The Invisible Wife Turned Savage novel Chapter 188

188 The Price of Silence

Jonathan could see that Estella still felt uneasy around him. Rising to his feet, he said quietly, “I have work to finish. I’ll head out first.”

Estella nodded, gratitude flickering in her eyes. “Thank you.”

Her face seemed calm, but he knew the storm inside her had yet to settle. His chest ached for her, yet he said nothing more and left.

After being discharged, Estella threw herself into work. Only by keeping busy could she push away the memories of that night.

But sometimes the dreams came back–nightmares of Nathaniel pinning her down, stripping away her strength, revealing the ugliest corners of a man’s nature.

The way he had treated her like an object rather than a human being burned into her like a brand. It was humiliation she would never forget.

She realized something was wrong with her.

Without telling anyone, she went to the hospital alone, leaving with a prescription for antidepressants. She couldn’t collapse–her mother still needed her.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel remained unconvicted.

Her medical exam had revealed no trace of semen. He hadn’t forced her all the way, so legally, the assault charge wouldn’t stick.

Even attempted assault was shaky–Nathaniel swore she had willingly gotten into his car, willingly come to his villa, that it had all been consensual.

Even with Jonathan pushing the case forward, Nathaniel would likely escape with a light

sentence.

The looming debt of fifty million left her cornered.

She decided to confront Nathaniel herself.

Seeing him again, fear stirred in her chest no matter how hard she tried to hold it down.

But Nathaniel’s eyes were full of shame and contrition. “Estella, I owe you an apology.”

She stared at him in confusion. This man–how could he wear so many faces? Cruelty one moment, remorse the next. Even divorced, she still couldn’t shake free of him.

Suppressing her exhaustion, she spoke. “I want to talk. If I withdraw the charges, will you settle the fifty million debt?”

She knew the debt had been part of his scheme from the start. But she had no choice. It was the only leverage she had left.

“Of course,” he said at once. His voice carried genuine relief. “I lost control that night. I won’t let it happen again. Once I’m out, I’ll resolve the debt. You won’t be troubled again.”

Estella’s lips curved faintly. “All right.”

She stood to leave, but he called after her. “Estella, can you forgive me?”

Her gaze was steady, cold. “Do you think that’s possible, Nathaniel?”

A flicker of guilt passed over him, but he pressed on, unable to help himself. “I only acted that way because I love you too much. Every time I hurt you, I suffered too. Since you left, I haven’t slept a single night.”

If not for the powder on her face, anyone could have seen her own sleepless nights carved into the dark circles beneath her eyes.

Since the day he’d hurt her, she hadn’t slept well either.

Her laugh was bitter. “Someone like you–capable of regret?”

She had no more words for him. She walked away without hesitation.

News came soon after: the Monroe family had posted his bail.

And Nathaniel kept his promise–he cleared the fifty million debt.

Wilson, meanwhile, had sunk deeper into gambling, drowning in debt.

Lina had tried to reach out to Victoria for help, but Estella had already moved her mother to another hospital and forbidden any contact.

Desperate and afraid the debt collectors would maim her son, Lina fled with Wilson to the countryside.

Selene was finally discharged, returning to share Estella’s workload. Still, the days were heavy.

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