Chapter 12 – Not Just A Butler
Rachel’s Pov
I stormed out of the bathroom, my hands clenched into fists.
My heart pounded with frustration, my skin still burning where Xavier had touched me.
I refused to be disrespected.
“This marriage was a mistake,” I muttered, heading straight for the wardrobe. I yanked the doors open and grabbed my suitcase. “I should’ve never agreed to this.”
Just as I reached for my clothes, Xavier’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
“You’re not leaving.”
I froze.
His voice was cold, deadly.
“Especially not now that you know my greatest secret,” he added.
I turned slowly, gripping my suitcase handle. “You lied to me, Xavier,” I snapped. “I don’t care about your secret. I’m done.”
Xavier stepped closer, his dark eyes unreadable. “And where will you go?” he asked, voice dangerously low. “Back to Michael?”
I stiffened. “Don’t.”
His jaw tightened.
“I don’t ever want to hear that name from your mouth again,” I warned. “I am not associated with Michael.”
Xavier let out a humorless chuckle. “So I’m supposed to believe that? That after eight years with him, you just walked away and married me?”
I met his gaze, my fingers trembling slightly. “Yes,” I said firmly. “I left him. I wanted nothing to do with him or his family.”
Xavier folded his arms, skeptical. “Why?”
I inhaled sharply, trying to steady my emotions. “Because they hurt me,” I said, my voice cracking slightly. “Michael abandoned me. His son, Ivan, shot me with an arrow and they left me to die.”
Xavier’s eyes darkened. “An arrow?”
I nodded, rolling my shoulder slightly. “It hit me here.”
His expression shifted, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
“You married me to claim your inheritance,” he said slowly, as if piecing things together. “And to take revenge on Michael.”
I lifted my chin. “Yes.”
A long silence stretched between us.
1/3
42.0%
450%2
“And to take revenge on Michael.”
I lifted my chin. “Yes.”
A long silence stretched between us.
Then, unexpectedly, Xavier exhaled and took a step back. “I misjudged you,” he said.
I frowned, “What?”
His gaze softened slightly. “I thought you were just another pawn for Michael. But now I
see…” He trailed off before shaking his head. “I was wrong.”
I hesitated. “Are you apologizing?”
Xavier smirked, but this time, it lacked its usual arrogance. “I guess I am.”
I blinked, caught off guard.
Then, his expression hardened. “I can help you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Help me how?”
Xavier’s voice was steady. “Take your revenge.”
A lump formed in my throat. “Why?”
His jaw clenched. “Because I have my own reasons to hate Michael and his family.”
Something about the way he said it sent a chill down my spine.
I swallowed hard. “I don’t know if I can trust you.”
Xavier’s eyes darkened. “I won’t hurt you, Rachel.”
I stared at him, trying to read his face. For the first time, I saw something real beneath his usual smugness–something raw, something almost… protective.
“I need to take over my company tomorrow,” I said finally, breaking the silence. “That’s my priority.”
Xavier nodded. “And I need to keep up my act.”
I raised a brow. “You mean pretending to be crippled?”
His lips twitched. “Yes. I suspect we’ll have guests soon.”
I scoffed. “Wonderful.”
Then I crossed my arms. “Since we now have a purpose in this marriage, I’d like it if you keep your hands to yourself.”
Xavier’s smirk returned.
“That’ll be very hard to do,” he murmured, stepping close again.
I stepped back.
He chuckled, amused. “But since I’ve already marked you as mine,“–his eyes flicked to the hickey on my neck-“I suppose I can try to control myself.”
I glared at him, my face heating.
A sudden knock at the door made me jump.
Xavier turned toward it and opened it without hesitation.
Chapter 12
—
Not Just A Butler
2/3
43.2%
00:42 Sat, 22 Mar AA.
I stepped back.
He chuckled, amused. “But since I’ve already marked you as mine,“–his eyes flicked to the hickey on my neck-“I suppose I can try to control myself.”
I glared at him, my face heating.
A sudden knock at the door made me jump.
Xavier turned toward it and opened it without hesitation.
I heard a sharp gasp.
“Master Xavier!” The butler’s voice trembled with shock. “Why are you–out of your
wheelchair?”
I stiffened.
The butler… knew?
Xavier leaned against the doorframe, expression unfazed. “Rachel already knows.”
I gaped at him. “Wait. He knew?”
The butler hesitated, eyes darting between us.
Xavier smirked. “Of course. He’s not just a butler.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Then who is he?”
Xavier’s voice was deadly serious.
“My bodyguard. My assistant. And the one helping me uncover the truth.”
I frowned. “The truth about what?”
Xavier’s expression darkened.
“The truth about whether Michael and his family had a hand in my mother’s death
