Chapter 61

“You’re going home with my mother.” I turned to look at Dan surprised by what his saying, he wasn't even looking at me. Where the hell does he think he is going? I blinked waiting for hi to turn and face him, the cold air brushed against my skin. We were standing outside the BnB waiting for Victoria to finish smoking and we can go home. “Why?” I finally asked annoyed though because he refuses to say anything.

He adjusted his jacket, movements sloppy and unsure. An act that he does when he is avoiding answering right away or nervous. “I have something important to take care of.”

“What kind of thing and can't it wait?” I asked, already knowing I wouldn’t like the answer. “The kind that can’t wait,” he said, finally meeting my eyes. There was something closed off in them, like he didn't want me to see how he really feels. “You’ll be safer at the mansion.” A low chuckle of disbelief left my lips. "What the hell do you mean safer?"

"Can you just do this one thing without fighting with me?" He said his voice a little raised, I raised my eyebrow shocked and taken back by the sudden outburst. He must really want to do whatever it is that he wants to do.

I pressed my lips together; I sighed trying to calm myself. "So how long are you going to be gone for?" I wasn't really asking because I care, I was asking because I wanted to calculate what possible things a man could do that take that amount of time.

“For a few hours, maybe longer.” he said. "Wow, just like that huh, with no explanation whatsoever?" His jaw tightened. “Emerald.” I exhaled slowly, my hand drifting to my stomach, grounding myself in the steady reassurance of my baby’s presence. “Fine,” I said quietly. “I’ll go.” Relief flickered across his face, quick and gone. He leaned in, brushing his lips against my forehead. “I’ll be back,” he said.

I watched him walk away before I let myself feel how much that sentence hurt. "Well, that was intense." Victoria said cautiously walking towards me with a straight face, I know she's probably doing a celebration dance inside that her son is finally walking away from me. "Can you mind your own business? Like for one minute?" She smiled and nodded as she got into the driver seat, she has been listening to us this whole time.

The road back to the mansion blurred past us in silence, broken only by the soft hum of the engine. She glanced at me once, then again, like she was weighing whether to speak.

“So,” she said eventually, “how are things going between you and Dan?" I rolled my eyes at how quickly she wants to jump and control everything. I turned toward her sharply. “That’s none of your business.” Her grip tightened on the steering wheel, but she didn’t snap back. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“Well, you did,” I said flatly. "Maybe I can give you some advice."

"From you? No thank you." I said and stared back at the road, why does she think I need advice for my marriage. My marriage is fine, I love my husband and I know he loves me too. Silence stretched between us again but that's better than listening to her fake voice asking me about personal things.

We drove into the driveway and mansion felt empty and void of any life. I haven't seen Luca for days; I wonder where the hell he has been. I have to call him immediately when I get the chance. I went through the motions showered, clean clothes, the familiar ritual of preparing for bed while Victoria disappeared into the guest room down the hall.

The house settled around me, quiet and watchful. "Why are you doing all these things when you have a housekeeper?" I turned and Alyssa was standing in the kitchen doorway with her arms crossed over her chest. I turned to the ham and jam sandwich I was making completely ignoring her. "I need you and your mother to vacate these premises by tomorrow morning." I said grabbing my plate and milk leaving her stunned, throwing a tantrum that fell on deaf ears.

I laid down just after two in the afternoon, exhaustion dragging me under faster than I expected. After eating sleep came heavy and I gave in hoping that Dan comes home early so he can tell me what was so important he had to leave me with his witch of a mother.

The sound of the door opening pulled me back to the surface. I stirred, disoriented, the room dark except for a sliver of light spilling in from the hallway. Footsteps crossed the floor softly.

“Dan?” My voice was thick with sleep. “It’s me,” he said quietly. I blinked, fumbling for the clock on the bedside table. 12:07 a.m. My heart kicked sharply. “You’ve been gone all day.”

“I know.” I pushed myself up on my elbows. “Where were you?” He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he came closer, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry for waking you up, I didn't mean to make noise with the door.”

“That’s not an answer.” His hand reached for my arm, gentle. “Emerald—”

“Where,” I pressed, my voice tighter now, “have you been?” He sighed, leaning in. “I’ll explain. Just—” His hands slid to my shoulders. The moment his skin touched mine, the room vanished. I was being pulled, and I knew this feeling. I'm being pulled into his head, I felt myself get sick knowing I will pprobably see something I won't like. The air thickened, my senses sharpening violently, and suddenly I wasn’t in my bedroom anymore.

I was in a bar. Music thumped low and heavy through my chest. Glasses clinked. Laughter echoed too loudly. I knew this place, I had stood outside it once, watching through the window.

Only now, I was inside Dan seeing everything through his eyes. Across the bar, a woman smiled at him, dark hair and confident in a way that felt practiced. She leaned closer, her hand brushing his forearm.

“You look like someone who needs a drink,” she said. Dan smiled back. It wasn’t the smile that I am used to seeing. “I shouldn’t,” he replied, but his body didn’t move away. She laughed softly. “That never stops anyone.” Time jumped, their glasses touched, another drink. Her hand on his chest now, fingers splayed as if she belonged. They were getting intimate and closer the more time they spent together.

I felt the twist in his gut, the hesitation. He stood, taking her hand. “I know a place,” he said. The bar faded into night air, into movement, into the press of bodies and whispered words that blurred together. I gasped awake, jerking back violently. Dan staggered away from the bed, eyes wide, breath uneven. “Emerald—what just happened?”

My heart pounded so hard it hurt. My skin burned where his hands had been. I stared at him, horror and disgust colliding inside my chest. My baby violently kicked probably feeling the stress I am under. “You didn’t just leave with her,” I whispered. His face drained of color.