He Wants An Open Marriage? Done!

"Did you hear her? She just admitted it doesn’t exist!" Christian spat, his voice booming over the quiet street. He puffed his chest, looking toward the gathering neighbors as if securing a jury. "She’s nothing but a fraud!"

Roxanne shook her head, forcing her breathing to remain slow and even. She refused to let him see the panic fluttering in her chest. "I never said it doesn’t exist. I said I do not have it here. There is a difference."

Christian let out a harsh laugh. "It’s the exact same thing."

Ignoring his drama, Roxanne turned her eyes back to the officers. The humid air felt heavy, sticking to her skin, but she kept her voice laced with absolute certainty. "I don’t have it in my hands right now, but I will have it soon."

"Then we have nothing left to discuss," Christian said, his tone dripping with dismissive finality.

Roxanne’s brows knit together. "What does that even mean?"

Christian stepped closer, his shadow falling over her, his eyes hardening into cold slits. "It means, Roxanne, that until you can produce the original deed with the raised state seal, proving without a shadow of a doubt that you own this place, you are not setting foot inside my house. Understood?"

Roxanne scoffed, a dry, disbelieving sound. "You’re joking."

Christian didn’t even blink. He looked past her, giving the officers a curt nod. "Thank you for your time, gentlemen. Now, you can take her and this pile of garbage off my driveway." He turned on his heel, his shoe stepping squarely on one of her silk blouses as he headed for the door.

"You can’t leave just yet, sir," Officer Timmons called out, his voice dropping an octave.

Christian paused, his hand hovering near the brass doorknob. He slowly turned around, his eyes narrowing. "And why is that?"

"Because this lady has a legal right to occupy this residence," Officer Timmons replied, gesturing to Roxanne.

Christian’s gaze dropped to the ruined silk beneath his feet, then snapped back up to the officer, a dangerous edge creeping into his expression.

"She has no right to be here, and you just saw the proof yourself." He slowly walked back to them, deliberately stepping on the clothes again. "Or maybe you two aren’t even real cops."

Officer Timmons stiffened. "What are you implying, sir?"

"I’m implying that you’re hired actors," Christian said, his voice dropping to a low, venomous hiss. "Paid players sent by Richard to intimidate me into abandoning my own home."

The accusation hung in the hot afternoon air, sharp and insulting.

Officer Timmons took a deliberate step forward, his jaw tight. "With all due respect, sir, we are sworn officers of the law. Falsely accusing us of impersonation is a serious offense. It’s not going to end well for you."

Christian’s lips curled into a mocking smile. "Oh, really? And what are you going to do? Call Richard to come punish me?"

Beside Officer Timmons, Officer Davis snapped. His hand went straight to his belt, the metallic clink of handcuffs echoing in the tense silence. "We can place you under arrest right now for obstructing and harassing an officer."

Officer Timmons quickly threw a hand out, blocking his partner’s chest. "Keep your cool, Davis. Stand down."

Officer Davis let out a frustrated breath, his chest heaving, but he slowly stepped back.

Christian watched the exchange, entirely unfazed. He looked at them with a smug grin. "Go ahead, put on a show. I know exactly who pulled the strings to get you here."

Roxanne looked at him, a bone-deep weariness washing over her. She shook her head, the last lingering trace of affection she had ever held for this man dissolving into nothing. "You are a clown, Christian. Honestly, looking at you now, I can’t even understand how I stayed married to you for all these years."

"I don’t give a damn what you think, Roxanne!" Christian snapped, his face turning a furious red as he pointed a finger at her. "I care about these fake cops you brought to my door."

"We are not fake, Mr. Westbrook. You’re welcome to verify our badge numbers with dispatch right now," Officer Timmons said, his voice ringing with quiet authority. "You can accuse us of whatever you like, but we swore an oath to protect the public. That means protecting people like her from being bullied and locked out by men like you. One more accusation out of you, and we’ll be continuing this chat in the back of our transport van."

Christian’s smirk faltered, but his pride refused to let him back down completely. "Fine. But if you’re so big on the law, explain to me how you got dispatched here so quickly for a simple civil dispute."

The officers frowned, their patience visibly wearing thin.

Christian laughed, a bitter, triumphant sound. "Exactly! You can’t. You were hired. That’s why, even after seeing a fraudulent copy of a deed, you’re still refusing to arrest her or tell her to get off my property."

"It doesn’t matter who called them," Roxanne interjected, her voice cutting through his rants. "What matters is that these officers are doing their jobs. They’re here to keep the peace. So stop disrespecting them."

"Shut your lying mouth!" Christian barked, pressing a hand over his ear as if her voice were physically painful to hear. He glared at her, his breathing ragged. "I’m still speaking to the officers. You’ll get your turn."

Roxanne simply crossed her arms, her silence heavy and mocking.

Christian turned back to Officer Timmons, adjusting his collar with an arrogant shrug. "If you officers are so offended, I’ll be inside waiting for your arrest warrant."

Officer Timmons didn’t take the bait. He turned to Officer Davis and muttered a brief instruction. Officer Davis nodded, turning on his heel and walking back toward the idling cruiser.

Christian ignored the move, keeping his eyes locked on the lead officer. "What you need to do is get her off my driveway and clear my property before I call the real police."

Officer Timmons’ jaw clenched so hard the bone showed white against his skin. "The police department is not your personal errand service, sir. You do not dictate our actions. And we are not leaving."

Christian pressed a hand to his forehead, letting out a sharp, frustrated groan. "Why? Why are you doing this?"

Before Timmons could reply, the smooth purr of an approaching engine drifted down the street. A sleek, black sedan rounded the corner and rolled to a smooth stop right in front of the penthouse driveway.

The door opened, and an older man stepped out.

Everyone turned to look.

Christian’s brow furrowed, a sudden uneasiness flickering in his eyes. "Who the hell is that?"

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!