“How was your day?” He finally drops his hands, and I take a step away from him, relieved to get a reprieve. “And where have you been?” He left early this morning and has only just returned.
“Just finalizing some things with a client.” My ears perk up at that. I assume he’s talking about his illegal business. He sighs and runs a hand over his head. “But that’s nothing for you to worry about.” He opens the oven, peeks inside and turns it off. “Let me take you out to a nice dinner.”
“I don’t want to go out. My back hurts from sitting in the sewing room for too many hours, and I want to relax.”
“Okay, then. I’ll order something, and we can eat in the living room. Afterward, we’ll take a bath and go to bed. I’ll give you a massage and lull you to sleep.” He pulls me back into his arms and kisses my temple. “I promised to take care of you.” He cups my face and looks into my eyes. “I know no one has taken care of you in a long time. Will you let me do it?” Soft lips land on my forehead. “Remember when I told you I’d be a good husband? I meant it.”
He lifts me bridal style and carries me to the living room. After he lays me on the couch, he sits on the opposite end and pulls my legs onto his lap. He rubs one foot while he looks through his phone.
“What do you have a taste for?”
“Korean barbecue.” The words come out without thinking. It’s my favorite type of food.
“Okay. I’ll order a bunch of stuff and go pick it up.” He lifts my foot and kisses the top of it.
Eden’s warning from earlier comes to mind, but I push them away. There’s no way I can fall in love with a man who trapped me into a marriage I don’t want. He manipulated a situation to his advantage, and I will never forgive him for it. I’ll work this to my advantage. I’ll take everything I want, and then I’ll walk away from him on my terms, leaving him a devastated, heartbroken mess.
Chapter 42
Cori
Eden’s words play in my head on repeat. She’s right that my relationship with Dax is unconventional. Despite how unconventional it is, he’s still the best man I’ve ever been with. No one else has come close.
No one is as handsome or as sexy. No one before him is as smart and savvy. And absolutely no one has made me tremble the way he does. A kiss from him is enough to make my head spin.
But it was the events that happened last night that made me re-evaluate my plan. When he came home, I was looking through the application for the New England School of Design. He pulled me onto his lap and helped me fill it out. After I showed him the draft of my essay, he helped me refine it and pick designs for my portfolio. He said he would find professional models and a photographer to take the photos.
When we finished, he kissed my temple and told me he was proud of me. I wrapped my arms tightly around him and held on to him for what seemed like forever.
In that moment, I decided to ditch Selene’s plan and take Eden’s advice. I was going to make my marriage work. It wasn’t only about what he was doing for me. After a while, pretense gave way to reality, and my feelings for him became real.
I burst through the door, eager to see him.
“Dax!” I yell. “I found the perfect place for my shop, but I have to move fast to secure the lease!”
He doesn’t answer. In fact, the house is as quiet as a gravesite.
“Finch?” That dog loves the sound of her name. I go in search of one of her treats, but I don’t hear her paws against the hardwood floor.
Eager to speak with my husband, I kick off my shoes and set out to find him. All his cars are in the garage, so he has to be home.
The plush carpet drowns the sounds of my footsteps as I climb the stairs and walk down the long hallway to his office. I’m almost to his door when I hear his hushed tones. He’s not alone, but I recognize the other voice. It’s my father.
“I’m already paying for the daycare. I don’t know what else you want me to do.” I stop walking and stand against the wall so they won’t see me. I already know who they are talking about. “And I don’t want to keep that from her.”
I don’t understand why he would. He can afford it, and if Ruby is at daycare, that means my parents won’t have to watch her.
“My wife is upset. I’m here so you can fix it,” Dad says.
“I can’t fix something I didn’t break. You should have sacrificed more for your daughter. She was a much safer bet. Unlike your thief of a son, she’s actually competent.”
I wonder how Dax knows Devin stole from his former employers. I know no one pressed charges, so how would he have this information?
“Listen, Annette cried all night after that phone call.” I hear pacing. “We made mistakes as parents, but her mother needed her. Devin could not have done what Cori did.”
“Why? Because she’s a girl?”
“No.” I hear a sigh. “Maybe. What teenage boy wants to help his mother in the shower? Or help her dress? We did the best we could at the time, now Annette is feeling guilty.”
