Chapter 3
After dinner, we left early–politely, strategically. It was the younger employees‘ turn to let loose, and we had no business crowding their night.
But the moment I slid into the passenger seat of Xavier’s Maybach, I noticed something was off
The seat had been adjusted.
The visor was down, and tucked into its corners were four cartoon–style anime girl stickers. The kind with big eyes and suggestive
poses.
No one–no one–ever dared touch my seat.
No one treated Xavier like a personal driver.
And no one would’ve had the audacity to sit up front with him.
No one except her.
Rage ignited so fast it made my scalp prickle.
As much as I hated to admit it, this? This hit harder than that damn dress.
The gown was just a piece of fabric. Expensive, yes. But replaceable.
This was different
This was her invading my space–marking it like territory. A quiet, smug declaration that she belonged where I once did.
We’d been married five years. And tonight, for the first time, I felt the kind of fury that made my hands twitch.
If I had less restraint, I’d have slapped Xavier across the face, shoved him out of the car, and driven straight to wherever Sophie was hiding–just to return the favor with a couple of clean,
Auto–added to the Libary
I opened my mouth, about to unleash every brutal word waiting on my tongue-
Then his phone rang,
And just like that, he ignored the firestorm radiating off me.
Unbothered.
Unhurried.
He answered her call.
Of course, Sophie called.
I slammed my seat adjustment button and jerked the chair back hard, trying not to scream as I heard his voice, calm and soft.
“Don’t worry, I’m on my way,” he said.
My hand froze.
I turned my head toward him slowly, my heart thudding.
He gave a tiny frown and said, almost apologetically, “She’s at the boutique trying to return the dress. But she doesn’t have a receipt. I need to handle it.”
“Avery, I’ll call the driver. He’ll take you home.”
I stared at him like I was seeing a stranger.
“You’re ditching me over that?”
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He hesitated. “Come on, Avery. Don’t put me in a tough spot. She’s already upset–you humiliated her in front of everyone. She cried herself hoarse. She just wants to return the dress.”
“She can’t pick up the damn phone and go herself? She needs you to escort her like some white knight?”
Xavier sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose like I was the problem here.
“Avery, is it really worth tormenting a new hire like this?”
“When did you become the type who kicks down someone weaker than you? That’s not who you were.”
The fury that had been burning in me cooled suddenly–replaced by a wave of exhaustion.
Disbelief.
And finally… disappointment.
I let out a short laugh, dry and sharp.
“I’m bullying her?”
I looked him dead in the eyes.
“Xavier, you’ve never defended another woman in front of me. Not even your mother. This is a first
His expression flickered, a muscle twitching in his jaw
#
”
“We made a deal when we got married,” I reminded him. “You don’t chase after skirts, I don’t drown myself in nightclubs. It was a pact
for your family’s image and mine.”
“And now, you’re breaking it. For her?”
Xavier’s gaze turned cold, sharp like winter glass. He said nothing for a moment.
Then, silently, he picked up his phone and called the family driver.
After hanging up, he leaned over and quietly undid my seatbelt.
His voice was calm–too calm.
“Avery,” he said, “you’re always so… dominant. We’re married, not just business partners. Outside the boardroom, can’t you try–for once to lean on me a little? Trust me, just a little?”
“I’ll deal with Sophie’s mess. Then I’m going back to Ravenhurst for the night.”
“We both need time to cool off.”
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