The Return of the Neglected Wife

The air was crisp and serene, carrying the scent of pine and fresh water as I stepped out onto the cabin's deck. The lake stretched wide and glittering before me, a canvas of tranquility, but my thoughts were anything but calm. Nixus's uninvited intrusion the day before had disrupted the peace Julian and I had sought here, leaving me restless and wary.

Julian had gone into town to pick up some supplies, and though I appreciated the rare quiet moment to myself, unease lingered in his absence. There was something about Nixus—his relentless presence, his intensity—that made it impossible to fully relax.

I sipped my coffee, hoping to shake the lingering anxiety. Yet as the minutes dragged on, a shadow of a feeling settled over me, heavy and suffocating.

I wasn't alone.

The sensation crept up on me like a whisper, prickling the back of my neck. I set my mug down and turned, my eyes scanning the woods surrounding the cabin. The leaves rustled, the branches swayed, and there—partially hidden by the dense cover of trees—stood Nixus.

His tall figure was unmistakable, even at a distance. My heart clenched, a mixture of fury and disbelief roaring to life.

"Are you serious?" I said aloud, my voice cutting through the quiet.

He didn't answer, but the way he stepped closer, his gaze locked on mine, told me he had no intention of hiding. I stormed off the deck, my steps purposeful and furious as I closed the distance between us.

"Nixus, what the hell are you doing here?"

He remained infuriatingly calm, his hands in his pockets as if he belonged here, as if his intrusion were perfectly reasonable.

"Good morning to you too, Malia."

"Don't you dare," I snapped, jabbing a finger at him. "Don't pretend this is normal. You're stalking me!"

"Stalking?" He arched a brow, his expression unreadable. "I wouldn't call it that."

"Oh, really? Then what would you call following me to a private vacation in the middle of nowhere? Showing up unannounced? Hiding in the woods like some kind of lunatic?"

His jaw tightened, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "I had to see you."

"You had to?" I repeated, incredulous. "You're unbelievable. This isn't your place, Nixus. It never was, and it certainly isn't now."

"Malia," he began, his voice low, almost pleading, "I didn't come here to fight."

"Then why are you here?" I demanded, my voice rising. "To ruin what little peace I have left? To make sure I remember exactly how much you've hurt me?"

His shoulders tensed, and for the first time, he looked uncertain. "I came here to talk. To tell you…" He trailed off, his eyes searching mine.

"To tell me what?" I crossed my arms, forcing myself to stay rooted despite the urge to run.

He exhaled sharply, the tension in his posture evident. "That I regret everything I've done to you. That I know I've hurt you in ways I can't take back. And that it kills me to see you like this, so strong, so distant—like you don't need me anymore."

My breath caught, the weight of his words crashing over me like a wave. For a moment, I saw something raw in his expression, something that almost—almost—looked like sincerity.

But I couldn't let myself believe it. Not after everything.

"Of course I don't need you, Nixus," I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest. "I stopped needing you the moment I realized you'd never truly been there for me."

His face fell, the mask of confidence slipping as he took a step closer. "Malia, I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but—"

"No," I cut him off, my voice sharp. "You don't. And whatever you think you're doing, it's not going to work. I've moved on, Nixus. I have a life that doesn't revolve around you anymore, and I'm not going to let you take that away from me."

He looked stricken, as if my words had landed a blow he hadn't anticipated. For a moment, the air between us was heavy with silence, the tension palpable.

"Malia," he said finally, his voice softer now, almost desperate, "I never meant for things to end up this way. I didn't know how to love you back then, but—"

"But what?" I snapped, taking a step back. "You do now? After everything you've put me through? After abandoning me when I needed you most? You think words can erase that?"

He flinched, and for a brief moment, I saw the cracks in his composure—the vulnerability he so rarely showed.

"I'm trying," he said quietly, almost too softly to hear. "I'm trying to be better. For you."

The sincerity in his voice cut deeper than I wanted to admit. But I couldn't let myself fall for it. Not again.

"You don't get to do this," I said, my voice trembling with the weight of suppressed emotions. "You don't get to decide when it's convenient for you to care. I've spent too long rebuilding myself to let you tear me down again."

His eyes searched mine, desperation flickering in their depths. "Malia, please. Just give me a chance to prove I've changed."

I shook my head, my heart heavy but resolute. "It's too late, Nixus."

Turning on my heel, I walked away, refusing to look back even as I heard his footsteps falter behind me. The ache in my chest threatened to overwhelm me, but I forced myself to keep moving, each step a reminder of the strength I'd fought so hard to reclaim.

When I reached the cabin, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, my breath coming in shallow gasps. The sight of Nixus's raw expression lingered in my mind, a haunting reminder of the man I'd once loved and the pain he'd caused.

But as much as his words had shaken me, I knew one thing for certain: I couldn't let myself fall back into his orbit.

Not now. Not ever.

Later that evening, Julian returned from town, his cheerful demeanor a stark contrast to the turmoil I felt inside. He didn't ask about my mood, and I didn't offer an explanation, grateful for the reprieve.

As we sat by the fire, his arm draped casually over my shoulder, I felt a pang of guilt. Julian was everything I should want—kind, attentive, and genuine. Yet my heart felt heavy with the weight of unfinished business, the ghost of a past I couldn't fully escape.

I stared into the flames, their flickering light casting shadows across the room. Nixus's words replayed in my mind, his voice raw with emotion, his confession echoing like a haunting refrain.

And though I wanted to believe I'd left him behind, a part of me couldn't ignore the truth: his presence still had the power to shake me.

I hadn't escaped Nixus. Not entirely. And deep down, I wasn't sure I ever would.