I Bought My Husband—And He Hunted Me Down / Chapter 4: Choosing Freedom Over Love
I Bought My Husband—And He Hunted Me Down

I Bought My Husband—And He Hunted Me Down

Author: Ethan Ward

Chapter 4: Choosing Freedom Over Love

← Prev
Next →

Julian leaned over me, his shadow falling across my face.

In the moonlight, his expression was unreadable, his cold eyes searching mine for something I couldn’t name.

“Emmeline, when did you wake up?”

My heart stuttered in my chest.

Knowing there was no point pretending anymore, I opened my eyes and reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck.

I nuzzled against him, my voice still thick with sleep. “Julian, did your family find you?”

“Mm.” He stroked my hair, his voice distant. “Did you see them?”

“I did. They asked when you were coming home.”

I pressed myself into his arms, eyes closed, my words muffled by exhaustion. “Where’s your home? Do your parents know about us? Will you still want me when you go back?”

My questions tumbled out, half-slurred, as if I was too tired to care about the answers.

Julian’s body relaxed just a little.

He laughed softly, still running his fingers through my hair. “My home’s in Boston. I’ll write to them tomorrow. Don’t worry, Emmeline. You’re my wife. I’ll love you for the rest of my life.”

“Mm-hmm, good man.”

I curled closer to his chest, soaking up his warmth.

But I could feel his breathing quicken, heat radiating off him.

Sensing where this was going, I tried to roll away, but Julian only held me tighter.

He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear.

“Are you really that tired? Can’t we stay up just a little longer?”

I clenched my fists under the covers, cursing him silently. Damn it, Julian!

It was like he had an endless reserve of energy.

I shook my head, but Julian just pulled me closer, his kisses trailing over my skin until I finally gave up.

…

“Emmeline, you’re incredible.”

Afterward, Julian held me close, looking thoroughly satisfied.

I gritted my teeth, muttering curses in my head.

All I wanted was freedom. If it came down to love or my own independence, I’d pick freedom every single time—even if it meant losing everything else.

Julian might love me now, but what about later?

He wasn’t just the Duke of Halewell—he was the leading man in this world, the one destined for the heroine.

He wanted me for now, but who’s to say he wouldn’t fall for Charlotte Evans once we were back in Boston?

Could I really risk everything on a maybe? Why should I gamble my freedom for something so uncertain?

I closed my eyes, steeling myself. Time to get out, before it’s too late.

