Chapter 2

I inhaled deeply and balled my hand into a fist, struggling to maintain my composure. "What's going on here?"

Noticing my irritation, Camilla immediately ducked behind Asher, her face resembling that of a scared cat.

"Ash, I warned you Avery would be mad. What can I do? It's my mistake. Perhaps I should just leave..." she whimpered.

Asher gave her a reassuring glance and instinctively positioned himself in front of her, his brow furrowing as he addressed me.

"Avery, Camilla needs to occupy the main bedroom. There's no space for your belongings, so just stack them here for now."

I chuckled in disbelief.

If they wanted to live out their little dream, couldn't they at least keep me out of it?

Sighing in exasperation, I gathered my things to return them to the master bedroom. "She can stay, but in the spare room."

I'd barely moved when Asher blocked my way.

"The spare room is full of stored items; it'll take a while to empty. Also, Camilla isn't well and needs a room with better lighting. She'll only use the main bedroom for a short time; you can sleep in the office for now."

His tone was so casual that I gaped at him, shocked. This was the man I'd been wed to for six years, who had knelt before my parents and vowed to always protect me. I thought I knew him, yet he kept surprising me.

Our house had three bedrooms—one master and two guest rooms. Since my pregnancy, Asher had moved to one of the guest rooms to ensure I slept peacefully. The other guest room was crammed with storage and unused items.

Seeing my personal items piled messily by the door, I couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "You found time to move my stuff, but not to clear out the guest room?"

Narrowing my eyes, I said sarcastically, "Asher, you knew the guest room wasn't prepared—why did you bring her here?"

"Can't she stay at a hotel? How can you ask your wife to sleep in the office?"

Asher stood like a shield, keeping Camilla safely behind him. Seeing my anger, he frowned and said, "Hotels aren't sanitary, and Camilla's always been sensitive. She can't rest well in strange places."

"Avery, you know how delicate Camilla's health has been since childhood. It's just for a few days." He then sighed, as if making a generous concession. "I know this is difficult for you, so how about you take the guest room, and I'll use the office."

He looked at me as if he truly believed he was offering a fair solution. But all he'd done was make me lose all trust in him.

I turned to Camilla's seemingly innocent face, my voice laced with sarcasm. "Can't sleep well in unfamiliar places? But somehow my bed is fine?"

"Well, Ms. Brooks, since you're so keen on taking others' belongings, consider it yours."

I dropped my things and called a moving company.

Camilla, playing the victim, grasped my sleeve and apologized quietly. "I'm sorry, Avery. I didn't think you'd be this upset about me staying here. It's all my fault. I'll leave right away."

But she made no move to go. Instead, with tears welling up, she continued, "Ash, please don't let your marriage suffer because of me. It's my fault this time. Please, go and make peace with Avery..."

Asher looked at her, full of compassion and fondness. The more she belittled herself, the more protective he became.

"You don't need to go," he said, patting her shoulder. "It's just the master bedroom—I still have the final say on who stays in it."

Then he turned to me with a cold stare.