The Devil Who Claimed Me

Chapter 163: I’ll bring you back.

When Max woke up, he found himself in bed with a woman sleeping beside him.

Startled, he bolted upright.

The color drained from his face when his gaze fell on his naked body.

Fragments of the previous night flashed through his mind.

He remembered drinking at the bar. A woman had approached him. Then he had followed her to a hotel.

When he looked back at the woman beside him, revulsion churned in his stomach.

’I actually slept with a hooker.’ His chest tightened. ’How could I do this to Mila?’

He knew how much Mila despised betrayal, yet he had become the very thing she hated.

Regret crashed over him.

He jumped out of bed, gathered his scattered clothes, and dressed in a hurry.

As he turned to leave, he paused.

The woman was still asleep.

Taking several dollar bills from his wallet, he tossed them onto the bed before storming out of the room.

He was in such a hurry that he failed to notice a pair of watchful eyes following him, nor did he realize that the silhouette had taken photographs of him leaving the hotel room.

When he returned home, his steps slowed.

An uneasy feeling crept beneath his skin. The guilt weighed heavily on his chest.

He didn’t know how to face Mila anymore. Yet part of him desperately wanted to explain himself.

’She’ll hate you the moment she finds out you slept with another woman.’

The thought struck him like a knife.

An icy hand seemed to close around his heart.

’No.’ His jaw tightened. ’I can’t let her find out.’

But then another problem surfaced.

What excuse would he give for not coming home last night?

Frowning, he headed toward his room. The moment he spotted a suitcase near the door, he froze. His eyes lifted.

Mila was standing by the window with a phone pressed to her ear.

"Yes, everything is ready," she was saying. "I’ve packed my bag. Come and take me away."

The words hit him like a thunderbolt.

His breath caught.

"Where are you going?" he demanded as he rushed toward her.

Mila turned around.

Before she could answer, Max grabbed her shoulders. "You are leaving me?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Mila’s expression remained cold and detached. She pushed his hands away.

"We can no longer stay together," she said flatly. "Lara is coming. I’m leaving with her."

"No." Panic surged through him. "Please don’t leave. I’m sorry. I was wrong."

But Mila refused to waver.

"I agreed to marry you because I trusted you. I believed you would never cross the line. But last night, you forced yourself on me despite knowing I’m in my third trimester."

Pain flashed across her eyes.

"I can’t stay here and continue taking that risk."

Shame stabbed through Max’s heart. "I’m sorry," he whispered helplessly.

"I’ll send the divorce papers," Mila continued. "Sign them, and we’ll be done."

"No." The refusal came instantly. "I won’t sign anything. I don’t want a divorce."

"Max," Mila interrupted him calmly. "This marriage was always temporary. It was destined to end from the very beginning. I’m ending it now before either of us starts regretting it."

She met his gaze steadily. "I don’t hate you. I’m not angry with you."

Those words hurt even more.

Max felt as though someone had wrapped a hand around his throat. He desperately searched for something—anything—that could change her mind.

Nothing came.

"Let’s separate peacefully," Mila continued. "I’ll talk to your father myself. I’ll explain that we’re simply incompatible. He’ll understand."

"No, he won’t."

The sharpness in his voice surprised even him. A storm of emotions churned behind his eyes.

"The moment this marriage ends, he’ll stop providing security for you. Then Dominic’s enemies will come looking for you. They’ll come after both you and the baby."

"Dominic is already dead," Mila replied coldly.

"You and your father announced it to the entire city. You told everyone I had nothing to do with him and that he kidnapped me against my will."

Max fell silent. He knew she was right. That excuse no longer carried the weight it once had.

"Why should I be afraid?" Mila asked. "I have no connection to his gang. His enemies had already destroyed everything he had built. To the world, I’m just a woman he once held captive."

She stared directly at him. "Why would anyone come after me?"

"But the child you’re carrying is still his." Max’s voice turned grave. "What if they find out? They’ll come looking for you and hurt you without hesitation."

Mila faltered. No matter how much she wanted to dismiss the possibility, she couldn’t.

"You can’t get divorced right now," Max said firmly. "It’s too dangerous."

Mila opened her mouth to argue, but he continued before she could speak.

"I know I hurt you." He took a deep breath. "If you want to spend time with Lara, go ahead. Stay with her for a few days."

His eyes locked onto hers. "But the divorce isn’t happening."

Mila closed her eyes briefly. She had already made her decision.

After what happened last night, she could no longer remain by his side. Still, she chose not to argue.

When she opened her eyes again, her expression was calm.

"We’ll discuss it after a few days."

Then she walked past him.

"Mila..."

Max caught her wrist.

Her gaze dropped to his hand. "Let go, Max."

Her voice was quiet but cold.

The moment she spoke, he released her as though her skin had burned him.

Without another word, Mila gripped the suitcase handle and walked out.

Max remained rooted to the spot. He watched her leave.

Sorrow, guilt, and regret—all of it twisted inside him.

Then, gradually, his expression darkened. Something dangerous flickered in his eyes.

"You think you can walk away from me?"

A humorless smile tugged at his lips. "You are wrong."

His hands clenched into fists. "For years, I buried my feelings for you. I watched you fall in love with another man."

His gaze hardened. "But in the end, you became my wife."

A possessive glint flashed across his eyes. "Do you really think leaving me will be that easy?"

He ground his teeth and squeezed out the word. "Never."

"You’ll remain my wife for the rest of your life."

His voice dropped to a chilling whisper. He stared at the doorway through which she had disappeared.

"You can try to leave me. But I’ll always bring you back."