[2]

Dalia’s smile remained on her face as she watched Caius bend to remove his shoes but the joy in her heart vanished.

She stared at the faint red mark at the side of his neck before forcing herself to look away. Maybe something had happened at the hotel during negotiation or he had been bitten by an insect on his neck. But Dalia knew what it resembled and the knowledge of it made her uneasy.

Caius had just returned home after three weeks away, Sylvette was glowing with happiness and the entire family had something worth celebrating.

She wasn’t just to sit at the dining table and accuse her husband thereby ruining the happy mood.

“Come on,” she said, keeping her voice light. “The food is getting cold.”

Caius looked at her and smiled. “After traveling all day, that sounds like the best thing I’ve heard.”

He followed her into the living room with Sylvette running ahead of them. Sylvette climbed into her chair while Caius took his usual seat and Dalia sat opposite him. The family dug in and ate the delicious food she had prepared.

Dalia remembered the day she had signed the document that transferred control of her company to Caius.

The business she had built with years of sleepless nights and countless sacrifices. She had been offered a chance to remain its CEO, but instead she put Caius’ name at the top.

At that time, people had called her foolish, but looking back…it had been the best decision. She wanted to be a good wife for Caius and a present mom for Sylvette.

Seeing Caius sitting across from her now, victorious and happy, Dalia believed she hadn’t made a mistake.

Caius picked up a piece of lamb and tested it. His brows lifted. “Dalia.”

Dalia looked at him, “What?”

“This is incredible!” He grinned, “I think you’ve forgotten that I’m supposed to be the one celebrating tonight.”

A laugh escaped her. “Why?”

“Because this food is making me feel like I haven’t celebrated you enough. The lamb is perfect, the potatoes are exactly how I like them,” He shook his head in approval. “You are spoiling me.”

Dalia lowered her eyes a small smile forming on her lips. “I’m glad you like it.”

After dinner, Caius leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. “That was perfect.”

Dalia began gathering the plates and Caius interrupted. “Don’t clean up yet, I want to get drunk tonight.”

She stared at him. “Drunk?”

He smiled. “We won the contract, Dalia. The deal we have been fighting for finally belongs to us. I want to celebrate.”

Dalia hesitated before nodding. “Okay,” She walked towards the cabinet and retrieved a bottle of whiskey. When she returned, she placed it in front of him. “Here,”

Dalia poured him a glass. “Drink while I put Sylvette to bed,”

She walked around the table and lifted Sylvette in her arms. After putting Sylvette to bed, she walked to the master bedroom and took a warm shower to wash away the exhaustion of the day.

When she stepped out, she wrapped a towel around herself and began drying her hair. The bedroom door opened and Dalia turned. Caius stood there, his hair disheveled. He looked tired but there was a faint smile on his face.

He placed his phone on the nightstand and walked towards Dalia. His gaze traveled over her wet hair, down her shoulders, following the droplet down her curves.

His gaze burned with lust. “Dalia, you are beautiful.”

“Caius, are you drunk?”

Caius didn’t reply, instead, he pulled her into his arms and his arms began wandering over her body, caressing her back through the towel.

He reeked of alcohol and it made Dalia nauseous. “Babe, we can’t do this tonight. You need to freshen up and rest.” She said trying to break free from his grip.

“No Dalia, I want you all to myself tonight. Only then will my joy be complete.”

Caius's hand moved to her breast, brushing over the tip while his other hand slid down her inner thigh. He leaned forward and kissed her like he was starving, his lips parting hers over and over.

Devouring her with a passion that made her body vibrate. He pulled the towel from Dalia while she unbuttoned his shirt.

The moment Caius's chest was revealed. Dalia paused and pushed him away to get a clearer view of what she saw. A lot of hickeys were on his collarbone and chest.

“Caius, what is this?” She asked, her voice trembling.

Caius looked down at his chest. “Oh! This? I got a reaction while staying in the hotel. You know, I’m allergic to certain places, especially a place where I have never been before, and due to the harsh weather conditions at the hotel and the environment around it, I got these bruises.”

Dalia felt a mixture of emotions churning in her stomach, does he think she was a child? “This doesn’t look like a reaction, Caius. It looks like… a hic…”

Caius interrupted her with a frown. “Do you think I’m cheating on you, Dalia? I wanted to have you all to myself tonight but you’ve just ruined my whole mood. Good night.”

Dalia watched her saddened husband enter the bathroom and she suddenly felt guilty. Caius had been a loving husband for five years and a caring father for three years, she shouldn’t have shouted at him in that manner.

She stood up and got dressed in pajamas, suddenly a message pops up on his phone on the nightstand and Dalia picked it up.

The message stated: “Darling, I hope you reached home safely. I have been thinking about you. How was your journey?”

What? Dalia tried unlocking the phone but it turned out that Caius had changed his phone password. Caius had never hidden his phone password from her and she had never seen a message like this on his phone apart from the ones she sent to him.

First it’s a hickey, now a message that addressed him as Darling. What exactly is going on?