My Husband Wants Me Dead novel (Esther and Bradley)

Bradley released his grip on Mandy’s jaw and closed his eyes. She packed up the first aid kit after treating his wound.
“This is the medicine, Bradley.”
Bradley glanced indifferently at the pill Mandy handed him, saying coldly, “Leave.”
Mandy placed the pill and water down, then walked out leisurely.
–
Mandy returned to her bedroom and angrily pounded her pillow.
Bradley was a lunatic! Did he really think she liked him? What a joke! Did he think she was one of those naive girls online who
his supposed deep affection could move?
Those girls hadn’t seen his real craziness! He was practically synonymous with a tyrant. Those naive girls only saw his tender
side, never realizing that it was precisely because of his cruelty that a woman who once had a beautiful life died in the prime of
her youth.
Sometimes, when Mandy saw those naive girls romanticizing Bradley’s actions through their words, she really wanted to make
them experience the despair and helplessness that Esther felt back then.
After venting her anger, Mandy went into the bathroom to freshen up.
Looking at the face in the mirror, she thought that it looked really beautiful. Her previous face wasn’t attractive, but now it was
perfect. She wondered where X had found such a skilled plastic surgeon, with such advanced techniques.
Mandy put on a face mask.
Hearing the doorbell, she walked to the door to see a hotel employee in uniform standing outside.
“Yes?”
The hotel staff bowed respectfully and said, “Ms. Pendleton, a gentleman has ordered late-night snacks for you.”
Mandy hesitated. Snacks? Who would order them for her? The first person she ruled out was Bradley.

She opened the door, allowing the hotel staff to push in the cart. They placed the food and flowers on the table. “Enjoy your
meal, Ms. Pendleton.”
Mandy walked to the table, picked up the flowers, and found no card inside. X was the only person who came to her mind as the
sender of these items.
He seemed like a hidden beast, never showing his face but still observing her every move.
In the bouquet, Mandy found a gift box. She curiously opened it, revealing a brooch inside. The brooch was a blooming cypress
flower.
Mandy instantly liked this gift. For what it was worth, X was more tactful than Bradley.
Receiving this gift, Mandy felt the annoyance she got from Bradley disappear.
‘Forget it. If not for X’s instructions, I wouldn’t be with the lunatic Bradley. I will bear it!’ she thought.
–
Unlike Mandy, who was happy to receive the gift, Bradley sat on the balcony drinking.
Since Esther left this world, he developed a fondness for alcohol, habitually using it to numb himself.
Bradley stared at the distant night, Esther’s beautiful face appearing in his mind. His chest twitched, painful in waves. Every time
he thought of her, he felt like he couldn’t breathe with the pain searing through him.