw me as a monster.

The man who was going to destroy me.

The priest began to speak. His voice was calm and steady. The words floated around us, but they barely reached me. Everything felt distant. Unreal.

Then the priest turned to him.

"Killian Williams," he said. "Do you take Lilith Miller to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love and to cherish, from this day forward, till death do you part?"

For the first time since I stepped into the garden, Killian looked at me.

His eyes met mine.

There was no love there. Just hatred.

"I do," he said.

The words felt like a blade cutting into my chest.

The priest turned to me.

"Lilith Miller," he said gently. "Do you take Killian Williams to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

I looked at Killian. He was still staring at me, still cold, still angry.

What choice did I have?

"I do," I said softly.

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest announced.

My breath caught in my throat.

Then Killian spoke.

"The bride won't be kissed by me."

Gasps spread through the crowd. I felt every eye turn toward us. My heart pounded so hard it hurt.

Killian stepped closer.

He lifted my veil slowly. His fingers brushed my skin, and I froze.

He leaned in, close enough for only me to hear.

"Forget those vows I made," he whispered. "I will break you. I will make you miserable. I will destroy you. And I will make sure you regret what you did every single day of your life."

My chest collapsed.

Before anyone could react, the priest forced a smile.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," he said quickly.

Applause followed. Cheers. Forced happiness. Laughter.

I didn't know what I felt anymore. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. I wanted to disappear.

But at that moment, I felt a gaze locked onto me from the crowd.

He has dark gray eyes. He was watching me like his life depended on it.

Who is he?

Lilith's Pov

The wedding ended in a blur, It was all done. I was now somebody's wife. Killian's wife. The word sounded foreign in my head. Uncomfortable.

Wife.

I followed everyone to the reception, my heels clicking against the stone path as I walked like a guest at my own wedding. People laughed, the sound echoing into the open air, mixing with the music and the clinks of wine glasses. The reception was held outside too, beneath strings of warm lights and around decorated tables. There were trays of food, drinks, cakes, and people pretending like everything was perfect.

Emily helped me out of my wedding dress in the private changing area. I slipped into something simpler. A silky, cream dress that made me feel a little lighter. But not free.

I walked into the reception and looked around. My father was already in his suit mode, discussing business like today was just another power move. My mother was bouncing from one guest to another, laughing and fussing and showing off like she was the bride.

I stood quietly, alone in the middle of everyone.

People greeted me. I replied softly. I didn't smile. I couldn't. What was I supposed to smile about?

Everyone knew Killian wasn't meant to marry me. They knew who he loved. My sister. Not me.

I didn't eat. I didn't drink. My stomach was too tight to even try. All I could think about was what would happen next when I go to my new home.

I could barely breathe just thinking about it.

*****

It was finally time.

Time to leave with my husband.

When I stepped outside, the cool air hit my skin, and I saw my parents waiting. My mother rushed to me the moment she saw me. She pulled me into a hug so tight, I almost lost my breath.

"My child," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "So you're now a wife. Make me proud. Do not disobey your husband. If there's any problem, just call me."

Before I could even get a word out, my father cut in.

"She won't be giving Killian any trouble. There won't be any need for her to call you. Do you understand?"

I turned to face him, unsure if he was warning me or comforting me. He looked serious as always, the kind of man who thought hugs were weakness.

"Be good to your husband," he said.

I nodded.

He nodded back.

That was his version of affection. I had learned not to expect more.

Then Emily appeared out of nowhere, throwing her arms around me without hesitation. I clung to her like she was my last thread of comfort.

"I'm going to miss you so much," she whispered. "I'll come visit you every single time I get the chance."

I gave her a weak smile. "I'd love that. At least I'll have someone around who actually loves me."

She leaned closer, brushing my hair behind my ear. "Even if it's a month from now and you still want to go ahead with the plan... I wouldn't mind. I'll come get you. I'll find a way to leave."

I nodded, but deep down, I knew I wouldn't run.

Not because I wasn't brave.

But because I didn't want to make things worse than they already were. There was enough tension between our families. Enough unspoken mess.

"Lilith," my mother said again, "just promise me you'll be good. Be good to your husband."

"I-"

"Of course she'll be good to me," a voice interrupted.

Killian.

He had appeared so silently, like a shadow. My mother turned to him and forced a polite smile.

"Please take care of her."

He grinned, It didn't reach his eyes. It made me uncomfortable.

"Oh, I will," he said. "She'll take care of me too. Won't you, wife?"

