My Dominant Husband

chapter two

Daphne jolted awake, her body drenched in sweat, heart racing from the same nightmare that had been haunting her nights since the accident. Her eyes darted around the dimly lit room, taking in the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings. She glanced at the clock—7:00 AM. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, feeling the cold floor beneath her feet. Taking a deep breath, she tried to shake off the lingering dread that clung to her.

Making her way downstairs, she hoped for a quiet morning, but the faint clatter of dishes and the aroma of coffee greeted her instead. Xavier was in the kitchen, his back turned to her, talking on his earpiece while preparing his morning brew. He looked so different from Arnold—his posture, his mannerisms—everything about him was a stark contrast.

"Good morning, Xavier," Daphne greeted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She knew he wasn’t one for small talk, especially with her, but it was her attempt to bridge the awkward silence that had become their norm.

“Morning,” he replied curtly, not even glancing her way before grabbing his coffee and retreating to his room. Daphne sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. This wasn’t how she had envisioned living with her late husband's younger brother, but she had to find a way to make it work. For the baby's sake. For Arnold.

She watched him leave, then busied herself in the kitchen, making herself a juice. The maid arrived soon after and started her morning routine of cleaning. Daphne tried to make herself invisible, feeling out of place in what should have been her home.

Xavier reappeared after a while, dressed in his work clothes, and sat at the breakfast table. Daphne took it upon herself to serve him, wanting to help in any way she could. But as she placed the tray in front of him, he barely looked up, his eyes glued to his phone.

“We have hired servants for this, you know,” Xavier muttered, not looking up from his screen. His words stung, reminding her that she was just an unwanted guest in this house, a house that once belonged to Arnold and her. She nodded silently, sitting back down, her appetite now gone.

As Xavier finished his breakfast and stood to leave, Daphne mustered up a cheerful "Have a nice day!" He nodded, a brief flicker of acknowledgment crossing his face before he disappeared out the door.

Daphne’s day dragged on with little to do. She couldn’t leave the house, and no one seemed to want her there, except perhaps Xavier’s father. Later that morning, he returned from his walk, and she greeted him with a small smile.

"Good morning, Dad," she greeted.

“Ah, Daphne! I thought you’d still be sleeping,” he replied, chuckling. They fell into a light conversation, one of the few bright moments in her otherwise dreary days.

That evening, the atmosphere shifted when Xavier came home early. Daphne was in the garden, watering plants when she heard raised voices coming from the kitchen. She peeked inside and saw Xavier arguing with his father. When she stepped in, both men fell silent.

“Get ready. Go to the party with him,” Xavier’s father said, his tone softer now.

“Party? Me?” Daphne asked, surprised. She had never attended any party, especially not since Arnold’s death.

“Yes, go get dressed. He’ll take you,” his father insisted before walking away.

Daphne hesitated, unsure if she should really go, but she didn’t want to stay cooped up in the house either. Maybe a change of scenery would help clear her mind. She found a simple grey satin gown in her wardrobe, something Arnold had gifted her, and put it on. She waited nervously outside for Xavier, who appeared at the top of the stairs, looking as stoic as ever.

"I...couldn't turn down Dad," she began awkwardly as they walked to the car. "He was so determined to send me with you..."

Xavier remained silent, his expression unreadable. As they drove to the party, the silence between them grew thicker. Daphne turned to look out the window, feeling Xavier’s tension radiate off him. She wasn’t sure if it was her presence or something else that had him on edge.

“I already promised someone else,” Xavier said suddenly, his voice breaking the silence. “It’ll get...awkward for you.”

Daphne nodded, not knowing what to say. Did he mean he had someone else in his life? Was this why he was so distant with her? She bit her lip, trying to push down the wave of insecurity that washed over her.

Daphne felt out of place among the glittering women and sharp-suited men. She watched as Xavier navigated the room with ease, his face a mask of calm. She tried to keep up, to smile at the right moments, but she felt like an outsider.

She spotted Austin—one of Arnold's old friends and someone she had always felt comfortable around. “Austin!” she called, relief flooding her voice.

Austin turned, his face breaking into a warm smile. “Daphne! It’s been too long,” he said, pulling her into a gentle hug.

They chatted for a while, and for a moment, Daphne felt a flicker of joy. But then her eyes wandered back to Xavier. He was with Soha, and Daphne’s heart sank as she watched them. They looked so natural together, so... right.

“She’s a well-known name in the business world and a close friend of Xavier,” Austin explained, noticing where her gaze had landed.

Daphne nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. “As far as I’m aware… she’s equally interested in him,” Austin continued. “It’s complicated now, especially with everything that’s happened.”

Daphne’s chest tightened. She felt a wave of pity for Xavier. Bound to her because of Arnold’s child, caught in a life neither of them had chosen. She had thought she was the only one trapped in this situation, but maybe Xavier was too. And suddenly, the future seemed even more uncertain.

Daphne watched, her heart sinking. So this was the "someone else." She felt like an outsider, unwanted and unnecessary. She decided she had had enough. The air felt stifling, and the baby inside her was restless. She needed to get out. Quietly, she slipped out of the party, no one noticing her absence as they all fawned over Xavier and his dance partner.

She found herself outside the venue, the cool night air hitting her face. It was too much for her. Guilt was eating her up. No one was at fault in this situation and she knew it but yet it was her fault. Her existence was the fault. Her stomach growled, a wave of food cravings hitting her. “Of course,” she muttered to herself. “Now you want to eat?” She started walking down the street, her eyes scanning for a food stall or a café.

Inside the party, Daphne’s absence did not go unnoticed for long. Xavier soon realized she was missing and began searching frantically. His eyes darted around the room, his mind racing with worry. “Where did she go?” he muttered, excusing himself from Soha’s side. He scanned the entire venue, panic creeping in.

Just then, he remembered something. Arnold had mentioned Daphne’s love for street food, how she sometimes went down the famous food street just to satisfy her cravings. It was a small, trivial detail but now it made sense. Xavier quickly left the party, his mind focused on finding her.

As he walked down the street, he spotted her near a small food cart, holding a hot dog with a look of contentment. Relief washed over him as he approached her, but his irritation was still palpable.

“Daphne!” he called out, causing her to flinch.

“Xavier! What are you doing here?” she asked, startled, her hand clutching her hot dog protectively.

“What are you doing here?” Xavier’s voice was a mix of frustration and concern. “You just left the party without saying a word!”

“I didn’t want to disturb you,” she mumbled, feeling guilty. “And I was hungry…”

Xavier ran a hand through his hair, his frustration melting away as he saw her, looking vulnerable and a little lost. “You scared the hell out of me,” he said, his voice softening. “I thought something happened to you.”

Daphne looked up at him, surprised by the genuine concern in his voice. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

Xavier stepped closer, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek gently. “Just… don’t do that again,” he murmured, his thumb brushing her skin. “I may not show it, but I do care, Daphne. You're my responsibility, the mother of my brother’s child”

Her breath hitched at his words. She hadn’t expected such tenderness from him. “Okay,” she whispered back, her eyes locked with his. For a moment, the world around them faded away, leaving just the two of them in a quiet, intimate bubble.

“I’ll take you back,” he said finally, his tone gentler now. “But finish your hot dog first. Can’t have you hungry.”

Daphne smiled, her heart fluttering at his change of demeanor. “Thank you, Xavier,” she said, her voice filled with warmth. Maybe this arrangement wasn’t going to be so bad after all. As they walked back to the car, Xavier’s arm brushed against hers, and Daphne couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope for the future.