Chapter 3

The guest room I'd prepared was unrecognizable.

The new bedding had been stripped off and tossed onto the floor.

Designer luggage. Makeup. Shoes. Jewelry. Half the room was filled with Clara's belongings.

A giant teddy bear sat proudly on the bed. Like a flag claiming conquered territory.

The front door opened again. Clara's laughter floated inside.

"Thank you for taking me to that restaurant, Damian. It really did cheer me up. I almost forgot how awful today was."

Damian loosened his tie as he walked in. "Clara had another disagreement at the estate. The atmosphere wasn't good. I told her she could stay here for a few days."

I let out a quiet laugh. "Damian. I told you a week ago. Ava was moving into this room."

For the first time that evening, he hesitated.

That tiny pause told me everything. He'd forgotten.

Back then, when I'd asked him, he hadn't even looked up from the documents in front of him.

"It's your friend. You decide. You don't need my opinion on every little thing."

Now, he pressed his lips together.

"I'm sorry." Then he lifted the dessert box in his hand.

His voice softened, like he was humoring a child.

"I found a place you'd like. I'll take you this weekend."

I glanced at the logo. The restaurant I'd begged him to take me to for months.

Every time, he'd been too busy.

Tonight, he'd gone there with Clara instead.

I took the box from him, walked to the kitchen and dropped it straight into the trash.

The color drained from Damian's face. Clara hurried forward.

"Elena, it's my fault. I don't mind sharing the room with your friend."

I smiled. Then walked into the guest room, picked up her suitcase, the teddy bear, and every shopping bag she'd brought.

One by one, I carried them into the hallway.

Clara froze. Her eyes immediately reddened. "But, those are all my things. Where am I supposed to sleep tonight?"

I glanced toward the master bedroom.

"Oh. You can stay with Damian. I don't mind."

Her face turned scarlet. "Elena! If you don't want me here, just say so. You don't have to humiliate me."

She burst into tears and ran toward the front door.

This time, Damian didn't follow her.

Instead, he looked at me. His brows drawn together.

"She didn't mean to touch your things. She's been through a lot. If you didn't want her staying here, you could've told me. There was no need to embarrass her."

The smile faded from my face. "This is our home. You brought another woman here. And somehow, I'm the unreasonable one for expecting you to ask me first?"

Damian sighed. "Clara has nowhere else to go. I thought you'd have a little compassion. It's only for a few days. Something this temporary didn't seem worth discussing."

He paused before adding, "Just like your friend staying here. You didn't need my permission either."

A month ago, I would've argued. I would say I’m nothing like you. I would never bring a male friend into our home.

I would've asked why Clara's comfort always mattered more than mine.

I would've fought to make Damian understand how much he'd hurt me.

But now, I simply nodded. "You're right. No one needs permission."

If that was true, I didn't need his permission to leave New York.

Or to leave him. Or to raise our child somewhere he'd never find us.

I walked to the front door. Held it open for him.

"You should go check on Clara. I'll finish packing."

For some reason, that answer didn't satisfy him.

He strode across the room and caught my wrist. "Clara can book her own hotel."

His eyes dropped to the open suitcase beside me.

His expression finally changed. "Why are you packing? Where are you going?"