Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 263: Kira is no more

"Daniel Clafford, I am surely not going to forgive you for this," Anna groaned the moment she tried shifting—only to feel every muscle scream in protest.

She shot a murderous glare at the man peacefully snoring beside her, completely unaware of the aftermath he’d left her in.

Anna had woken expecting a pleasant morning. Maybe some stretching. Maybe breakfast.

Instead?

Her body felt paralyzed.

Every movement reminded her of just how ruthlessly, passionately, and enthusiastically Daniel had destroyed her last night.

She jabbed his arm with one finger—because that was the only strength she currently possessed. "Wake up, menace."

Daniel didn’t move.

So she poked again. Harder. "I’m dying. This is your fault."

A low hum left his chest as he stirred, eyelids fluttering open. When he saw her pout, he smiled like he’d just won the lottery.

"Good morning, wifey."

"Don’t ’wifey’ me," she snapped. "I can’t feel my legs."

Daniel stretched lazily, muscles flexing in that show-offy way he absolutely knew would annoy her. "Hmm. If you can’t feel your legs, does that mean I did a good job?"

Anna gasped. "You—! Daniel Clafford, have some shame!"

"No shame left," he said proudly. "You took it all last night."

Her cheeks went crimson. "I swear, if I wasn’t physically incapacitated, I would smack you."

He rolled closer, propping his chin on her shoulder. "Aww. My little sore kitten."

"Don’t call me that either!"

Daniel chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "But you look cute when you’re angry."

"I’m not angry. I’m in pain."

"And whose fault is that?" he teased.

"Yours!" she yelled dramatically.

Daniel leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Then let me take responsibility."

She narrowed her eyes. "Responsibility as in...?"

"I’ll make you breakfast. Then draw you a warm bath. Then massage your legs so you can walk again."

Anna blinked. "...Really?"

He nodded like an attentive husband—too attentive, too suspiciously charming.

Then he added with an innocent smile, "And tonight, we can go for round—"

"No!"

"No."

"Absolutely not."

Daniel burst out laughing as she glared daggers at him, clutching the blanket around her like armor.

"Relax, sweetheart," he said, brushing her lips with a kiss. "I won’t start anything."

"Good," she muttered.

"...Unless you ask."

"Daniel!"

He grinned, thoroughly enjoying himself as Anna vowed, once again, to never forgive him—while secretly melting at how soft he was being.

While Anna was still processing with her thoughts she didn’t realized when Daniel had left and side and returned only to carry her from the bed.

"Daniel, I said no more funny business—put me down!"

Her protest didn’t stop him one bit. Daniel had already scooped her off the bed, one arm under her knees, the other behind her back, carrying her bridal-style toward the bathroom.

Anna squirmed weakly. "I can walk."

"You can barely wiggle," he countered, amused. "If I let you walk, you’ll collapse like a baby deer."

"I am not a baby deer—"

"Fine. A tired kitten."

"Daniel!"

He laughed, nudging the bathroom door open with his foot. Steam from the warm water he had already prepared filled the room, and Anna’s eyes widened.

"...You ran the bath?"

"Of course." He set her gently on the stool near the tub. "My wife is half-dead because of me. The least I can do is revive her."

She glared at him. "You’re too calm about the fact that you murdered my legs."

He leaned down, kissing her forehead. "And yet you screamed my name like a prayer."

Her face turned crimson. "Stop talking!"

Daniel only chuckled as he helped her into the bath, making sure she eased in slowly, the warm water enveloping her sore muscles.

Anna let out a relieved sigh. "Ohhhh... that feels heavenly."

"Told you," he said with a smug grin. "Your husband is good with his hands."

She splashed water at him. "Get out!"

***

Minutes later, when Anna stepped out of the bathroom, the first thing her eyes landed on was a full, beautifully arranged breakfast spread waiting on the table—fruits, toast, perfectly cooked eggs, even a tiny flower in a glass.

Daniel, looking fresh and annoyingly handsome after using the other bathroom, smirked the moment he saw her.

"Glad you’re alive. I thought you fainted inside."

"Hehe, very funny," Anna replied with the driest sarcasm known to mankind as she dragged her sore body toward the table. "You think I even have the energy to faint? You drained me, Daniel. Completely."

Daniel chuckled—chuckled—like she had just complimented him.

Anna blinked. Why is he proud of this?For a second, she wondered if her complaint had accidentally fed his ego.

