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He arches an eyebrow. “I told you I wanted to set you up with spending money.”

“I could live off the interest generated by four million for the rest of my life. I don’t need that much for ‘spending money.’”

His brows draw together in a frown as his eyes narrow. “Then don’t spend it. Invest it. Keep it as an emergency fund.”

“I don’t want to, Michail. One percent of that would be more than enough for me to keep myself entertained and buy things for the nursery.”

“I already ordered the furniture for the nursery.”

My mouth drops open. “You what?”

“Once you showed what you wanted, I placed an order. It should be set up when we arrive.”

I can physically feel the last bits of my independence draining away. I lay my fork down and stand.

“Alessandra—”

“Don’t.” I’m all too aware of the flight attendant and the nurse trying to pretend like they don’t see the drama playing out in the cabin. “Just don’t.”

I stalk down the center of the plane toward the bedroom in the back. I walk in and close the door, lean back against it as I bury my face in my hands. The four million feels like a transaction, a stark reminder that this is a business arrangement, not a real marriage. His buying the nursery furniture without talking to me is another sign that he has no interest in talking to me, really talking to me. He’s going to make his decisions without me.

I pull my hands away and look down at my engagement ring and wedding band. Day three and I’m already struggling.

A knock sounds.

“Go away.”

“Let me explain.” His voice is muffled by the door and the hum of the plane’s engines.

I yank open the door. He fills the doorway, his face shadowed.

“Explain what? That you’re making decisions without consulting me? That you’re treating me like a child instead of a co-parent?”

“Yes.”

His simple answer momentarily stuns me into silence.

He glances over his shoulder. “We can either continue this discussion now in private, or we can talk once we land in Greece.”

Part of me wants to just shut the door in his face. But I also know once we land in Greece, things will move forward at breakneck speed.

Reluctantly, I stand back and hold the door open, closing it quietly behind him. When Michail gave me a tour of the plane, I thought this bedroom was huge. The same white walls as themain cabin, the space dominated by a king-size bed arranged with a mound of pillows and a dove gray silk comforter. A mini bar sits in one corner and the plane equivalent of a cozy armchair in the other.

But as I turn to face my husband, the room shrinks. His scent curls around me, woodsy and tempting.

“Explain.”

“Yes, I ordered the nursery furniture without talking to you.”

Disappointment tightens my throat. “Why?”

“Partially because I wanted to surprise you.” The tendons in his neck tighten. “And because I’m used to making decisions on my own.”

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “You can’t just make decisions for me. If this is going to be a co-parenting relationship, a partnership, you have to talk to me. You also have to accept you can’t control everything so that it meets what you want. That’s what…”

My voice trails off, but it’s too late. A shadow drops over his face.

“What were you going to say, Alessandra?” His voice is a low growl.