Chapter 11

Avery brought out her phone and dialed Collin's number.

"Good evening Collin, I'm Avery Cooper." Avery said into the phone.

"Avery. Your dad told me everything." He gushed. " We should probably talk in person."

"Okay. How about nine AM tomorrow!" Avery proposed.

"That's fine, see you then." He uttered.

"Alright, see you then." She hung up the phone and just then Anthony rolled back in from the balcony.

"Get dressed, mum wants us to have dinner with her at the mansion." He voice was sharp and firm.

"I'm tired, can we just reschedule it?" Avery pleaded.

Without turning to her, he rumbled "that was an order. Don't make me repeat myself."

Then he rolled into a small door, only then did Avery notice that there was a walk in closet there.

How come she didn't notice it all these while.

She headed to the bathroom and took a shower. With a towel around her chest, she walked out.

When she got out, she noticed Anthony's clothes on the bed but he wasn't there. Just then the nurse came in.

Avery sighed. She picked Anthony's clothes from the bed after greeting Avery.

Anthony had a nurse who usually helped him with stuffs like that. It was her duty to do all those for him but he had insisted that a nurse did it.

She used the opportunity to check out the walk in closet.

When she opened the door, she gaped at the size. He had a lot of shoes and clothes.

One section contained shoes of all colors and designs, another contained shirts, there was another section for ties, another for trousers.

Then there was another section that had a lot of female clothes in different designs and colors.

Why did he have women clothes in his closet? Avery's brows creased as she touched one of the fabrics.

Did he have a girlfriend somewhere? Avery's heart sank at the thought.

The clothes were so beautiful and probably worth millions of dollars.

The clothes she had were all cheap and most of them had begun to wear out.

A red dress caught her attention and she walked over to it. It was sleeveless, and long. It had shiny diamond stones round the waist line and more stones scattered randomly on other parts of the gown.

She took out the gown and wore it. It fitted her perfectly clinging onto her body and revealing all her curves.

She looked so elegant and beautiful in it, it was like something from a fantasy movie.

She walked out of the closet with the dress on. She would wear this to the dinner.

Hopefully, Anthony would not have a problem. She was his wife so who else owned the clothes if not her?

When she walked down the stairs, Anthony was already set, he sat on his wheelchair in the living room.

She strolled down to where he sat.

When he turned to her, his gaze softened and there was a flicker of something. It was tender. Something she had never seen before.

Her lips curled up in a smile. Just then, his cold gaze returned.

"Where did you get that dress?" His voice was sharp and icy. It sent shivers cascading down her spine.

Avery's smile faded and her heart began thudding.

"I found it in your walk in closet." Her voice trembled.

"My closet?" He snapped rolling towards her. She took small steps backwards until her legs reached the couch and she could no longer move.

"Who gave you the permission to enter my closet." Anthony rumbled and Avery's pulse quickened.

He grabbed her wrist so tight and she whimpered. It was just a dress so why was he acting like this? He wrist hurt and it was as if her bones were getting squashed.

"Do you know how much that dress is worth?" He thundered.

"I'm sorry, I'll get it cleaned and return it." Avery's voice cracked.

"Would cleaning it make it new again?" Anthony rumbled and Avery shuddered. A drop of tear escaped her eye and fell onto Anthony's thigh.

When he saw it, he quickly let got of her wrist and rolled out of the house.

Avery looked at her wrist as he left. It had been bruised and had turned red.

Her stomach sank. Would it ever be possible for him to change?

She wiped her face dry with her palms and headed out. The chauffeur opened the car door for her and she got in.

Anthony sat there quietly. His hands rested on his thigh, his eyes shut, his head leaned back on the head rest as if he was asleep.

"I'm sorry" Avery's voice trembled but she got no response from him.

Could he have fallen asleep in less than two minutes? She wanted to touch him, her hand hovered over his thigh but she decided against it.

She turned and looked out the window. Maybe he would change, she just had to be patient. She had seen that flicker of admiration in his eyes. Maybe he still had a little bit of love and there was still hope.

Anthony's heart sank at the sight of her tears. It was just a dress, he could ask his designer to make a hundred more, but this one held memories. Memories of her.

Her tears had caused his heart to shatter but he couldn't control his hurt.

He loved her but at the same time he hated her. When she was away, he missed her so much but when she was around he could only think of the painful memories.

Maybe their relationship was meant to be a love-hate relationship. Maybe he could only love her from afar.