Chapter 3

And he wasn't alone. Cara was with him.

She saw me standing in the doorway, paused for a second, then smiled.

"Vivian, that's a lot of luggage. Are you going on a trip?"

Sebastian's brows drew together.

"Cara wasn't feeling well last night. Taking care of her took longer than I expected.

"What did you want to tell me?"

I looked at their clasped hands and smiled.

"Nothing much. I wanted to talk to you about our divorce."

Panic flashed in his eyes, and his expression darkened.

"Vivian, what game are you playing?

"I'm not divorcing you.

"I... our marriage was arranged by both families. They won't agree to a divorce either."

Before I could answer, Cara laughed softly. "Sebastian, don't be angry.

"She's probably just doing this to get you to treat her better."

He let out a breath.

"So that's what this is about.

"Vivian, I don't like it when you act like this.

"I told you a long time ago. Don't think you can take Cara's place."

I nearly laughed out loud.

Six years of marriage, and I couldn't even leave with my head held high.

Sebastian kept his eyes on me, and his voice dropped. "Vivian, stop making a scene.

"Cara hasn't been feeling well lately. Take care of her for a few days."

I thought I'd misheard him.

"What? You want me to take care of her?

"I'm your wife, not the hired help.

"I won't do it."

His expression darkened.

"Don't put it like that.

"You can refuse, but you'd better think hard about the consequences.

"The final handover for the Ashford-Grant partnership isn't complete yet.

"If you leave now, the Grant family will stop coordinating the rest of it for your father."

I turned around slowly.

"Sebastian, are you threatening me with that?"

"I'm reminding you."

He looked at me without a trace of warmth in his eyes.

"You married me to help the Ashford family in the first place, didn't you?

"The work isn't finished, so make sure you know what you want."

His words hit me square in the chest.

I looked at the suitcases I'd already packed and let out a long breath.

My flight was in three days.

In three days, the final business matter between the Ashford and Grant companies would be settled.

With the end this close, the fewer complications, the better.

I closed my eyes and pushed all those emotions down.

"All right.

"I'll take care of her for three days."

Cara looked up, and a smug gleam flashed in her eyes.

"Thank you so much, Vivian.

"Then, could you carry my luggage into the main bedroom—the one you sleep in?

"It's the biggest room. I don't sleep well, and it'll be easier for Sebastian to take care of me there."

I saw the challenge on her face. My hand trembled slightly as I gripped the suitcase handle.

I looked at Sebastian, hoping he would put a stop to such an outrageous demand.

Instead, he only rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Vivian, let Cara use the room.

"I married you, and I'll respect the boundaries of our marriage.

"I'll only sit with her while she falls asleep. Nothing else...

"She'll only use the room for a few days. You've always been generous."

I closed my eyes as a bitter laugh escaped me.

In all the years we'd been married, he'd never explained this much to me before.

He'd said all that just to trample on my dignity as his wife and give the woman he loved what she wanted.

When my anger and disappointment peaked, I smiled instead.

I was leaving soon anyway. The room would be hers before long.

I nodded and carried her luggage into the room myself.

For some reason, my silence made Sebastian angry.

He came over and took hold of my wrist.

"Vivian, if you're unhappy, take it out on me.

"Going quiet like this and making the whole house feel tense—what's that supposed to mean?"

I pulled my arm free.

"Sebastian, if I argue, you say I'm making things hard for Cara.

"Now I'm silent, and you blame me for making the whole house tense.

"Doesn't it occur to you that you're the real problem here?"

He was about to say something else when Cara's eyes reddened on cue.

"Sebastian, let it go. It's all my fault.

"Please don't fight over me."

Once again, he stood in front of her.

"Vivian, you've humiliated her. Apologize right now!"

I looked at him and suddenly realized how laughably stupid I'd been.

"I won't apologize.

"I'll take care of her for three days, the way you asked.

"Beyond that, I won't agree to any more of your unreasonable demands."