Chapter three

The bedroom door flew open almost immediately, and tiny giggles flooded the room. Little Becky ran straight to me and wrapped her arms around my legs.

I lifted her up, and she immediately began plastering my face with wet, messy kisses. I pulled back, wrinkling my nose.

"Are you sure you’ve brushed your teeth today, Becky?"

"No!" she answered proudly, still giggling.

"You’re going to make me pass out from your bad breath one day, Becky."

"No, I won't. Even if you do, I'll turn into a doctor and wake you up."

A soft voice drifted from behind her.

"I tried my best today, I really did. I gave up after the third round of screaming. I couldn't bear it."

I looked up.

Standing in the doorway was the woman I had once thought of as more than a sister. Elena.

She looked as perfect as always in a silky dress that hugged every curve of her body, her black hair pulled into a bun so tight it looked painful.

She looked like she’d just stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine.

"I’ll talk to the doctor. We’ll find an alternative to the toothbrush since she’s so scared of it," Adam said from behind her.

His voice was thick with concern and thoughtfulness.

I didn't have anything against him caring for Becky.

The child was innocent in all this, but for the first time since we married, I realized something I had never allowed myself to see before. Adam could be caring and thoughtful—just not with me.

I loved mangoes. Everyone who knows me is aware. Yet, in three years of marriage, Adam had never once bought one for me. Even when the wife of one of our security guards started selling them at the gate and came to inform him while I was out, he hadn't bothered.

He simply didn't care enough to notice the things that made me happy.

"Are you alright, Rebecca?" Elena asked, her eyes searching mine with a look of fake concern.

"I’m good. Just stressed out with the housework," I said, forcing my voice to stay level. I had to keep playing the part of a devoted housewife.

"It’s what every wife does, darling. You make it sound like you had a meeting with major investors or closed a deal," Adam cut in. "And I already told you, bringing in maids isn't an option. Not after that business partner got murdered by one. I can't trust anyone else around my personal things besides you, my lovely little wife." He said the last part, smiling like a Cheshire cat.

"I know, right?" I said calmly, faking a smile that felt like it was tightening my face.

Perfect. A million men in the world, and love blinded me enough to marry a Gaston. I had literally lost myself trying to please a man who viewed me as a little wife. A stuffed doll on display.

I had cut myself off from the world while he gallivanted around with his true love. The tall, intelligent woman he wasn't ashamed to be seen with.

We all walked back to the living room, Becky still nestled in my arms. She was playing with the edges of my scarf.

She and I shared a bond that went beyond godmother and daughter; I could easily convince her to brush her teeth, a task her own mother failed at daily.

"Rebecca, there’s something I want to discuss with you and your husband," Elena said gently as we sat down.

I looked at her but didn't respond.

She slowly went down on her knees.

I wished I hadn't replaced the thorn-like rug with the fluffy one she knelt on.

She began to cry, shedding what I now knew were perfectly rehearsed, fake tears. "Someone broke into our house last week, and it happened again yesterday. I just realized the neighborhood I moved into isn't safe at all. I’ve met with an agent to find a new place in a better area, but until then..."

She hesitated and lowered her head.

"Please, can little Becky and I stay here with you guys for a while?"

The audacity almost made me explode.

It wasn't enough that she was fucking my husband. Now she wanted to do it right under my nose, and in my space. I thought this only happened in movies.

I didn't say a word. Instead, I turned my attention to little Becky, who was scratching at her knee.

"What’s wrong, sweetie?"

"It’s itchy. Help me scratch my leg," she muttered.

I started rubbing her leg and knee gently, ignoring the woman kneeling on the floor. The silence in the room became so heavy you could hear a pin drop.

No one spoke. Not even Elena, she was still on her knees.

Let her kneel.

"Rebecca," Adam barked. I looked up to see a thick vein pulsing in his forehead.

He was angry. That brought me joy.

"Elena is on her knees making a request. How can you just let your best friend stay there like that?"

"Oh, don't be hard on her, Adam," Elena said quickly. "She’s always been there for me. She’s human; it’s only natural for her to get tired of helping. I wish I had another choice, but I don't. I promise, Rebecca, you won't even know I'm here."

I still didn't say a word to either of them. I was quietly singing to Becky.

"You know what? This is my house, too, and I can make decisions," Adam stated firmly, his voice vibrating with rage.

"Not without me, you can't. It’s my house too," I said.

"I can, and I will!"

He stood up and pulled Elena to her feet. "Come, I'll show you to your room."

"Adam, no," she said softly, placing a hand on his arm. "You need to agree with your wife first. I don't want to cause trouble between you."

"Not when she's acting like a spoilt brat!" Adam yelled, his face red with rage. "She thinks because her dad has money, I won't have a say in my own house? What do you want to reduce me to, Rebecca? Do you want us to switch positions? I can stay home while you go out and work. Let's see if you’d survive a single day!"

I tightly closed my eyes, battling the storm inside me. I wanted to end it all right then, tell them I heard them earlier. But a part of me wanted more, I needed to watch them cry real tears.

When I opened my eyes, I was calm.

They had to pay properly.

Little Becky had fallen fast asleep, her head resting on my chest.

"You're right," I said softly. "You're the head of this family, and Elena is like family to me. If you’ve agreed, then of course they should stay."

Adam’s expression softened instantly. He walked toward me and pressed a dry kiss to my forehead. "I'm sorry I yelled. We shouldn't be having misunderstandings over minor things. I love you, and that's all that matters."

Yesterday, those words would have filled my stomach with butterflies. Today, they felt like bile.

I simply nodded.

Looking slightly embarrassed, he took Becky from my arms and walked toward the guest bedroom. Elena followed suit, throwing a long, curious glance back at me.

I met her gaze and smiled.