← Prev
Next →

You may also like

Hunted By My Husband, Trapped Again
Hunted By My Husband, Trapped Again
4.9
Death isn’t the only thing that haunts Lila—her husband does. Kidnapped by traffickers and dumped in a remote Appalachian town, Lila thinks she’s finally out of Mason Hale’s reach. But her relief shatters when a chilling text arrives: 'Honey, we promised never to be apart. I’m coming for you now.' Mason isn’t just a monster from her past—he’s a relentless hunter who always finds her, no matter how deep she hides. As Lila faces the horrors of captivity and the threat of a forced marriage, the nightmare only grows: Mason has tracked her to the one place even her captors thought was unfindable. How does he always know where she is? And when escape means running from one prison into the arms of another, will Lila ever be free—or is she doomed to be hunted forever?
My Husband, the Secret Werewolf Obsession
My Husband, the Secret Werewolf Obsession
4.9
My husband keeps his love locked up tight—but my DMs think he’s a werewolf obsessed with me. For three years, Mason’s been my silent guardian: cooking every meal, nursing me back to health, yet always just out of reach. My online followers spin wild tales about secret obsessions, supernatural cures, and midnight transformations, and honestly? I start to wonder if they’re right. The line between fantasy and reality blurs as cryptic messages, a jealous best friend, and late-night encounters make me question everything I thought I knew about my marriage. Every forbidden touch, every stolen glance draws us closer to the truth—and to each other. But when a childhood friend steps in with his own dark secrets and Mason’s true nature threatens to break free, the love I’ve longed for suddenly feels both dangerous and irresistible. If the man I married really is a monster, why does his touch feel like home—and what will happen when I finally see all of him?
Bought the Governor’s Son, Now He Owns Me
Bought the Governor’s Son, Now He Owns Me
4.7
I bought a broken man at the market, never knowing he was the governor’s son—and now the whole town wants him back. Every night, I wield the whip and the leash, but his silence cuts deeper than any blade. The real heroine is coming for him, and when she does, I’ll lose everything—unless I break him first.
My Husband’s Secret Lover Is a Man
My Husband’s Secret Lover Is a Man
4.7
I thought I had the perfect marriage, until a haunting dream revealed my husband’s betrayal—with another man. Now every touch, every whisper, makes me question if I’m just the extra in my own love story. How do you fight for a husband whose heart was never yours to begin with?
My Husband, the King of the Dead
My Husband, the King of the Dead
4.9
He was my husband—until a siren in the moonlit lake whispered that the real Caleb Whitaker was dead, and the man in my bed was a monster wearing his skin. Torn between a town’s suspicion and the chilling touch of a husband whose scars tell centuries-old secrets, I spiral into a nightmare of betrayal, murder, and the supernatural. With every storm, the line between love and vengeance blurs—neighbors die, ghosts rise, and the king of the dead demands a bride. Now, with a knife in my trembling hand and the truth clawing up from the lake, I must choose: betray the monster or become one myself. When the wedding march echoes through the land of the dead, who will wear the crown—me, or the man I was doomed to love? Would you trade your soul for revenge, or is love just another curse waiting beneath the surface?
His Affair Went Viral—But I’m the Wife
His Affair Went Viral—But I’m the Wife
4.9
Everyone saw the headline: a Manhattan mogul forced a jet to turn around for love, but the real heartbreak was mine. While the world obsessed over hashtags and the glamorous actress he chased, I was the wife—trapped in a decade-long marriage, invisible at the center of the spectacle. My husband’s affair wasn’t a secret anymore; it was a viral event, and even my best friend urged me to fight fire with fire. But what happens when the woman everyone envies is just as lost as the mistress who broke her home? Beneath the diamond-dusted facade, loyalty and pride become weapons, and every betrayal is broadcast for millions to judge. He says we’re both prisoners of our past, that neither of us can truly walk away—but this time, I might be ready to prove him wrong. The world thinks this is a husband’s redemption arc, but what if the wife finally takes center stage? If I leave, does he lose everything—or will I finally find out who I am without him?
Married My Online Nemesis
Married My Online Nemesis
4.6
My worst online enemy turned out to be my husband. A year of snarky banter and anonymous trolling ends with a shocking reveal—my new husband, Miles, is the same keyboard warrior I spent countless nights battling on a chat app. Our whirlwind marriage was built on sweet lies, perfect performances, and secret identities. Now, every bicker, every inside joke, every act of care feels like a test: am I loving the real man, or just the mask he wears for me? As his hidden tattoos, old injuries, and rebellious streaks come to light, I realize I never truly knew who I married—or what he’d do to keep my love. When our private battles spill into public, and Miles risks everything to stay close—even changing his hair and hiding his wild side—will we finally drop our disguises, or keep pretending for the sake of comfort? If love means seeing every flaw and loving louder, can we survive the truth behind the screen?
Trapped With My Cruel Alpha Husband
Trapped With My Cruel Alpha Husband
4.5
I loved Mason Hale, but every touch was punishment and every word cut deeper than the last. Trapped together after a cave-in, my Omega scent bleeds into the air, mixing with pain and memories of a childhood where I was never enough. Mason was always cold, always distant—even after fate bound us in a marriage neither of us wanted, forced by scandal and family secrets. Now, with blood soaking my shirt and the world closing in, I’m haunted by every moment I reached for comfort and found only cruelty. All I ever wanted was to be normal enough for him to love me, but dependence is a curse I can’t break, no matter how hard I try. As rescue draws near, my strength fades, and Mason’s true feelings hover between contempt and desperation. If I disappear, will anyone—even him—miss me? Or will leaving be the only way I finally break free from loving someone who never wanted me back?
I Married the Cartel King Who Stole Me
I Married the Cartel King Who Stole Me
4.3
He kidnapped me, forced me to marry him, and called it love. I was an undercover narcotics officer, but Vincent Moretti—the cartel boss I helped bring down—dragged me back into his world with a twisted wedding and a cruel obsession. Pregnant, trapped, and watched by his loyal doctor Maria, I tried to survive a nightmare of blood, betrayal, and impossible bargains, all while clinging to the oath that made me a cop. When a doomed love and a coded message set off a chain of vengeance, I had to decide: save myself, betray my sisters-in-arms, or destroy the man who claimed to love me. As the FBI and DEA close in, the wedding turns into a battleground, and every choice comes with a body count. My own scars—and those of everyone I care about—might be the only proof we ever fought back. If I can bring down Vincent’s empire, will I finally be free—or is there no escape from the darkness he left in me?
I Paid For Her Lover’s Shoes
I Paid For Her Lover’s Shoes
4.8
She used my credit card to spoil her lover—and expected me to thank her. After years spent sacrificing my dreams for Morgan, my powerful, icy wife, I thought I’d finally earned her loyalty. But now I’m jobless, humiliated, and watching her assistant Jason flaunt gifts I unknowingly paid for—while Morgan calls me useless and hands me dirty socks as a present. With every slap and every cold laugh, I see the truth: I’m nothing but a doormat in her world, and Jason’s the new golden boy. The city outside keeps moving, but my world is crumbling—until the day I finally push back, demanding a divorce. But Morgan’s not letting go—she’s furious, desperate, and ready to fight dirty. Was I ever truly loved, or just used until I broke? If I walk away, do I reclaim my life—or lose everything for good?