Married To The Villain
Chapter 33: The Woman I Want To Own

Chapter 33: The Woman I Want To Own

Chapter 33: The Woman I Want To Own

Some black bird soared high into the sky, flapping with its wings.

Suddenly, it crashed into the castle, sending a flurry of feathers into the air.

With a startled squawk, it tumbled down to the ground.

But it didn’t get enough attention as everyone seemed to be focused on what Lirian just said.

The stillness in the arena felt suffocating.

It pressed down on Lirian’s chest, making each heartbeat feel like a hammer blow.

Gabriel’s face darkened as her words sank in.

His confident shoulders sagged for a moment...

He looked less like the unshakable Duke of Sylcrest and more like a man who had just been publicly stripped of his pride.

"What did you say?" Gabriel’s voice, though quiet, was edged with an unmistakable warning.

Lirian did not flinch.

Her chin remained high, and her eyes did not blink. "I said I want a divorce."

A murmur rippled through the crowd, rising like the swell of an ocean wave.

Servants gasped, exchanged scandalized glances, and even the knights along the perimeter shifted uncomfortably.

Divorce was nearly unheard of in their world, especially when it came to the Sylcrest family.

Gabriel’s lips twisted into a bitter smile.

His hand twitched at his side, as though itching to seize something—or someone.

"You’re making a fool of yourself, Lirian," he replied loud enough for the crowd to hear.

"This isn’t the place for childish tantrums."

"A tantrum?" Lirian’s eyes widened.

Even when her voice was shaking, it still sounded like winter steel.

"I’m exercising my right as the winner. Or are you suggesting your own traditions are meaningless?"

The jab hit home, and Gabriel’s smile disappeared, replaced by a sneer.

He stepped closer to her, his broad shoulders covered her like a shadow over a smaller prey.

"Watch your tone, wife," he hissed like a snake.

But Lirian didn’t shrink back.

For her, it wasn’t about Gabriel’s intimidation...He was belittling her in front of everyone.

She had to hold her ground, her hands curled into fists at her sides.

"Don’t call me that," she replied. "Not anymore."

The situation seemed to crackle like a burning fire.

Gabriel’s jaw clenched, and he darted to the watching crowd.

Whatever mask of civility he had left began to break.

"You think this will end well for you?" he growled.

"You think you can embarrass me—humiliate me—like this and walk away unscathed?"

"You humiliated yourself, Gabriel," Lirian replied back simply.

She scoffed for a minute, not being able to believe Gabriel’s audacity.

"For weeks, you treated me as if I were nothing more than a pawn to you, a trophy to parade around when it suited you. Did you think I’d stay silent forever?"

Gasps rippled through the audience. Gabriel’s eyes narrowed to slits, his hands curling into fists with more force this time.

"Careful, Lirian," he stated. "You’re playing your card dangerously..."

"No," she replied. "The game is over."

Gabriel’s anger erupted like an old volcano on an abandoned island.

"Look at her!" he bellowed, turning to address the crowd.

"The great Duchess Lirian, the flower of Sylcrest, now trying to roar like a lioness. Does she truly think she’s anything without me?"

Lirian felt the sting of his words, but she refused to let it show.

She kept her face with the same glare.

"You forget, Gabriel," Lirian muttered, holding her confidence despite the pounding of her heart.

"I was someone long before you came into my life. And I’ll be someone long after you’re gone."

The crowd was deathly silent now, their eyes were running between the dueling pair.

Gabriel’s face twisted with rage.

He stepped closer to Lirian, dropping his tone, he smiled.

"You’ll regret this. I’ll make sure of it."

"Do whatever you need to," Lirian smirked. "But know this: I’m done being afraid of you."

Gabriel’s control finally snapped.

He grabbed her wrist, yanking her forward.

"You think you’re brave?" he hissed, his grip tightening painfully. "You think you can defy me and walk away?"

Lirian winced but refused to give him the satisfaction of crying out.

Instead, she looked him dead in the eye, her voice was like a blade. "Let go of me, Gabriel. Now."

The command caught him off guard.

For a moment, his grip loosened, and Lirian took the opportunity to wrench herself free.

She stepped back, rubbing her wrist but keeping herself locked on him.

"Enough," came a voice from the crowd.

All heads turned as Lord Elias stepped forward.

A respected elder of the court, Elias carried an authority that even Gabriel couldn’t ignore.

"This public display is unbecoming of the Sylcrest family. Duke Gabriel, control yourself."

Gabriel glared at Elias, but he didn’t argue.

Instead, he turned back to Lirian, his eyes burnt with hatred.

"This isn’t over..."

"It is for me," Lirian replied.

Elias cleared his throat, drawing the crowd’s attention.

"Duchess Lirian has made her wish. Per tradition, it must be honored."

Gabriel’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

The crowd murmured again, but it didn’t matter to either of them.

"No, what are you doing?" Daria interrupted.

"Stay away from this," Gabriel warned her.

"She can be your new wife, Gabriel," Eira said sarcastically, "you two should marry each other and live a long life."

She didn’t notice how fast Gabriel’s hands reached her neck.

"Gab-" she tried to get rid of him.

"The woman I want to own is you, Lirian. There will be no divorce unless I kill you myself."