Chapter 80

How to Tame My Beastly Husband — Chapter 80. Perfume (2)

Annette waited a moment, certain that Railin would appear saying, Oh, you noticed. But there was nothing. He must have left, since she had been sleeping, and it was an unwanted intrusion in any case. She couldn’t even ask the reason for his visit.

Embarrassed, she looked at his coat. It looked expensive. It would be best to wash it before she returned it.

She was used to dealing with a reliable Railin. He was much more competent than she had initially thought, and she had even considered consulting him about the false charges against her, to ask for his help. It seemed like a good idea.

But no, she shouldn’t be hasty. She had to think it over more carefully.

After she had calmed herself, she entered the house, wrapping a warm shawl around her shoulders that made her feel much more comfortable. It was late for dinner, but she was very hungry. She had napped on the balcony for far too long.

Meaning to find a quick bite to eat, Annette went downstairs at exactly the wrong moment. As she passed the front doors, she bumped into Raphael, who had just come home. She felt a pang at the thought of their last conversation.

She entered the room, after calming her mind. She put on a warm shawl, which made her feel much more at ease. It was late for dinner, but she was quite hungry. She had fallen asleep on the balcony too long.

Annette went downstairs with the intention of grabbing a quick bite to eat. But it was not a good time. It was because when she was near the front door, she bumped into Raphael who had just returned home. Annette felt a pang of pain as she remembered the last conversation she had with him.

Do you like me, even a little?

He had left without answering the question, and the desolation of that moment still hadn’t left her. Annette moved past him without speaking, close enough that she could feel his breath on her cheek.

He smells like alcohol.

He must have gone out drinking again somewhere. In her previous life, Raphael had drunk almost every day, as if he were an alcoholic, because he couldn’t sleep otherwise. But in this life he drank surprisingly rarely, with Annette there to put him to sleep with her magic.

Except on days like today.

But Annette did not escape so easily. Suddenly, Raphael caught her arm, his cold eyes narrowed with anger.

“I smell another man on you.”

She turned to him as he approached her, grabbing her shoulders and bending his head, his nose moving through her hair, behind her ears, along her neck and over her collarbone, catching the unfamiliar smell.

“Who was it?” He asked finally, his eyes fierce. “Who touched you? Tell me!”

“No one. Please let me go,” she said, low. At first, she thought he was just making a fuss because he was drunk, but then the thought flashed through her mind of Railin and his coat, and the scent of his cologne that must have clung to her clothing and skin as she slept.

But that didn’t mean she could confess this truth to Raphael. She couldn’t reveal Railin’s existence if she wanted to hide her relationship with the Guild of Secrets. Carefully, she removed Raphael’s hand from her shoulder.

“I was testing new perfumes to buy,” she answered, trying not to provoke him. “Maybe some of them are lingering on me. Who else but you would ever touch me? Besides, I haven’t left the house. So please let go of me. It hurts.”

He had always been vulnerable when she said something hurt, and his hands immediately relaxed as soon as the word left her mouth. She immediately took the opportunity to flee.

“I think you’re drunk, so you should get some rest,” she said, once she thought she was a safe distance away. She turned her head to offer a brief goodbye. “Good night, Raphael.”

That was it. Quickly, she walked away before he could stop her. But before she had gone three steps, a hard hand caught her from behind, and Raphael pulled her back against his chest.

“Raphael?”

“Liar. You always lie to me.”