Page 47 of The Defiant Wife

"I did not."

"You did."

"I didn't."

"You absolutely did."

I pinch the bridge of my nose.The same way I do during board meetings.Only this somehow feels more stressful.

"She's annoying."

Sitara's smile becomes downright evil and chuckles, her eyes glinting,"The beginning." She sing-songs.

I am genuinely horrified."There is no beginning."

"Uh-huh."

"She's frustrating."

"Okay."

"Stubborn."

"Mhm."

"Impossible."

"Sure."

"Argumentative."

"Sounds a lot like you."

I glare at the screen. Sitara beams. The worst part? She's enjoying every second of this.

"She's not my type."

That finally makes Sitara laugh. Not chuckle. Not giggle. Laugh. Full-blown laughter.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Sitara."

"Nothing."

I narrow my eyes. She keeps laughing.

Across the room, Aadhya abandons her blocks and waddles back toward me. The second she reaches me, she climbs directly into my lap.Then rests her head against my chest. Just like that. No warning. No hesitation. Trusting. Comfortable.

The room grows quiet. I glance down. The child is already half asleep.

A strange warmth settles in my chest. Unexpected. Gentle. Dangerous. Because a month ago I believed children were exhausting.

Now?

Well. They're still exhausting.But maybe not entirely unbearable.