"Here’s your royal breakfast, madam," Daniel announced grandly, waving his hand over the perfectly plated dishes.

Anna stared. Jaw dropped. Eyes wide.

"Y–You prepared... all of this?" she asked, stunned.

Daniel didn’t even blink. "No, the cook did. I just instructed them."

"..."

Anna internally face-palmed so hard she might have caused an earthquake.

Didn’t he literally say he’d make breakfast for me?This snob actually raised my expectations for nothing.Whatever. Food is food. I’m starving.

She didn’t even have the energy to be disappointed—her stomach took over.

Daniel took his seat across from her, wearing a small satisfied smile as she dug in like a woman who had fought a war. "Eat slowly," he reminded her. "I need you alive."

"I’d be alive if someone didn’t turn into a wild animal last night," she muttered through a mouthful of toast.

"Hmm?" Daniel leaned forward, smirking. "I don’t recall you complaining then."

Anna glared. "Don’t test me. I’m hungry."

He laughed—soft, easy, delighted by her mood. Then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, he reached over and placed an egg piece on her plate.

Daniel may not have cooked the food himself, but he made sure she ate well—feeding her bites here and there, stealing little glances, checking whether she was still sore, subtly massaging her hand whenever she winced.

He was still Daniel—the same man who would ruin her at night and pamper her in the morning.

And though a wicked part of him wanted to drag her back to bed and continue where they left off, he behaved himself. Mostly.Her work shoot was ending today, and he respected her schedule... even if he kept staring at her like she was dessert.

Anna rolled her eyes at him, cheeks warming. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?" Daniel asked innocently.

"Like you want to drain me again."

He grinned—slow, dangerous, and way too confident.

"Don’t worry, wifey. I’ll let you rest today."

Anna nearly choked on her juice. "Today?!"

Daniel winked. "Tomorrow’s a different story."

"Tomorrow?!" Anna stared at him like he had sprouted horns. "Daniel Clafford, if you touch me tomorrow, I swear I’ll— I’ll sleep in another room!"

Daniel burst out laughing so hard he had to hold the edge of the table.

"Another room? Sweetheart, you couldn’t even walk to the bathroom without wobbling. Where exactly are you going to run?"

Anna narrowed her eyes. "I’m warning you. No funny business."

He leaned forward, chin resting on his palm, giving her the most mischievous grin.

"Anna, the funniest business is the one you started last night."

She gasped, ready to throw a piece of toast at him. "You—!"

Daniel only laughed harder, clearly enjoying himself.

Anna opened her mouth to continue yelling at him when her phone suddenly buzzed on the table.

She glanced at the caller ID.

Her smile faded.

"Daniel," she whispered, staring at the screen. "It’s... the police station."

The air shifted instantly.

Daniel’s laughter died mid-breath. His posture straightened, and every trace of playful teasing melted away. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Answer it," he said gently but firmly, his voice suddenly steady and controlled.

Anna swallowed, her pulse picking up as she picked up the phone with shaky fingers.

"Hello?" She said cautiously, but what followed pulled the ground from under her feet.

"What happened?" Daniel’s voice dropped to a low, steady tone as the phone slid from Anna’s trembling hand. It hit the table with a soft thud, but she didn’t even flinch.

Her eyes were wide and glistening, like she was still trying to swallow a truth too heavy to fit inside her chest. Her lips parted silently, breath hitching, as though the words were scraping her throat on the way out.

"D-Daniel..." Her voice cracked, thin and fragile. "K-Kira... is no more."

It took Daniel several seconds to absorb what she had said—seconds that felt unbearably long. His arms remained around her, but his eyes sharpened with a tension that hadn’t been there moments ago.

Anna swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice, though it trembled uncontrollably.

"T-They tracked her phone," she whispered. "She... she must have turned it on for a moment. Just long enough for the police to trace the signal."

Daniel listened carefully, jaw clenching.

"They went to the location," Anna continued, fingers twisting the fabric of his shirt. "An old warehouse outside the city. When they searched inside, they found her... her body... hanging from the ceiling." Her voice cracked, fresh tears spilling. "In a storage room. Like she was left there."

Daniel’s grip tightened around her waist in reflex—steadying her, grounding her, but his eyes went cold.

"They suspect it’s suicide," Anna whispered, almost choking on the last word.

’Suicide? That’s suspicious’