The Return of the Neglected Wife

The world felt like it had stopped spinning the moment I saw Nixus again. Even after everything, the way he could walk into a room and command attention was terrifying. It didn't matter that I was no longer his wife. It didn't matter that I had rebuilt myself from the ground up. He still held power over me in ways that were beyond comprehension. But this time, there was no running from it. No ignoring him.

It was a few days after that tense dinner with Julian, and I was determined to move on, to let Nixus' presence fade into the background of my life. But fate had other plans.

It was a gala, one of those extravagant events where the city's elite mingled in perfect tuxedos and glamorous gowns, all smiles and handshakes. The type of event where you're supposed to rub elbows with the right people, make the right connections, and leave with your reputation polished. Tonight, I wasn't here for that. I was here for me—just for me. To remind myself that I had the power to stand tall, to move through the world on my own terms, not as Nixus Salvatore's wife, not as a shadow in his life.

Julian had been by my side throughout the event, his quiet confidence never faltering, but I could feel it—his unease around Nixus. He didn't say anything, but I knew the way his eyes would dart nervously every time Nixus made an appearance. Still, we had a good time—laughing, talking, sharing little moments between sips of champagne. But as the night wore on, the inevitable happened. The calm before the storm.

I didn't see Nixus at first. The crowd was thick, the chatter was constant, and I was deep in conversation with a business associate when I felt it—his gaze, cold and sharp, boring into me from across the room. My stomach twisted, the familiar dread crawling up my spine. It was like an animal instinct, something primal inside of me telling me that he was near.

I slowly turned my head, and there he was—standing at the top of the stairs, his eyes locked on mine with that unshakable intensity that always had the power to freeze me in place. The suit he wore was dark and elegant, but it didn't matter what he wore. He was Nixus Salvatore—the man who had shaped my life for better or worse.

I didn't want to react. I didn't want him to see the way my body tensed, the way the scars of our past could still make me tremble. I couldn't let him see how much he still affected me, no matter how much I had changed.

"Are you okay?" Julian's voice broke through my thoughts, his hand resting lightly on my arm. He must have seen the sudden change in my expression, the way I stiffened the moment I caught sight of Nixus.

"Fine," I replied, offering a smile that I hoped wasn't too forced. "Just... fine. I'll be right back."

Before he could protest, I slipped away from him and made my way toward the bar, my heels clicking against the floor with each determined step. I didn't want to deal with Nixus tonight. Not here. Not in front of all these people who had no idea what kind of monster he could be.

I reached the bar, ordering a drink to steady my nerves. I needed a moment, just a moment, to gather my composure before facing him. But it wasn't long before I felt his presence behind me.

"Malia," Nixus' voice rang out, smooth as ever, though there was an edge to it—like he was daring me to respond. I couldn't ignore him. Not now, not here.

I didn't turn around immediately. I took a slow sip of my drink, letting the burn of the alcohol coat my throat as if it could numb the growing ache in my chest.

"You know, you always did have a way of avoiding the hard conversations," Nixus continued, his voice coming closer, the unmistakable scent of his cologne surrounding me. The cologne I had once adored. The cologne that now made my skin crawl.

"Don't make a scene, Nixus," I said, finally turning to face him. My voice was steady, but my heart pounded in my chest, an unsettling mixture of anger and resentment simmering beneath the surface. "We're at a public event. You don't want to make this any worse."

His lips curled into a smirk, that damn smirk that used to drive me crazy. It made me feel like I was just a pawn in his game. Like nothing had changed. "You think I care about making a scene? Malia, you've always been my business—whether you like it or not. You don't get to just walk away from me, not like this."

His words struck deep, a bitter reminder of all the ways he had tried to control me. How he had never truly seen me. Only what I could do for him, how I could be molded to fit his needs. The thought made my blood boil.

"I'm not yours anymore, Nixus," I said, my voice trembling slightly but resolute. "You don't get to keep claiming me."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping low, dangerous. "You think I don't know what you're trying to do? You think I don't see this... charade you've got going on with that lawyer?" He practically sneered when he said Julian's name, as if it tasted sour on his tongue. "You're still mine, Malia. You'll always be mine."

The words hit me like a slap to the face. Mine. He really thought he could just claim me again. After everything he had done to me, after abandoning me when I needed him most, after letting me fall apart while he lavished attention on her—Selene—he had the audacity to stand here and say that.

My fingers tightened around my glass, the grip almost painful as I fought to control my emotions. I wasn't about to let him see me break.

"You don't own me, Nixus," I spat, my voice rising slightly, drawing the attention of a few people around us. "And you never did. You never saw me as your equal, as someone who mattered. You used me, and now you want to control me again, but that's not happening."

He narrowed his eyes at me, and for a moment, there was something almost unreadable in his gaze. But it only lasted a second before he spoke again, his voice tight with fury. "You'll regret this, Malia. You think you can just walk away? Think again."

The anger in his voice was palpable, but it didn't scare me. Not anymore. It only fueled my own rage.

"You don't get to threaten me anymore, Nixus," I said, my hand trembling as I set my glass down on the bar. I took a step back, putting some space between us. "And you sure as hell don't get to control who I'm with or how I live my life."

His jaw clenched, but before he could say anything else, I stepped forward, closing the distance between us. And then I did something I never thought I'd do—I slapped him.

The sound echoed through the room, a sharp crack of my palm connecting with his cheek. The crowd around us went silent, eyes wide in shock as they all watched the spectacle unfold. For a moment, time seemed to stop. The world held its breath. Nixus stood frozen, his face stinging from the slap. His eyes flashed with anger, and I could see the rage building behind them.

But I didn't care. He had pushed me too far. He thought he could walk back into my life and claim ownership over me? Not anymore.

"You don't get to do this to me again," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "You're not welcome here, Nixus."

He stood there for a beat, his hand brushing the spot where I'd slapped him, as if he couldn't quite believe what had just happened. And then, slowly, a sneer spread across his face.

"I'll remember that, Malia," he said, his voice low and full of malice. "But don't think this is over. You can't escape me. Not this time."

I turned on my heel, not bothering to look back as I walked away, my heart pounding in my chest. The world was still. But the storm inside of me was just beginning.