I swallowed.

"Yes. I'll... I'll take care of you."

But it came out as a whisper, so soft I wasn't sure anyone heard.

Killian and my father stepped aside, having some quick, low-toned conversation I couldn't hear. I didn't want to hear it.

A minute later, Killian turned back to me.

"Let's go," he said flatly.

No hand reached for mine. No glance back to check if I was following. He just started walking.

I turned to Emily and gave her a soft smile. Then I looked at my parents, my mother was blinking back tears, and my father was unreadable as always.

And I left with Killian.

The car door was already open. The driver held it for me, eyes lowered. Killian was already inside, seated, staring out the window like he had more important places to be.

I climbed in quietly and closed the door behind me.

No words were exchanged.

Just pure silence.

*****

The ride home was painfully quiet.

Killian was beside me, typing away on his phone like I didn't exist. He didn't even glance at me. Not once.

I stole a few glances at him-secretly. I didn't want him to catch me staring. I wasn't even sure why I was looking at him. Maybe I was still trying to find something human in his expression.

The silence in the car was so loud it drowned my thoughts. My dress wasn't even tight, but it felt like it was choking me. Like it was a cage wrapped around my body. I wanted to breathe, but I couldn't.

Then the car slowed down.

A massive gate stood in front of us, tall and intimidating. It opened smoothly, as if welcoming a king and his queen. But I didn't feel like a queen. I didn't feel like anything.

We drove in slowly. The road inside was long, winding between trees and lights and silence. I pressed my fingers to the window, trying to take in the details. But it was dark, and everything looked blurred. Until the mansion came into view.

It was breathtaking.

Huge, elegant, and glowing under the soft lights. But instead of awe, I felt a pang in my chest. This was beautiful, yes. But it didn't feel like home.

The car stopped.

Killian didn't say a word. He didn't wait. He just opened his door and got out.

I sat there for a second. Was I that disgusting to him? Was my presence that unbearable?

I slowly opened my own door and stepped out. The night air was cool, brushing against my skin like a quiet warning.

Behind me, the driver and a few others started unloading the bags. I didn't even look back. I just followed him. Like a stranger.

Inside the mansion, the air smelled like fresh polish and soft flowers. Expensive and distant. The marble floor echoed under our feet.

And then he stopped walking.

Two people stood at the entrance. A man, probably in his fifties, and a woman a little older than me. They greeted us warmly.

Killian didn't respond. Not even a nod.

He just walked off.

And left me standing there. Alone. With strangers. In a place I was supposed to call home.

I stood awkwardly, clutching the end of my dress, unsure of what to do. My voice was stuck somewhere deep in my throat.

The woman stepped forward.

She looked kind, with gentle eyes and a soft smile. "I'm Rose," she said. "Let me take you to your room."

Your room.

Not our room.

I blinked, swallowing the lump in my throat. Of course, he wouldn't want to stay with me. Why would he?

The realization stung, even though I saw it coming.

Everyone would know. Everyone would see how much my husband hates me. And I would have to live with it under the same roof.

Lilith's Pov

Rose led me down a quiet hallway. Everything about this house felt like a whisper, rich, quiet, and cold. Like every corner held a secret.

When we finally stopped in front of a door and stepped in, I was stunned.

The room was... beautiful.

Spacious. Clean. The bed looked like something out of a luxury hotel, draped in soft white sheets. There was a chandelier above, glittering faintly. The curtains swayed gently from the night breeze coming through the slightly opened balcony door.

It was more than anything I had back home. I could live here forever. I really could.

But the beauty of the room only made the ache in my chest worse. Because for a moment-just a tiny, cruel moment-I imagined what it could feel like to actually belong here. To be in love. To have romance bloom in such a perfect place.

But that wasn't my story.

"This is your room," Rose said gently, pulling me out of my thoughts. "If you need anything, anything at all, just tell me. There's hot water available if you'd like to shower. I'll bring up some dinner soon."

I shook my head quickly. "No need for dinner. I'm fine. Really. I just need to change... and sleep."

Rose gave me a small, understanding smile. "Alright. Rest well then." And with that, she left, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

I took slow steps toward the bed and sat down, pressing my fingers into the edge of the mattress as I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

You have to get through this, Lilith. No matter what, you have to get through this.

I stood up after a moment, walking over to the large wardrobe and opening it. A few clothes hung neatly inside, none of them mine, but clearly bought for me. Probably chosen by someone else. Maybe Rose. Maybe someone hired to make this prison look pretty.

I thought about calling Rose to bring up my actual bags, but I was too tired to care.

I reached behind me and began to unzip my dress, desperate to shed the heavy weight of the day-both literally and emotionally.

The zipper came down slowly, the back of the gown sliding open, and just as I began to pull the sleeves off my shoulder-

The door opened. No knock. No warning.

And there he was. My husband

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. I was halfway undressed, the back of my gown halfway down, my skin exposed to the cool air, and to him.

He stood there, like he owned everything, because he probably thought he did.

I grabbed the top of my dress, clutching it tightly to my chest and twisting around, eyes wide with disbelief.

A normal human would have knocked!!" I snapped. My voice was shaky but sharp. "Please knock next time!"

He didn't say anything immediately. He just stood there, his jaw clenched, his eyes unreadable.

Then, finally, in that cold, low voice of his, he said, "It's my house. I can do whatever I want."

I narrowed my eyes at him. My dress still held tightly in place.

"Well, it's our house now," I shot back. "We're married, remember? You might not like it, but that's the truth. And we are going to acknowledge that fact whether you want to or not."

His brows twitched, just slightly. "It hasn't even been twenty-four hours and you're already trying to boss me around. Watch it."

"Watch it?" I repeated, a bitter laugh escaping me. "You barge into my room uninvited and I'm the one who needs to watch it?"

He didn't answer that either.

I straightened up, trying not to let the shake in my fingers show as I adjusted my dress. "Since you're not staying in this room, Killian, what are you even doing here?"

"You don't question me," he said, stepping further inside like he owned the air I breathed.

I stared at him, my voice lower this time, exhausted and brittle. "What are you doing here, Killian? I am tired. I've had enough for today. I don't want trouble. What do you want?"

He looked at me then, really looked at me, and there was something bitter in his eyes, something that twisted my gut.

"Look at you," he said slowly. "Saying you don't want trouble after all the trouble you've caused."

My breath caught. I knew very well what he meant by that.

"I came here to make one thing clear," he continued. "Married or not married, stay away from me. Stay out of my path. Don't question me. Don't talk to me. Don't try to play wife. I don't want to be seen with you."

I stared at him, anger rising in my throat like bile.

"We're living in the same house," I said. "Of course we're going to be seen together."

He shrugged. "Pretend like we're not."

He turned to leave, but something inside me snapped.

"So," I said slowly, voice calm but laced with challenge, "minding my business, staying off your path... does that mean I can go play around with other men?"

He stopped. His hand froze on the doorknob, and slowly, he turned around.

That smile, God, that cruel, heartless smirk, it spread across his face like venom.

"It won't be anything new," he said, voice sharp as a blade. "You playing around with different men every day. Your sister... she was the composed one. The graceful one. And you-" his eyes raked over me with disdain, "you were always the reckless one. Jumping from one man to another."

My throat tightened, heat rising to my cheeks, not from shame, but from fury.

"I won't take that kind of insult," I snapped, my voice cracking.

"Insult?" he chuckled darkly, stepping closer, one foot after the other. "Oh no, Lilith. It's not an insult when it's the truth."

I took a step back.

"If it wasn't for your recklessness," he hissed, "Kate would still be alive."

That was it. My chest ached so hard it hurt to breathe. I wanted to scream. To cry. To disappear.

"You don't have to remind me every time," I said, shaking, my voice barely above a whisper. "You think I don't remember? You think I don't relive it every damn second of my life? I blame myself. Every day."

My hands trembled as I pulled back the side of my hair. "I have a scar on my neck. You see that? And this-" I pointed to my eyes "this is what I live with. So don't stand there and act like I've forgotten what I did. Don't you dare."

He just stared at me without saying anything. His stare was cold.

"I know you don't regret it," he said softly, almost mockingly. "Don't pretend. You always wanted this. To get rid of her. To have me. You've always been jealous."

My stomach twisted.

"I have never been jealous of my sister," I snapped, trembling now not just from anger, but from disbelief. "Don't twist things to fit your messed-up fantasy."

He stepped forward. Close. Too close.

His hand came up, not violently, but with enough force to shock me. His fingers brushed under my jaw, lifting my chin until I was forced to meet his eyes.

"Listen to me carefully," he whispered, his voice as cold as the night air. "I don't care what you do. Go ahead. Whore around with whoever you like. I don't give a damn."

He leaned in just enough for his breath to touch my cheek.

"Stay. Away. From me... monster."

Then he let go and walked away.